ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 284, 10 May 1915, Page 3

ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The usual monthly meeting of the Eltlmm County Council was held at Kithiim on Saturday, when there were 'prysent: Messrs A. C. l'ease (chairman) 0. E. iMcGuinness, E. J. Gifl'ord, J. (Iranviile, C. J. Belcher, A. Black, A. Tait and A. Campbell. . Leave of absence was granted to Councillor !A. McWilliani. ENGINEER'S REPORT.

The weather during' the past month has been such that good progress has made been on all works in hand, the following having been completed: Eltlmm Road, Kaponga, tarring; Kaponga Town Board, tarring; Duthie Road, metalling; Mangatoki'Riding, loan; Mataimaroke Road, shellrock gravelling. Refaeing 011 tiie Eltliam Road, Mangatoki, is in progress. The completed part looks well, and is undoubtedly the best class of tar work done in the county.

When wet weather intervenes the grader will be worked with a roller, removing grass from sides of roads where necesary. Karewa Road. —The contractor lias made good progress. The roads treated with tar compound surface dressing lock well, but it must be clearly understood that one coat is not sufficient for a start, and to obtain the best results the second coat should he applied before the first has time to wear. This also applies to work done for the Kaponga Town Board. The second coat being applied with the Aitken sprayer is much lighter than the first, and consequently only about half the cost. To provide as far as possible/for next year's requirements an early decision should be made as to what work will be done next season.

Otakeho bridge cost net £.1104, and the Kaupokonui £7S2. The report -was received.

The engineer also laid on the table a return, showing the cost of various works undertaken during the past year. The cost of 3000 yards of metal was £BOS 10s Sd, or 5s 4d per yard. The cost of tarring the Hunter Road was £6!I8 10s 'lid; thrre were 3GO chains, working out at £1; lss lOd per chain, or about G'/ a d per square yard. A length of 400 chains on the Hastings Road cost £Bfl9 lfis fid, at £b 5s per chain, or per square yard. The comity's tar account was £2290 Ms s 3d, for 50,000 gallons, at the rate of j lid per gallon. The total cost of run- I ning the motor-lorry for the past six .months, including depreciation, interest, etc was Is o%d per mile. TII'B SKEET ROAD. Tile chairman reported tliat he and the engineer had interviewed' the resident engineer in connection with the upKeep of the Skeet Road, and he moved as follows:—-That the Public Works Department be notified that the council is preparing to maintain Jfclie Skeefc Road from the railway to the Wainongoro bridge, and will keep an account of the expenditure on the road, and will look to the Department to pay the cost in excess of £B, which sum would have been sufficient to maintain the road for ordinary traffic. Councillor Tait seconded, and the motion was carried. MAIN ROADS. The auditor wrote, requesting the council to notify him of the main roads in the county. The chairman moved That this county has not declared any main roads, [ and has no intention of doing so at pre- | sent.

Councillor lielcher said the onus of declaring main roads should be on the Hovernment. It was becoming impossible to keep the roads up in a proper manner.

Councillor Campbell seconded the resolution.

Tn answer to Councilor Belcher, the clerk said if thev declared any main roads toll-gate revenuo would be paid into the general county funds. The motion ivas then carried. BOYLAN ROAD. Councillor Campbell asked that some fnetalling be done on the Boylan Koad. The lorry could do the work in a very short time: Councillor Belcher was strongly of the opinion that Councilor Campbell's request should be acceded to. Councillor Granville supported. Councillor Campbell pointed out that the work could be done in about a week if the weather continued fine. The matter was left in the engineer's hands to arrange. ISTHA-YIJPG CATTLE. Councillor Granville brought up the matter of night grazing. It was a danger to trallic. The chairman endorsed these remarks. Councillor Belener said the ranger's attention should be called to this matter, and that a penalty be pressed for. The chairman said it was certainly becoming a pressing danger. Councillor Granville moved: —That the ranger's attention be drawn to the grazing of stock on roads by night, and urging prosecution. 'Die cnainnan second, and the motion was carried. In answer |to Councillor McGuinness, tlie engineer said all bullock drivers' contracts had. ceased, and there should be 110 bullocks on the road. I It was decided that the ranger's attention be also drawn to this matter.

GEXERAL. in connection with merged loans, tlu; chairman reported tliat no decision had been arrived at. The engineer was instructed to present estimates of expenditure for the ensuing year at the next meeting. One of the men who was notified at the previous month's meeting to rectify certain insanitary conditions 011 Ilia farm at Rawhitiroa, in compliance with the requirements of the Health Tnspccttor, .wrote, refusing to do this, and giving various reasons for doing so.—The clerk said that the owner of the property had informed him that several of the requisitions were not reasonable, and he (the clerk) had replied setting out the position.—The letter was received. The district engineer of railways wrote stating that warning notice boai'ils arc to lie erected at a distance of 1.10 to yards from level railway crossing in the county, to Im agreed upon with the* ■ council. The boards were heiitir made, and 'would be erected shortly.—Received. The Education Hoard wrote requesting the council to put in a pipe drain at the Rawhitiroa School, as the present open drain was dangerous.— Councillor Belcher said lie had brought Bp this matter before.—The engineer said he did not consider the work urgent, and had left it for a later date. —The matter was left in the hands of the engineer. Mr. A. Ti. Oroniu, who had contracted to deliver the council n motor-car at a certain time,-wrote requesting an extension of that period, as owinir t" the state of shipping the car was not to hand. —The engineer stated that the car was expected to arrive on Wednesday next, and the extension of time was granted. The Public Works Depa'Tincnt wrote, requesting early anplicationNor auv assistance required hy the council in the

matter of road and. bridge construction work's.—Left in the hands of the engineer. Mr. A. W. Auckland wrote, asking for payment of the sum of £2O held back by the council on the Stuart Road contract. -Mr. C. Gane also wrote, stilting that helia'd forwarded his claim to Mr. Buckland. —It was decided that Mr. (jane be notified that the council will pay ■Mr. Jli'cl;land his deposit of .€'2o on May 27, failing iMr. (Jane establishing his claim before that date. An offer to lease the reserve at the Paten, bridge was received from Mr. 1?. S. Brown, of Rukumoana, at a rent of •'■ills per annum. 'He could not get access to .1 portion of his property except through tlie reserve.—This -matter was left to Councillors 'McWilliam aod (Iran-, ville to report at the next meeting. Mr. F. S. Bvson, assistant engineer, notified the council that level crossings on the Opunake branch.railway will very shortly be made'on the'Duthi'e and Palmer Roads.—Received.

Mr. Ij. Jiunn wrote, asking the council what it considered an excessive speed for his motor-lorry, and stating that he had always had a silencer on the machine.—'lt was decided to reply tliat it was the duty of all motorists to rcnJer assistance to anyone requiring it, and the speed was limited by circumstances. Tlie Jfawora Hospital and Charitable Aid Board wrote, stating that the county's apportionment for tlie ensuing year would he £738 !)s 3d, or l mouthlv instalment of £Bl 12s sd. The levy nail been increased by Id, from Sd to fid, due to the proposed building of a new operating theatre and also additions to the nursing staff.—Received.

The circular letter from the Mayor of New 'Plymouth regarding the Belgian Relief Fund was received. On behalf of Councillor McWilliam, the chairman referred to the condition of Hatritfk's bridge. Tlie engineer s.lid this had been attended 'to.

Tlie improvement of the track from the Matemateonga Road to Mr. Brown's section was left in the hands of tlie engineer.