ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 October 1915, Page 3

ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

THE MONTHLY MEETING. Tlk; monthly meeting of the Eltliam County Council was held at Saturday. Present: Crs. A. C. Peace (chairman), A. Tait, I). Black, A. Mr, William, C.'J. Belcher, J. Granville, E. J. Gifford, and E. J. McGuinuess. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer ''(Mr. F. Basham) reported:— Patea Bridge.—The strengthening of the old bridge is now completed, and I am allowing loads up to two tons across it. With regard to the reinstatement of the concrete bridge, this is a much more serious matter than was at first anticipated. Complete contours of the river bed disclose the fact that considerable scour has occurred—in one place us much as 7ft. (Jin. Although the bed of the river is a fairly fenacious conglomerate, it is evident, from the action of the last flood, that it is liable to be seriously affected by any heavy flood, and any work carried out in future in the way of a new centre pier must be of such a nature as to be free from this danger. From the information now available it is evident that the original scheme of a coffer dam and solid pier is not feasible. To renew the pier the only method appears to be pneumatic cylinders, and to erect these will cost considerably more than the amount of the first estimate.

Mangatoromiro Bridge,—Tliis bridge has been strengthened sufficiently for immediate requirements. Kapuni and Mangatoki Bridges, Eltliam Road. —The approaches to these bridges have been completed and the Kapuni Bridge painted.

Kareiva Road—This contract is not yet completed to satisfaction. General.—Crushing luis been started and material delivered on the Rawhitiroa Road ready for tar spraying. When this and the Mountain Road have been sprayed the Mountain Road South will be refaced with tar soaled macadam. Several lengths of the Boylan Road have been scarified and re-rolled. Crusher, two rollers, and all plant have been thoroughly overhauled; and are now In good order, The report was adopted.

GENERAL, ' Permission was given to school children to gather grass seed on the County roads, as requested by a circular letter from the Department of Agriculture. In reply to the Council's request to have the back-block telephone exchanges opened for an hour at night without extra fee, the Postmaster-General wrote that lie could not see his way to comply with the request, ill-. ,1. Phillips and Cr, Black were appointed to the agricultural committee ol the Council, to act in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture. Messrs A, Allhusen and G. W. Owen forwarded their resignations as members of the committee.

It was decided to hold a special meeting of the Council next Saturday to receive a special report from 'the engineer on the Patea Bridge. A special rate of 1 1-lld was struck ou the Kaponga Riding,