ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 March 1919, Page 2

ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. . , .'I 1 ; The ordinary meeting of the Eltham Counly Council was held in the Municipal Chambers, Fltham, on Saturday, when there were prosent: Crs. 0. .1. Belcher (chairman), A. V. Mcssana, A. Campbell, W. M. Barker, F. VI. Curler, C. J5. McGuinness, E. J. Clifford and W. Jlarkwicke Smith. An apology was received from Or. A. MeWilliani. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer (Mr. D. D. Toswell) reported as follows :

South Riding—The refaeing of 85 chains on the Mangawiiero lcosid has been completed. Owing to the dry weather (.he metai has loosened somewhat hi places on many uf the roads, and will require some additional blinking and rolling after rain. A short low lying length of five and a-half chains on the Te Itott road, opposite the station, has been metalled and a culvert lias been laid. Miiiiiiiitaki Riding.—Tho lower length of about flftv chains to be refaced on Duthie road has been completed and the metal has been blinded between this and the next length. The tar patching of Hunter road between Eltham and Skcet roads has been completed.

Omona Hiding—Beyond Moeroa a large filling mid culvert, washed out fast year, have been renewed and damage caused to a ford repaired. Slips have been removed from Matalmaroke road and forming up, water tabling, scrub cutting ana widening have been done on Matatwhetu road The decking and one or two joists of tb9 Whenuakura River bridge are becoming very unsound and tlio bridge should be wholly or partially rcdecked as early as possible. Kaponga Hiding.—The tar sealing of the Auroa road has been commenced and about a mile and a-half from the railway reserve northI wards has been completed and the work Is being I rushed along as fast as possible whilo the weather remains dry. On the Mangawiiero road the metal on Taylor's hill has been repaired and widened to sixteen feet and well banked. Arrangements have been made to commence the necessary repair w- 1 ! 'Hi the upper end of Auroa road next week. Eltham Riding.—Good progress has been made by W. Smith and party with their contract for widening the road at the underslip on Mangamingi Ridge, the deviation has been fenced and the road at this point will shortly be open for traffic. The contractor for the supply and delivery of shell rook in the same locality lias recently made, a start, but there is little progress to report. Cr. Campbell suggested that the Council should consider the question of raising a loan in the South riding to tar all the roads, an<? to incorporate therein loads on which special loans have been raised. Tno engineer is to report on the amount required at next meeting. RATEPAYER'S COMPLAINTS. Walter Cliatterton, Te Roti, drew attention to the bad state of the old portion of metal on tho To Roti road. —Left in the hands of the engineer and riding member. R. K. Jordan drew attention to tho state of the Waitiri road, where no repairs had been done since the end of November. He understood there was a loan to be spent, yet he could not get tho road men to corao along, as they said they had no time, though they found time to go haymaking. If the road was not attended to before winter it would ho impassable. The engineer stated that the road would he attended 16 in its turn.

GENERAL. Five County employees applied for wages lost during the time they were laid up owing to influenza. The chairman said that though it meant £SO he .vas in favor of paying all the men, and this v.as agreed to on the motion of Crs. Messana and tho chairman. It was resolved to appoint the chairman as the Council's representative on the deputation which is to wait on the Minister of Public Works and. Minister of Railways when in the district, and to urge the need for a more vigorous policy in connection with the Stratford —. Okahukuva railway and the hydro-development It was also resolved to suggest Stratford as the place for the deputation to meet. K. Farrell, tollgate keener at Kiverlea, applied for an increase of wages. It was pointed out that ho now gets £2 and 10 per cent, war bonus. It was resolved to increase his wagaS to £2 10s including war bonus. Special orders were passed 'ji connection with the merger of the £SOO loan on tho CheaiOru roads into the Stratford County. The ranger reported that he had impounded two noises and had collected on six horses, fourteen cows and two calves. Ho also reported on various settlers for overhanging hedges and having weeds in front of their property. The secretary of the Taranaki Counties Conference notified that the cost of the by-laws, together with the expense of the conference, would be £350, to be borne by nine county councils', and Moa Road Board in equal proportion, less borough and town districts contributions, If any. It was resolved to contribute pro rata, the chairman stating that it would egst £3OO If tho Council obtained by-laws of its own. The Tauranga Hospital Board asked support to a resolution urging on tho Government tie need for improving the insanitary conditions [of Native pahs.—Received. The Eketahuna County Council asked the I Council's assistance In having the Act amendI ed so that when the Crown purchases land for settlement the Crown shall pay general rates for the period of occupation. They pointed out that the Council had suffered considerable loss of the general rate owing to tlio Land Board purchasing laud for settlement and leasing the grazing rights for considerable periods during which the Crown refuses to pay general rates.—lt was resolved to support the resolution. The Waipa County Council wrote suggesting that local bodies should take combined action in the direction of getting Government legislation with a view to the building of permanent roads, which should bo done largely at the cost of the consolidated revenue, automatically given. The Council also considered that the time had arrived when motor traffic should oe taxed, and that a tax of at least 10 per cent, should be levied on all tyres imported, tbe tax to bo collected through the customs and divided by some equitable system of distribution between the local bodies to construct and maintain the roads. It was intended to write the Counties Association, embodying the above suggestions. , The letter was received, the chairman remarking that it was all very well for those counties that had no roads to ask the Government to build them out of revenue, but Eltham had niado its own roads. The Ashburton County Council forwarded cony of resolution urging the Government to abolish tlte Territorial system and proposed training caraps.--Recelved.