ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 259, 12 April 1915, Page 2

ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The usual monthly meeting of the Eltham County Council was held at Eltham on Saturday, when there were present: Councillors A. 0. Pease (chairman), C. E. McCuiimess, E. J. Gilford J. Granville, C. J. Belcher, A. McWilliam' D. Black, A. V. Tait, and A. Campbell. KAPON'GA'S MAIN ROAD. The Kaponga Town Board notified the Council that all the material was on the ground for "Restarring" the Eltham Road, and requesting the necessary plant and men as soon as possi'ble. In view of the approach of winter it would be necessary to commence the work without delay.-—The engineer said the Board was told some three mouths ago that they could have the plant when thev required it, but they eould not have the men. To provide men would hold up the county work. The Board had made much of the point that the road should be under its own control, but since It had been so, the county had done all the work. The season was getting late and the county could not spare the men —Cr. Belcher said the Board was a verv progressive one, and he would favor assisting them to any extent possible The chairman agreed.—Cr. Tait said they certainly should assist them.—On the motion of the chairman, seconded by Cr. Black, the matter was left in the hands of the engineer.

THE OPUNAKE RAILWAY. The Resident Engineer (Mr. G. T. Murray) pointed out that there would probably be a considerable amount of heavy cartage over the Skcet Road during the coming winter from the Te Roti junction to Kapuni.—The engineer said he had pointed out that the road was totally unfit to carry, the traffic. He suggested that the Department be asked to take over the maintenance of the road during the time that they l are using it.—Cr. Campbell said the road was in a very bad state.—The chairman said there were also the bridges to bo considered.—Cr. McWilliam said that if the Department took over control the question of the 'standard to which it was to be kept up would be a difficult question to decide.—The chairman suggested that the Department be asked to give them a subsidy, but it was difficult to fix a fair subsidy.—The engineer said there was a fair supply -of shingle available from the Waingongoro river; they should hasten to get this out and then arrange with the Department to assist them.—Left in the chairman's hands, to arrange. ADJUSTMENT OF BOUNDARIES, j The Hawcra County Council wrote, with reference to the alteration of country boundaries, that in connection j with the proposal to transfer sections.in the Omona to Eltham County the rate- j pavers had objected to the transfer, on' the" ground that Hawcra would be their ultimate outlet. In view of this the ] council decided that it could not agree '■. to the suggested alteration.—Cr. McWib i liam said there were several settlers ! in the Omona using the Eltham county roads and paying all their rates to Hawcra county.—The chairman said it was certainly unfair, but it was no doubt a matter of rates.—Cr, McWilliam said the rates in the Hawcra county were. Id, and in Eltham 2d. —The clerk saidi that a commission would probably) force, them into Eltham county, but evidently they would not be otherwise able to arrange the matter. —-The chairman moved that the council agree to the Eltham riding transfers, and that the Omona riding be left in abeyance.—Carried. |

■ HELP FOR THE BELGIANS, The Minister of Finance wrote, recounting the arrangements suggested to lie. made to assist the Belgians, and which the Government had been recommended to adopt. The suggested contribution from Taranaki was .C2s!>. —The chairman suggested tiiat such fluids should he sent to a centre in Taranaki.—The clerk said there was a ■proposal to that effect. A conference to arrange this matter- would probably he held.—Tile matter then dropped.

