STRATFORD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XL, Issue 9063, 22 April 1891, Page 2

STRATFORD.

[from our resident agent.] COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING. The Council held its ordinary monthly mooting on Saturday (18th). Present : Messrs Marchant (chairman), Bayly, Read, Irvine, Liardet, Monkhouse, McGregor, and Youngman. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. Correspondence. — Outwards : Colonial Secretary, J. Broderick, Patea County Council, Taranaki County Council, H D. Coutts, J . Robson, G. &H. Curtis, Property Tax Commissioners, Manager National Bank, Auditor-General. Inwards: Manager National Bank, Property Tax Department, J. Barleyman, Patea County Council, J. Tarrant, County Solicitor, N. Schumacher, Horowhenua County Council, Premier's Office (Wellington), Treasury. D nutations. — Mr T. C. Taylor waited on the Council respecting the state of the Ahuroa Road, the eastern end of which, he complained, had been neglected by ihc Manganui Road Board. The Chairman moved, "That until the ratepayers in the Manganui Road District have petitioned to merge into the County, the Council cannot undertake work on roads not at present County roads." Carried. — Mr Tisch attended to ask the Council to do something in the matter of an unfinished tunnel under the' Mountain Road at his place. The job bad. been nearly completed by the Taranaki Council, but on the Stratford County being formed the men were at once taken off by the i'ormor. The consequence was that flood water could not find its way through, and backed up against his turbine, preventing him from using his milk separator. Mr McGregor moved, " Thiit tho Chairman bo authorised to have the necessary work done." . Carried. TenJera —The Council went into Committee to open tenders for repair* to the ajaimUln ifaftdi tf ortb Biding* Un r«mw-

ing, a resolution arrived at in Committee accepting the tenders of Messrs Dingle & -Tapp for gravel at 2s 3d por yard, and of Mr Mumby for earthwork, &c, £25, was adopted. Ooardraft. — Mr Monkhoiiso moved and Mr McGregor seconded, " That in accordance with section 212, Counties Act, the sum of £450 be borrowed from the National Bank of New Zoaland by way of overdraft." Carried. — This sum is to cover a temporary loan of £100 advanced already, and the cost of a stone crusher and, probably, an engine. Preliminary Expennes. — An account was received from the Treasury for expenses in connection with the election of the Council. Moved by MrLiardet, and carried, " That the Treasury be asked for details of expenditure." Stontcnislier. — The Chairman reported that he and Mr Head had made enquiries respecting the purchase of a crusher. He moved, " That the Clerk write to Mr D. Berry, Now Plymouth, asking him to order a stonecrusher on the terms stated in his letter." Curried.. Balanon sheet. — -The Council's balancesheet for quarter ending March 31st was read. Stesfor Stonecmsiicr. — The Chairman asked Councillors to make enquiries for suitable sites near Stratford. Waimato Road Board, — Moved by Mr Monkliouse, and carried, " That the' Waimato Road Board bo aaked to furnish a statement of accounts as between the two bodies, and be informed th \t the Council thinks it hardly reasonable that it should be called upon to pay part of the expense of preparing the statement." Local Bodies Loans Act, — Mr Liardct moved, '• That the resolution adopting the provisions of the Local Bodies Loans Act be confirmed." Seconded by Mr Read, and carried. Ojjunalee Road Repairs. — The Chairman reported that Messrs Dingle and Tapp had finished their contract, and the road within the township was now in thorough repair. Mountain Road. — Mr Monkhouse moved, " That tenders be invited for gravel or broken stone as per resolution of March 14th. Tenders to close on Saturday, April 23rd, and to be dealt with by a Committee consisting of Messrs Marchant, Liardet, and Irvine." Carried. — This refers to the understanding arrived at with the Town Board that the Council should extend tho metal to meet the footpaths recently laid down by the Board. Foreman. — The Chairman reported having temporarily engaged Mr R. Kirkpatrick at 10s per day. Engineer. — The matter of the appointment of an engineer and foreman of works was discussed at some length. The Chairman read a rough schedule of duties and conditions of servico, and moved that applications be invited, applicants to state the remuneration required. An amendment by Air Irvine was carried, to the effect that work in connection with loan expenditure should be paid for by a percentage, applicants to state what percontage required. Mr McGregor objected to the system of tendering. He thought the Council should fix the remuneration, and moved as an amendment, '* That tho remuneration be 7£ per cent, on ordinary and 5 per cent on loan expenditure." I Mr Bayly seconded, and the Council divided on the question, when Mr McGregor's amendment was lost on the casting vote of the chairman. A further amendment by Mr Irvine, " That the remuneration be £60 " per annum, together with 5 per cent, on loan expenditure," mot with no seconder, The original resolution was then adopted, and Mr Monkhouse moved, " That a special meeting be held at 11.30 a.m. on Tuesday, May sth, to open tenders for tho post of engineer." Carried. dating Native Lands, — The Chairman moved, "That this Council heartily concurs in the views of the Horowheuua County Council, and will lend all the aid it can to obtain legislation with regard to the rating of native lands." Seconded by Mr Liardet. and carried. Fencing Embankments — Mr McGregor moved, " That a sum not exceeding £20 be spent in substantial three-rail fencing on some of the worst embankments in the north riding." Seconded by Mr Youngman, and carried. Toko Ro'id. — Mr Bayly reported that he had let the work authorised jn this road at a total cost of £12 Bs. He had also arranged for the work on Gordon Road.. Opunake Road Loan — It appearing to be necessary, in order to comply with tho regulations that the special rate should be actually made (though* not necessarily collected), Mr Monkhouse moved, and Mr Irvine seconded, "That a special rate 1 of 4d in the £ be struck over Opunake Road No. 3 special area." Carried. Mr Monkhouse, in connection with this loan, presented a petition, signed by a majority of the ratepayers in the special area, asking that the earthwork should not be let by public tender, but be balloted for by residents, at the engineer's estimate. Mr Monkhouse said he did not altogether agree with the petition, but if there was any way in which preference could be given "to settlers he should be in favor of it. The Chairman read a clause from the Counties Act, stating that no work to a greater value than £20 could, except in urgent cases, be let except by public tender. All thai the Council could do was to see that the contracts were made small enough to suit the settlers. He moved "That tho petitioners be informed that the Council considers itself bound to invite public tenders, but that instructions will be given to lay off the work in small sections so as to suit the convenience of residents wishing to tender." Seconded by Mr Irvine, and carried. Dog Registration. — On the motion of Mr Liardet, Mr W. G. Malone was formally appointed registrar of dogs and collector of dog tax. Accounts. — The following were passed for payment : — Lightfoot and Buckthought £1 14s ; R. Kirkpatrick, £5 10s ; Dinglo and Tapp, £59 3s ;J. Priug, 10s ; Jones &Son, £6 18s 8d ;J. Smith, £2 Us 3d ; W. G. Malone, £16 ; Innes & Co,, £3 2s ; J. E. Smith, £1 2s ; Crockett Bros., £1 8s; W. Hatcher, £5. 17s 3d; VV. Richards, £3 13s 9d ; M. Keppel, £1 4a 6d. Mr Liardet moved, " That all accounts put in for payment must be in the hands of the clerk by 6 p.m. on the day boforo the meeting." Carried. Opunake Road No. 2 Contract. — Tho Council agreed on the motion of Mr Monk- , house to take over from the Hawora County the supervision of this contract.