ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, 10 December 1917, Page 3

ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING. Tlio usual meeting: was held on' Saturday. Present: Crs. J. B.'lchi'r (c-luiir-niiin). A. L. Campbell,.A. V. Manila, W. M. Burlier, A. AluWillianm, A. C, I'caso, E. McGuiime-s, E. J. Gill'urd, hfkl \V. Ilardwicfc-,Smith. C'OiUt I'/vjI'OXUKNCIi The Department of Public Health acknowledged the council's appointment of Mr, Jacob Marx, Miingatoki, as council representative on tlie Ilawera Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. A. Major, foreman, Omona, tendered his resignation, having been called up in the ballot. JTc thanked the. council for the consideration and goodwill extended to him during his term in their employ.—Resignation accepted with regrot.. The Kaponga Town Board notified that it approved of thq council's proposal regarding the board's Sitpply of electricity "in the county area. The Lands Department, Wellington, forwarded suggestions in connection with adjustment of rates in the Parkes' Settlement, Kaponga.—Left to county clerk. . Mr, C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., notified the council that the s'Jm c# £lO had been placed on the cstimntes as final payment in connection with Mr. Jenkins' contract on Lake Kotokarc road.—Received. K. K. Hancock, Ngaero, requested the eouneil to refund rate* overpaid.— Amounts to lie refunded. W. Hawking, Tlawera. secretary of (he Pl'jnket Motor Car Fund, requested the council's sanction to allow the Plunkct nurse to pass through the eountr toll-gates free.—Granted. WANTED-A ROAD. Air. O'Sullivan, Mamitahi, wrote congratulating the council on obtaining control of the Upper Aiiroa road, and hoped this would allow settlers in that district to obtain access to their sections. There was a track leading to the same, hut during the past 18 years no metal had been placed on the road. The engineer stated that this road ran to the mountain radius and in places had a grade of 1 ii> 6, whilst there were plenty of stumps er! route. Cr. Pease thought the council should proceed as funds pertaitted. Cr. Barker said there Was plenty of' metal there, but some bridges would require attention.

The engineer stated there were one or, two cuttings, but a, nJiray .could get through. The chairman thought, the riding members, Crs. Messena and Black, should have some idea of what was required, and moved that .the matter be left to the riding members and engineer to »e----port.—Carried. ■ENGINEER'S REPORT. R. t). Tosswill, county engineer, reported on the work in the various ridings as under: South.—Some short lengths on Stuart road, totalling 13J*chains, have been refaeod. Dalziel road has been blinded and patched, and Jtjie re-faeing of parts of Frasor and Rotokare roads is in hand. Tlio metal surface of a portion of Manga'.vlicro road, lying between Mountain Read and Caatlf Street, has become roi'.glj and uneven and requires attention. Mangatoki.—The Eltliam road lias been tar-sprayed for a distance of 05 chains, and a further considerable length tar-patched preparatory to spraying. A length of 30 chains on Hunter road, missed on a previous occasion, has also been sprayed.

Onion,i.—The Mataiwlietu road watertables have been opened, slips have been removed, and some widening' has been done. Hard wood and totara timber for Takau bridge has been delivered at the silo, and the only timber now required is the rimu docking,' which is expected shortly,- The Rawhitiroa road is now open for wheel traffic to its junction with lower Moeawatt'a road, the whole length under control of the county. Thij road lias been formed up and put into good shape and well water-tabled, for a considerable distance between Omona post office and Mocrda. General maintenance work lias also boon carried out between Patea river and Omona hill. The foreman of this riding tenders liia resignation, having been called up for militarv service.

Kaponga.—Ditches liavfc been cleaned and side-tracks re-graded; on Manga-' wliero road, and the junction of this road and Kltharn road has been improved and metalled. One huhdrcd and eighty cubic yards of sand for tar spraying has been delivered on Eltham road, and 120 yards on Manaia road. The contractor on Auroa road is making very satisfactory progress with his metalling contract, and commenced delivery of crushed metal on November 23, and up to the end of the month had delivered albout 400 cubic yards. Considerable difficulty is being experienced in obtaining sufficient labor for spreading and backing up, and this work is proceeding under very shorthanded conditions.

Eltham.—Slight maintenance work has been done on Rawhitiroa and Tama roads, the foreman having been chiefly engaged in quarrying shell rock in the | pit fit foot of Mnngamingi hill. General.—A 14-h.p, Ruston and Proctor portable steam engine has been purchased to drive tlie crusher. This engine has been delivered in Eltham ready for immediate use, and the bojler has been passed by the inspector of machinery for 1001b pressure, A digestor suitable for boiling tar has been put under offer to the couiicil, and I would recommend the purchase of same to take the place of the old one now in use The 5-ton White dump truck ordered some time ago has arrived and has been assembled at Stratford, and is now ready for delivery, which, I understand, is to be made next week, when a demonstration of the truck will *be given. As the Christmas season is approaching I would suggest that the county road works be closed down from December 24 to January 2, to give those of the employees who so desire an opportunity to get away. Cr. Campbell stated that as far as he understood the portion of the Mangawliero road requiring attention was within thp borough boundary.—Borough council's attention to he drawn to the matter. The tar digester is to be. purhased. Regarding the holidays the engineer stated that the contractors would work during the holidays if they could, but he doubted it. Regarding the council employees, lie thought closing down would be the best means of getting over the period. The report was adopted. GENERAL. The roadmen are to be instructed to keep down blackberry and other weeds in their ridings. Mr. Bridger's tender for dog collars for the next twelve months was accepted, The chairman's action in obtaining the gravel pits near the septic tanks was ftnorovad