ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 August 1918, Page 3

ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary monthly meeting of the above council was held on Saturday. Present: Crs. C. J. Belcher (clioirinan), W. H. Smith, J. E. Giilord, C. E. McGuiuncss, A. C, Pease, A. McWilliam, W. M. Barker, A. Mcssena, and A. L. Campbell. CORRESPONDENCE. From Humphrey and Tomer, Matemateonga, re access to section 3 block 15 Omona S.D., asking that the thirds bo used for the purpose of erecting a bridge. They also desired that in future the thirds be allowed to accumulate for the erection of a vehicle bridge at another point of access.—Cr. McWilliam j said there was no access to the property and something should be done. A tree had been fallen across the creek to act as a bridge, but that had now collapsed and it was impossible to get sheep on to the property.—Resolved that a reply be sent to the effect that £2B had already been scheduled for the road, but in future the thirds would be allocated for the worK. From Waitomo County Council, forwarding copies of resolutions passed by that council, and asking for support of same. The resolutions are: "That the Counties Act should be amended to provide that in eounties where the Native ratepayers exceed a certain number they be allowed to elect one or more exclusive representatives to the council, such representatives to be elected for the whole of the county. Further that the Counties Act, so far as that portion dealing with electoral rolls is concerned, should be amended so as to give power to the county clerk to compile two electoral rolls; one containing the names of all European electors in the riding, and one containing the names of all Native electors within the county, and that only the European roll be used in the case of an election of a councillor representing any particular riding, and the roll containing the names of all Native electors in the county for the election of a councillor or councillors representing the Natives. Such amendments to apply to the election of members to the County Council only. On all other matters where the vote of the ratepayers is necessary the Native and European electors to have equal voting powers according to their respective qualifications."— i Received. From the Gisborne County Council relative to the internment of all enemy aliens.—Received. From M. Muller, Hunter Road, asking permission to plant a boxtliora hedge on the road frontage to his property.— Granted. Messrs T. Sanderson, T. BL Taylor, W. IL Bublitz, and S. J. Sanderson, wrote protesting against being included in the special rating area in connection I with the object of the loan, on the grounds that their properties were already served by a metalled road, viz., the portion of road between FlaveU's corner and Sanderson's southern boundary; that they already pay a special rate on this section of 'road, and in the event of the proposed loan not being proceeded with would still, as they are now, be entitled to have this section maintained from the existing general and special rates; also that part of the said section of road was repaired lase year. In other words, they would receive little or any benefit from the proposed loan. —After discussion it was resolved that the petitioners be informed that they will be afforded an opportunity of placing their objections before a magistrate in the ordinary way. From tho clerk to the Eltham Drainage Board, making application for the following subsidies towards road drain cleaning—Mata Road: John Cocker, 17J chains at 2s per chain; S. H. Jenkins", 20* chains at 2s per chain.—Granted. From L. Bunn, Eltham, asking permission to graze five horses on the road at Matemateonga —Resolved that the application could not be granted. From A. M. Boddie, Mangamingi, drawing attention to the bad state of the creek on the Wingrove Road and asking what the council intended doing. —Held over until next meeting. From N.Z. Farmers' Co-operative Bacon Company, Eltham, asking to be supplied with 30 to 40 yards of broken metal.—To be informed that the council have no metal to spare, ENGINEER'S REPORT. Mr. R. D. Tosswill presented the fol-1 lowing report:— South Riding.—The contract for cleaning ditches along tho Campbell and Mangawhero Roads has been completed; Boylan, Fraser, Rotokare, and Skeet Roads have been patched and watertables have been cleaned on Mountain Road. Metal for patching has been delivered on various roads throughout the riding. Mangatoki Riding.—The lower end of the Duthie Road has been patched, and stone-breakers are at work hand-break-ing the boulder stone which had been previously delivered on this road. VVater-tablcs have been cleaned on Hunter Road and 24 chains of side tracks have been metalled on the steeper grades. Water-tabling has been done on Stuart and Eltham Roads, and the metalling of side-tracks on the latter road is in hand. Omona Riding.—Slips Stave been removed on Rawhitiroa Road, and the work of re-forming and water-tabling lias been continued, and general maintenance work has been carried out along the Mangatoromiro valley. The Waitiri Road has been re-opened for cart traffic for a distance of two miles. The Karewa Road has been widened out where an underslip had occurred, and heavy slips have been removed from Mataimaroke Road. Kaponga Riding.—The banking up of side tracks and water-tabling of Eltham Road has been the chief work done during the month. The new metal on Neil Road has been raked ,in and general maintenance work carried out on Opunake, Palmer, and Manaia Roads. Overgrown fences and trees in this part of the county are becoming a nuisance by shading and obstructing the roads and interfering with the proper maintenance of ditches and culverts, and should be trimmed back to a reasonable size. Eltham Riding.—The Rawhitiroa Road ha 3 been patched, slips have been removed and watcr-tableS have been cleaned. A survey is being prepared for the small deviation on the Mangamingi ridge, where it has become necessary to widen the road, but up to the present it lias not been possible to make any arrangements in regard to letting the work. Advic. has been received that the Minister for Public Works has agreed to increase the subsidy of £7O previously granted for flood damages to £250, to include the abo»»-mentioned jjwv: ■M»<otfi»iv\ee work,lias twen done i

on Hii, Tiromoann, and Monrawlipro Roads, ami (lie contract for cleaning ditches on the latter road is completed. Templar and Mabey Streets have been graded, patched, and rolled and put in good order. Clifford Road in in very bad condition owjiug to metal being carted over it during the winter months. Loads of over 2% tons being constantly hauled has practically destroyed the metalled portion near the Waingongoro river, and has considerably damaged that portion of the road between the borough and the county that was recently re- , faced and tar-sealed. In the circumstances it was considered useless to attempt repairs while this trallic continues. The repairs only just completed in Templar Street are already being rendered useless from the same cause. GENERAL. The county ranger reported several cases of noxious weeds in the district, and it was decided to draw the attention of the inspector to the matter. The action of a special committee in appointing V. Thompson as ranger was approved. It was resolved that notice be served on several property owners in the Kaponga district to cut overhanging hedges. and trees. The council went into committee to consider the question of damage done to the Clifford Road nad Templar Street by the carting of metal. On resuming, the council reported that the chairman and Cr. Pease had been appointed a committee to interview the county solicitor on the matter. The clerk reported thta last year the council was entitled to an overdraft of £12,000. It was decided to take the necessary steps to obtain this amount. TO REMOVE A MISUNDERSTANDING. Cr. McWilliam said that the matter which lie was going to bring forward was rather ancient history; still, lie would like to clear up the matter: "That, in regard to the old bridge timber at the Patea River, it now appears that the full facts were not put before the council when I made the remark that it was deplorable that ratepayers interfered with the council's property. It appears that the timber taken by the local people was that thrown into the river by the late engineer's orders and fished out by them down-stream, and that a considerable portion of it was totara beam timber. I regret that the undeserved stigma was placed on local people„J)ut my remarks were due to the statement of the position then placea before the council." Replying to Cr. Smith, Cr. MeWilliam said Mr. Basham's orders to the men were to "blow up the old bridge, so that the 'cockies' could not get any timber, as they did not deserve it." Cr. Pease said that such statements were casting a stigma on the late engineer, and it was only hearsay. It almost appeared as though Mr. Basham was throwing away the council's timber. Cr. McWilliam said that some Of the beams were painted, so that it was not known that they were totara when they were thrown into the river. The rates for the ensuing year in the various ridings were approved of, and,the chairman and Cr. Campbell were appointed to sign the rate book.