ELTHAM.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 December 1919, Page 3

ELTHAM.

UPPER AUROA ROAD. (From Our Own Correspondent.) A deputation from the Egmont County Council waited upon the Eltham County Council on Saturday afternoon in connection with the Upper Auroa boundary road. The deputation consisted of Messrs Wright (chairman), Green, Watson and Forsyth. The Eltham County Council had before it a letter from Mr. E. De May, a settler on the road, who complained of the state of the road and expressed the opinion that an expenditure of £loo would put it in order. Mr. Belcher said the Eltham Comity Council had charge of the road and they did not wish to see the money already spent wasted through failure to complete the work. The onlv satisfactory method was to tar the road. Cr. Wright said the difficulty with his .council was purely financial. * The rates collected on properties along the road by the Egmont Council only amounted to £6O _los, and their methods of bookkeeping did not permit of a transfer from another account. Cr. Messenger said lie could not behove that £OO 10s was the total amount collected.

The clerk stated that the Eltham County collected £315 WOd off the road. Or. Green pointed out that the Eltham County rate was 2Vid while the Egmont County rate was only V^d. In reply to Cr. Messenn, the engineer stated that it would cost about £7OO to complete the tar-sealing on the Auroa Road.

The chairman said that when the .work was completed the cost of keeping the mart in order would not he more than fUO per annum. A portion of he road had been put in good order and the Eltlwm County Council intended to exercise its power to keep it so for the good of the ratepayers. Cr. Wright said that the deputation had not been given power to act, and tie could not commit his council in anyway. He saw no reason why the JiVmont Council should contribute to the. cost of tar-sealing the road, seeing that the original agreement only provided for metalling and maintenance. The chairman said they had talked the matter over and he hoped thev would arrive at a satisfactory result "

The Prohibition partv had a rally here on Saturday night. A procession from the Farmers' Co-op. building was to take place, but it consisted mainly of the Salvation Army Band. Arriving at the mart, where a lorry was stationed, the speakers mounted on to the lorry and were introduced by Mr. W. Clements. •Speeches were delivered by Commissioner Howard and Colonels McTnnis and Bray. Ihe public did not roll up in any great numbers. In fact, the liquor question does not seem to have muen interest here this time. Outside of the usual prppaganda through the post, nothing is heard of it.