ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 July 1919, Page 6

ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Eltham County Council was held on Saturday. Present: Crs. C. ,T. Belcher (chairmen), E. .1. Gilford, C. H. McGulnness, E. W. Carter, A. Campbell, \V. M. Baker, A. Messana, A. McWilliam and W. 11. Smith. RAISING A BRIDGE LEVEL. Twenty ratepayers petitioned the council to raise the level of the bridge which is to he erected over the Mangawberoitl stream, four feet above the level of the present bridge; also to lower the crown of the hill on the eastern side of the bridge by two or three feet. The engineer said that to carry out the proposal lo raise the bridge would mean greater expense without any adrantage being derived. The clubman said the matter affected the Kaponga Riding alone The engineer said he proposed constructing the bridge and approaches so that there would be about twenty feet level 011 each side. To raise the bridge as suggested would cost lialf . as much again as was now proposed. He could not recommend It. The chairman said tlmt the petition had been signed by thirty ratepayers, and could not be ignored. The position would have to he explained to them. It was decided that the members for Kaponga, the chairman and the engineer call a meeting of the petitioners and explain the whole position. CORRESPONDENCE. I Mr. R. E. Williams, of Kaponga, wa9 granted a slaughter-house licence. A sheitf of telegrams relating to peace celebrations was placed before tlio council. The chairman said that little interest was being taken in the celebrations in Eltham, and a meet|ng called for tho previous evening had been attended by sis people At a similar meeting at Kaponga 50 had been present. Mr. E H. Thomas tendered his resignation ns motor mechanic, as he had accepted a position as manager of a local garage The chairman said that Mr. Thomas had given splendid service.. Satisfaction was expressed that he was not • leaving Eltham, and it was suggested by tho engineer that the council might still be able to avail itself of his services.—The resignation was accepted. Advice was Acelvod from the New Zealand Counties Association that a conference would be held in Wellington on September 3.—Received. An intimation was received from the Hawera Hospital Board that Mr. J. Marx, the council's representative on the board, had resigned owing to ill-health. The chairman said that Mr. Marx had proved a very able representative. Cr Campbell, who urged that it was advisable to have a member of the 'council as representative, moved that Cr. Gilford be appointed. This was seconded hy Cr. McWilliam and carried. The Paten County Counpil wrote stating that a large number of local bodies in Taranaki had endorsed the proposal to push forward the hydro-electric scheme, and asking for further suggestions. T|ie chairman said they should give their | support. The chairman was appointed to represent the council on a deputation to the Minister on the matter. It was stated that the deputation may have an opportunity to wait npon the Minister when he is on a visit to the district, but if not the chairman was authorised to proceed to Wellington. Mr.. L. E. Jackson, of Mangamingl, wrote protesting Against one carrier jfiore than another being allowed to graze horses on tho Itawhltiroa and Mangamingi Valley Roads Cr. I McWilliam said a privilege had been granted to one carrier on certain conditions, but it was only a temporary arrangement. It was decided I to reply stating th?.t tho taneeT wis receiving I Instructions to impound all stock found grazing on the road. I Mr E .T Cibsnn, of Stuart Road, complained j that an outlet to a culvert was Mocked, cjws- ! inj? damage. It wns decided to give notice to Mr. T. W. Corbett that the drain must be f cleared.

A ratepayer notified that he would attend to the clearing of blackberry as soon as possible. The chairman remarked that there were about thirty defaulters, and the cleric stated that quite a number had stated verhally that the work was he'd up hy a shortage of labor. It was decided to inform the r" *c:>avc in Question that he must get on with the work. The secretary to the Taranaki Counties Conference wrote inviting the council to attend a conference of local bodies to be held at Eltham on.'Friday next to consider the Taranaki County Council's new by-laws, and also a proposal to form a Taranaki local 'millon or counties association, The chairman said that in the past the Eltham County Counc|l and Mr. Tristram had been doing all the work, and it was time some kind of an organisation was formed and a fund created They had a similar organisation in Walrarapa. It was decided to attend tho conference The ranger reported that he had impounded 32 head of cattle, and collected fees totalling £1 148, ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer reported as follows: South Riding—General repair and maintenance work only has been done during the month. This Includes the replacing of worn-out timber culverts with !)-!nch concrete pipes on Rotokare and Campbell Roads, water-tahllng and laying of a pipe culvert on Fraser Road, water-tabling and metal-patehing on Boylan, Campbell, Nelll and Mangawhern Roads, the blinding of metal shoulders on Mountani Road, and the delivery of metal for patching where required.

Mangatoki Riding —On Hunter, Duthle, Hastings, Stuart and Palmer Roads the grass shoulders have been lowered with the grader, and water-tabling has been comnleted on Palmer, Hunter and lower Stuart Roads Sand, in preparation for tar-spraylng, has been delivered on Duthle Road and Hunter Road.

Omona Riding—Water-tables have been cleaned, overhanging scrub has been cut, and slips have been removed on Rawhltiroa Road beyond Omona. On the hill approaching Omona a sharp and badly-graded bend has been improved by cutting back the point and regradlng tho formation, tho old metal having been picked up and used for the new work. During the Bummer It will be advisable to have some shell rock delivered on this part of the road, as thore is none on hand at present for patching and it is important that the surface should be maintained In good order on a road with such sharp bends and steep grades. Tho clearing of slips from Matalmarokc Road has been completed, and roads throughout the riding are In exceptionally good order for the time of the year.

