ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 February 1921, Page 8

ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. ••’T The Elt-ham County Council met on Saturday. Present: Crs. C. J. Belcher (chairman), R. J. Knuckey, A. McWilliam, A. Messana. W. Al. Barker, E. J. Gifford, C. A. McGuinness, W. E. Carter, and A. Campbell. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The county engineer (Mr. M. E. Fitzgerald) reported on the work of the past month as follows: South Riding.—Metal for Skeet Road has been arriving at the rate of two trucks per day, and tl:e roller was moved on to the job this week. This riding is still without a foreman, and nothing has been done for some weeks to the back roads. No progress has been made on Eraser Road for some weeks, firstly because the roller could not be spared from other work, and secondly owing to the chusher being out "of order. Mangtoltf Riding—-Tar spraying done during the month Includes the Upper Hunter, 30 chains of Lower Hunter, and 80 chains of Duttie Road. The gang spreading stone on the Lower Duthie has been working overtime in order to cope with the work, but the roller has been unable to keep- pace, and unfortunately it has had to be taken away this week for urgent work in South Riding. Omona Riding.—Rawhitiroa Road is being widened at the large underslip just this side of Omona, Shell rock is being quarried from the Mangatoromiro. Work of a general nature has been done on the Rawhitiroa, Mataiwhetu and Waitiri Roads. The Lower Moeawatea Road, recently handed over to the county, is not quite up to the 12-foot standard, and I have arranged for to visit it with the Public Works Department engineer, when it is expected we shall agree about further work to be done on this road bj’ his department. Kaponga Riding.—-Tar patching has been Jone on Manaia Road. Rowan and Mangawhero Roads have been water-tabled and blinded. A further offer has been received for the purchase of the old wooden bridge spanning the Mangawheroiti, on the Eltham Road. This offer is submitted for the council’s consideration. Eltham Riding.—Tar patching has been done to the Mountain and Rawhitiroa Roads. Attention l?as been given to the watertables and culverts of Rawhitiroa Road beyond the ridge.

General —During the month of January the lorries made a record of 3841 miles, of which the Leyland accounted for 1825 miles, which is also a record for an individual lorry, and is largely attributable to the overtime worked on Duthie Road. This pressure is tool much for the roller, which cannot keep pace with the work. The Daimler lorry had just settled down to good work when It unfortunately broke an axle and damaged parts of the differential. The Leyland lorry requires repairs and alterations to the tip body. This work is covered by Messrs. Wilson's guarantee. vide their letter (submitted). I would suggest that the work be done at New Plymouth by the makers of the tip. A motor-car which recently travelled without a tyre on Its off hind wheel throughXhe county from Ngaere towards Hawera has cut the carpet on Mountain and Boylan Roads, ft is not yet clear whether damage will result to the roads. My last report stated that we "had sufficient asphalt, for five chains. The report should have read "5/1,” not •'5.” The crusher has been overhauled and new jaws and bearings are being fitted. I accompanied the committee who visited Palmer and Finnerty Roads. The Auroa Road Committee did not meet, and I am awaiting insffuctions before proceeding with work on this road. The report was adopted. S'l’R ATFOB D RATE PA Y ERS’ PETITION. Ihe special cSTiipiittec consisting of Crs. Me(iiiiniiess, (Rffor d and Carter, reported that, together with the engineer, they had inspected the roads and area which a number of Stratford ratepayers had petitioned to have included in'the Eltham County, and recommended that twelve sections be included in the area. This would give one section deep oft' the I*innerty Road and the same west of Hastings Road, thereby doing away, with the dual'’control of roads in that part of the country. Should the council decide to adopt the committee’s re'commendations, it would be necessary to get an amended petition signed and presented t 8 the council. The council decided to ask the peti* tioners to forward a similar petition to the 'Stratford CountA/Council as the consent of that body was necessary before the therger could take place. THE TOLL-GATE. The special committee also reported that they had seen Mr. Martin regarding land for improving the turn west of the toll-gate on the Eltham Road. Mr. Martin had generously granted the request free of remuneration, and deserved -the council’s hearty appreciation and the ratepayers’ and travelling public’s

very best thanks. BUILDING PERMITS. A circular letter was received from the secretary to the Board qp Trade pointing out that under the building regulations, local bodies were empowered to issue permits only for dwelling houses, including alterations, additions and repairs, and essential farm buildings or construction works outside this category should be forwarded through ! the district Inspector of Factories. } Alterations and additions to dwelling houses did not cover private motor gar- ; ages, and in any case, where there was a doubt about the authority io issue a permit, the local body should forward thy annli<*ation through the inspector. Tlie cliairman stated that tlft council ’mill strictly adhered to the regulations. —The letter was received. MOTOR REGULATIONS, A circular letter was received containing the minutes of the proceedings at Christchurch for the purpose of discusing various matters arising under th Motor Regulations Act. The following resolutions were carried at the conference on the question of speed limits: (a) That there should be no speed limits on straight roads, but that a limit not to exceed 15 miles an hour should be provided round corners and across intersections; (2) That drivers be licensed annually by the Government and provision made that licenses : may be cancelled in the event of a con- I viction for driving at a dangerous speed I in a negligent manner. Another reso- ! liitiori was carried, on the motion of i ■\lr. D- G. Sullivan, M.P., was as fol- ■ lows: That this conference expresses , the opinion that the lenient treatment ! of the Court of offenders against the 1 traffic by-laws is a factor making for negligent and dangerous driving. The . chairman said that most of the rpcom- ; mendacious adopted bv. the conference were already provided for in the county by-laws—The letter was received. COUNTY BY-LAWS. The secretary of the Taranaki Counties Conference notified that the council’s share of the cost of preparing and ’ advertising the new joint by-laws I amounted to £1.39 9s sd, plus £ll 17s Gd cost of advertising repealing of former by-laws. This cost rapmsov■ ! one-seventh of the total amount. Tie | chairman remarked that he was very <pleased that the by-laws were now com-

plete, and he felt satisfied that quite a number of other boroughs and counties would also adopt them. The Taranaki County was the only county in the conference which had stood out, and he thought it would eventually adopt the by-laws, which were about the best in the Dominion. Regarding the cost, he stated that it was less han they had anticipated and compared with the cost of the Stratford Borough by-laws which, he was informed, amounted to over £6OO, he thought they had very little to complain of.—The account was passed for payment. GENERAL. The Eltham Borough Council wrote stating that the County Council’s proposals in regard to maintenance of roads in the borough, used by drays in carting metal to the county depot, were not satisfactory and asking that a sub-committee be set up to meet representatives of the Borough Council in order that some satisfactory arrangement could be made.—Crs. McGuinness, Campbell and Knuckey were appointed to meet the borough representatives. The council went into committee to consider the matter bf* uniform wages for local body employees throughout the province, and ou resuming it was reported that /the chairman and engineer had been authorised to take any action that might be necessary. The secretary of Rowan Sports Club wrote asking permission to hold a ’evcTe race on the county roads on March 10. The chairman pointed out that if the council gave permission’ it would be accepting liability in case of accidents occurring. He stated that the usual practice was for .a club to hold the races without seeking the permission of the local authority.—The matter was left in the hands of the chairman and clerk with power to act. The engineer (Mr. M. E. Fitzgerald) wrefte stating that he had received an advantageous offer from the Feilding Borough Council, which he had decided to accept. The council considered the matter and unanimously decided to offer Mr. Fitzgerald an increase of £lOO on his present salary, bringing it up to £5OO a year. This offer was communicated to Mr. Fitzgerald, who stated that under the circumstances he would withdraw his resignation and remain with the council.