ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 January 1919, Page 3

ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The Eltham County Council met on Saturdav. Present: Crs. C- J. Belcher, W. H. Smith, E..J. Gifford, C. li.-VlcGuin-ness, A. L. Campbell, and A. MeWilliam. Apologies for non-attendance were received from Crs. Messena and Barker.

ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN. The county clerk called for nominations for the position of chairman, %nil on the motion 01 Crs. Smith and. Campbell, the retiring chairman (Cr. C- J. Belcher) was re-elected-In assuming his position, the chairman thanked the members for re-clecting him to the position. During /"he year the council had had more than its share of trouble, but he believed tliis had now been largely overcome. Still, he did not think there was any prospect of completing much of the work down on the estimates. The persistent rains in the winter and spring had cbnsidera'bly held up work, then the council had a good deal of trouble over labor scarcity, and on the top of this came the epidemic. The several ridings had also suffered heavily by damages caused by the heavy rains. COKRESP ONDENCE.

The Minister for Internal Affairs notified that councillors had full liberty to make all arrangements in connection with peace celebrations. —Received.

The Minister for Public Works acknowledged the council's resolution regarding incurable tuberculosis patients. The question had engaged his attention on several occasions, but he would make further inquiries to see if some more satisfactory arrangements could be made. —Received.

A complaint about the unsatisfactory condition of Wingrove Road was made by Mr. A. King, who stated the road had! practically ceased to exist. He had paid rates on the same for 11 years, and desired the council to give the road immediate attention. —Left in the hands of the chairman and the engineer-—The chairman said he recognised the justice of the request, but in the past they had been unable to get laibor for this work. Mr- M. O'Sullivan, Manutahi, again complained of the condition of Upper Auroa Rgad. The sum of £3OO had been voted for the work, which, he urged, should be proceeded with. Settlers had paid rates for over 20 yeara, and the immediate attention to the road would bs welcomed by the ratepayers.—Held over till next meeting. Mr. F C. Crookes, Awatuna, stated htat his previous complaint regarding the state of Auroa Road was not written on behalf of the Awatuna Dairy Company, but rather on behalf of settlers immediately concerned. He had no desire to create any ill-feeling between the council and the dairy company.

A further communication was received from Mr. Farquhar, chairman of the company, stating that Mr. Crookes had no authority to write his previous letter on behalf of the company. The directors strongly disapproved of same.—Received.

The engineer reported on work done during the month, and stated that satisfactory progress had been made with the erection of the county office.