ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 6 April 1925, Page 2

ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

.MONTHLY MEETING

The monthly meeting of the Eltliam County Council was hold on Saturday, when there were present: Crs. C. J. Belcher (chair), R. >l. Knuckev, A. Me* William, M. W. Barker, A. Campbell, W. E. Carter, C. E. McGuinness, aud E. J. Gifford. The chairman drew attention to the Prime Minister’s illness, and moved that the council write expressing thensympathy with Mr. Massey in his illness and expressing the hope that lie would shortly recover his full health and strength. Cr. McWilliam seconded, and the motion was carried. The district engineer of the Public Works Department and representative of the Main Highways Board (Mr.. T. M. Ball) advised. that the portion of the Eltham-Opunnke Road within the Eltham County had been declared a Government road and main highway as from April 1, .1025, and the Main Highways Board had therefore directed that the toll-gates should be removed. ~The chairman said that up to a few days prior to the end of March the council had received no definite advice regarding the abolition of the tollgates. He had got into communication with Mr. Ball, and asi a result he had notified the toll-gate keepers that their duties would cease on April 1. The cle k had then given the two keepers the month’s notice. Cr. Campbell considered that the jrosts supporting the gates should be removed as soon as possible in view of the possibility of an accident. The clerk replied that this was being done, and the keepers had also been given instructions to keep a light burning until the obstructions had been removed.

Mr. R. Masters, M.P., forwarded a copy of a letter from the Minister regarding outstanding soldier rates. The letter,, which has already been published, was received, the clerk stating that the difficulty was that it was not easy to find out what tentire the soldiers were on. The chairman referred to the redueI tion in the railway freight on benzine, I and expressed his satisfaction at the I department’s action. “They have not yet reduced the freight on bitumen,’’ added the chairman. Cr. Knuckev said that, benzine could still be .carted equally as cheap by motor lorry. The Taranaki Electric Power Board advised that Mr. ,T. L. Campbell had tendered his resignation owing to his leaving the Dominion for an extended trip abroad. Mr. R. J. Knuckev was appointed as the council’s representative. _ Cr. Carter drew attention to the way in which trees cut down by the Power Board obscured the view at the southwest corner of the Hunter and Eltham Roads intersection. He also mentioned that good work had been done by the tar-spraver .on the Upper Hunter Rond, but pointed out that the chips did not appear to have been roll* ed in sufficiently and traffic was throwing them to the side. The overseer .said lie would investigate the, matter.

The chairman mentioned that the financial year had ended such a short time ago that it had been impossible to bring down a comprehensive financial report for the present meeting, but he could tell the council that they were in a splendid financial- position. Outstanding rates on March 31 were £1477 and outstanding special rates £506, making a total of £1983. This was too much as the council lost the subsidy on rates unpaid. Cr. Gifford reported that he had waited on the Eltham Borough Council regarding the unsatisfactory position of the electric light near town approach to the Waingongoro bridge, and after the site had been visited it- had been decided 'to erect the light in a more suitable place. OVERSEER ’S REPORT.

The overseer’s report for the past month was as follows: South Riding.—Water-tables and culverts were attended to on the Bovlan, Mountain, Sheet and Rotokare. Roads. Mr. Gane has made a start to grade Tawhiti track. This will be completed next week. The Sheet- Road and 80 chains of the Boylan were bitumen sealed. Bitumen patching was done on the Mountain Road. Mangatoki Riding.—The bitmuen sealing of the Upper Duthie and! the Upper Hunter Roads was completed. Water-tables and culverts were attended to on the Eltham and Stuart Roads. Omona. Riding.—-As instructed a gate and rails were erected at the Patea bridge. Water-tabling was done on the Matemaroke Road. Patching and general maintenance work was done on the Rawhitiroa Road. Ruts were filled in on the Mataiwhetu Road. A

stump was taken out of the culvert at the foot of the Omona Jjill. The contractor carted 1 540 yards of shell roek to the. Mataiwhetu Road. During the month the district engineer inspected the metalling work at Omona and expressed satisfaction with the work done. . ■> Kaponga Riding.—Generela maintenance work was carried out on most of the roads in this riding. Bitumen patching, was done on the Eltham Road. Eltham Riding. I—'Water-tables 1 —'Water-tables and culverts were attended to on the Mangamingi ridge, Wingrove Maata, Rotokare and Horoi Roads. Bitumen patching was done on the Mountain and Mangawhe.ro Roads. Good prigress is being made with the metalling of the hill on .the Tirimoana Road., 50 chains having been completed, including the bad elbow. To get rid of the storm water quickly on this hill eight- concrete culverts have so far been put in. ■ The council is beginning to experience a shortage of metal at the depot. If the weather still holds it is suggested th'nt three to" four hundred yards of crushed metal be procured from Mr. Commerer’s plant. General.—The board’s gates and fences were removed) from the Eltham and Riverlen toll-gates. The cottages will be removed when the collectors leave. The report was adopted.