ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 January 1916, Page 3

ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

THE MONTHLY MEETING. The Eltham County Council met on Saturday. Present: Cr.s. A. C. Pease (chairman), C. E. McGuinness, E, J. Gilford, J. Granville, C. J. Belcher, A. Mi-William, A. Campbell, D. Black, aad A. Tait. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The Engineer (Mr, F. (Basham) reported:— "The holidays and broken weather have somewhat delayed work during the month, otherwise everything is progressing in a satisfactory manner. "The workmen will be leaving the Omona Cottage on Monday and will resume work on the Patea bridge. The cottage is practically completed, only a small amount of plumbing and painting to be done.

"The portion of the Eltham Road between the Hastings Road and the Mangatoki bridge lias been coated with restar, and work on the balance towards the Palmer Road is in progress. It will take about two more weeks to complete this work. When this is done I propose to allow nothing to interfere with an immediate start with the re-facing on the Mountain Road and the metalling on the Boylau Road.

"With regard to the tarring of the recently re-coated portions of the Boylan and Dalziell Roads, I do not see how it is possible to undertake this in addition to the work already authorised for this and last season, unless we revert to horse teams, and this will considerably add to the cost of work. The lorry is working long hours endeavoring to keep pace with the work, but the machine is not enough. The crusher is capable of a far greater output per day had we more means of carting out the metal on to the roads.

"The majority of those ratepayers on whom notice to lower hedges was' served have either complied with the notice or have started to do so. I will bring pressure to bear on those who have not started when the busiest season is passed.

''l took advantage of, tlic partial cessation of work' between Christmas and Xew Year to visit'ilawke's Bay, where I understood some interesting road works were in progress. In the borough of Hastings several streets have been laid with asphalt macadam, Californian asphaltum being used as the matrix. The reinforced concrete road between Xapier and Hastings has not yet been started. I did not see anything in the way of roads or bridges to warrant any .suggestions as to any alteration in our present methods. While in Hastings I-investigated the merits of the '''oollllllol''' motor waggon. They have been running in that district for the past three years, with excellent results. I asked the agents to forward particulars to the Council." The report was adopted. ' "v i JV?. GEXERAT,. A letter was received from the Stratford County Council stating that the contractors reported as having damaged the Finnerty Road were not working for the Council, but for the Lowgarth Dairy Company. The letter added that the Council had informed the company of the matter.—The letter was received. An application from casual workers for an increase of wages from 10s a day to lis was referred to the engineer. It was decided that final notice should be given to those ratepayers who had been notified to lower their hedges that the time for doing the work expired on the 15th inst., and that if notices were not complied with prosccutio;\s would follow.

O. Me William suggested that when the slips on the roads to the back country wore cleared away the roads—especially the Omona Road—should be improved, so as to be suitable for motor traffic. The chairman said the matter \yould receive consideration when the question came up. The chairman brought up the question of procuring an additional motor lorry, and after some discussion in committee it was decided to purchase a motor lorry. The chairman and Crs. Campbell and Clifford and the engineer were appointed a siib-eommittee to go into the question, with power to act.