ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 June 1920, Page 6

ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The Eltham County Council net on Saturday. Present: Crs. C. J. JBelcher (chairman), VY. H. Smith, A. McWilliams, A. Messana, \V. Af. Baker, B. J. Gilford. C. B- McGufnness, IV. E. Carter, A. Campbell. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer (Mr. R. D. To&swiil) reported as follows: — South Hiding —On the Boylan Road the work of repairing was continued, and a further length of about 32 chains was completed. A length of 10 chains on Dalziel Road ha» also been refaced. Warning notices have beeu «reoted as instructed. Mangatoki Riding.—The MangatonU stream bridge on Skeet Road has become unsafe for Any but the lightest traffic, and temporary repairs are being carried out by the Ha we; a County Council. This will only prolong the usefulness of the bridge for a very limited period, and this bridge, as well as the Watngongoro bridge on the saime road, will shortly require replacing by more permanent structures In reinforced concrete, and this Council's share of cost of same will require consideration.

Offnonft Riding.—The bad weather has caused the usual damage to roads in this riding, and the work of removing slips, fallen trees and widening out portions of the road where Underslips had oceurred has been continuous. The Rawhltiroa Road is again , open for wheel traffic to Moeroa. Timber for repairing the YVhenuakura Hirer suspension bridge is being delivered, but owing to the difficulties of delivering bridge timber along unmetalled roads at this time of the year, as well as scarcity of labor, it may be some time before this work can bo completed. Kaponga. Hiding—Low places alongside the tarred crust of the Eltham Road havo been banked up and the work of filling In the approaches to the new Mangawheroitl bridge has been carried as far as possible until the necessary metal for completing same has been delivered. The bridge is now complete, the work of erection having been carried out by Cave In a very satisfactory manner. The only work now remaining is the metalling of the approaches and roadway, and with this completed the bridge will be ready for traffic any time after the end of July. Tho hut erected for use of workmen during building hns been disposed of. The balance of the timber consisting of 2-in. planks suitable for culverts, as well as some reinforcing steel that was over, has been returned to the depot. The sides of the metal on the hill on Manjawhero Road, which were badly scoured, have been filled in with clav, but during the summer the metal should be Widened to avoid the constant scouring taking place on this hill. EJtham Riding—The woTk done In this Riding consisted solely of maintenance work, Including tho removal of slips on Mangawhero Road extension to Lake' Rotokare, and the removal of slips and water-tabling on Mnngamingl Ridge. Timber for the erection of Ararata stream bridge hns been delivered at tho end of the metal, and arrangements are being made to have saime delivered at bridge site by sledge. The small bridge on the Wlngrove Road over the Kaitangl creek, preprevlously reported as dangerous, has been stripped of the decking and approaches blocked until timber can be secured for rebuilding.

CORRESPONDENCE. The Hawera County Council wrote consenting to tlje Eltham Council having control ot the Fraser Road, where the road constitutes the boundary between Eltham and nan-era Counties.—Received. Mr. J. Revell wrote reporting, what might have been a very serious accident at Chlslehurst on tli.o Monday previous to June 8, through (lie netinn of the driver of one of the Council's motor lorries. Mrs. Revell was flitting in a pig on the side of the road when the lorry appeared iu sight, frightening the horse and causing it to ret almost out of control. Although she asked the lorry driver to f>ull un he came straight cn, and collided with the gig. badly smashing one of the turnips. Ho asked tho Council- to pay the cost of the repairs. After discussion, tho matter was left in the hands of the chairman to Interview the driver and ascertain if there had been any carelessness. Mr. .T. R. .lames, of Rlverlea, wrote complaining of the unfairness of charging him an additional 10 per cent, on overdue rates. He stated that he was a returned soldier, having had three and a half years' service, and had been wounded and gassed. The rates had been only about a month overdue The chairman remarked that the Council had always treated the returned soldiers fairly, and this was the first complaint received. A councillor remarked that the man had recently sold his farm, making £2O an acre on It. The matter was left in the hands of Cr. Barker to inquire Into. The Minister of Public Works wrote with reference to the completion of the line to tho Mf, Egmont quarries, stating he was obtalning a report on the matter.—Received. A lengthy circmlar letter was received from the Auckland Railways League asking support to a petition, which Hie League proposed to circulate, praying that the North Island should receive n greater share of railway construction, and that the main lines I should be completed at once. 1 The chairman, in moving that the peti- ! tion be supported, said the Stratford-Oknhu-kura riihvay yas included, and as he understood that the greatest need of the country just now was coal, he thought that the : railway should bp completed as early as pos-

Bible In order to make available the J,irge coal deposits in the Olmra. Several councillors cxprtessed the opinion that the To Roti-Opunake line war of equal importance. The Council decided to bup* port tho petition. The chairman submitted a report on the conference held at . Stratford recently, at which it was decided to form an Electrical Board for Tarannki.