COUNTY COUNCIL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 9, 21 December 1911, Page 3

COUNTY COUNCIL.

MON THEY MEETLY G

The Stratford County Council met yesterday morning, when there wore piesent Councillors W. Hathaway (in the chair), Rogers, .1. Young, Anderson, J. Smith, J. Chris toff cl, Walters, E. Marfell and Jas. Thomson. With regard to the metalling oi Hastings Road, Cr. Smith stated that it was used by the people of Eltliam Road to miss the toll-gates. He thought the cost of the inetiilling would be too big for the district to bear and should be made the matter oi a special grant. • r l lie matter of obtaining the gravel was referred to and the engineer was instructed to visit the Mangatoki stream where good stone was stated to ho obtainable. Cr. Rogers reported regarding Mr Vickers’ property, claim for royalty on gravel taken from the stream bounding his property at Midliirst. IhC contractors were paying royalty to two property owners whose farm they had to cross. They didn’t actually cross Vickers’ land but they m oi keel at the lied of the stream. Cr. Smith stated that they would have to pay royalty. Ho Knew all about such cases and the man owned the freehold of the lied of the stream.— Referred to the chairman to confer with the County Solicitor, and report at next meeting. • East Riding members wore granted an extension .In which to report on the Waiwiri Road. On Cr. Young’s recommendation the matter of a small piece of metalling on theUTahora Road was Held over. Vite Rangsr’s Report. Mr Cutfibertson reported as follows: “My work for the past month is as follows. On the 23rd ult., 1 visited the Bird, Skinner, and Wingrove roads, and only found a mob of calves on the former (released). On the 24th .(owing to complaints), X went to the Ahoura Road, and got two cows (one released and one impounded). On the 26th, I went with Milner to Ronald, Huthie, Palmer, Manaia and Rowan roads, and found a horse, 3 cows (released). On the 27th, i went to Beaconsfield, Rutland, Croydon, Salisbury, and Stanley roads, but with tiie exception of one cow and a few calves they were clear. i found 14 bullocks on the Beaconsfield and Stanley road on the 28th. On the 30th I got 4 horses at Tututawa (released). On December Ist I went to Ngaore :)nd Einuerty Road, but found nothing. On the ‘ 4 th , .1 got one 1 horse: on the Mountain Road, and 1 cow on Rutland Road. On the sth (owing to complaints) I. accompanied Milner to Finncrty Road, and found 1 bullock, 4 horses, and a few calves (all released). On the 7th I was at Huiroa, hut found nothing. On the 10th I found a number of calves and one horse on Radnor Road, also one horse in Midliirst. On the 12th ! impounded one horse in Toko. On the 13th I Font as far as the Mountain House gate and found live calves (released), I also got 5 cows (released), on the same date. 1 also got three horses on the Monmouth Road. On the 13th I went to Tututawa and Punhvhakau and found five cows (released), and one marc in foal (impounded). On the 16th I impounded one horse from East Road. On the 17th I found three cows and one horse, on Toko Road (released). Correspondence. The secretary of the Egmont National Park Board asked the Council to appoint the successor of Mr G. A. Marchant, resigned. Or. Rogers was appointed to the vacancy. Mr L. Baskin, of Midhirst, in a letter of a column odd in length, complained that the Midhirst ranger was partial in his duties. The letter was not considered by the Council. The Board’s Solicitor, Mr W. G. Malone, wrote thanking the Council for re-appointing him to the position as County Solicitor. Owing to his particular connection with the County from its creation, ho valued the appointment very highly. The Under-Secretary of the Minister for Internal Aiiiairs wrote that he had been directed to inform the Council that it was proposed to assign the letters “3.D.” and the numerals 1 in 250, to the Stratford County Council for the purposes of the Motor Regulations Act 1908, to enquire if they wore suitable. The Council agreed to the motion. Mr. Frank IT. Mills wrote stating that he had been asked by the Matau settlers to write and ask if the Council could do anything towards improving the Matau-Kiore Road, as it was <>t present impassable for wheel t laflic. He had been'told that the Stratford Council had been collecting rates of sections of his side -of Kiore for 16 years, and as this road had only been in use 18 months and the County had only spent £l9 of the ratepayers’ money on this road, they felt that they Were justified in asking that something might l>o done.—Held over. Mr F A. Kccsby wrote drawing attention to a ditoii which runs along the front of his property on Radnor Road. it had not been cleaned out

for ten years, and was in a very neglected state The engineer \ya.s* ilist ructcd to act in the matter. J. Brake requested again for improvements on the Swansea Road South, requiring about six chains of forming and gravelling The Borough Council were willing to do their portion, in fact the engineer had already inspected the place. Cr. Thomson moved that the matter be referred to the Borough Council.—Carried A. Fenwick wrote, stating his case with regard to a notice served on him that his lease of Waipuku gravel reserve had terminated. He asked for a chance to tender for a fresh lease. It was explained that Mr Fenwick had a perfect right to tender for the lease. Deputations. A deputation was received by the Council, who asked that attention he given to Brooks’ Road in the West Riding. Mr Lehman, who stated the case, said that it was two chains of the road near a creek which troubled them. Part of the road was good, but this piece was impassable for dray traffic. Cr. Smith moved that the work be done, and the motion was carried. Mr Meades had a similar request to proffer re the Denbigh Road, and he offered to supply the boulders.to gravel the Id or 50 yards which, required attention. The Chairman moved that Mr. Meade’s offer he accepted with thanks. Another deputation, consisting of Messrs Wolf and Suson, asked for 10 chains of metalling on Cardiff-Wain-gongoro Road, opposite Mr Marchant’s place. They w'ere prepared to meet the Council in the matter, and would give, say, £2O if the Council spent £SO. Cr. Smith moved that the grant he made, and explained the position. It was to enable the farmers to get their miik to the Midhirst Dairy Co.’s near creamery. The cutting only needed gravelling, and ho though the case was a mo:;;t deserving one. Mr Wolf stated that the settlors could open a private road that would he closer to the creamery for them, but fliey were doing a fine thing to the Council. The Engineer said that the cost would ho about £5 10s a chain. Mr Rogers stated that the Midliirst Dairy Co. would contribute something towards the cost of the work. An amendment was moved, that the Council advance subsidies of £1 for £1 out of the special fund.—Carried. Other Matters. The dog tax was fixed at 2s 6d for working dogs and 10s for sporting dogs, and Mr Cutlibertson was appointed collector. The Chairman gave notice to move that Kent Terrace be declared a main road. Four days’ holiday for Christmas and New Year wore granted the permanent employees. The engineer was instructed to report on the feasibility of making a deviation of the Opunake Road, just eastward of the Hastings Road, to avoid a steep pinch. It was decided to expend £lO on the fiat portion of the Tahora Road, provided the settlers find £lO. Tenders will lie wanted for 500 yards of metal for the Ohura Road. Cr. Young moved that the Government be asked to make a straight-out grant of £IOO instead of a £1 for £1 subsidy, to the Mangaehu Road, Cr. Young, the Chairman, and the officials to give reasons to the Government for the change, said that Lite member for the district he asked to -give-ins-■■assistance.—The motion was carried. The matter of obtaining a road roller—it was decided that the matter bo field over till next meeting, and that in the meantime the engineer he instructed to obtain specifications of various makes. Tenders. Tenders were accepted as under: — For lease of Waipuku gravel reserve, J. Kovaleski; renewal of Waipuku bridge, Mountain Road, F. M. Grayling; 1 straightening and cleaning Makuri stream, Needham Bros.