STRATFORD NEWS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 9476, 23 August 1892, Page 2

STRATFORD NEWS.

[PROM OUR RESIDENT AGENT.]

COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING.

AuacsT 19. — Tho Council held its ordinary meeting to day. Messrs Monkhouso (chairman), Thompson, Read, Irvine, Tocker, Mehaffy, Ralfe, and Brown being present. The minutes of the last ordinary meeting were read and confirmed.

Alay.ain Road. — Messrs Wilkio and Lowick attended as a deputation in support of a petition asking that tha Council should metal this road, the petitioners undertaking to do the formation. The Chairman stated that be had been in communication with tho Premier and .Minister of Lands as to a Government subsidy for this work, and thought tho matter had bsltor stand ovor until tho Government intentions were known. He fully recognised the importance of tin road as tho connecting link between tho Opunake Road and Elthatn Road districts.

Upper Waingongoro. — Messrs Johnson and Malthus waited on the Council in reference to a proposed loan for metalling. Tho loan was to bo £300 secured on sections not in tho old special area . The Council decided to take the necessary steps.

Eng'wedrive". — The Chairman reported having arranged with Mr West that his salary should in futu o bo 11s per diem, for time actually working, — Action confirmed.

Opun'ike Road. — Tho Chairman reported that he hid authorised a deviation in tho road line near the Hustings ISoad which would give a straightcr road at tho same cost It might also be advisable to mike another deviation further on. — Action confirinc', and power given to make tho other deviation if adv.sablo. Finnerty /foirf. — The Chairman stated that he lud interested himself in the proposed loan for motalling, but he found that the settlors had, since his interviow w'th them, adopted a different area for tho special rating. Ho did not consider tho area now proposod a fair one, as it included sections which not only would derive slight benefit from the proposed work, but icighl want later on to join in raising loane for other roaJs. Ho thought it was tho duty of tho Council to bo very careful not to sanction any loan proposals which would lead to sections being unjustly includod in special rating areas. In the present case one settler would bo rated for work three miles away from his farm — After somo discussion it was resolved that tho Council cannot consent to raise a loan on the area proposed, but fat it will be glad to consider a rovised proposal. Cornwall Houd. — Tenders were opened in ConmiiUoe for the culvert, and wure declined as too high. Fresh tenders were ordered io be called. Midh rst. — It was reported that the Hallway Commissioners had decided to put in a temporary pipe culvert to carry off tho storm water which now occasionally flooded tho Mountain Road. Public Works Slitcmeid— Councillor Meliaffy moved that the I'ngineer be instructed to supply at next meeting a schedule showing the works that would bo necessary on each load uudor County control during the coming summer, with an obtimato of the cost, and that a r turn should also be prepared showing the fundi available for oach road. Councillors expressed approval, and tho motion was carried. (?< rdon lioud. — A request from Mr Tucker tint a portion of this road be felled, was held over. Bird Road, — The Engineer was instructed to report on a complaint by Mr Larcom, of alleged damage to his fence by contractors. Survey Pegs. — Dr.Cockerton complained that tho Broadway contractors had removed his section peg. Hoferrod to contruciora. Disputed A. count. — Mr J. 11. Sharrock was iaformei th.it tho Counvil could not

recognize his claim for payment for services in moving tho slone- crusher. Waiwiri I owl — The Crown Lands Ranger reporting that the money spent by him on the Council's behalf had been insufficient to make the road passablo, it was resolved to spend £15 in addition, tho matter being urgent.

