EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 August 1917, Page 3

EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Egmont County Council was held at Opunake yesterday. Present: The county chairman (Cr. M. Fleming), and Crs. T. Harvey, K. S. Forsyth," W. K. Wright, S. Campbell, W. C.' Dudley, and R. \V. J. McNeill.

MINISTER INTERVIEWED. The deputation appointed at the previous meeting, consisting of the chairman and the county clerk, reported on their/interviews with the Minister in Wellington with regard to several county matters. With regard to Punehu bridge, on the Opunake-Eltham road, the Hon. W. Fraser had not committed himself, but had assured them that the request would be fully considered when the Public Works estimates were being compiled, stating that at present he could not say what amount would be available for public works. Tlie deputation, with Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., interviewed Mr. G. F. C. Campbell, the superintendent of the States Advances Department, in connection with the posed bridge loan of £15,000. Mr. Campbell informed them that the office limit 10 local authorities was £SOOO in any financial year, and while not in any way stating that the Advances Board would advance this amount every year until the required sum had been received, he recommended the council to apply now for an advance of £3500 (this being £SOOO, less the advance of £ISOO Auroa road fpeeial loan), and thereafter every year as required. Mr. Campbell had further recommended that the poll of ratepayers be taken on the proposal to borrow £15,000 at s'/, per cent., stating that one poll, if carried, would be sufficient. The deputation also interviewed the Publie Trust Office with reference to the Oaonui deviation', when they were informed that the office had no statutory power to transfer the piece of land required, but that no objection would be raised to it being used as a crusher site or stock watering place, and it was arranged to allow the matter to remain as .it present. The deputation desired to express their thanks to Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, M.P.. for his kindness, courtesy and material assistance.

Cr. McNeill said the report was very satisfactory, and moved that a poll be taken on the proposed £15,000 bridge loan.

The motion was seconded by Cr. Wright and carried.

MEDICAL MAN WANTED. The Manaia Town Board asked the council to endorse their protest to the Government against the district being left without a medical man, Dr. Milroy having been called to the front. A later letter suggested the calling of a public indignation meeting against the action of the Public Health Deparlmsnt in declining to support their appeal on behalf of Dr. Milroy. Cr. McNeili said he did not think they could object to Dr. Milroy being called up since there was no doubt men of his skill and high qualifications were urgently required at the front, while a doctor whose services would not lw so valuable in the fighting line might be quite suitable for the district. The «&» perience of his own son showed that skilled men were badly wanted at the front.

Cr. Dudley said the attitude the Opunake Town Board had taken up was that they could not very well object to Dr. Milroy being called up since they had offered no obstacle to Dr. Barron going away. The chairman said ho thought the only thing that could be reasonably expected would be for the Government to see that the district was provided with some properly qualified medical man. On the motion of Cr. Wright it was decided to take no action in the matFOREMEN'S REPORTS. Oeo Riding (Northern Division).—Durinn tho uast mouth the staff in this ili-

vision have been employed at general .surface work carting out maintenance metal, cleaning outlets, etc. The roads treated were the Patiki, Kiri, Eltham, Oeo and Opunake-Stralford. I have also tilled in the new bridge --n the upper Oeo road, and had it metnilcd, and is now open for traliic. Concerning the Punchu ford shingle on the Eltham road that the county is in charge of, a contractor has carted away from this ford, I should say. between 30 and 40 yards of shingle without any permission from the council, 1 understand. I saw him and he stated he did not know what quantity of shingle was taken from the ford. Mr. IT. Monro is carting stone out of a pit on the Kiri road, and is carting over the new portion of gravel road, that was laved down only a few months ago. Contract No. 312 on the Eltham ; road is at a standstill.

Oeo Biding (Southern Division).—During the past month, which has been exceptionally wet, the hands in this division have been constantly employed at general maintenance work, napping stones, and carting out metal and shingle, the roads repaired being Main South, Skeet, Patiki, Nopera and Watino.

