ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 April 1918, Page 3

ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

JIONTiiJA' MEKTING. The Eltham County Council met on Saturday Present: C>s, beicher (chairman), Hardwici.* Smith, McWilliums, Barker, Messena, Campbell, I*ease, McGuinness.

CORRESPONDENCE The Premier thanked the council for its resolution advocating the retention of the portion of the Samoan group taken from Germany, and said lie would impress this upon the Imperial authorities. The Minister of Finance wrote in a similar strain.—Received. Eltham Borough Council stated that the overcrowding of the EUluun-Opunake coach would receive attention by the council when Issuing licenses next month, and the by-laws would be strictly enforced.—• Received.

The district engineer ot' the Railway Department stated he had examined the unmeuilled road (about 2D chains) at the To Roti railway station. Huts which had been cut by the traffic during the erection of the overbridge had since been filled in by the department. As no part of the road is on the railway reserve lie could not see his way clear to recommend the Department to assist the council to metal Mho road. He was, however, prepared to supply ft small timber box culvert to carry the water across the road at the Te Rot! station—Received. Mangatoki Dairy Company, Ltd, stated that after inspecting the Eltham Road, which had been damaged by carting metal by a factory contractor, the company had decided to pay a subsidy of £ls towards the cost of banking up the sides of the asphalt road, near Rogers' hill and other small grades—The chairman stated that with Cr. Pease and the engineer he had met the company in conference, the result being embodied in the above letter. The action of the chairman was confirmed. The secretary of the Farmers' Union nslsed the council to assist th«\ uuiott in endeavoring to get the Department of Agriculture to insist on the regulations concerning noxious weeds being carried out" The chairman said this was worthy of attention The spread of blackberry was becoming a menace to farmers. After some discussion It was. decided to heartily endorse the union's request. The Patriotic Appeal Committee desired the council to make a direct donation to the patriotic funds now being raised in the district. After some discussion the application was "received." ENGINEER'S REPORT.

It. .D. Tosswill, county engineer, reported: South Hiding.—A length of about 4ft chains at the southern end of JJoylun Itoad, which was refaced in the earlier part of the season, has been tar-painted, and the metalled portion of this road has been rolled. The refacing of the Mangawhero Road between the South and Kltham Riding!} is well in hand, about 4T> chains havnig been completed to date. The heavy rain recently experienced has for the time being put a stop to this work, and caused sonic damage in other parts of the riding, including a washout on the unmetalled part of Campbell Road and slips on Rotokare and Tlromoana Roads. Mangatokl Riding—The Elthani Road has been tar-sprayed from the borough boundary to astmgs Road (275 chains), and side tracks and water tables have been attended to. 30 chains of Hunter Road and 110 chains of Hastings Road have also been tar-sprayed, and the tarring completed last month on the Duthie Road ; lias also been rolled.

Omona Riding—The erection of a-, retaining wall and repairs to the foundations of the Mangatoromiro Stream bridge on the Rawhitiroa Road have been completed, also an apron wall at the southern pier of the, Patea bridge. The usual maintenance work, consisting of clearing trees and slips, water tabling and repairing culverts has been proceeded with on Rawhitiroa, Mataiwhetu, Malalmaroke and Waltiri Roads.

Kaponga Riding.—The contract for the delivery of crushed metal on Auroa Road was completed on March 8, 3950 cubic yards of metal and 350 cubic yards of screenings were delivered, and 225 chains of road, extending from the railway reserve to Opunake Road, were metalled. Several old wooden culverts wore replaced by concreto pipes, and outfall drains at-, tended to. The banking up of the sides of the metal and the formation of the aide tracks is still in hand, and as soon as this work la completed repairs to the north of Opunake Road will be proceeded with. A contract for the delivery of 380 yards of gravel for the purpose of metalling 32 chains of Neil Road was let to H. Burtlett at 4s Od per cubic yard, but owing to the recent wet weather it has, up to the present., been impossible to start this work. Timber for redecklng tho Mangawheroitl stream bridge on the Opunake Road has been delivered at the site and the work of redecklng is in hand. stripping the deck It has been found that several joists are In unsound condition, and will require renewing. Eltham Riding.-VCulveTts and water tables have been cleaned and small slips have been removed on Rawhitiroa, Rotokaro, Maata and Mangawhero Roads. 104 yards of shell rock has been carted from pit and 31 yards napped for Rawhitiroa Road maintenance; u total of 406 yards having been taken from Mr. Jackson's pit during the season, Damage to roads as a Tesult of the recent heavy rain has been very considerable throughout the riding; the principal damage has occurred on the Mangamingl ridge, where heavy slips on both sides have entirely blocked troffic. A large under-; slip near the summit will necessitate the cutting down of a high point In order to obtftm a suitable curve when tho road is widened out at this place. The road through the valley was under water In many places, and heavy slips occurred nearer the Patea River. A small timber bridge collapsed on the Wlngrove Road, and the work of renewing same was in nana when the storm occurred, the flooded creek causing considerable damage by scouring out a large channel across the road. GeneraW—The following applications have been received: W. Watson. Eltham Road, for crossing at gateway; W. H. Treweek. Mansawhero Road, for crossing at gate: .1. »■ uurke, for permission to lay 1%-inch water pipe across Stuart Koad; O. 1\ Baker, lo purchase 10 or more yards of stone chips at 6s fed per yard at county depot; W. Poole, Maata. for permission to take- about 8 yards gravel W ngoro River near depot; C. A. WHMnaori. to ! Hire portable engine for one month with driveT during slack time In winter. Mrs. (lould "PP' l ® 3 for use of council's wliare at junction of Rawhitiroa and MatalmaTOke Roads for use as a school. It is reported that the contractor for carting cheese from the Tlromoana factory to Elthani Is hauling loads approximating 2 tons on a vehicle with tyres only about 2 inches In width, and is causing damage to the county roads; the bye laws requlro Inches in width for such a load. I would like to repeat, the recommendation made by your previous engineer in his report of May I-, as to the advisability of obtaining a htht m.tor roller. The present item Toiler, in wording order some 1"> K-ns, being far no heavy for many of the light c.iuntr? r.iads m lus count v. I submit herowith particulars and. specifications of a light roller manufactured, ~i Australia and using a heavy grade or KeKseno as fuel, for vour perusal. • Report adopted, and Crs. Belcher, Pease, Mcguinness. and the engineer to consider the matter of light roller, and report to next meeting. L( j w£R p IJXHIE ROAD. Messrs. A. .1. Luxton, H. Thrush and \V. S. Dale, Lower Duthie Road, waited on the council and requested that repair work on this road be pushed on. They suggested that tho road be scarified, metalled and tar-sealed. The engineer said ho had recommended that this work be done, and It was on the estimates. Tho trouble was that they wanted more than be had brought before the council. The chairman said the scarcity of labor hung up countv work, but the deputation could be assured the Riding members and . the engineer would see that the road received attention.