STRATFORD NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 280, 18 April 1913, Page 3

STRATFORD NEWS.

I STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL At the monthly meeting of the Stratford Countv Council there, were present: The chairman (Cr. W. Hathaway) anil Cis. J. Christoffel, T. R. Anderson, E. Walter, J. Young, W. Rogers, J. Smith and W. IT. Were. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer (Mr. E. C. Robinson) reported as follows on the work done during the month:—Work in hand: McPhee's metalling contract was taken over on the 11th inst., and is now being completed at his expense. Satisfactory arrangements have been made for carrying on the work, which will be pushed ahead as fast as weather conditions will allow of. The Makuri Valley drainage contract has been completed. The drain-cleaning contract in Douglas Valley is progressing steadily- The Wawiri road metalling contract has been completed; also the delivery of maintenance shell-rock oil nearer portion of the same road. The Stanley road maintenance sliell-rock contract for roads in Mahgaehtt riding is progressing steadily. The South riding boulder contract is , j nearing completion. I was able to satis- ' faetorilv arrange for the contractor to get into Patea river from Lower Bell j road. The crushing plant is still en-1 gaged in the West riding, having com- | pleted at Cardiff, and having a few I more (lavs' work in connection with Bre- J con road remetalling. The road roller .m in attendance putting the newly-laid metal. The grader is also in this riding, trimming up the various aide tracks and banking up metal. The Finnerty road bridge and approaches have been completed, with the exception of a few yards of earth on one of the wings. The Cardiff road concrete culvert and regrading of approaches thereto arc nearing completion. General.—l have inspected the lower portion of Ronald road, and think that from £2O to £3O could profitably be

j spent per medium of the grader in rei formation and general trimming up. This would materially improve the unmetalled portion of the road. The diffi-, culty of obtaining maintenance metal for East riding is becoming serious. For two seasons, owing to not being; able t,o' obtain supplies from Mt. Egmont, the roads have been starved, and the position in some instanes is becoming acute. As there seems no reasonable prospect of obtaining metal from tlie mountain ip the near future, I have thought it advisable to communicate with the Railway Department re the terms on which it will lease its quarry reserve at Sentry Hill. The reply is atJ tached herewith. The idea I have in view is to set our crushing plant at Sentry Hill during the slack season (or, if it' should be otherwise engaged, to arrange with a contractor to do so with his plant), and send up the crushed metal per rail. Should.we not Require enough for our own roads to make the proposition an economical one, there are other neighboring local bodies who will be glad bf the chance to obtain material. The enclosure referred to by the engineer in his report stated that the Council would be granted permission to take metal from the railway ballast pit at Sentry Hill that right to be granted under deed of agreement at a peppercorn rental, a royalty, of 3d per , cubic yard ! to:.be paid, the right of oji&er l&jftl bodies' to get material from the pit under similar terms to be in no wise interfered with, fencing, etc., to be carried out by the Council. North Riding (West).—The foreman had had trouble with the culvert just south of Monmouth road. The Railway Department had allowed the outlet of its culvert to silt up,, and now the water was not strong enough to drive the silt out, causing the water to rise about six to eight feet in the manhole. ' Xbrth .-Riding (East).—Makara road: The work authorised -was completed, making considerable difference in the grade.

East Riding (Toko).—The re-metalling of a portion of Ahuroa road west was, finished.A .w,er)f„had been "necessary during- ; the' past month to cogi-j plete and maintain the recently metalled portion of Toko road, Toko road east, and Mangaelm road. As ins tr tic ted, he had had the shellrock on Mr. Linn's property, Standish road, stripped. GENERAL MATTERS. The chairman reported having arranged with Mr. McCluggage to pay a Lroyalty of 6d per 100 feet for all timber carted over the Stanley road. He had an understanding from Mr. McCluggage that he would be practically finished by the end of the month.

