ELTHAM COUNTY.
PAST MONTH'S WIpRK, IIEETING OF THE COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the Eltham County.. Council -was held on Saturday. Present: Councillors C. J. Belcher, R. J. Knuckey, A. MdWlUiam, A. Messana, M. W. Barker, A. Campbell, W. E. Carter, C. E. McGuinness, and E. J. Gifford. The clerk reported that a copy of the Local Bodies Loans Amendment Act had been received from Mr. 0. J. Hawken, M.P. He explained that the most important provision in the Act was that each separate riding of any county could raise -a loan to wipe out its antecedent liability. Cr. McWilliam was of opinion that the suggestion was an. absurd cne. If a loan was to be raised it should be raised by the whole county, .and could be raised more easily by the whole county. They could not expect a far-back riding to raise a loan. The chairman pointed out that the whole matter wouold be thrashed out at a conference of the Taranaki Local Bodies’ Association. A suggestion had been made that the eight counties should combine and raise a loan on the English market for this purpose. There was already a resolution on the books that the first of the seven annual instalments, should be' paid out of rates. In answer to questions the. clerk pointed out that no matter how the money was obtained, each riding would have to provide an amount In proportion to its own indebtedness. It. was decided to refer the matter to the Taranaki Local Bodies’ Association. CORRESPONDENCE. Mr. W. C. Hodgson, of Ra.wliitiroa Road, wrote asking permission to erect a small milkstand on the roadside.—Permission was granted subject to the work being carried out to the satisfaction of the engineer. The Public Trust Office wrote stating that the council had no power to raise a new loan, in regard to the Clifton Road-Templer Street loan of £450, and had no authority to continue collecting the special rate. On receipt of the debentures the Public Trusted would remit to the credit of ihe council’s general fund the balance standing to credit of sinking fund account.—Received. . _ ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer (Mr. M. E. Fitzgerald) presented his monthly report as follows: South Riding.—Metalling of Ne.ll Road is finished. The Mountain Road metalling has been linked up. The re-surfacing of the old metal on Fraser Road would now be in hand had the lorries been in commission. Mnngatokf Riding.—Attention was given to Rntokare and Dalzlel roads. Water tables and aide tracks were attended to in Eltham, Huntter and Hastings roads, the grader being employed for some of this work. Omoana., Riding.—The county men were employed upon Rawhitiroa, Mataiwhetu and Karewa roads. The bulk of the work, including re-metalling in the Mangatoromiro Valley, belongs to the flood account. Mr. Gray has undertaken the clearing of Mataimaroke Road on the terms offered by the council. Kaponga Riding.—Tar patching of Eltham Road is in hand, and. surface work was done on Eltham, Auroa and Opunake roads’ Eltham Riding.—A new culvert was put in In Maata Road, In addition to clearing water tables at the near end of Rawhitiroa Road; the far end is being remetalled where it was badly scoured hy the January floods. General.—A quantity of san 1 has been taken from the Wainongoro river, as opportunities offered, and some of it has been distributed ready for next season’s work. The large "White” lorry is undergoing overhaul, and the "Leyland.” which has developed a crack In one of tho main chassis girders, is also out of commission. The Leyland Company at, Wellington is being communicated with In connection with the necessary repairs. The pew motor car was taken out by me on the 10th Instant, and I believe it w.ll come up to the council’s expectations. Considerable discussion took place on the question of the quality of the tar now being received, councillors generally expressing the opinion that it was not nearly so good as that obtained a few years ago. Bitumen was the only material now worth us.ng. ( Specimens of tar sealing done ten years ago were in better condition than that laid down only a few months back. The report was approved. TOLL GATE CHARGES. Cr. Carter said all were aware that since the new valuations had been received there had been a large increase in rates. In view of this he moved that all pars registered in Eltham be allowed to pass through the toll gate for a fee of Is, as compared with Is 6d for cars registered elsewhere. The chairman doubted if they could legally adopt this suggestion. He did not think they could thus differentiate. Cr. Carter decided to obtain legal advice upon this matter, and if it was found possible to do as he suggested, to bring forward the matter at the next meeting. Cr. Carter then moved that from October I suppliers of the Jerseydale factory, passing through the toll-gate with milk supplies for the factory, be allowed to do so free of toll. He pointed out that, about twenty suppliers were paying approximately £BO per annum in toll feas. Cr. Campbell seconded the motion. Cr. Gifford opposed the proposal, pointing out that settlers on the other side of the gate would be penalised, having to pay toll every time they came to Eltham. The chairman pointed out that the Hawera County were similarly remitting tolls. Cr. McGulnnass said the /position in the Hawera county was altogether different. The roll gate in that case was on the county noundary. Ct. Knuckey suggested that a committee, comprising the members of the Mang.itoki and Kaponga ridings, be ret un to consider this matter, and report to the next meeting. Cr. Messana. said ratepayers of the Kaponga riding had to pass two toll-gates. After some further informal discussion Cr. Carter’s motion was withdrawn, and Cr. Knuckey’s suggestion was adopted. A RATING QUESTION. 4 Cr. Carter then brought up the rating question, expressing the emphatic opinion that rating on the capital value was most unfair. Cr. McWilliam : Hear, hear. 'Continuing, Cr. Carter proceeded to point out that the man who had the energy and enterprise to Improve his land was penalised for doing so. The chairman said he could not accept this matter without notice of motion. It was an Important matter, and there w.ore, many arguments on both sides. They could not possibly deal with the matter that day. Cr. MeWilHam said- Stratford county was rated on the unimproved value. He was stronly In favour of the proposal, but had not brought It forward as he did not think he would receive any support. Cr. Carter said he would bring the matter | forward by notice of motion at the next meeting. GENERAL. When the accounts were under considers- I t>on it was decided to submit to the Taranaki Power Board an account for the expenses incurred in the election of representatives of the board for the Eltham county. In reply to a question, the chairman said the Eltham county had succeeded in collecting more rates than any other county in the province.—-Argus.
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Taranaki Daily News, 14 August 1922, Page 7
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1,179ELTHAM COUNTY. Taranaki Daily News, 14 August 1922, Page 7
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