TECIIXIOAIj SCHOOL. REQUIRES EUXDS The clerk announced that a deputation was waiting to interview the council in connection with the Technical School. <A Councillor McWilliam said there was a district in the Omona where the settlers could not get a primary school. It appeared to him to be an anomalous position under these conditions to supports technical school in Elthain, which was not required. They had now got a recommendation to the Education Department from the board to spend £l5O in Omona. Councillor MoOuinness said the Technical School in Elthain was not taken proper advantage of. Councillor Belcher said ho could not altogether agree with Councillor McWiliiam. Two wrongs did not make right. Me quite understood the need of a school in Omona, but because they had not one was no reason to refuse to support the Technical School. The chairman and Councillor Granville considered that they should endeavor to assist in any educational matter. ' Messrs. ,T. W. Murray and R. C. D. Lightbourne then waited on the council, and asked for a renewal of the council's annual subscription to the Technical School. Mr. Murray referred, to the need of cash to carry on the work of the school. Mr. Lightbourne also outlined the position. This year there were fifty on the roll of which twenty were adults. Councillor McWilliam said his prior remarks as to the use or otherwise of the school were somewhat wide of the I mark. ; It was then decided, on the motion ! of the chairman, seconded by Council-, lor Belcher, to grant the usual £5. • EXfUNI.ER'S REPORT. j Mataimaroko Road (ITatrick's). IV ] weather permits delivery of shellroek, ( will be completed during the coming ! week. ' .' Karewa Road—flood progress has j been made with the formation of this ro'ul. The contract should be eonijilet- I ed veil within the specified time, ' J Eraser Road.—The fire chains of -irav- j cllimr authorised to be done on this road I I-: cu,m,l„!e-l. j Eltham ]!o:,d. Kanon-.a.-.-Tho n-r„!v- I "":• <•<■ I lie -o o>„l (.„„! „r V,..,);,,. j„ (l.j* road lias b.an .:... V e'vhat dr'ayol b- ■ <l"'w-ir ».,,!',., .About „ laWs ; vo.'!-__wi!l h.evcv;!-. eomnlote iL The - has Wn ZZ'\lZ\ K ' m] '" Um ' hr " h ""! Elfliam Road. Mauv-atoki.—flwin" to '< ''•'•• -enlber inlerripting the work of j -nva •■•,•.-• a -lart lis-: been made with : '-'■n,, as Ihe vovlii'. is coinnlef.oil (bis : work wi'l be re-ineo.l n „,l continued as - fir as weather permits. He bad found ] i< »!■:(-:•,'-■ to wocure a furlher iflftn ■ "a'bms of res(ai ; . ! l!:M,-l.i(iv.>., 17ead. Contracts for the j deliverv of Jicllrock are now complet- • ed. .About eiehfeen chains have been '■ repaired wilh fine rock from the pits, j

He proposed to submit to the next meeting a statement showing the cost of various works undertaken during the past year. ' Duthie Road.—This roau would be completed on Thursday if the weather remained line. The report was adopted. DANCEUOU3 PLACES AND DRIVING. On the suggestion of Councillor Gifford, it was decided to place a danger notice on Mortlock's Hill. Councillor McWilliam complained of several dangerous corners on the Mangamingi Road, and referred to the sliced of motor waggons on that road. He pointed out that vehicles could not pass on the ridge. ■Councillor Granville agreed. It was decided to erect a notice on the crest of the ridge road, cautioning motorists to drive slowly. It was also agreed to place another on the Taw'hiti Hill. On the motion of Councillor McWilliam, it was decided to caution a motor firm at Eltham on the matter of the dangerous speed at which his motor-lorry was driven, failing which he would be prosecuted; also to provide a silencer for the lorry. GENERAL. The clerk reported on the conference with the Egmont County Council on the matter of the Auroa Road, as already reported in the Egmont Council report.—Received. A motion urging the Treasury to transfer the wholly merged loans in'the Waimato County was moved by Councillor Black, seconded by Councillor Tait, and carried. The matter of filling a dangerous ditch on the Eltham Road, near Mr. Fitzgerald's, was left in the hands of the engineer. The chairman and Councillors Belcher, Gilford and Campbell ."were appointed a committee to go into the matter of securing a new car for the council, with power to act. Messrs Bamford and Cr'an, coach proprietors, applied for a reduction of the toll charges on the Eltham Road.—On the motion of the chairman, seconded , by Councillor Mefiuimicss j it was decided that the toll charge' bo 2s Cd at : each gate. The Taranaki Automobile association wrote expressing appreciation of the council's decision to metal the Boylan Road, and asking that notices to 'this effect be posted at either end of the Dalziel Road.—Councillors agreed that the suggestion of finger-posts was a good one.—lt was decided to pla'co 'posts as requested, and at the Boylan Road. Mr. C. Chine's claim for an extra ;C7 10s royalty on gravel tarcon rrom his property was- left to him to settle with the contractor. Mr. John, Hickey wrote offering £1 per annum to graze the Rukumona Reservo.—The, applicant was referred to the Taranaki t.nnd Board. The District Health Officer wrote complaining of sanitary defects on a property at Rnwhitiroa.—The clerk said there was no option but to carry out the notice, and it was decided that this be done. The Runanga County Council's circular regarding the increased price in foodstuffs, and calling on tlis Government to deal with the matter, was received.