ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.
MONTHLY MEETING. The Eltham County Council met oil Saturday. 'Present: Crs. C. S, Belcher (chairman), J. Granville, E. J. Gilford, C. K. McGmnnofo, A. C. Pease, A. McWilliani, J. Black, A, V. Massena, and A. Campbell. CORRESPONDENCE. State Advances Office, Wellington, notified the council's implication for a loan of £ISOO for constructing bridge over Mangawheroiti stream, and for the completion of formation and metalling the Auroa road, had been approved.— Received.
F. Basham, formerly county engineer, in reply to the council, stated that the old timber saved from the Patea bridge included a small quantity of totara. A portion had been used in the erection of a cottage at Patea, whilst Mr. Walker had also purchased some at ISs per 100 super, feet.—Received.
H. Hardwick, Mangamingi, requested information ro prices of old totara discarded from the Patea bridge for the purpose of a flag pole.—Received. . The Waimatc County Council notified that their council had agreed to ps.y £OO for work on Neil road.—Received.
The Mt. Herbert County Council (Canterbury) forwarded a resolution, regarding "the large sume annually required by Hospital and Charitable Aid Board for tin; purpose of replacing old buildings to meet the demands of increasing populaton they desired to represent to the Hon. Minister of Internal Affairs the needs 01 an amendment to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Institution Act, enabling the board to borrow money for capital expenditure. The attention of members of Parliament to be also drawn to the matter." —Cr. MeWilliam proposed: "That the council supports the suggestion, and that a copy of resolution be forwarded to the Minister of Internal Affairs.—Carried. TROUBLESOME CREEK. E. Forrester, Mangamingi, complained <of the state of creeks and culverts on the Wingrove road, whifch he believed were now in a worse condition than when the engineer last reported. He desired the council to go on with the work, otherwise he would enforce the Act and compel the council to carry out the work.—Cr. Granville stated he had to endorse what Mr. Forrester had com-' plained about. The water was backing up, and the ratepayer's property was becoming saturated with water unable to get away.
The chairman said it was the sumo old. trouble, the creek being filled with raupo, etc. He thought they should jerve a notice on the ratepayer in question to attend to this creek. Cr. MeWilliam wished to know if'the trouble was as bad as what tliey had had with the creek in the Mangamingi valley, and was told it v/as much worse.
It was resolved: "That the ratepayers responsible for the blockage be served with a notice to clear same, the engineer in the meantime to visit the locality and interview the ratepayers." A DANGEROUS CORNER. Fifteen ratepayers on the Rotokare road requested the council to place notices warning motorists of the dangerous entrance of the Rotokare road to Mountain road, through failure of motorists, etc., to see approaching traffic. —Cr. Campbell said a board would be of great Bervice. The entrance from the road to the main road was through a cutting', in proceeding to Hawera they would keep to the left, and in safety, but in going to Eltlmm they had to cress "ihe road, and there was danger. In fact, three accidents had occurred? there. The position now was mnch bet-* ter than it had been. —Resolved: "That the matter lie left in the hands of the engineer."---Carried. Cr. Pease remarked that the tmtlet-of the Upper Duthie road on to the El--tham road was also dangerous. THE TOLL GATES. ' C. A. Wilkinson, "M.'P., informed the council that he could not agree to the council's request to oppose the proposed abolition of toll-gates. He also forwarded a copy of liis Bill for the proposed J abolition.
Cr. Pease thought it unfortunate that there were so many small counties, as it meant "double-banking" on the farmer owing to the cost of so many staffs. Cr. MeWilliam said the . toll-gates were rather severe on those who purchased motor lorries, etc.
The chairman Teplied that those who could afford to purchase cars should be able to pay a rate, and auctioneers and stock owners could also pay. To him 'it appeared to be the fairest method of collecting rates.
Cr. Black: It means that the farmer ha 3 to pay every time. " Cr. Granville: The carrier passes it on to the farmer, Cr. Black: Exactly.
Cr. Pease proposed: "Thta a committee be set up to consider the question of an alteration to the boundaries." The chairman seconded.—Carried. Cr. MeWilliam said the crux of the position was that it was only the motor traffic that was causing the damage to the road. A resolution was carried thanking Mr. Okey for his action in opposing Mr,.Wilkinson's Abolition of the Toll-gates' Bill. v ENGINEER'S REPORT. The ounty engineer, R. D. Tosswill,. submitted the following ; report for the month:— ' ' South Riding.—General maintenance* work, consisting of patching metal and? cleaning water tables, has been done throughout the riding. Any heavy and continuous carting of metal has been impossible owing to the constant wet weather and saturated condition of the roads. A fair quantity has, however, been delivered on Boylan road in readiness for refacing the worst portion. In company with Councillor Campbell, I went over the roads in this riding, and it was found that only very slight variation could be recommended in the allocation of the proposed expenditure forthe year.
Mungatoki riding.—The decking of' Stuart road bridge, which was in a very! decayed condition, has been renewed. The sides of the tar macadam on Burke's Hill have been filled in with metal and J rolled, the additional width proving o£ great benefit. The curve at the junction of Eltham and Duthie loads has been eased, the culvert lengthened, and the road widened. The old metal and boulder stone on Hastings and Upper Hunter roads has now all been disposed •of. The water tables have been cleaned on Hastings and Hunter roadsj Omona riding,—Work done during the month consists mftinly of clearing Blips and opening water tables on Hftwliitiroa read, and metal patching on Omona hill. On this payt of the rond tliMa afti "ondefblip?" whieh ata ft aaufue of ewt= sidwa&e dflflae? ta tfafik, att4 Jw&vx,
cutting back of points near these places will be necessary to give sufficient width;' for the safe passage of vehicles round the bends. At the site of the Takau filling wash-out, a trestle bridge is recommended to replace the old fitting. This will give ample waterway, and meet the requirements of traffic. At the" further wash-out on the same road near' Moeawatea stream, a ford would be suitable, a working grade in and out of about 1 in 10 being obtainable-at small cost. Kaponga riding.—On Manala road the side tracks have been regraded and thewater tables deepened for a length ofabout forty chains, from Devil's Elbow : ,to Makaka. Similar work has been car- 1 ? Tied out on Rowan road for a distance- of - CO chains. The ERham road has been tar patched from Kaponga town boundary for half a mile westwards; the wet weather experienced during the month has greatly delayed this work. The tip dray authorised to be purchased at last meeting of the council has been delivered. General.—Delivery has been taken from Mr. Thorpe of the two-toil White lorry recently ordered, which appears thoroughly satisfactory. Some slightalterations to the tipping gear are being made, which will add materially to its efficiency. Some suggested improvements at the county depot, mentioned in last report, have been approved by the chairman and work on same begun. Messrs A. Pennington (Cornwall road) and Wickham (Manaia road) apply for entrance crossings on usual terms. The report was adopted, and recommendations suggested are to be carried out Accounts totalling '£2076 Is 7d were passed for payment, and the council rose.
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Taranaki Daily News, 13 August 1917, Page 3
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1,305ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL. Taranaki Daily News, 13 August 1917, Page 3
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