ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 June 1916, Page 7

ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

Tlie monthly meeting of the above council was held on Saturday. Present: Crs. A. C. iPoase (chairman), A. Campbell. D. Black, C. E. McGuinness, A. McWilliam, Gifiord. A. Sail, J. Granv\\W, C. J. Belcher. , CORRESPONDENCE. J. B. Crump, solicitor, acting for 11. A. Shaw, applied to order L. A. Lament to clear a drain and obstruction that prevented tlie free flow of water. It was at present causing damage to the client's laud. It was decided to leave the matter in lie hands oE Cr Campbell and the engineer, with power to act. The secretary of the Waimate West County Council wrote stating that his council would be pleased to receive delegates from the Eltham. Council on June 8 to discuss the matter of Neil road. Cr Black reported that the Waimate West had agreed to give £35 for one year, provided the Eltham Council gave a. pound for pound subsidy, and he had agreed to the proposal on behalf of his council. He moved that £7O be spent on the road. Seconded by Cr Campbell and carried. The Secretary of tlie Treasury iorwarded a proposed draft of loans to be allocated to the Hawera and Eltham counties, and asked if August 1 in each year would be a suitable date for the annual payments to be made to the Hawera County Council. —It was decided that a committee consisting of Crs. S. Belcher, McGui\ness, and the i chairman be appointed to go into the

, matter. ] Stratford County Council intimated j that their council bad appointed a com- . mittee to meet with'a view of discusing , alterations in the boundaries for the . counties, i Mr C. A. Wilkinson, H.P., wrote stating that a copy of the Toll Gates Aboli- ' tion Bill would lie forwarded as soon , as printed. He did not anticipate that ■ the Bill would be proceeded with this session. The secretary of the Technical School Committee wrote applying 1 for the annual donation of £5, and asked the ■ council to appoint a representative to the Technical School Committee.—The donation was granted. Cr McWilliam said he. had not supported the motion because in the Oniona district children were without primary education, and he objected to money being spent on technical education when they could not.get primary education. They had applied' to the Education Department for a grant towards a school, but it had been turned down. He was disgusted with the way they had been treated. Cr. (Iranville thought the council should approach the Department on behalf of the settlers. Settlers had left the district because they could not get education for their children. The chairman said he felt sure the council would back up any deputation or petition that was forwarded to the ' Im-atipn Department. Cr McWilliam ■i-l he had brought the matter under the notice of the then Minister of Education while in Wellington, but he had . received a very unsympathetic hearing. He moved that the Minister for Education be asked to make provision for the establishment of a primary school in back-blocks districts under the minimum standard, even if kept up by itinerant teachers, and that the county council be enabled to subsidise such schools. Cr Granville seconded, and the motion was carried. It was decided, that a copy of the ! resolution be sent to the member for the district, and his assistance he asked,' C. W. Rogers, Egmont County clerk, wrote stating that at a meeting of the ratepayers held on May 15 re the Aurba road it was declined to raise a special loan for putting the road in order, preferring to levy an increased rate instead. The Egmont County Council asked the Eltham Council to ta'ke over the control of- the road, and his council would pay the rate 9 accruing to the road from year to year. J The chairman moved:—"That this j council is prepared to put the Auroa i road in reDair and tsil-a over thfi coa- J

trol of the road if the Egmont County Council will pay half of tlu» initial cost and pay half of t'lie yearly upkeep, the Egmont Council to give reply before July 15; otherwise this council will apply for commission.—Carried. Leonard Wickham applied for a renewal of slaughterhouse license. Michael Belli and W. Clary also applied foi renewal of slaughterhouse licenses. —All granted. RECRUITING. The chairman said the council should take a stand regarding the men In the council's employ who refused to enlist, and moved:—"That all single men in the service of the council be asked to give reasons before next council meeting why they have not enlisted. Cr. Belcher seconded. Cr Tait said he could not support the motion. It might disorganise the whole staff, and it was forestalling the Compulsion Aet. Or Black said it looked as if the council was doing a bit of compulsion. The chairman said it was wrong that they should employ men who ought to be at the front. Cr McWilliam said the trouble was that young fellows were leaving the district and alien? were coming in and taking bush-felling contracts at large-ly-advanced rates, and it did seem to him unfair, Cr Granville said they had to consider the dairying industry, and if all the eligible men were taken it would suffer. The chairman asked what was the good of talking about any industries if the Empire was endangered. Their duty was to send men to end the war as soon as possible. The motion was carried by five to four. Ayes : Crs Pease, McGuinness, Granville, Belcher, McWilliam; Noes: Crs Campbell, Tail, Giflord, and Black. It was decided to strike the same rate in all ridings except Kaponga, which was fixed at l%d.

