ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 May 1920, Page 2

ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of tho Eltham County Council was held on Saturday. Present: Crs. 0. .J. Belcher (chairman), A. Campbell, C. E. McGuinness, E. ,1. Gifford, W. E. Carter, A. Messana, M. W. Barker, and A. McWiUlam. CORRESPONDENCE. Prom Public Works Deparment advising that the Government' would contribute £475 towards the restoration of the Mangawheroltl Bridge.—Received. Prom Hawera County Council re the necessity of completing the railway line to the Mt. Egmont stone quarries.—Left in the hands of the chairman and clerk to draft "a letter lo the member for Egmont (Mr. 0. J. Hawl;cn)„ and the Minister of Public Works (Hon.. .1. G. Coates). Prom Department of Public Health as to sanitary defets in the Rawhltiron schoolhouse. —lt was decided that the notice of the Taranaki Education Board be drawn to tills matter. From Tuapeka County Council re levy on local bodies for hosiptal and charitable' aid purposes.—Received. Prom Eltham Borough Council stating that the cost of the erection of the lamp at the Walngongoro Bridge on th 6 Eltham Road, would be £23 15s. The annual charge would be £5 10s or as an alternative the gas could he charged by meter.—lt wus decided that the offer be accepted, and the cost of a two-burner lamp be met out of toll-gate revenue. • ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer (Mr. R. D. Tosswill) reported as follows: South Hiding.—The work of metalling Boylan Road has been continued, a length of about 40 chains now being completed. Several old timber culverts have been removed, and have been replaced by Ota. concrete pipes.— Tenders have been called for the supply and delivery of 1200 cutiic yards of broken stone for refaclng Skeet Road, and are before you for consideration. . Mangatokl Riding.—The heavy flood in the Walngongoro River carried away the old truss bridge at Finnerty Road, but caused no damage to the pier of the new concrete bridge In course of erection, and the construction of a temporary ford to carry milk cart traffic along this road was immediately put in hand by the Stratford County Council. Omoana Ridings—The heavy rain of 18th and 19th caused a considerable number of slips throughout this riding, and traffic on parts of the Rawhltiroa Road was slightly Interrupted, but extra lab'or was procured and the road.was available for light vehicles as far as Moeroa within a, few days. The part of the road beyond Moeroa had been put in order before the rain, and did not suffer as much as might havebeen expected. Undersllps have occurred in a few places which will necessitate the widening of the road for some distance on either side to obtain sufficient width on Mataiwhetu as, well as on Rawhltiroa Roads; but for the present, the most urgent work of removing slips and opening water tables only is being attended to. Timber and ironwork for repairing the Whenukura suspension bridge is now to hand and arrangements have been made for the dfe-

livery of same as early as possible. Kaponga Riding.—The ditch and water tables on the lower Rowan Road have been cleaned and. the metal has been patched on Mangawhero Road, but the portion from Eltliam Road northwards to the top of the hill at about three-quarters of a mile distant requires re-surfacing with a light coat of metal, and tar carpeting during the summer. Very good progress has been, made with the erection of. the Mangawherolti stream bridge, which Is now practically finished with the exception of stripping and plastering the parapet walls.' Enquiries have been received from the Stratford County engineer re the purchase of the hut built for the use of workmen on this job, and I would recommend that it be offered for sale at £4O; also that applications be received for the purchase, (in one or more lots) of the timber used as falsework.

Eltha.ni Riding.—Work in this riding has consisted mainly in patching metal, cleaning water tables and removing 'slips brought down by tho heavy rain about t.hp middle ot the month. All available laW being concentrated on clearing Uie Mangamingl Ridge for a couple of days, through traffic suffered little Interruption Slips were also removed from T'rlmoana, Road. Timber and ironwork ordqred for the erection of the Ararata stream bridge, Is now to hand and a start wl|l bo made with the delivery of same during the coming week. Little progress has been made with the repair work on the road to Lake Rotokare beyond the bridge site. General—The timber has been delivered and a start has been made with the building of an additional cottage at the County depot. Delivery has been taken of a three-horse team recently purchased, and same Is giving every satisfaction. Applications have been received from Mr. Sharp, of Boylan Road, for a Cln. pipe crossing, and from Mr. C. W. Carlson, of Hunter Road for the purchase of some rough stone on the roadside ; Also from Mr. C. Horgan, of Pihama, for the purchase of concrete blocks on Eltham Road As constant Inquiries are being made anent these blocks, and. as I understand they,are not the property of the Council I wou'd recommend that the owner bo required to remove same forthwith from the county road It was decided tc place tho hut under offer to the Stratford County, as suggested at £4O, and that tenders be called for the sale of the timber at the Manga wheroiti bridge. . The reported was adopted. GENERAL. The committee recommended as follows: Re house for lorry driver—That building of cottage lie agreed to according to plans and specifications, and that the price submitted by Mr. ,C. P. Baker, namely £l5O. includes painting, papering. Team*.-—Several offers of teams were considered, the price being considered too high,

further ncgotl.il.ions being left in the hand! of tiio chairman.

The chairmna said they had obtained an excellent team, dray, and harness for £l4O. The report was adopted. The Eltham Co-op. Dairy Company applied for permission to close the present road running alongside the railway reserve into the Skeet Road, near. Te Roll railway station, and to dedicate and form a new road in Its place. The road which it was wished to close was some 400 links insido the boundary of Mr. Chatterton's section. After a conference, Mr. Knuckcy said be was prepared to pledge the company to meet an additional expense due to the additional length of road to be taken over by the Council. The company's request was then granted.