ELTHAM, COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 15 December 1924, Page 4

ELTHAM, COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. ROUTINE BUSINESS. The monthly meeting of the Eltham County Council was held at Kith am on Saturday, when there were present: Cfs. O. J. Belcher (chair), - B. J. Knuckey, A. McWilliam, A. V. Mesfcana, M. W. Barker, A. Campbell, W. E. Carter, O. E. McGuinness and E. J. Gifford. The superintendent of the State Advances ' Office advised that he was in receipt of the council’s application for an advance of £‘3ooo on account : of the south riding road construction loan, and in reply he desired to point out that although the department was npt in a position to immediately consider the application, it had been recorded, and would be dealt with in due course. The council would be duly advised when the board’s decision was available. The letter was received. The Minister of Public Works wrote in connection with the representations made to him recently on behalf of the Eltham County Council for an increased Government contribution to subsidise a loan which the council proposed to raise for the metalling of the Mataiwhetu and Rawhitiroa Roads. The Minister advised that be had now the honour to inform the council that the matter had received further consideration, and he had now agreed to provide a subsidy on the whole scheme of £2OOO, £2 for £l, the remaining cost to be subsidised on a. basis of £1 for £1 as previously decided upon. The district engineer’s estimate for the whole scheme was £12,000, and under the subsidy as now agreed to the Government would be providing £2OOO, £2 for £l, and £4500, £1 for £l, against the council’s £IOOO, £l for £2, and £4500, £1 for £l.

The council decided to convey their thanks to the Minister for the assistance he had given. The local branch of the W.E.A. wrote thanking the council for the use of their room during the past year. —Received. The State Advances Department advised that an 'advance of £ISOO in respect- of the Tinmoana Road loan and an advance of a. similar amount in respect of the Omona riding east roads loan had been forwarded.

Mr. A. Gray was appointed sanitary inspector for the council, it- being stated that the council’s contribution to his salary was £7O per annum, the Government paying the balance. OVERSEER’S REPORT. The county overseer (Mr. F. Muggeiidge) submitted the following monthly report: South Riding.—General surface work w T as carried out on the Fraser and Dalziel Roads. Clay blinding was done on the Mountain Road. A culvert w.as put in and about half a chain of metal was laid down on the Fitton Estate road to prevent silt from running off the farm on to the Dalziel jload Mangatoki Riding.—Watertables and culverts were attended to on the Eltham, Stuart iaiul Hunter Rbads. About 32 tehains of metalling was done on the Stuart Road, the twenty chains on the Lower Stuart being grouted with bitumen, and - the twelve chains t>n the Upper Stuart were grouted with restar. All the work was blinded with chips and rolled. A further 30 chains of the Eltham Road were treated with bitumen. Until fresh supplies of bitumen arrive no - more sealing work can be done. A trial stretch pf texaco was laid at the toll-gate. Omona Riding.—Metal patching and clay blinding was done on the Rawhitiroa Road. Overflow pipes were piit in and the filling fenced at Matemateaonga. About two chains of fencing was put up on the Patea hill. Authorities have now been issued for the Government grants to be spent on the Rawhitiroa and Mataiwhetu. Roads. Owing to the amount of stripping to be done at the shell rock pit, very little metal has been crushed, but from now on better progress should he made. Mr. Mather was appointed ouarry foreman and has commenced work.

Kaponga Riding.—General surface work was done on most roads in this riding. Clay blinding was done one the Auroa, Rowan, Neil and Opuriake Roads. Repairs were done on two bridges on the Opunake-Stratford Rbad. As some of these bridges are in a bad state of repair I would suggest that a carpenter be employed for about six weeks to do the work.

Mtham Riding.—Clay blinding, widening and watertabling was done on the Rawhitiroa. Road. Two culverts were put in and drains were attended to on the Pukengahu Road. Slips were cleared on the Rotokare Lake Road. Metal patching and watertabling was done on the Maata Rond. Good nrogress is being made with the metalling at Tirimoana, 560 cubic yards having been carted out. The roller has beent sent out to the road, but the last few days- have been too wet- to do any rolling. The report was 'adopted.