STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143769, 18 April 1912, Page 4

STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. Hie monthly mooting of the Stratford County Council was held at Stratford on Wednesday. There were present;—Councillors W. Hathaway (in the chair), W. Rogers, E. Walter, E. Mar fell, J. Smith, J. Christoffel, J. Thomson, Anderson and Young. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer (Mr. Robinson) reported that the two Government grant contracts on Manga and Mangacapa roads were approaching completion, and would be out of hand very shortly. The Makuri drainage contract was proceeding slowly owing to tho very unsuitable season experienced. The contractor for the Mangaelm Road metalling was engaged in stripping his shellrock pit, but the latter was not turning out nearly as well as expected. The Ohura Road boulder supply contract was almost completed. The Waipuku bridge renewal was also well on towards completion. As instructed he had inspected Sangster’s Hill on Ohura Road and estimated that the cost of regrading and generally improving it, would lie about £6lO. This work would have the effect of materially shortening the hill, of easing a reverse turn near bottom on the cast side, and of practically cutting out tho present hill altogether on west side. It is the most important and necessary improvement work on the whole road, and should bo taken in hand ns soon as funds will permit. During the month he had been collecting information for the annual estimate, and hoped to be able to submit same at next meeting. Some doubt seemed to exist as to whether nr not any holidays were allowed at Easter, and some of the pay-shcets showed that they had been taken. He would like the council to give a definite ruling on what holidays wore allowed throughout the year, in order that no misunderstandings of this nature might occur in future. No action was taken with regard to the improvement of Gangster's Hill. AVitb regard to holidays it was decided to allow the foremen Good Friday and Easter Monday and four days at Christ-, mas, FOREMEN’S REPORTS. Following is a summary of the foremen’s reports: — North Riding (East): —The loads generally were in fair order. Repairs had been made during the month to Ratapiko, Makara, Beaconsficld, Croydon A Vest and AI. to M., Ackland aiid Salisbury, and general maintenance work carried out.

North Riding (West): —Most of the roads were in fair order at present. Unable to get a team yet to do the metalling on Barclay Road, but expected one soon and would then put the work in hand at once. The Monmouth Road filling was finished and the lower portion of the road had been raked in again. Tim bridge near Pembroke Road had been repaired, and other necessary work carried out. An old culvert on Hunt Road had hern replaced with ten ISin. concrete pipes. Repairs had been made to the Radnor Road. Complaints had been madtabout sledging and had warned the parties concerned not to offend again. General repairs had been carried out on the following roads: Mountain, Upper Pembroke, Denbigh, Derby, York and Rutland.

South Hiding:—All the roads were in good order. Had been busy most of the month'' banking tip metal. Proposed to start remetalling portions next month. "

East Hiding (Toko); —All the loads with the exception of Toko Road were in fair order. The Toko Hoad was in a very rough state and was badly in need of remetalling. Maintenance metal was also very scarce. • The work authorised, on Toko Hoad East had been started, a sufficient quantity cf metal was stripped in the pit, and the necessary earthwork on the road was nearing completion. Hoped to start metalling on Monday next. A considerable amount of necessary repairs had been done on Makuri Hoad during the past month. East . Riding (Douglas);—On the Douglas Road had put in 13 18in pipes, rcdecked a large wooden culvert and put eleven planks in the first bridge. The remainder of the time bad been spent in raking loose stone near Douglas, and shifting small slips'near Strathore. A few days had also,been put in on the Taihore Road.

