ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 May 1919, Page 7

ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

| MONTHLY MEETING. ' The monthly meeting of ihe Eltliam CouhJy Council was held on Saturday. Present: Crs. C. J. Belcher (chairman), A. Campbell, A. Messena, W. M. Barter, K. J. Gilford, C. E. McGuinneas, \V. E. Carter, A. McWilllam and W. Hatdwiek Smith. TOLL COLLECTOB. Mr. J. H. Forbes tendered his resignation as 101 l collector. He trusted, so his letter stated, that the position would be given to some returned soldier. Several members spoke of the conscientious , and thorough way In which Mr. Forbes had carried out his duties, and after accepting his resignation with regret the appointment of a successor was left in the hands of the chairman and Or. McGuinness. THE BY-LAWS. The secretary to the by-laws conference wrote stating that the following bodies had agreed to share the cost of uniform by-laws: Hawera, Walmato West, Egmont, Stratford, Eltham and Clifton counties, and the boroughs of Inglewood and Stratford. It was anticipated that other bodies would fall into line, but in the meantime tho committee had resolved to proceed with its work. It was stated by the chairman that owing to certain bodies dropping out the cost to each of the remaining bodies would be a little li'gher than was at llrst expected. conference had beon to a great deal of trouble, and had drawn up the most comprehensive system of by-laws in New Zealand. A resolution was passed sanctioning tiie additional cost to tho council.

HOSPITAL LEVY. The Hawera Hospital and Charitable Aid Board forwarded an estimate of receipts and expenditure for the ensuing year, and notified I that tiie amount of the lovy uu the Eltham County Council was £1470 15s, which was payable in monthly instalments of £122 Us 3d each. Cr. Campbell said the board was about to undertake heavy expense, and as for meeting the levy, tiie council had very little option in tho matter. The Question was whether the council should meet the levy out of rates or by special loan. He had opposed certain items of proposed expenditure, but the weight of feeling at, the board table was against him. j The chairman: We can criticise as long aa 1 we like, but we have to pay. Cr. Campbell: That Is one way of looking at it; we must care for our sick. The chairman said there should be legislation empowering hospital boards to strike a rate over the whole district. Cr. Campbell: The ratepayers would still have to pay. The chairmau: I know that, but we would then know where we were, and the finances of the couucil would loolt much better. Cr. McWilliam urged that they should show on all rate notices the proportion of the rate required for hospital purposes. He proposed that this bo done. Cr. Campbell seconded, and the motion was carried.

THE ROAD LOAN. The secretary to the Treasury notified that the council's appTicatioa far permission to raise a loan of £'20,000 lor roading purposes had been approved. Tho clerk stated that the loan was for the South Riding. Tho letter was received.

, THE ELECTRICAL SCHEME. The Patea County Council forwarded a resolution in regard to the hydro-electric scheme for the North Island. The chairman: We can support that for all it's worth. The resolution was unanimously agreed to. MAIN ARTERIAL ROADS. The Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce forwarded resolutions having for their object the taking over by the Government ol' the control of all main arterial roads in the Dominion. The chairman said the Idea was all light for those counties which had poor roads, but its adoption was not necessary for the Eltham County. The way out of the difficulty was adequate rating. Cr. Campbell took the view that the Government should contribute a higher subsidy on rates towards the cost of maintaining main roads. Cr. MeWlliiam held that the Government should eonlributo through local bodies an amount sufficient for the upkeep of main arterial roads, which should be maintained by the Government just as the railways were. A resolution embodying the views expressed by Cr. MeWilliam was passed unanimously, and it was decided to forward a copy to the Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce.

STATE-OWNED FLEET. The Milton Borough Council wrote asking the council's {support to a resolution favoring a State-owned fleet.—lt was decided to support the resolution. PEACE CELEBRATIONS. The Rlverlea branch of the ICaponga Peace Celebrations Committee applied for a donation towards the cost of the peace celebrations in their district. Members generally expressed the opinion that the council could not do more than it had done. The Kaponga people, it was stated, could'share in the benefits of the expenditure by the council by visiting Eltham, where the chief demonstrations would be held. LAKE ROTOKABE ROAD. Mr. A, T. Wills, of Wills and Son, waited on the council with regard to the road to Lake Rotokaro. He stated that the bridge had gone and it was now impossible to use the road. The chairman said the council's information was that repairs would cost £4OO, and there was no chance of that expenditure this year. They could send Mr. TosswiU down to make an inspection, anil they would, on receiving his report, do what they could. The work was of a nature for which they might get a Government subsidy, in which case they might be able to do the whole of the work necessary. The chairman, Cr. Smith and tbe engineer were appointed a committee with power to act.