Tlahotu Riding (Southern) and Opunake. riding.—During the past month the staff in this riding have been cmployed principally on contract No. 311, which has been completed, 909 yards metal and loti screenings have been delivered for which I recommend a final payment. The crushing plant is now set to start contract No. 310, and as soon as buckets and chain arrive we will be able to start. Mr. C. Malcolm has delivered about fiO yards boulder stone on Main South road, for which I recommend a progress payment. Scarifying and rolling, Main South road, Opunake riding is in progress. Stone depositories.—The chairman, Councillor J. Young and myself, examined the Arawhata road beach, and find there is plenty of stone. I recommend spending £ls on a previous used road to this stone, and by so doing we will have a first-class road_, leading to plenty of good, handy stone. Bridge report.—Bridge No. S has been completed, and is open for traffic. The weather has been very unsettled during the construction of this bridge. As soon as timber is stripped and removed to Warea bridge a start will be made with the construction of same., I regret to state there has been a quantity of bridge timber stolen from different bridges in the county. This is timber left at bridges that have been completed, to be removed to other bridges when required.

Cr. McNeill said the removal of metal and shingle from near a bridge in defiance of the foreman and the resolution of the council, should not be tolerated. The road had been injured, and the metal taken away from where it was urgently required. He moved that a committee consisting of the chairman and Crs Forsyth and Wright, visit the spot, and if they deem it advisable the county solicitors be instructed to take legal proceedings against the person who had taken the stone.

The motion was seconded by Cr. Campbell, and carried, Cr. Dudley dissenting. ' With regard to the stealing of bridge timber, it was decided to instruct the foreman to keep a vigilant watch and report the detection of any offenders to the council. The remainder of the report was adopted. GENERAL.

The chairman stated that from what lie had learned in Wellington there wafl no probability of the Tollgates Abolition Kill passing the House of Representatives. He believed it would have, passed had the Government consented to remain neutral, but the Government would not do so in view of their proposed amendment in the Local Bodies Act. The position was that in Taranaki, the only part of New Zealand where there were tollgates, there were six counties, and four of ,them were against the Bill, the Egmont Council being divided on the question.—lt was decided that no further action could be taken by the council. The Valuation Department advised the payment of £743. 13s 3s as subsidy due to the council for Parihaka road district and outlying districts.—Received.

The Parihaka Road Board wrote that a large volume of water flowed down the K.ihui road, scouring away channels, metalling, etc. The water could be prevented entering Kahui road by diverting it under the South road into the upper Ivuhui road drain. The board wished to know if the council would do this. —Referred to the foreman for report. The chairman reported that he had authorised the ordering of a new elevator for the stone crusher, as requested by the engine driver, and his action was approved. The Mt. Herbert County Council submitted a resolution in favor of hospital and charitable aid institutions being enabled to borrow money for capital expenditure.—No action taken. The Department of Internal Affairs intimated that a petition had been received of an irrigation district to be called the Oaonui Irrigation District, and asked if the council was prepared to constitute the area a water supply district under section 0 of the Water Supply Act, 190S.—Reply to be sent that the council has no objection. A special order was made levying the following general rates for the current year:—Oeo riding (outlying district) l'/t.d in the £; Rahotu riding, l%d in the £; Opunake riding, V/ 4 i in the £. Mr. A. E Harding drew attention to the bk>cked state of the culvert and the Washed condition of Carrington road between the two rivers.—Referred to the foreman to report. Cr. McNeill gave notice that at next meeting be would move: "That those men who at the time of enlisting were in the employ of the council have their pay supplemented to the amount' they would have been entitled to had they remained in the council's service, while they aro on active service."

Cr. Wright gave notice that he woulct move that a working overseer be appointed, i The following accounts were passed for pavment:—Bridge £7O Is Od; general £939 Is 9d; total, £IOO9 Us 7(1.