East Riding (Huiroa):—Drain cleaning had been carried out on the Mohakau Road, but it would take two weeks longer to finish it. Drains were also being cleaned out on the Upper Akama Road. Other roads were in good order. West Riding;—Crushing work was now finished on Upper Waingongoro Road. The work of remetalling portions of Opunake Road No. I was nowin progress. Mauaehu Riding All the roads in fair order. General repairs had been carried out on them during the month, and the metalling at Puniwhakau bridge completed. DEPUTATION'S. Mr. Mills and others waited on the council with reference to the state of the Denbigh Road. It was, the deputation pointed out, in a very bad condition, and had boon for some years, and unless something was done at onco the road would be impassable before the end of the w-inter. Settlers twelve montlis ago had agreed to a separate rate of Id in the £ on the understanding that the council subsidised the amount so raised £ for £. This the deputation asked the council to-day. The deputation expressed the opinion that had tho road been properly looked after it would not have been in its present very unsatisfactory state. Tho Chairman endorsed what the deputation had said with regard to the state of the road, which, he said, was a disgrace to the council. The deputation pointed out that the settlors themselves had put out on the side of the road about 200 yards of boulders for the council to have broken. This had been done free. Councillors expressed their surprise at the condition of the road, in view, of the money that had been spent on it. One member of tho deputation said the state of the upper end of tho road near his section was such that ho could not get out with his milk to the factory. Councillor Christoffel said, seeing that tho road was in such a had state, ho failed to soc how it could be put in order unless the settlers were prepared to raise a loan to do the work. Other councillors also expressed this

opinion, and the deputation stated that some of the settlers at the top end were prepared to raise a loan, but uinortunafcely the majority were against tho proposal. Councillor Marfell proposed that the riding members and trie engineer confer with tho settlers as to the best course to adopt. Councillor Walter seconded, but this motion was withdrawn in favour of one submitted by Councillor Smith to the effect that tho separate rate agreed to by the settlers and the subsidy asked for be spout to tlie best advantage in making lire road passable. This was agreed to.

A deputation waited on the council Irom tlje Eltham County Council with reference to a dispute between the two councils concerning damage alleged to have been done to the 1‘ innerty Road by a contractor for the Eltham Council, The claim which had been made by the Stratford Council was for £32. Tho question was discussed at length, but no definite decision was arrived at, and tho matter was referred to the engineers of the respective bodies with a view.to their coming to an agreement, and failing this Air. Climic will be called in as umpire. Mr. Jennings .waited on tho council with respect to a drain on tho Douglas Road near his farm. It transpired that certain work had been carried out, and tho engineer said this answered the purpose. No action was taken. NOXIOUS WEEDS. t The Department-of Agriculture wrote with regard to the council’s letter drawing attention to tho need of more drastic measures being taken in the county f or checking the spread of noxious weeds, and stating that the matter will lx* brought under the notice of the responsible officers of tho department, in order that- adequate steps might be taken. MISCELLANEOUS. A number of settlors at Rowan asked the council to form that portion of the Rowan Road from the end of tho metal to the section occupied by Air. J. N. Gamlin.—Provided the settlers do the stumping and find a horse and plough, the council will do the work. The chairman was authorised to sign the agreement with tho Clifton County Council with regard to the alterations of boundaries of the two counties at Alatau. Air. AA 7 . A. Hewitt wrote that he was willing to find £ for £ to complete the metalling of tho Esk Rond. A long letter was received from the clerk to the Waipawa County Council sotting forth the manner in which that council was carrying out its telephone sclmmcs. The thanks of the council will be forwarded for the information supplied. Dr. Chcsson, Acting District Health Officer, wrote expressing the opinion that the council should issue a requisi-, tion to the owner of a store and dwelling to have them pulled down and also to have all rubbish cleared away from tho section, fie enclosed a condemnation certificate.—A mistake had apparently occurred in the name of the owner of the property, and it was decided to return the letter for amendment. Messrs. E. Alarfell. C. Bayly. and E. J. Lncena wrote, with reference to the metalling of the Toko Hoad oast, and undertook to find subsidy of £ for £ up to £l2O towards the cost of the proposed work. Mr. AV. G. Alalone, the council’s solicitor, wrote with reference to the Upper Pembroke Road, and stating that as far as he could ascertain it was a county road and not a Government road. He also understood that it was situate along the bank of a river, and was therefore of opinion that it could not be stopped except by a special enactment of the Legislature.—Hold over for a month.

Tt wa.s decided to give notice to two settlers to clean out a cre-ek running from the Makuri Road to the Makuri Stream, in order to protect the road.