ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 December 1920, Page 8

ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The Ellham County Council met on Saturday. Present: Crs. C. J. Belcher (chairman), W. E. Carter, C. E. McGuinness, A, MoWilllam, E. J. Gifford, M. W. Barker, K. J. Knuckey, A. Campbell, and A. Messana.

ENGINEER'S REPORT. Tlie County engineer (Mr. M. E. Fitzgerald) reported as follows: —

South Riding.—liotokure Road has been tar sprayed from Mountain Road to Eraser Road, and continued along part; of Fraser Road. Mountain Road was sprayed from Boylan to the borough boundary, and the unmetalled part has been graded and adverted : t three points. Tarring done on Boylau Road included the completion of the first coat on tho resurfaced length Metal has commenced to arrive for the Skeet Road, and the work of refacing lias been commenced. Tar spraying Mas commenced on Mangawhero Road, but is delayed owing to' the sprayer breaking down. CaupbeU Road has been patched. Ruts have been attended to in Rogers' Road. Mf.ngatokl Riding.—Water-tabling has been cone on Hunter, Mthain and I'almer R .ads. Refacing of Duthie and Palmer Roads will commence shortly. Omona Riding.—The usual work of clearing slips and general maintenance was dctae on Rawhifliroa, aßlUiwhefoi .and. Mmtalmarokp Roads, Matalmaroke Road is now open Jor summer traffic. One nine-foot widening was completed at an underslip on the Ra«h*tfroa Road. Tire Council will rewnehiber that some months ago It was decided to renew the towers of the Whenuakuta suspension Iridge. The timber for this pifrprs? l;as br>en lying at Omona for a long time, but the work has been held up through lack of c-x- ---. pert labor. Except for the towers tho bridge | had been considered sound, and I was informed tl'at this view was based upon a proI pop examination. At the last Counc'J meet- ' fag it was reporter! (hat the superstructure had failed and the bridge was impassible. | On No\. 22, I visited the spot with the riding ! representative and found the timber of ihe decking broken and tilted at the centre of the span. The cables did not appear to have rroved. Arrangements were accordingly made to send out Mr. Cave with his assistants and materials at the earliest tiate, and they went out on Dec. 0. , I visited the workon tho uh. We found Ihe cables very much rusted under ground, and with very iitf)a exertion the traen broke one and pulled i« away from tho anchors, It was then evident that little short of renewing the who'o bridge would make it satisfactory, so It was decided to merely patch the bridge up to permit of tie passage of sheep and enable tho men to get back to their work at Finnerty Rood bridge. They came back on the 9th inst. There has not been time to prepare detailed proposals, but the position is that a practically new bridge is required. To renew the suspension bridge would cost from £3OO to £4OO and a trestle bridge would cost about the same. A low level concrete bridge whi<tfi bo during floods would cost from £IOO to £l5O. Expenditure to date has been about £7O, and ti'is includes a quantity of timber lying at ! the site unused. Kaponga Riding.—Water-tabling and side ; tracking has been done on Eltham nnd Palmer Roads. Metal patching has been done on Auroa and Mangawhero Roads. The latter is not holding up woll under the firewood traffic. Decking on tho Otakeho bridge, Opunake Road has been repaired. The application from tho Riverlea School Committee to cut a new ditch on the roadside to prevent water from crossing tie road and thenco through the school property has been enquired Into and approved by the committee of the Council. The new ditch to be as far AS possible from the metalled roadway The work to be done by the School Committee.

Elthnm Riding.—The concrete pipe culvert in Anderson Road has been laken up, cleared and relald with cement joints This road has also been metal patched, Tar spraying was commenced on Mnngnwhero. Road. Two culverts have been put Into Oru Road. Slips were eleraed off Mangamilngi and Rawhitiroa Koads. Water-iabliiitf has been dons on Road beyond the ridge. Work of -clearing slips and road formation has been done on Tirimoana Road.

General.—The tar sprayer will he out' of commission for a week or two owing to breakape of a connection which necessitated a special casting; being made. The crank shaft of the Daimler has been straightened, and it is to have this lorry running in a few days. Mr. Julian expects to commence supplying atone under his contract for Kaponga and Mangatoki Roads in a. few days time. The engineer's car is showing further signs of a strenuous youth and premature old age, and a costly overhaul or a renewal cannot be long delayed. Considerable -.discussion took place on the references in the engineer's report to the Whenuakura suspension bridge, the opinion being expressed that tho Government shofold lie asked to grant a subsidy f tov?nrds the erection of a new bridge. The matter of taking whatever action was considered necessary was left In the hands of the chairman, Cr. McNVilliam, and the engineer, to interview Mr. 0. Hawken, M.P., regarding making ap-, plication for a Government subsidy.