REMISSION OP RATES ASKED FOR. Returned soldiers on the Parkes Estate, Kaponga, wroto asking for a remission of rates. Reference was made in the letter to the dlificuliies experienced during the past season, 'and losses sustained. The chairman said that a committee had been appointed to Interview the returned soldiers. lie was doubtful whether the council luid the Tight to remit the rates. Cr. Mess.mfi thought that the postponement of paymeni fur twelve months would meet the case. A letter from the council's legal advisers was read, setting out the grounds' on which rate* may be legally remitted, in which it was pointed out that it was very doubtful whether the council could comply with the request made. Cr. Moasana said it ipusf be admitted that the men got on the laud cheaply, hut it was hue in th« season when tliey tonic possession, and on account of one bad season and otljer causes they had not had a lair chance. He favored giving them grace. Ho moved that they be allowed till February 28, 1020. All memuers supported the motion, which was carried.

ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer reported as follows: South Riding.—Work in this riding has consisted of general maintenance, including metal patching, clay blinding, water tabling, scrub cutting and the cleaning out of culverts on Boylan, Nell!, Skeet, Rotokare, Mountain, Dalziei and Mangawhero Roads, the work of remetalling the Rotokare Road being" in hand and almost completed. Mangatoki Riding.—About 270 chains of Eltham Road from Hastings Road to the Waingongoro hridgo, has been tar-sprayed and aanded, side tracks have been regraded and outlets £or storm water from the road made at various crooks. The Hunter Road, 280 chains, ft«s\a||so been tar-sprayed from Skeet Road to Elthdin Road. j

Omona Riding.—-The repair of flood damage, including. the removal of slips, widening, etc., has beta completed on Road?,. Oil JfataiwheUi Ko.id new culverts havo been laid aiid others repaired, and waters-tables Save bden cleaned. Metal has been .repaired, slips temoved and water tables cle9.l4ed .qut on sawUUiron Road. Slight repairs "have 'been H/atle !to the deck of the Whenuakura: River bridge: "«iud the hand ralll, etc., on Takau bridge* iia*ys completed. Bridge decking and culver Lilmper has been delivered at Omona. -- jw-

Kapongft Riding,—The repair worle at the upper end of Auvoa Road-has been completed This has included the. cutting back:,ofv.acrubV widening of formation, repairing and renewing of all culverts, the cleaning out of ditches and metalling with pit metal the greater port\on of ihis pnrt of the road. Concrote foundations have been laid to carry the Mangawheroiti bridge in its temporary position slightly up fttrcum to allow of work being started on the proposed nuw bridge on the present site. The Kltham Road has been tar-sprayed from Riverlea for 140 chains eastwards. Slight maintenance has been done on Opunake and Palmer Roads.

fcltham Riding—Repair work has been carried out on Tiromoana Road, including the forming up of parts of the road, water tabling and the laying of a new pipe culvert. On Rawhitiroa Road a length of 24 chains has been refaced with shell rock, 200 cubic yards have been quarried by Smith and party at Barnard's pit, and 130 cubic yards havo been delivered under Bonuett's contract. Payment of pound-for-pound subsidy has been -received for the widening recently completed on Mangaraingi Ridge,

Ooneral.—lJp to the present time yery little progress has Deen made with the cleaning of creoks and culvert outlets, the cutting back of tveos and fences, etc., by occupiers who were notified to ofcify oyt puch ytortti. Applicat'ce

, iias keen made by Messrs. Nichols. Babbage and Stado for crossings at gateways, and by Mr. Boskin for the use of tho council's scoop for about a fortnight. During the month part of tho steering mechanism of the county car wa? broken, the replacing of the part necessitating considerable delay. Opportunity was taken to have the car thoroughly overhauled and re* paired, and the body repainted, the work being now practically completed. It wua decided to have the crossings referred to In the report put Jn as soon as possible, and the report was adopted. GENERAL. The ranger reported that for one month driving and poundage fees amounted to £1 l;»s. To date GSU dog collars had been sold.— Received. The Valuer-General wrote stating that a voucher for the baUiuee of subsidy due on 11)1718 general rates, amounting to £3G6 12s, had been forwarded to the Treasury.—Received. The Eltham Borough Council asked that a committee bo appointed to discuss with a committee appointed by the Borough Council tho question of heavy traffic on the Mangawhero Road Cr. Campbell and the chairman were appointed.