ELTHAM COUNTY.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 August 1921, Page 7

ELTHAM COUNTY.

THE PAST MONTH’S WORK. MEETING OF THE COUNCIL. The Eltham County Council met on Saturday morning. Present: Crs. C. J. Belcher (chairman), P». J. Knuckey, A. McWilllam, A. V. Messana, A. Campbell, W.’ E. Carter, C. E. McGuinness. E. J. Gifford and M. W. Barker. The engineer’s report stated that the recent heavy weather has so far caused comparatively little damage in the back country. A good deal of sand and some chips had been distributed for next season’s tar work. The making of concrete posts was continued. Practically all the vehicles and machinery have had some attention during the month. South Riding.—Further progress was made with Skeet Road, but the metal still comes to hand very slowly. Attention has been given to water-tables, culverts and road surfaces In Skeet, Mountain, Fraser, Rotokare and Campbell Roads. Mangatoki.—Water-tables were attended to in Duthie, Hunter, Hastings, Stuart and Eltham Roads. A new culvert was put in near Kapuni bridge. The embankment at Martin’s dip continues, to spread, and willows have been planted to hold it together, but on the lower side, where the stream Is threatening to let down part of the road, some reclamation work will have to be done. Part of the embankment at “Doctor's Drop” fell in owing to tlie culvert being broken, and at one time there was risk of a wash-out resulting. Mr. Cave has undertaken to construct the new Mangatoki bridge, and a start will probably be made within the next fortnight. I attended a conference at Lowgarth re alteration of boundaries. Omona Riding.—The usual work of clearing slips, culverts, and water-tables was done on Rawhitiroa, Matalwhetu and Waltiri Roads. At the Patea River end some widening was done and metal relaid. Thirds money was spent on improving Rawhitiroa Road below Moeroa. Progress with the rebuilding of Whenuakura bridge was slow, owing to the heavy weather and the presence of water in the excavations. Kaponga Riding.—Most of the month’s work was devoted to water-tabling in Eltham and Rowan Roads. Metal patching was done on Rowan and Mangawhero Roads. The crushing of metal at Makaka has ceased, owing to break-down of the machinery. Firewood hauling still continues, and the roads carrying this traffic are getting worse. Eltham Riding.—Slips were cleared on Mangamingl ridge, Mangamingi Road and Tirimoana Road. A further 16 chains of Rawhitiroa Road was refaced with shell rock. A gate was made for Aorere Road. The engineer’s report was adopted. GENERAL. A letter from the Department of Agriculture, stating that barberry had been declared a noxious weed, was received. A letter from the Eltham Chamber of Commerce, asking the council to support a continuous telephone service for Eltham, was received. A letter was received from the Stratford County Council, with reference to the payment of the Eltham County Council’s portion for the work done to the Waingongoro River bridge at Finnerty Road, and asking for a cheque to bo forwarded. It was decided to send the report of the committee set up at the last meeting of the council to go into the matter to the Stratford Council. A letter was received from the Bank of New Zealand stating that from August 1 the Interest on ordinary current accounts would be 7 per cent. The chairman stated that rates were coming In very slowly and expenses were very heavy. The council’s overdraft was between £13,000 and £14,000 after the accounts had been paid. The council could not go on without money. The letter was received. A letter was received from the Salvation Army headquarters in Wellington, asking that the council should make a special concession in the rates for the Salvation Army land (the boys’ home) in the district. The chairman pointed out that this request had been received last year, when It had be>en refused. If the Army were given a concession It meant that other ratepayers of all denominations would have to pay for the Army’s land. It was decided to reply to the Army stating that no concession could be made. The chairman was appointed to represent the Eltham County Council at the next conference of the New Zealand Counties Association at Wellington on September 28. It was decided to place the following remit j before the Counties’ Conference: “That the Rating Act of 1908 he amended by the addition of the following clause: That a local authority may by resolution (public notice whereof shall be given) authorise a discount of any amount not exceeding 10 per cent, upon all general rates paid to the said local authority within 28 days from the date of demand.” Cr. Carter referred to the fact that the Stratford County engineer had Informed the Mangatoki Riding members that his council was prepared to hand over the sole control of the Finnerty Road from the Lowgarth factory to the Stuart Road to the Eltham Council, the Stratford Council being prepared to pay half the cost of the maintenance of the road.