COUNTY MATTERS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 81, 18 November 1911, Page 8

COUNTY MATTERS.

(To the Editor “Stratford Post.”) Sir,—Next' Wednesday ends my period of sendee as official head of the county, and I wish to say a little on some matters of general interest before that day arrives. It is to my larger constituency; the county, and not merely the West Riding that I am addressing myself. First, as to the tree-chopping: Few of you will suppose that I am fool enough not to have known that 1 was risking my seat by the action 1 took, hut 1 was certainly not going to let a trifle like that prevent me from doing my duty. The evil of these great overgrown trees had become too serious to ho longer mull'ro:l, and it wits more honest to move that they be lowered prior to the election than after it. Except on the south side of a road (and occasionally on the west) they do unmitigated harm, keeping it wot and sloppy when it rains, softening the formation and destroying the crown of the road, whilst in liard frosty weather the road is slippery and dangerous often for days whefl it would not otherwise 1)0 so. Even when allowed to remain there is an element of danger from the lateral branches, because if

a horseman got injured by running against one when in pursuit of his legitimate work—riding perhaps after a stubborn or unruly animal—the ratepayers might have to foot a serious bill. That many who were hard hit have forgiven mo in view of the general benefit, I know, and am grateful foi . but all are not built that way, although, if they only knew it, their homes and surroundings will lie much healthier and pleasanter than they wore.

Next, i-s to the Strakcr waggni : The Inspector of Machinery pronounces it to be a first-class machine in perfect order, yet the late Council preferred to lay it up in lavender rather than put it to useful work because they considered it not suitable for the roads and wished to exchange it for a steam roller. From that view 1 entirely dissented. Does any sane man suppose that mechanical traction has not come to stay? Why should the crusher and its accessories ho hauled about by a traction engine instead of a portable engine being employed and being shifted about by horses? Why does Mr Tarry do the same thing with his chaff-cutting plant?. The answer of course is that in spite of the increased first cost it is better and cheaper in the long run. If similar waggons can ran profitably up md down the steep hills of Wellington and St. John’s Hill in Wanganui they can surely do it profitably with ns for at least a third of the year, that is to say during the busy working season. One thing that is badly wanted on most of our roads is summer blinding; it keeps the roads from -working loose, preserves the metal from wear and tear during the busiest part of the \car and spares enormously Die feet ot the horses and the tires and fixings of the vehicles. But mapy roads arc not favoured with the opportunity of getting such material cheaply enough, and I am persuaded that tfie waggon, carrying as it would five or six yards of clay, able to tilt itself to any angle and travelling back empty at ten miles an hour, could trail blinding along the roads where at present the cost would he too great, and as the driver got more expert in the handling of it it would he found most valuable in running metal long distances. But, as 1 have said, tiie Council determined to try and swap it for a roller; plenty of people expect great things from a roller—l don’t. Rolling the Pembroke Road when it was re-metalled did not prevent it from working loose last summer till it was an eyesore and serious detriment; summer blinding would have kept it like a carriage drive and tho road would last for years longer. Some of the most delightful lengths of road that you could travel on are in the West riding, relaid during the oast few years, smooth and fast, summer and winter, and never a roller near them—summer blinding. Serious diffiailties in detail will arise also over the roller, hut the new Council will please itself; it is enough for me to state my views and the reasons for them. As a matter of historical record it may bo as well to say >hat the waggon was not bought until one of the most important (quite the most important, I think) county councils on this coast had informed iis that its waggon was satisfactory, and not until the settlers in the west and south ridings had in public meeting expressed their approval of the proposed purchase. The last word I want at present to say is about the Opunake railway. Myself apart, 1 deeply deplore Mr Astbury’s loss to the Council on this ground as well as'on many others. He has been a staunch supporter of it, and rendered splendid service ;■ and he is a strong man. To me it is incredible that a public man whose nomination reaches a , county town in a registered letter twenty-four hours before nominations close can be rightfully kept out of his scat (or at least the chance of it), because somebody blundered. It may bo legal, but it is certainly not lawful. However, the fact remains, and on the new members devolved the responsibility of carrying on and bringing to fruition the labours of their predecessors in this work so important to nearly the whole of Taranaki and to the West riding in particular. Are they equal to the task ? It is for them to say, and they will he judged by results. If either of them has misgivings it would he an act of the barest justice to those whose interests are at stake to adopt Mr Astliury’s proposal and let tho ratepayers decide, —I am, etc., G. A. MARCHANT.