ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 August 1920, Page 2

ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The usual meeting of the Eltham County Council was held on Saturday. Present: Crs. C. J. Boleher (chairman), E. .7. Oiftord, W. H. Smith, C. E. MeGuinnoss, A. McWilllam, W. .13. Carler, A. Messana, W. M. Barker, and A. Campbell; ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer (Mr. M. Fitzgerald) reported as follows ; South Riding.—According to the estimates, Fraser Road is to be made up this year, uud Rotokare Road, over which all materials for Fraser Road will have to be hauled, is '0 be made up next year. The Rotokare Road estimate shows 70 chains to be metalled and 140 chains to be tar-sealed. It might be wise to leave the metalling, but I fear that the hauling to Fraser Road will spoil the prctent good road surfaces unlessi they are tarsealed first. I presume it is the wish of the Council that the work of Fraser Road be attended to as soon as passible. This will fill In with the general programme for the County. During July the metalling of Boylan Roai' was completed. Patching has Been dftiie to Dalizel, Stuart, Nellt and Campbell'Roads. Slips have been cleared on the Rotoltaro Road.

Mangatoki Riding.—The estimates • show 300 cliains of tarring to be done on the Lower Hunter Road. With the exception of a length near the factory, the upper Hunter is In more need of spraying and I propose diverting some of the work accordingly. Mnngawheroltl bridge will probably be opened for traffic during the coming week, and when this is done I propose advertising the old bridge for sale by tender. It contains materials which would be valuable to cabinet-makers. Eltham Riding—Mangxivhero Rood (far end) has been sufficiently cleared to enable materials to be sledged down to the Ararnta Stream bridge site and the construction of this bridge will be commenced as soon as possible. The re-openlng of the road for vehicular traffic is being delayed until the spring. The contract for opening this road beyond the stream has been completed. Rawhltlroa Road was patched from Patea River to Wlngrove Road, and the usual work of clearing; slips on the ridge has been attended to. A slip on tho Hu Road was cleared and a culvert was put Into the Maata Road, besides general work and the getting out of sand and chips for tarring, a good deal of work has been done in improving the sides of Eltham Road, especially on tho hills. Osnona Riding—Besides the usual work of water-tabling and clearing of small slips, the Wash-out just beyond Omona has been dealt with, the road being velined by cutting out what would otherwise have been a bad curve. Work was done on a wash-out at Moeroa, and two bad curves have been taken off. Workhas been conr.nonced on the Maltnlwhetu and Maraimaroke Roads.

Kaponga Riding.—Rowan Road has been patched up and a new 0-in culvert has been put in in the Lower Rowan Road. Palmer and Manoia Roads have received attention. At the beginning of this month, part of the Noill Road was washed away. This road is very little used for legitimate trnfflc, but is used very largely for rat* grazing; the rattle tread the banks about badly, and block the water-tables and unless the owner of (he cattle will undertake to keep'the road in order at bis own expense I suggest tho ranger give the matter his attention.

General.—Number one grade tar Is coming to hand well, and is being put Into the storage tank in readiness for the comity; Season's work. An arrangement has been made with the Eltharo Borough Council for Interchange of machinery. I propose using the borough's light steam, roller as much as possible in prdference to the 16-tonner Work is being seriously held up by break downs with the lorries, and I would ask the Council to go into this matter in detail. I see no hope or completing the year's work unless at least one new vehicle is obtained very soon. I would like a ruling from the Council as to the amount of effort which is to bo devoted to expending the whole of the £IO,OOO loan this yoar. It can be done with certainty and ease if it is placed on the lop of the list. If this is to be so then the season's programme will he to complete the Eltliam end of the County first and finish up the season in Kaponga Riding, where work can. best be delayed until next year, If necessary. A committee consisting of the chairman and Crs McGuinness, Messana, and Campbell was appointed to report to the next meeting regarding finances in connection with the proposed purchase of a motor lorry. After discussion oh other matters therein the report was adopted. A QUESTION OP BATES. Staff-Captain Sco'tney, manager of the Boys' Home, wrote asking If the Council could arrange some reduction—lf not exemption—ln the rate demand. He pointed out the nature of the work being carried on by the institution, thus placing it in a class differing from that of an ordinary property. Ho quoted the action of the Wellington City Council In granting exemption on all buildings and four acres ,of land in connection with a similar institution. Answering si Councillor, the clerk said the Council had power to make an allowance to religious institutions. The chairman said he did not think they were legally able* to comply witli the request. In any case he did not believe in using County funds for such a purpose, though personally lie had made contributions to the cause. There was also the danger of opening the sectarian question.

The Council decided that the request be not entertained. BUILDING REGULATIONS. The sectetary of the Board of Trade wrote advising regarding the. administration of the building regulations, that the reference to dwellings and essentia! public Works was intended to cover repairs, additions, and alterations to such buildings, and It was desired that the Council should deal with these applications in the same way. In order to avoid undue inconvenience being caused to local authorities in connection with urgent works, it had been decided that a permit would be issued to all local authorities to proceed with works other than buildings involving tho use of material up to £IOO for each work. The letter was received, the chalftnan explaining that it was a formal authority for the Council to proceed with any works of the nature mentioned. THE PROGRESSIVE LEAGUE. The chairman reported regarding the fonaia-

tlon of the Taranalti Progressive League, and expressed pleasure that some unity was being attained in connection with the attention to the requirements of the province. The depution which was to proceed to Wellington on the 2nth inst. would make a request that the various works of provincial importance he givon special consideration in this year's Estimates. , (fENEKAt. Thomas Abbot, Kaponga, wrote directing attention to the fact that wood was being carted over the Melville Road. He contended that such a practice was not right In the winter months, the ordinary traffic being quite enough for the road to bear.—Cr. Barker was delegated to attend to the matter\ The- Palmerston North Borough Council wrote soliciting support in making representations to the .Government in favor of a universal Saturday ImH-holidatf.—The letter was merely .low/lved. There wils iomo discussion touching on the question of alteration to a had bend on the Eltham-Opunake Itoad. which has beeri tlie scene of two motor accidents 'recently. After discussion the riding members and the engineer were authorised to -Investigate with tho' idea of formulating a proposal for the alteration of the formation of the road at this point. Tho question of obtaining a quantity of stone from Sentry Hall was left to a Committee.