COUNTY COUNCIL

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 55, 19 October 1911, Page 4

COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Stratford County Council was held yesterday morning. Present: Crs Marchant (chairman), Mar fell, Walter, Porritt, Hathaway, Thomson, Christoffel, Astmry, and Maxwell. A special order was passed declaring the Makuri Valley Drainage District. The following tenders were accepted :—South Riding metal, Mr,' Grimmer, £350; bridge, York Road, Mr Volski, £llO. The resignation of Foreman Gatton was accepted with regret, and a vote of condolence with him in the recent loss of his wife was passed. _ • It was decided that the next ordinary meeting of the Council should bo held on the fourth Wednesday in November. Cr Marfell reported that in the opinion of the East Riding member* it was desirable to purchase a site near Toko and erect a cottage on it for the foreman.—-The matter was reftrred to the incoming Council. it was decided to purchase land at Horseshoe Bend for the purpose of erecting a surfaceman's cottage. The erection of the cottage was 1 left iU the hands of the Engineer and the chairman. In reference to a complaint by the ranger at Midhirst regarding a man who consistently grazed his cows on Kent Terrace ir was decided that Court proceedings bo taken the next time he offends. Rates in the ridings were allotted as follows: South, main roads 4d, byroads Id; North, main roads id, byroads Id; East, main roads Id, byroads Id; West, main roads Id, byroads Id; Mangaehu, main roads lid, by-roads l)d. The County Solicitor stated that in the case 'Outhbertson v. : Downs a fine of ss, with costs £1 3s 6d, had been imposed, Downs promising the Magistrate that there would be no further recurrence of the offence.— Received. . V Mr W. G. Malone wrote informing the Council that the firm of Malone, Anderson and Johnstone had been dissolved and stating that he was prepared personally to act as the Council’s solicitor.—-The question was left over till the new Council is elected. q , , ■ ■ .( ; R. Barron, Tututawa, wrote objects ing to the foreman widening poruons of the metalled part of the Tututawa Road, while slips and washouts were common on the unraetalled portion. He said the road was £l4O in debt, but still the foreman went on with unnecessary work.—Foreman’s attention to be drawh to the matter.

Mr S. Baskin, Midhirst, wrote regarding complaints made about work lie .had done on a stream. He-re-quested that the chairman or . engineer should visit the spot and state what was necessary to be done.— Received. It was- decided that the men who had worked in the Standish Road drains be paid a shilling a day extra for the fifty-three days they were engaged on the work; and that Rogers be paid in full for his time off during his recent illness. . •

Mr J. B. Hine, M.P., telegraphed that only a vote similar to last year’s (£250) was provided on the Estimates for Mangaehu-Puniwhakau Road works.—lt was decided to telegraph to the Minister for Public .Works asking provision on the Supplementary’ Estimates to bring the vote up to • , Cr Walters tendered his resignation as a member of .the Council in, order to expedite the purchase of land from him by the Council.—The resignation, was accepted.—Cr Marfell " said the resignation was neces-r sary, as the Council was desirous of getting the land and Cr Walter could nob sell the land to the Council while he was a member of .the body. Mr \V. G. Malone wrote as follows regarding overhanging trees:— “l am quite willing to comply with every reasonable request, but I do not understand why the foreman (knowing, us he should have done, that I put on men to both top and cut away the lower branches of the trees referred to) did not speak to me if he wanted anything further done. I will make a point of speaking to him the first tome i sec him, and will do anything reasonably wanted.—Received. The ‘ Clerk of the Clifton County Council wrote: —I am directed to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 21st ult. re suggested alteration of boundary between Stiatford and Clifton Counties in the vicinity of the Mangaoapa. and South Matau Roads. In reply I am instructed to inform you that my Council is favourable to extending its boundary to the railway line at Kiore so as to include the above-mentioned roads in the Clifton' County.—lt was decided to suggest a conference between the Engineers of the two Councils. ( A deputation of Taihore Road residents, consisting of Messrs J. Smith, Anderson, and Jackson waited on the Council and asked that something be spent on the Taihore Road in thedirection of clearing slips and generally improving the road.—Mr.’Smith said only a halfpenny of the rate had been set aside for" side roads and such an amount was of no use on such a road. The main roads would always be the first consideration, but he thought more money should be spent on side reads. Cr. Maxwell said rue allocation referred to had been only made for one year, hut Mr Smith said that all the same it was a precedent.—Mr Anderson said an expenditure of about £6O was wanted.—Cr Astbury said the road was in debt'to the extent of £3OO, and he would not support expenditure unless settlers raised a separate rate.—lt was decided that if the settlers raise £25 by special rate the Cmincil would contribute a like amount.