Cr MeWilliam moved that an application be made to the Treasury for a reinstatement of -a loan of £3OOO for the Oniona Riding.—Seconded by Cr Belcher and carried. Acounts amounting to £IBOO were passed for payment. The Engineer reported as follows: Tar Plant.—After careful enquiries, I do not think wo can do better than adopt a design similar to that in use in tlie Hawera County. Mr. Muggeridge was kind enough to show me over the plant and gave me details of working, cost, etc. The plant consists of two boilers constructed out of old Cornish boilers, having a capacity of 1600 gallons. These are built in "pair with flues and smoke stack complete. The agitating is done by means of rotary stirrers driven by a small.oil engine. The fuel used is coal and Mr. Muggoridge informs mo that one bag to "each furnace will turd out each lot of prepared tar. To obtain the same result from our plant as it is at present takes best part of a coixl of firewood. The boilers are fed by gravitation from a small concrete reservoir. In . our ease this is not possible as the reservoir is too low. hut I propose to overcome this trouble by means of a tank and hoist. The hoist could be worked by the same engine that drives the stirrers. Provided the old boilers can be obtained reasonably, the whole plant complete should not exceed £l5O, including engine, . stirrers, cast iron furnace doors, firebars, hoist, etc., complete. Messrs Anderson's quote £lB5 for one still at Lyttelton,

General. All work during the month has been of the nature of general maintenance. An overhaul of most of the plant has been made and necessary painting and repairs affected. The lorry was found to be in perfect order, and the same may be said of the crusher. The grader will be attended to during the next wet spell, Patea Bridge.—Both cylinders are now completed and filled with concrete. They are six 3-in. and seven 1-in. in papa, and are out of danger so far as? floods are concerned. I quite expected to have had the solid pier completed by this meeting but was delayed by wet weather and labor. About ten days will see the pier completed to the level of beams. Mangamingi Creek—Mr. Boddie has commenced cleaning his portion and is making food progress. The other owners concerned will be starting shortly. The report was adopted. ESTIMATES. The estimates of expenditure for year ending March 31, 1917, were passed as follows: South Riding.—Bovlan Road: Completing metalling £SOO, 200 yards metal £11; Mountain Road: Maintainance of, £001); Fraser Road: 100 yards metal at 10s, £3O; Rotokare Road, 100 yards metal at 10s, £SO; Stuart Rond: 100 metal at Bs, £4O; Campbell Road: 100 yards metal at Us, £4:"); Mangawhero Road: 100 yards metal, half-share, £22; general maintenance, £300; sundries £lB3. Total, £2350.-A rate of lid was struck.

Mangatoki Riding. Kltliam Road: Tar and sanding, sfifl chains at 1 (is, £448; Hastings Road: Tar and sitiuling, ■l5O chains at 13s, £312; refacing 30 chains at Matapu and tarring some at £B, £240; Hunter Road: Tar and'sanding, 450' chains at 13a, £312; Duthie Road: Tarring 190 chains at 355, £332; refacing 40 chains at £5, £2(10; general maintenance and sundries, £<>lo. 'Total, £2400.—A rate the same as lastt year was struck. Omona Riding.—General maintenance and upkeep, £BSO.—A general rate of lid, and a special rate of id, were struck. Eltliam Riding. Rawhitiroa Road: Tar and sanding to store, £3OO, COO yards shellrock at fls, £270; Mountain Road: Tar and sanding, £4O; Mangawhero Road: J-share 100 yards metal, £22, 100 yards metal at lis, £55; Hu Road: 100 yards shellrock at Bs, £4O; General maintenance and sundries, £450. Total. £1177.—A rate of ljd was struck. Kaponga Riding.—Kltliam Road: Tar and sanding from Kaponga to Riverlea, £240; Manaia Road: Scarifying, roiling and tarring, £280; Eith'am Road: Palmer Road to Kaponga, scarifying, rolling and tarring, £100; general maintenance and sundries, £4OO. Total, £IO2O.—A general late of Id, and a special rate of |d. were struck.