ELTHAM COUNTY AFFAIRS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 16 June 1925, Page 7

ELTHAM COUNTY AFFAIRS.

THE MONTH’S OPERATIONS

ROADLNG LOANS

The muiitlily meeting; of tlie Eltham Countv Council was held at Eltham on Saturday. There Mere present : Cis C. J. lie Ichor (chairman), E. J. Gilford. C. E. Alt-Guinness, W. E. Carter. A. Campbell. A!. A\ . .Barker. A. y. Tait. A. Alc\Villiam. F. Muggeridge (engineer) and A. Tipiady (clerk). ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer (Mr F. -Muggeridge) reported ;is follows : South Riding.—lV liter tables and culverts were attended to on the Dalziel. .Mountain and I ra>ei" roads. lnentyeight yards of crushed metal were delivered to the Hawera .Dairy Co.'* factory on the Eraser road. _ - Mangatoki Riding. —Four sidet racks were put in on the Hastings i;oad. and three side-tracks "ere put i’n on the Dnthie road. The edge of the tiir was hacked up \\itli metal on the Eltham road. The culvert by Mr Pease’s property on the Hastings road was lengthened and the cutting widened. A load of sand was upread on the overhead bridge at M.atapu to try and stop horses slipping. There has been no complaints since this was done. lVatoi’tables and culverts were attended to on Upper Hastings. Upper Stuart and Lower* Stuart roads. Omoiia Riding.—During the month widening, metal patching and watertabling was done on the Rawhitiroa roiul. Slips were cleared and watertables attended to on the Waitiri and Matemaroke roads. One 12-inch culvert was put in on the Mataiwhetu road. Good progress is being made with the quarrying of shell rock, about 500 cubic vards being quarried and stacked to date. Repairs to the Whenuakurn bridge should be completed this month. Kaponga Riding.—General maintenance work was carried out on all roads in this riding during tlie month. Hie threo-tovi White was sent out to Kapouga to cart metal to all roads requiring patching. Eltham Riding.—Watertables and culverts were attended to on the Tirimoana road. Metal patching. watertabling and a drain, was attended to on the Rawhitiroa road. Slips were cleared off the Mangimingi ridge. General. —The majority of the county cottages are in need of a coat of paint. It is suggested that paint he procured, and if we get a few fine days the permanent bands be put on to. do the work. The council will reauire about 120 tons of bitumen for next season’s work. Tt is suggested that this be ordered as soon as possible, to be on hand in plenty of. time for an early stct next, summer.

The report was adopted. Or Gifford asked that some metal bo nut on the untarred portion of the Hastings and Eltham roads intersection. as at present vehicles had to keen a wav from the sides when negotiating the corner.—lt was intimated that the matter would receive attention . BOROUGH DEPUTATION. Mr. 1. .). Bridger, mayor of Eltham, and Councillor L. Nairn of the borough counci l , waited on the council to request it: to undertake to biuiminise the main thoroughfares in the borough. Mr. Bridger explained that his council did not possess the equipment to carryout the work, and thought it could bo most economically done if the county council would, agree to do it. Mr. Bridger also mentioned the boundary road (the Maugawhero) which had lately been extensively used by the council’s lorries carrying metal to Tirimoaua. This road now required considerable patching and tar-seating work, and he asked that the council would give some assistance in the matter. He suggested that the council should meet two-thirds of the cost estimated at approximately £153. Replying to the chairman. Mr. Bridger said it would be preferable for the county council to buy the material, as on account of the large supplies it had to procure- for its own roads it would lie in the position to make a more favourable purchase than the borough council might be able to effect.

Cr. Nairn said .the ]o 11 .u;11 1 of the roads to be bituminised was 150 chains, for which it was estimated 9<>')() gallons of bitumen wou'd be necessary, the cost of the bitumen alone thus being about £3of>. This could be purchased by the borough council or the county council whichever the latter desired.

The chairman said the interests of the borough council and the county council were indentica 1 . and the two bodies should follow a policy of material help. He was certain the council was doing right in going in for bituminising roads, and agreed that if the county council wou'd undertake the work it would be the most economical way the borough council could adopt in having it done. He thought the borough council should purchase the bitumen, and the county council should privide the plant and labour to have it put down.' Or. Mot! ui imess said the council •should agree to do the work, and pointed out that the two bodies .should always endeavour to work in with, each other as much as possible. The borough might have implements and machinery which would be of use to the County Council, tand vice versa. If. in this instance, the County Council did not agree to the request it would ho necessary for the borough to go in for a. plant, which, would make the work very expensive. He. suggested that a committee he appointed representing both councils to fully investigate the matter. The chairman and Crs. Mc-Cuinness and Campbell were appoined to meet representatives of the Borough Council anil arrange the matter. FT.'.MONT PARK SUBSIDY. Minutes- of the recent meeting of the Taranaki Local Bodies' Association were received. The chairman expressed himself in favour of granting the 'subsidy of £54 l().s. the county’s quota of the £SOO asked of the various local bodies in the province' by the Figmont National Bark Bo.ard| for assisting in developing the resources of the park. Crs. Tait and Carter strongly suppoited the payment, of the amount. Or. McCuinness moved that the amount lie paid provide*! all other lotal local bodies paid I heir proportions abso. Oil Cr. M< William's suggestion, the proviso was deleted from the motion, which wa.s then seconded l>v Cr. Tait and carried. NATIONAL' MIOMOIMAL. A letter received from the Prime Minister's ollice explained the initial steps taken in wlmt was imped would he a national movement for providing a suitable memorial to the late Prime Minister, the lit. Hon. \Y. F. Masisev. and invited co-operation m the appeal lor fuhds. Subscriptions should be invited for (aj a memorial at Point Hm'lswell ; (h) a statue in Parliament ciound.s.

The 1 chairman said that in the late Mr. Massey the country had possessed one of the Empire's finest statesmen, and it was only right that a- fitting memorial should be provided tor. Cr. Garter made similar comment, and ii. was decided to open a ■ subscription, list at the county office land to forward subsidiary lists to various centres in the county. The clerk (Air. A. Tipiady) was- appointed as Measurer lor the county fund. GRAVEL FOR SCHOOLS. Cr. Gifford brougju up the question of surplus metal sciceiling.s ana saiu that such would be useful tor improving school .approaches and grounds, at- had been told that ' the -Mangatoki School Committee was prepared to pay callage il given -about two lorry loads. ( i. Carter said they Alatapu School could do with a quantity of the material. Alter sonic discussion, it was decided to supply schools in the county witn .screenings on payment of cartage lees on amounts up to 5 yards, amounts in excess of that to be charged at 2s (jd per vard. GENERAL. A circular received Horn the Runatiga Borough Council advised concerning its resolution urging the Government to provide pensions for the victims ol iu■■'indie paralysis, and asked the council's support. ( r. AlcWiliiam considered it would be a mistake to saddle the Government witn a burden of the sort suggested, and pointed out that it would create a dangerous precedent. Tue chairman said that existing institutions usually gave assistance to chose in needy circumstances, and the aid suggested could be safely left to tnei- care.

'I he letter was received. The Publicity Office. Department of Internal Affairs, wrote requesting information concerning places of interestin the district for incorporation in a booklet being issued.to advertise various resorts throughout the country, and indicate to tourists the ntractions offered by various localities. The matter was referred to the clerk. A •cmnit.'. totalling £2963 were passed for payment.