ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 December 1916, Page 7

ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The Eltham County Council mot on ■Saturday. P rescnt ,. Crs _ a ~ Be]c]lcr ■>■ Granville, E. J. Gilford, C. E. McGuinI'fss, A. McWilliam, I). Black, A. Tait A Campbell, and A. C. Pease. ELECTION OP CHAIRMAN. The election of a chairman for the ensuing year was the first business. The clerk (Mr. W. J. Tristram) called for nominations. Cr. Black proposed that Cr. Belcher be elected. Cr. Black said Cr. Belcher had been a member of the Council for many years and had done good workHe thought it was only just that Cr. Belcher should be permitted to hold office. Cr. Granville seconded. He said he had known Cr. Pease and his brother for many years and had the greatest r\> spect for both. Cr. Pease had conducted the chairmanship with ability, and he had not one word of condemnation to say concerning him. He considered, however, there should be a change in tht. office occasionally. Cr. McWilliam nominated Cr. Pease, who as chairman had shown great aptitude and fairness. Cr. McWilliam questioned the advisability of making a change, and said the Council had been a very happy family under the chairmanship of Cr. Pease. He had a great regard for Cr. Belcher. Cr. McGuinness seconded. On the amendment being put it was declared lost.

The motion in favor of Cr. Belcher's nomination was carried, and he was declared elected.

Cr. Belcher returned thanks for the honor that had been conferred upon him and for the confidence reposed in him. V. was true the Council had been a happy family, and lie was sure the relation's that had existed would continue. He was unfortunate in having to follow two good chairman, and he would do his best to act impartially and in the best interest; of the Council. Cr. Pease thanked his supporters and Cr. Belcher for his kind reference. He promised to give the new chairman his best assistance. SURFACEMEN ASK FOR EISE. Five surfacemen engaged at Omoana wrote asking that their wages be increased to 14s per day while "they were engaged on slips. Cr. McYVilliam said he knew nothing about the matter. The application put the Council in an awkward position, be cause labor was scarce and it was essential that the slips should be cleared There was no doubt the men were working under trying conditions. Other councillors expressed the opinion that the men were taking an unfair advantage of the Council, particularly in view of the fact that they had recently been given a 10 per cent, increase. The engineer said the men were now earning 12s Ijd per day, mostly wet and dry. It was resolved to refer the matter to the '-iding members, with power to act. NOXIOUS WEEDS. In reply to the Board of Trade, the Council decided to state that ragwort, Californian thistle, ox-eye daisy, blackberry, pennyroyal, and foxglove were the six worst weeds in the Taranaki <);s trict. Cr. McWillinm said the noxious weeds nuisance was becoming intolerable. It was one of the most serious difficulties that was facing the farming community. The chairman said the fault largely lay with the careless settler, and the settlor who made a practice of selling out. "Settlers are up against an impossibility in trying to obey the provisions of the Noxious Weeds Act," added Cr McWilliam. "It is absolutely useless trying to check weeds on grazing land." Members mentioned that buttercups, pennyroyal, and foxglove were particularly hard to deal with, owing to their prolific growth. ENGINEER'S REPORT, The County engineer (Mr. F. Basham) reported as follows: South Riding.—Work during the month has been confined to general maintenance. I propose starting on the Boylan Road immediately after the Xew Year.

■Kaponga Riding.—The Manaia Road, including that within the Kaponga Town Board area, has been scarified and. rolled. The town portion of the Eltliam lioad will tie similarly treated next week, when a start will be made with the tarring. The Elt'liam Road, between the town boundary and Palmer Road, has been tarred. Mangatoki Riding.—Hunter Road has been repaired with tar and sand, where necessary. The lower .portion of the road is being sprayed and sanded. About a mile on the Eltham Road, from Palmer Road eastwards, has been tarsprayed i?nd sanded.

During the recent floods a serious scour occurred to the western abutment of the W'uigongoro bridge, on the Eltham Road. This abutment was built about lu years ago, and the river-bed had been gradually lowering" ever since, until it is' now some foul feet below the foundation of the abutment. A concrete apron has been constructed to temporarily repair the damage, but 1 cannot guarantee that no further tumble will arise during future floods. To make the 'bridge absolutely safe would be a very expensive matter. Eltham Riding.—Removing slips and repairing flood damage has been tne sole work during the month. "To make the Wa iugoiigoro bridge Absolutely safe," said Sir. Basliam, in reply to a question, ''it would be necessary to create dead-water beneath it. To do this a weir would have to be made, and this would cost £1000." It was decided to provide the Eltham Borough Council with a copy of the engineer's report concerning the YVaiugongoro bridge, so that, in case )f future liability, the municipal authority would be acquainted with the present position. The engineer';- report was adopted. GENERAL. Reterencc was made to the desire of the Council to sell its road-roller. So far no offers had been received. It was resolved to again offer the road-roller, without the scarifier, for sale, the price to be £BSO. In connection with this County Councils will be circularised. The Council decided to remit the halfyear's raws of Mr. R. J. Robinson, provided Ik* proceeds with the Expeditionary Force and receives no rent for the use of his property.. for the purpose of securing a return ■diowing the quantity of local and outside traffic passing ;hrou.ali the Eltham j County, the toll-gate keepers were inI stvuc'.ed to interrogate tin? driver of

every vehicle that passed through the Riverlea and Mangatoki toll-gates for six months.

Mr. Thomas Childs, of Waitara, wrote, giving details of his water-ballasted road-roller, tarring, and sanding combine. The Council appointed a committee to inspect the machine before taking further action. 3lr. W. Hardwick Smith wrote with reference to a reserve at Mangamingi, and said the Council could use the reserve as a thoroughfare or far grazing purposes. He did not object to a cot" tagc being erected, but would not recognise the Council's claims.—The Council decided to adhere to its previous resolution.

The Superintendent of the State Advances Cilice advised the Council that a loan of £i">o for the purpose of,completing the formation of Karewa. Road bad been granted.—Received.

Mr. A. 1-latrick wrote, offering to supply timber for M;lie Mangatoromiro bridge.—Accepted.

The common seal of the Council was affixed to a petition, praying for a commission to be set up to settle the proportion of the cost of administering and repairing Auroa Road, which forms the boundary between the Egmont and the Elt'ham Counties.

The County offices will close from Decembei 23 to January 8.

The workmen were instructed to submit their time-sheets on the Tuesday before the Council meeting. . Interim Christmas payment will be made to the workmen on December 22.