ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 11 January 1926, Page 5

ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTIILY MEETING. The first meeting of the Elthaiu County Council m 1926 took, place at Eltliain on Saturday, at which there wore present: Ors. C. J. Belcher (chan• man) 11. J. Nnuckey, A. McAVilliam, A.. Y. Tail. M. W. Barker, A. Campbell, \Y. E. Carter, C. E. McGuinness and E. J. Gilford. GENERAL. Air. B. H. Goldsmith, wiring superintendent to the Taranaki Electric Power Board, forwarded four quotations for motors in reply to enquiries, ranging from £164 10s to £209. The chairman, Crs. McGuinness and Campbell were appointed as a committee to deal with the matter. _ The traffic inspector (Mr. H. E. Williams) reported on his work duiing the month, showing that 17 cows were released at Mata, 7 cows released at the Duthie Road, and 1 horse impounded on the Eltham-Kaponga Road. Mr. W. A. Hewitt, general manager of the Farmers’ Co-operative Organisation Society, wrote asking, the Council to extend a drain near his property in the Ngaere Survey District, fronting Kawhitiroa Road, so as to carry off drain water and prevent damage to his land. —Referred to the riding members for report. The clerk reported that Mr. Cook, of the Kaponga Town Board, had waited upon the overseer and himself asking permission to tunnel under a road to supply water to a settler. — Agreed to subject to the overseer’s supervision. The Public Trust Office advised that the council’s application for a loan of £IOOO for the Tirimoana Road will be submitted to the Investment Board for consideration early this year. With reference to the memorial to the late Prime Minister, the Et. Hon. W. F. Massey, the Prime Minister (the Hon. J. G .Coates) wrote advising that the committee had appointed Mr. T. Sbailcr Weston, of Wellington, as treasurer to the fund, and requested that any moneys held for the purpose would be forwarded to Mr. Weston. Mr. T. M. Ball, the district representative of the Mian Highways Board, advised that the grant of £125 15s, being subsidy on £1 for £1 basis on £251 10s expended in maintenance work on the Manaia-Mt. Egmont highway from April 1 to December 31, 1925, had been recommended to the board. MOTOR SPEEDING.

Mr. B. Webbv, chairman of the Riverlea School " Committee, made a complaint, alleging that the driver of one of the council’s lorries travelled at an excessive speed across the road near Riverlea, which was dangerous to the children. , Mr. Tiplndy said he instructed the inspector to make inquiries, and that official interviewed the driver of the lorry and warned him against offending again. The council decided to leave the matter at that stage, and if a second offence was reported, a prosecution would follow. It was stated that notices at the school warning drivers to '‘Drive Slowly'” were ignored.

MOTOR DRIVERS’ LICENSES. In reply to the council’s letter in connection with the issue of motor drivers’ licenses by the Normanby Town Board to two residents within the comity, the town clerk advised that at the board’s meeting on December 15 it was decided that the board could not see its way clear to cancel the licenses as requested by the council, it being considered that there was sure to be a certain amount of overlapping the issue of licenses. With reference to the principle volved in these and other eases m which neighbouring local bodies had

issued licenses wliicli should have been taken out in the Eltham County,-a let-, ter receive dfrom! the Main Highways.. Board in reply to the council’s suggestion that definite legislation or regulations should be framed to prevent local authorities from encroaching upon other local authorities’ right to fees, stated that the matter had been referred to the Internal Affairs Department under which the Act was administered. The chairman was requested to place the matter before the district highways council. v WEEKLY HALF-HOLIDAY. At a special meeting of the council held at noon, Thursday \vas decided upon as the day of the statutory weekly half-holiday within the county. OVERSEER’S REPORT. The Overseer (Mr. F. Muggeridge) reported on the work of the month as follows: South Riding. —During the month the Dalziel Road was completed and the filling by Mr. Fit-ton’s property fenced. Tar patching was done on the Mountain and Bovlan Roads. The bitumen sealing of the Fraser Road was commenced. During the hot weather, bitumen-sealed roads were given a coat of screenings. Mangatoki Riding. —Watertables and culverts were attended to on the Eltham Road. Twenty-two chains, of metal on the Lower Stuart were grouted with bitumen, and the tarred portion of the Upper Stuart was sprayed with bitumen and blinded with chips. Screenings were spread on the Eltham and Hastings Roads. Omoana Riding.—-The contractor lia.:; made a start with the crushing and carting to the Mataiwhetu Road, 412 [yards being carted out to date.' Metq];. I blinding and widening- was done on the Rawhitiroa Road, General maintenance work was carried,out on other roads in this riding. Shellroek . was quarried and stacked at the Mangatoromiro stream; this will be carried out as soon as a team is available.. Kaponga Riding.—Clay-blinding was done on the Palmer, Neill, and Mangawhero Roads. Screenings were spread on (he Manaia, Aurou, Mangawhero, and Eltham Roads. General mninton- : ii.-e work was carried out on other roads in the riding. The contractor at Kivcrlea has SOU yards of boulder | carted out to date. Eltham Riding.—Good progress has been made with the,metalling of the Tirimoana Road; weather permitting the mile on top of the hill will be completed this week. Before a start is made with this end of the road about 80 yards of metal will be dumped on the hill to bo used for strengthening the weakest, places. Clay blinding was done on the Hu, Rawhitiroa. and Horoi Roads. Eighty yards of shellroek was quarried and stacked in the pit at .the foot of the Mangamingi ridge. Go ear al.—Repairs were effected to the White dump truck, Leylaml, and the. county car. The contractor at Templar Street has. 3100 yards of stone carted out to date. Accounts amounting to £4041 Is were passed for. payment.—Argus.