Mr. W. Gray (Strathmore) waited on the Council, and requested that he should be given permission' to remove, the fence opposite bis property to a line on the level bf thf road. The settler stated that he had mentioned the: matter to other settlers and to drovers, who were all of the opinion that the move would be a good one. —Cr. Christoffel moved that Mr. Gray tyi given permission to move the fence at 'his own expense and risk in ease of accidents.—The motion Ueing carried, Mr. Gray refused to assent to it, saying that he was willing",to erect this fence at his own expense, but is doing bo he was safeguarding the public, and he considered it hard to have to shoulder the responsibility of accident. • The Lands and .Survey Department (Wellington) forwarded a copy of the warrant appointing Messrs. E. A. Adlam, J. E. Fen wick and P. Thompson to be trustees, in place" of Messrs. A. Brown and A. Ridd, resigned, and G. C. Blanchard, deceased, for the Waip'nku ceinctery.

The Commissioner of Crown Lands for Taranaki (Mr. G. H. Bullard), in reply to the Council's letter protesting against the proposal to refrain from forwarding monthly-schedules of land- sold;etc.', in the future; wrote stating that 1 the decision «ralil not be altered. It was customary for local bodies in other districts to obtain the- information from the Valuer-General, and he had no doubt the Council would be similarly supplied on application. Cr. Rogors drew-attention to the dan-i gerous junction of the Monmouth and Mountain roads, and said that the steep banks on either side required rounding off.—To be attended to.

The engineer will procure the necessary earth required to fill np the lower portion of the section south of the Council building.

Mr. Kidd will be informed that unless he clears out bis water-course on the Alcama road as required, the Council will do the work at 'Mr. Kidd's expense. Tiie engineer was requested to inspect the Akama road bridge, reported unsafe.

The engineer was authorised to go on with the erection of a surfaceman's cottage 011 the Manaia road. He will also apply to the Lands Department for a paddock of about four acres at Huiroa. The Stratford County Council decided a month ago to await developments before deciding to support or otherwise

PROM OUR RESIDENT REPORTER. Office and Job Printing Works: Next N.Z. Loan & Mercantile Agency Co., Broadway. / Telephone No. 113.

the scheme for financing a Taranaki court at the Auckland Exhibition. Delays are dangerous. The scheme was definitely turned down at Wednesday's meeting, the councillors being of opinion that the matter concerned the county and the dairy industry very little, and that the ratepayers' money could be spent nearer home with greater advantage to those who paid it into the county funds.

'Entries for Mr. Newton King's Stratford Haymarket and Mart sales on Saturday are advertised.

Mr, E. Walter has been appointed to represent the Stratford county on the Hospital Board, in place of Mr. E. Marfelt, resigned. Mr. C. E. Armstrong, of Hamilton, has joined Mr. Cecil Wright as managing clerk. RIFLE SHOOTING The Stratford and Ivaponga Rifle Clubs fired at match at Stratford, twelve men a side, at 300, 500 and 600 yards. Stratford won by 13 points. Scores:— STRATFORD.

Rfm. A. Speck 33 32 98 Rfm. N. Thorpe . 33 34 29 D6 Rfm. C. Jackson 29 32 34 95 Rfm. A. Sangster . 33 31 31 95 Pres. W. Brocklebank . 32 28 32 92 Rfm. C. Speck . 30 33 28 91 Rfm. E. Brocklebank . . 20 32 29 90 89 Rfm. A. Wickham . 31 32 26 Rfm. H. Gollop . 31 33 25 89 Rfm. J. MacMahon .. . 29 34 25 88 Bfm. G. Sangster . 31 2S 28 87 Rfm. W. Rogers . 27 29 23 79 Totals . 368 379 342 1089 KAPONGA. Rfin. A. Harrigon . . 31 34 33 98' Rfm. G. Smith . 31 33 29 95 Rfm. C. King , 30 28 34 92 Rfm. S. J. Rollard . 30 32 30 92 President A. H. Guy . . 30 32 29 91 Rfm. C. Betts 31 31 29 91 Rfm. J. O'Neill ....... 30 26 91 Bfm. Harrison 23 31 31 90 Rfm. J. Guy 28 33 29 90 Rfm. Schumacher ..... 30 33 26 89 Rfm. J. 'McCarthy 28 29 25 82 Rfm. W. Wetter 30 28 17 75 Totals 362 376 338 1070