STRATFORD COUNTY.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 December 1923, Page 7

STRATFORD COUNTY.

UPKEEP OF ROADS. MONTHLY MEETING OF COUNCIL. The Stratford County Council met in Stratford on Saturday. Present: Councillors E. Walter (chairman), J. T. Belcher, S. Parker, W. H. Were, J. Jacobsen, T. R. Anderson, M. Davis, S. Pitt and J. O’Neill. The engineer (Mr. J. W. Spence) reported as follows:—' North Riding (east). —A considerable amount of boulder carting has been done, it being intended to use the boulders, when crushed, in re-facing the southern portion of the Stanley Road. The Makara Road, from the junction of the Stanley Road, has been crowned up and water-tabled; two sets of 9-inch pipes have been placed in this road. North Riding (west). —The tarring on the Beaconsfield Road, has been, completed to the East Riding boundary. A further quantity, 23'8 cubic yards of sand and chips, had to be obtained to give portions of the Mountain Road a second coat of tar and a dressing on the part between the Waipuku railway station and the toll-gate. South Riding.—-The whole of the work has been concentrated on the Climie Road, where all grades between the two bridges (where exceeding one in seventeen) have been reduced to that grade. Six hundred and sixty-eight yards of metal have been crushed, it being necessary to dump -the greater part where the grades had to be reduced. The Finnerty and Waihapa Roads are showing the effects of the recent dry weather, and are urgently in need of a coat of tar. East Riding (Toko and Douglas).— The portions of the Ohura Road have now received a tar dressing, as also has the northern end of the Raupuha Road. A start has been made in the work of procuring river blinding and crushing chips, which will be required on the Ohura Road between Sangster’s Hill and the Stratford borough boundary, a further coat of tar being necessary on this length. East Riding (Huiroa).—General surface work has been carried out on the Douglas North, Mohakau and Makuri East Roads. Arrangements have been made to renew the bridges on the Mohakau Road.

West Riding.—The scarifying, round-ing-up and rolling on the Waingongora Road has been completed. Two hundred and thirty-nine yards of shingle have been distributed on the Opunake and Manaia Roads preparatory to tar sealing. Repairs have been effected to the culvert on the Opunake Road near Rowan. Further trouble may be looked for at a later date. The culvert as constructed appears to be too small to carry flood water, and a considerable scour has taken place under the walls of the main portion of this culvert. The erection of the small bridge over the ford on the Opunake Road is well in hand.

Mangae.hu Riding.—The suspension bridge on the Tututawa Road has been tarred and repaired. Hodder’s bridge has also received a coat of tar. Slips on the Taurakawa Road have been cleared away. The 24-inch diameter pipes have been placed in the filling on the road deviation near Mr. Godkin’s property. It was left to riding members and the engineer to attend to the tarring of the Finnerty and Waihapa Roads and the necessary work on the Climie Road as opportunity permitted, it being pointed out that the foreman could not supervise the tar spraying and the metalling at the same time, and that the present fine weather was most suitable for tarring. “This is foolishness altogether,” said the chairman when considering a report from the county ranger (Mr. H. J. Spearman) to the effect that a disc had been drawn along the tarred surface of the Cheal Road for about three-quarters of a mile, causing a good deal of damage to the tar. The ranger also reported that 13 head of stock had been impounded and three convictions secured for riding at night without lights. It was agreed that the damaging of a tarred road as a result of a similar oecirrence would in future entail a prosecution. COUNTER PETITIONS. Ten ratepayers residing on the Climie Road, Ngaere, petitioned the council to renew the bridge at the entrance of the road, and raise it so that the maximum grade to the railway line Would not be greater than 1 in 16. Four other ratepayers from the same district, writing in connection with the same matter, drew attention to the magnitude of the work, and expressed the hope that the rest of the road would not remain in its present condition through want of funds necessary for regrading and re-metalling the upper end. While admitting the improvement that would be effected by the suggested alteration, they thought the request unreasonable when the life of the present structure appeared to be good for a further 10 or 15 years. If, however, the work could be carried out without cur- ' tailing the more necessary work on the road, they would raise no objection. Cr. O’Neill said a definite promise had been given to the settlers to renew the bridge within three years from 1919, and that the first petition was quite in order. He would, however, prefer to see the road re-graded and metalled first. He moved that the council attend to the raising of the bridge as recommended in 1919 as soon as possible. Or. Belcher said he had recently been over the road, and the upper end was in a very bad state. In fact, it was one of the worst in the county. The chairman pointed out that an agreement entered into four years ago could not bind the present council, although certain councillors would be morally bound to support the petition. At the suggestion of the chairman, Cr. O'Neill amended his resolution to the effect that the council would proceed with the raising of the bridge as soon as the road was completed, provided the cost of the work was met by means of a bridge rate. Cr. Pitt said he was not opposed to raising the bridge, but objected to the council committing themsilves a second time. The resolution was carried. Mr. Schneller waited on ‘ the council with the request, that about 30 chains ' of the Ronald Road be metalled. After hearing the report of the riding member (Mr, Anderson), the deputation was

informed that if the necessary money could be raised and nothing unforeseen c op ped up, the work would be attended to next year. In the meantime, an effort would be made to round up the road before wet weather set in. y A deputation from the Ngaere Dairy Company asked for 50 yards of broken metal to repair the approaches to the factory.—The council agreed to comply with the request if possible. UNPAID RATES. A communication was received from the Commissioner of Crown Lands, suggesting that the rates on a certain section, of which his department was receiving 50 per cent, of the milk cheques, should be written off. The chairman said it was impossible for the council to discriminate in this direction, and if the suggested step were taken they would not only lead to other applications of a similar nature, but would be unfair to those who had already paid up.—lt was decided the request could not be acceded to. MAIN ROADS RECOMMENDED. The council recommended to the District Highways Council that the Mountain and East Roads be main highways within the county boundaries. Cr. Pitt said he had noticed some counties were recommending two main highways, and while the Mountain Road certainly carried the most traffic at present he was satisfied that in fifty years’ 1 time the East Road would become an important main highway. The Opunake Road and Mangaehu Road, from the Ohura Road through to the Puniwhakau township, were recommended as secondary highways, Cr. Pitt objecting to the inclusion of the latter. GENERAL. The Cambridge Road Board is contemplating laying down some seven miles of tar-sealed road, and asked for particulars of the cost per mile and the cost of metal and tar used in the Stratford county, as well as other information the council might be able to give.—Left in the hands of the engineer. Fred. J. Steuart was granted permission to erect and use a private telephone. at Strathmore. The dog tax was fixed at 10s for sporting dogs and 2s 6d for working dogs. The inspector was instructed to take action against the owners of any vehicle loaded too widely, who occupied nore than a reasonable amount of the roads in travelling about. QTYLISH young Men get Ties, Collars, Shirts and perfect fitting Suits at White’s Corner, Stratford. Best possible value, cash only. dj?.