It was decided, on the motion of Cr. Messaua to vole the sum of £2 to the Riverlea School Committee towards cutting a new ditch to prevent water from crossing Into the school property, tho work to be done to the satisfaction of the engineer. It was decided that the chairman be authorised to arrange with the ranger for the Kaponga Riding with a view to stopping heavy traffic on the roads under the new by-laws.— The chairman remarked that the Council must jirotoct the roads, and the by-laws were to lie strictly enforced.—The chairman and Crs. McGutnnesa, Campbell, and Messana wore appointed a committee to meet the ranger and make necessary arrangements for enforcing the new by-laws,

The engineer' 3 report as a whole was ceived. CORRESPONDENCE.

Messrs. Maling and Co., Ltd., Christchurch, wrote asking for particulars of the new bylaw prohibiting the use of twin solid tyres on motor lorries running in the county.— Decided to reply stating that there was no such provision in the by-law. The general secretary of the.New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association wrote asking the Council to assist in regard to the settlement of returned soldiers on the land by lotting him know of any suitable holdings for soldiers in the county, The letter slated that there were still about 4000 soldieTs who wished to go on tie land, and as the rate of settlement was considered too slow by the Association, the latter had decided on u new policy —The letter was received, the chairman stating that although .the Council was sympathetic they knew of no suitable holding* in the county,. The Public Trust Office, Wellington, wrote notifying tl at in view of the very heavy financial commitments of the office, the Public Trustee regretted that he was unable to consider the Council's application for a loan of £3OO, and suggesting that the Council should apply to the State Advances Office for the loan required, and if not ruccessful there, to again apply to the Public Trust Office after April 1, 1021.—The clerk reported that he lad communicated with the Public Trust Office asking if it would be possible for the Public Trustee to grant the loan. <vith the proviso that the amount would not be called up before April 1, so that the Council could proceed with the work in thr ?um- N iner in antiplcatinn of the loan. The work was for the purpose of providing an millet to settlers w'tl* milk for the factory, and if■ deferred until next winter, it would mean: serious loss to the settlor* concerned, a a it van feared the road would be quite impassably for vehicles. In reply to (hi? letter a further communication was received stating lhat nothing could he done in (he matter ;il present —The letters were received. The Inspector of Quarries, Auckland, notified that the Stone Quarries Amendment Act. 1920. ronlaiii)i»R wry imp'Jriant provisions affecting quarry operators, was now 1u force, -The letter was received, the chairman string lint the Council d'd not have any quarries which came under thp A'Ht The National Headquarters' of lite Salvation Army, Wellington, wrote making application for the exemption of rates on the Boys' Home, Mimgawhero Bond, Eltham, staling thai under the Rates Act, IMS, they were •uililsd the demotion or rates on tJia

buildings ami four acres of land.—The chairman said thai evidently tie Salvation Army I;ad had advice upon the matter, and if they were entitled to exemption from rates, the Council would have to allow the exemption. —Decided to secure legal opinion regarding the Council's position in regard to the matter.

THE COUNCIL'S' INSURANCE POLICIES. The balance-sheet was returned from the Auditor-General with a tag on it st.:ting that tho Council's insurance policies with tie Taranaki' Farmers' Mutual Insurance Association, wore* illegal, as the Council was nccepting" .JfyMlitias in connection therewith which It hud no statutory authority to accept. Mr. fi. if. Richardson, audit-Inspector, New Plymouth, wrote in connection wi*h tne same matter, stating that ff ever any payments were made by tie Council consequent upon such contract with the A*»cldtlon, ho would be compelled to surcharge councillors with the amount. The chairman said', there had apparently ueen a misunderstanding somewhere. The Council had not accepted any Ilab:'itics in consequence of its insurance with the Taranakl Farmers' Mutual Insurance Association, as he, personally, as head of.the Association, signed all the policies. In any raw' the Council got its insurance cheaper from the Association than it could get it from any other company, and if .there did happen ♦o be any liability, the amount at the 'most could not exceed £127. If the Council hud not the power to Insure with a mutual concern, then tho law should he amended in the direction of getting that power. It was decided to take no action in the mauer. GENERAL. \ * The chairman's action in accepting the Icnaer of Mr. M. Bridge for supplying dos collars, 'was confirmed.

Tue chairman reported on a meeting of the Machinery Committee, which had been hold to consider the question of purchasing a chip crusher. The committee realised that the Council needed a crusher but in view of the financial position, recommended that the maitcr stand over till the end of the financial year —The report was adopted.