Kaponga Riding.—The banking up of metal, the cleaning of drains and water-tables have been completed on the Opunake Road, between Mangawhero and Auroa Roads. Similar woTk has been carried out on Eltham Road, considerable labor having been entailed in freeing the mouths of culverts of willow Toots, which, if not frequently attended to, entirely choke the culverts. .The necessary steel for the Mangawherolti bridge Is now to hand, and 172 cubic yards of screened shingle has been supplied from Raupokonui stream, and a portion of this has been delivered at the bridge site. Owing to unsuitable weather conditions it was not considered advisable to proceed with tho moving of the present bridge, more especially as railway restrictions on the carriage of cement would Interfere with the erection of the new one. A temporary hut for the use of workmen will be roquired at the site, as no suitable accommodation is available in the vicin-

Eltham Rtdtnc.-On Rawhltiroa Road an additional 20 Chains of old road surface has been picked up, hand-broken and refaced with shell rock, but this woTk had to ber stopped owing to wet weather. Ninety-one. yards of rock prfflftously delivered by contract has been napped, small slips on the ridge havo been removed and water-tables have been attended to. A new culvert has been laid and others cleaned on Wingrove Road, and ditches havo been cleaned on Aorere Road. The metal on'the southern end of Mata Road has been patched, and clay was carted on to the portion across the swamp but owing to wet weather work was discontinued.

General.—Applications have been received from Mtssre. C. Baker for from 1(10 to ; 300 yards of shtngle for concrete, James Mills for about 12 yards of metal for roadway, and M. .T. Power far culvert and metal for crossing; also from Ifaponga Town Board for uso of lorries to cart a hundred yards of shingle. Several crossings previously authorised by the council have been o"J n , d ," rlni: the month, and 8 36-inch and it concrG te pipes have been made. Moulds for making concrete posts have been « rt ff, not yet t0 hanfl - Tanks for each of tho toll-gate whares have been procured and are now in position. The crusher has not been run, hut tho teams have been employed In carting boulder stone and sand to the depot when tile state of the river allowed. Tlio 2. i l i ! local staff lllts b een further toduced by tho resignation, of the motor mechanic (who is taking up other work locally) tn fin y th» iT ( f ncl rol uF drirer ' " nd applications to nil the latter position have been called. DUTHIE ROAD. Cr. McGuimiess complained of tho methods adopted on Duthle Road. lie stated that £509 had been allotted for this road, and £ll2O had been expended. In cleaning tho water-tables there was a waste of time owing to the same ground being covered twice. He was sure they were not getting 20s worth of work for every 20s they expended. He criticised the foreman, a " u,!, if ' le was responsible for the methods adopted ho did not know his . duty He had seen seven men at work, and ono good man would havo done more' than tho lot. The use of tho dump waggons was adding up to per yard to the cost. If tho engineer could Jot Bad some better way of placing tho men, tticn 41»ey would have to find some one who COttlO;"* • Jj?h» engineer said that as a result .of a detyMlglkt v . . "

double that provided for in the estimates.. The foreman was not perfect, hut was u good man. Having so many men under him, he sometimes found it difficult to place them advantaceously. Cr Gilford asked the engineer If the lorries when going out to any place were supposed to be empty. The engineer said he had instructed the men never to go empty.

Cr. Br.rkor said he also was of the opinion that a sufficiently strict supervision was not kept over the men. The engineer said he could not be everywhere at once. He had a fjreat deal of office work to do, but. mannped to see every job every day, Or. McWilliam ur:;ed that It was necessary to have a good, responsible foreman in the yards. The engineer stated that he had every contHonee in the foreman, whose only weak was in handling men, but he was gelling bettor every day. Cr. Campbell said the engineer had far ton much office work to do. Some engineers hud no office work.

The engineer said that his agreement with the council necessitated a great deal of otfi'ii work. He had to keep a strict account of all work done, and prepare plans, etc. Cr. McWilliam said it seemed tc him «liat the trouble was at the yard. Cr. McGuinncss pointed out that there was no complaint that tho foreman did not work hard enough. It was just a question of organisation. The report was adopted. DEPUTATIONS. Mr. Fitzgerald waited on the council in re» ference to a culvert near his property on tho Eltham Road, which, he stated, should be raised. It was agreed that the engineer meet Mr. Fitzgerald on the site of the culvert. Mr. Best, of Pukengahu, waited on the council and complained about'the treatment he had received from the engineer in reference to tha cleaning of a creek. A notice had been sent him In March or April to clean the creek, and !n June ho did the work at a cost of about £lO, making a good job of it. Since then the engineer had reported that the work had been done unsatisfactorily. The engineer called after a flood had brought down a quantity of silt and marred the effect of his work. lie was prepared to do anything reasonable for the council, but nothing unreasonable. The chairman said that half the council's time was taken up with matters of this kind. Mr. Best said that much of the trouble would be obviated if a proper culvert was put in. If he kept cutting, as the engineer wished, he would have a Suez CanaL He wanted to be reasonable, but he could only attribute what the engineer was doing to spit? It was resolved to meet Mr. Best on the ground. The committee appointed to go into the question- of toll-gate charges reported that it had been agreed to reduce the charge on one-ton lorries to 2s 6d.—Adopted.