Cardiff and Wa ingong oro.— Messrs. Marchant and Belcher waited on tho Council and urged that these roads should be remctallcd. Mr Marcfcant eaid that tho roads, especially tho Wttingo goro, wero breaking up fast and would go altogether if not put in order. The settlers' wore unanimous in favor of broken stono, v. Inch could be ob(aincd conveniendy near ■ — Mr Belcher said tho Car Jiff factory would turn out 140 tons of cheese this season, which meant tho carting of 1400 tons- Of ,milk, and there were the tradesmen's carts in addition. — Tho Engineer, in answer to a Councillor, stated (hat the cost Would bo £150 for 4 inches of broken etone.^-Tho Chairman said it was ovidont tho road was much in need of repairs, but the- question' for the Council was one of f itnds. t Thei'o was now an adverse balanco against thorn) roads of £250 and tho rale produced £27 18s making with tho Government I subsidy, about to bo discontinued, [an annual income of £35 plus a Htllo deferred payment thirds. How was the Council to find tho £150 required ? It would bo almost lunacy to rob tho main ro-ds, tho funds for winch wore insufficient as it wus. The Cardiff Road stood upon the Bamo basis as any other side road and ho saw nothing for it but that tho settlers should themselves provido the meanp. They wero in a favorable position, as they were not, as many byroad settlors were,- under a special rate to construct their main road. It would not bo. just to take money from other sido roads in tlu ridiDg, one third of which were impnssablc for bullock dmys in wintor, and some impassable for horse traffic. Thcro was not v side road in tie West Riling, except tho Cardiff Road, that was passablo for light wfrool traffic in winter — Councillor Ralfe ' said ho considered tido roads had ns > much right to part of tho county rate as main roads had. Having abolished the Road District, all roads in the tiding were county roads. — Councillor Tocker said thcro was still a groat distinction between main roads and by-roads. — Mr Marchant stated that having merged in tho County, all roads were County roads, and the full l£d loviol by tho Council should be credited to each road, and if the main road needed repairs a Buflicicnt Bum should be taken from each roa 1 to do it. Under tho Road Doard, Iho by-roads got (ho money raised by the Board from tho County road, now it appeared to be tho intention of tho Council to spend the general county rate on the main roads and also the separate rate dorivod from sections abutting on tho County road. The sido roads wero thus in a worso posili .n than under the Road Board instead of in a better The Chairman asked how main roads were to be maintained. — Mr Marchant : By their own funds. — The Chairman said that the change in merging road districts in the county was tor tho purpose of economy of administration, not for effecting a change in the distribution of f uads. The system advocated by Mr Marchant would bo certain to result in good sido roads and quagmires of main roads, — Other Councillors spoke in support of tho Chairman, and finally tho matter was shelved till noxt meoting. Waimate Accounts. — A sub-Commit tee was appointed to settle accounts with the Waiinato Road Board .

Charitable AH. — The S orotary to tho Charitable Aid Board having applied for tho monthly contribution, hois to be informed that as tho contribution so far as Stratford County is concerned is purely voluntary, the Council purposes paying half-yearly. Mountain Road. — Tho Enginoer was empowered to replace culverts near Monmouth Road at a cost not exceeding £20. Ahurou Road. — Mr Green's bridge was again discussed, and again deferred till noxt me:ting.

Striking Rates. — General and separate rates of Jd each were struck in the Ridings where there is no Road Boird and a general rate of Jd in the North and Central.— Councillor Ralfo objected to a fd County rate in tho West Rid'ng, which he eaid would not only keep the road in rep ur but would pay interest on the loans west of the Waingongoro, — The Chairman pointed out that tho County road between Stratford and tho Waingongoro was £800 in . debt. The Cardiff settlors were exceptionally fortunate in having a good main road for which they wero not liable to pay a special rate.

Slaughter License —A license was granted to Jensen & Co, of Midhirst

Manganui Road Board.— A Committee w.s appointed to mv stigato accounts as between the East Riding and tho Munganui Road District.

OpunaJce Roa-1 Xo 3 Arci. — The Engineer was inst'ucli'd to call altornato tendors for supplying gravel nnd broken stono. Sole Road. — Councillor Thompson gavo notice to move that a loan bo raised for metalling.

Emergency Fund — Tho Chairman gave notice to move that the money derived from tho district rate levied on sections abutting on the County roads bo credited to a special fund to boused for exceptional expenditure for which no ordinary provision is made ; tho said fund to bo drawn on only by resolution of which notice has been ghon. lie said that somo such fund was nocessary in tho cases of certain roadß in each riding, which, while nominally district roads, were in reality main roads. He instanced the Mnniia Uoad and tho Toko Hoad. and was of opinion that if such a fund was not started, the Council woul 1 havj a pormancnt heavy debit balance against its general fund,caußod by its being compelled by circumstances to undertake extraordinary expenditure on such roads. Roil Accounts.- Tho Clerk askod for definite ins ructions as to crediting the various roads with moneys raised. Ho was instructed to place all tho general rates to main roads accounts, and separate rates to the crodit of tho road from which it was raised, Incases where sections abut on mor i than one road, tho rate shall bo credited as Feems just to the Clerk and Chairman, subject to appeal to the Hoar.l. Accounts. — Accounts to the amount of £344 14s 7d were passe 1 for payment.