ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 June 1918, Page 3

ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

MOOTHLY MEETTKiG. The usual meeting was held on Saturday. Present: Crs. C. J. Beldher (chairman), W. Hardwick Smifih, E. J. Gilford, C. E. M'Ciuiniiess, A. C. Pease A. M."William, W- M. Barker, A. V. Massena, and A. L. Campbell. COREESPOHKENC®. The Department of Agriculture notified tlia.t the petition relative to noxious weeds was being looked into. —Received. Wanganui County Council wrote re county elections, desiring that the date of elections be fixed for municipal councils.—Received; no action taken. The Department of LiaJbor, New Plymouth, notified that, regarding the strike of roadmen in the Etthaim County, it had decided not to take action in tlhe piatter.—Received. J. Granville, Mangamingi, drew attention to the state of a culvert near his house, and also stated that a hridge near his property had been destroyed by the floods.—Left to the engineer. Slaughtering licenses were granted to L. Wiokham, Kaponga, and W- Clarry, Eltliam. An application for two loads of crushed metal frotn Mrs. A. Bailey's W&9 left to tlhe engineer. Mr. 11. M'Cormaek, Stewart Road, desired the use of the council's scoop for a few days.—(Left to the engineer. The resident engineer, Stratford, notified that the Government had approved of a subsidy of £ for £ up to £75 for flood damage on Rawhitiroa Road.— Received.—The engineer stated that it would be necessary for him to go on a ratepayer's property to deviate a watercourse.—Resolved, "That notice be served on the owner of section 7, block 11., Ngaere, Mangamingi Valley, to permit deviation.'' , . MAIN ROADS. Ohinemuri County Council desired Support in securing Government control and maintenance of main arterial roads.— Held over till next meeting. STREAM BLOCKAGE BY WILLOW'S. The Eltliam Drainage Board drew attention to drainage of Ngaere swamp being interfered with by the growth of willow* in tho Mang&whiro stream, in the Eltham Borough, and asked the council to exercise its powers. Messrs W. C- Clement (chairman). It Woods, and J. L. Caniulbell, members of the board, waited on the council in connection with the matter. After some discussion, it was resolved to leave the matter in the hands of the chairman, Cr. Campbell, and the engineer, the latter to take level's and report to next meeting.

STRAYING STOCK. A long discussion ensued on the trouble of stock grazing on the roadside. J.t was felt tlbat something should be done in the matter. Cr. CamplbeH said the Normaniby Town Board issued licenses to graze cattle. Cr. Pease: Manaia permits this. Cr. M'WBliams: And Opunake, also. The chairman thought they might permit grazing on by-roads. It was resolved that tihe council from time to time grant permits in special cases for grazing on specified roods. ENGINEER'S REPORT. Mr. B. D. Toaswill. engineer, reported is fol'tows: South Riding.—A larga Ailing on the Campbell Road, which was carried away by the recent floods, has been renewed, and the original 18-lnch pipes have been replaced by 36-lnch concrete pipes. The blinding and rolling of the metal at the sooth end of Mountain Road has been completed. Omona Riding.—Work In this riding has comprised the clearing of slips and fallen trees, the deepening of water tables, and the widening out of road where underslips have occurred, on Rawhitiroa and Mat&iwhetu Roads. Kaponga Riding.—The contract for the sapply and delivery of gravel on the Netl Road has been completed, a length of 32 chains having been laid. Water tables have been cleaned, and the metalled portion of the road patched. Repairs to the metal on the upper portion of Auroa Road, beyond Opunake Road, have been completed. A small quantity of metal Is required to make up the slack placed, and an offer having been received from Messrs. Collis and Southee to deliver 100 yards of broken metal on the road at 8s per yard, I recommend that their offer be accepted, as this would be sufficient to put this length of road In fair order. Eltham Riding.—The work of repairing flood damages on the Rawhitiroa Road over the Mangamingi Ridge has been continued, but owing to the fact that each successive rain causes more material, previously loosened by the torrential rain of April last, to fall on the road, there is a great deal of work still to be done. The underslipplng of the road at a sharp inside bend near the saddle will necessitate the cutting back of a point to ease the curve and obtain sufficient width for the road, and I would recommend that this be let by piecework or contract. The district engineer inspected this road with me on the 6th inst, with a view to making recommendations regarding possible subsidy from Government towards cost of repairs. General. —Delivery ha 3 been taken of a 3-ton White truck from Messrs. Davidson and Co., in exchange for the 1%-ton track previously belonging to the council. The former has been thoroughly overhauled, and found in good condition, the only portions showing slight wear being the races in the gear box, and arrangements have been made to replace these at an early date. Tyres for one rear wheel have also been ordered, and arrangements are in hand for providing a body and tip gear. Quotations; for tar for the season's work are submitted herewith by Restar, Ltd., the prices only showing an advance of a farthing per gallon on B.RJJ. on last year's prices. I recommend that same be accepted. In reply to advertisement for a senior foreman 25 applications were received, and B. C. Johnson was appointed, commencing duties on 3rd Inst. Applications nave been received from A. King, Manaia Rosd* for pipe crossing, and from Seidel and Mccormick, for use of road scoops for a fortnight. Estimates for proposed expenditure in the several ridings of the county daring the carretrt year are submitted for your approval. The offer of Messrs Collis and Sotrthee of 100 yds of metal at 83 per yard was accepted. The couneil considered the estimates prepared for the ensuing year, but which are not ready for publicationENGINEER'S SALARYAt the close of the ordinary business, Cr. Camplbcll rose and formally moved—"That the engineer's salary be increased by £50." Be said tihey all must recognise that Mr. Tosawill had done very good woric whilst in their employ, and it was only fair that they should recognise his aJbffity. Cr. M/WiU iain seconded, ajid said the work had been very satisfiactorily carried out whilst in the engineer's hands, and he fully merited the increase. The chairman said he would support the increase Their late engineer (Mr. Basham) received this salary, and he believed it was understood that if Mr. Toeswill carried out the work to the satisfaction of tha council he Should receive the same salary as was paid MrBasham. He could assure them he waa well satisfied with the work. Cr. (Jifford was against any increase. Or. M*(Juinness was also opposed to any increase. Cr. Pease supported the increase. Cr Barker said he would vote against .it 1 flis.trnn T! 'tM v. v*: Used for

an engineer at £330 per annum. Mr. Tosswill was one of the many applicants, and now they were prepared to lift him up £SO. His vote was against the motion. The motion was then put and carried, the voting being:—For: Crs. Belcher, Smith Tm.-c, C.r ••'•hell; and M'Willia-m, Crs. <>"r M'Giiinness, Hai- *<«•?. tuid Mcsscna.