ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 14 July 1924, Page 4

ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Eltham County Council was held on Saturday, when there were present: Crs. C. J. Belcher (chair), R. J. Knuckey, A. Aid! illiam, A. V. Messana, Al. IV. Barker, W. E. Carter. C. E. McGuinness, and E. J. Gifford. Leave of absence was granted Cr. Campbell. Air. I. J. Bridger, chairman of the Eltham Chamber of Commerce, waited on the council requesting support in urging the speedy completion of the Taranaki-Auckland railway. He asked that the council appoint a delegate to join the deputation to wait on the Prime Alinister and the Minister of Public Works on July 17. The chairman thought that there was no railway in New Zealand the completion of which was more urgently needed than the Taranaki-Auckland railway. Other councillors supported the chairman’s remarks and, after a brief discussion, Cr. Carter was appointed the council's representative on - the delegation. The Waitomo County Council wrote asking support to the following resolution : “That the Government be urged to take into consideration the necessity of amending the existing legislation, so as to enable local bodies to obtain sufficient loans from the State Advances Office for the purposes of the Alain Highways Act and other development work.” The Horowhenua County Council also wrote with regard to the method of financing the cost of main highway construction. They felt that the local authorities should obtain the necessary funds to provide their contributions on the most favourable terms, and with this object in view the co-operation of other county councils was asked in requesting the Counties’ Association to take the matter up with the Government with a view to raising a loan. The chairman said it did not affect the Eltham County Council, as they had no loans to raise; however, the council was in sympathy with the idea which had prompted the communications. The following resolution was .therefore passed : “That the. desirability of extending local authorities’ borrowing powers to meet the requirements of the Main Highways Act be approved, and that the State Advances Board should be authorised to lend a correspondingly larger amount during any financial year. ’ ’ Advice was received to the effect that the price of Te Wera metal had been increased from 8s to 9s per cubic yard on truck at. Te Wera. station.— Received. In reply to the council’s request for a revaluation of the Eltham county the Prime Minister advised that he had taken note of /the representations submitted and would look into the matter. A further reply would be sent to the council in due course. —Received. In reply to representations from the council the Prime Alinister advised that the proceedings taken to raise loans from the State Advances Office had s been examined, and that with the exception of the South Riding loan there were certain irregularities, in connection with which he understood the department had communicated with the county clerk. The South Riding loan of £2OOO should be available in the near future, and the other loans when the irregularities had been rectified. In connection with the Hawera County Councils application for a loan for metalling a portion of the Fraser Road, the superintendent stated that as the amount, was not very large he would take an opportunity of placing the matter before the board of the State Advances Office in a few weeks’ time.—Received. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer’s monthly report was as follows: South Riding.—During the- month watertables and culverts were attended to on all roads in this riding. Metal patching was done on the Campbell, Rotokare and Dalziel roads. A culvert on the Neil road was lowered, and two broken pipes were renewed. Mangatoki Riding.—Watertables and culverts were attended to on the Upper Hastings, Lower Hastings, Lower Hunter and Duthie roads. Aletal patching was done on the side tracks of the Eltham road. The Kapuni bridge on the Eltham road was repaired. Omona Riding.—Slips were cleared off the Rawhitiroa, Waitiri and Karewa roads. General maintenance work was carried out on most roads in this riding. A start has been made with the clay filling at Matemateonga. Kaponga Riding.—A start has been made with the crushing at the Riverlea toll-gate; good progress is being made. Watertables and culverts were attended to on the Eltham, Auroa, Opunake-Stratford, and Alanaia roads. About 40 yards of boulder stone has been dumped on the Alanaia road; this will lie crushed before the crusher leaves the riding and used for maintenance. Eltham Riding.—Watertables and culverts were attended to on the Alangawhero, Maata, Tirimoana, and Horoi roads. Slips were cleared off the Alangamingi ridge. About 30 yards of shellrock was broken by the riding surfacemen for patching work. General.—Good progress is being made with the erection of the chip crushing plant at the depot. It is expected that the plant will be running by the end of the month.—Adopted.