ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 15 November 1926, Page 8

ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Efthain County Council was held at Elltham on Saturday, when there were present: Councillors’ C. E. MoGuinness, IT Jlvmickey, A. MoW.illiam, A. Y. Messama, M. W. Barker, A. L. Campbell, W. El. Carter, J. Gifford. Owing to l the chairman, Mr. C. J. Belcher, being absent. Or. McGuinnesa was voted to’ the chair. I'INGINEHR’S REPORT. ' The engineer, Mr. F. Muggeridge, submitted the following report: South Riding.—The repairs to the Rlotokare Road bridge have been completed, Mr. Toomey having made a splendid job. '|\vo wooden culverts were replaced by concrete pipes on the Campbell Road, and it is proposed to renew all old culverts on this 1 road before any metalling is commenced. Metal patching was done on the Sheet and Mangawhero Roads. Wateitables and culverts were attended to on the Fraser and Mountain Roads. Mangatoki Eliding.—The crushing on the Elltham Road has been completed, the whole of the 700 yards being used for building up the edges and metalling sidetracks, as weather permits the grouting is being attended to. The bitumen .surface on Rogers hill has been widened out to IS feet and the side tracks re-metalled, rolled and blinded. Filling fences were repaired on the .Hastings Road, and side tracks were patched on the Lower Hunter Road. Surface patching will be attended to on all bituminous roads m the riding from now on, as weather permits. Spoil from the culvert has been cleared and willows planted at Mr. Baker’s boundary on the Upper Du blue Road. Plans have been prepared for the retaining wall on the Upper Stuart Road, and the work will be put in, hand immediately. Onion na Riding.—During the month the wet weather experienced caused considerable damage to all roads in the riding. The road just beyond No. 2 filling at the Mate mate on ga lias dropped two feet for about a chain; this will necessitate widening the road for about four chains and lengthening the culverts, a few large over slips »m. under slips came down oil ihe Omoaua west ridge, but traffic was not held up. There are numerous slips on the road between Omoana and Moeroa, the largest of these being between 300 and 400 cubic yards came down on the chasm bridge at Talcau, breaking it clean in half. New stringers were procured immediately and the bridge replaced. All the old bridge was sailvaged and parts' of the stringers were used for under structing the structure. The road beyond Moeroa is reported to> be in a very bad state, after the meeting an inspection will be made of the whole riding and an estimate to the extent of the damage done will be made out with a. view of procuring assistance from the Public Works Department. The contractor lias shifted out to Takau to commence his shell rock contract.

Kaponga Riding.—Metal patching was attended to on the Palmer and Neill Roads, water tables and culverts were cleaned out on the Manaia and Elltham Roads. Bitumen patching is being attended to on the Eltliam Rload Elltham Riding.—An inspection was made of the Aorere Road, and it was found that, to make a proper job, it would, be- necessary to put in two three feet concrete culverts and fillings at an estimated cost of £4O. Metal patching was attended to on the Hu and Ra.whitiroa Roads, a few large slips were cleared off the Mangamiugi ridge. General maintenance work was clone on flic Sangster Road. Weather permitting, a start will he made next week to widen out the bitumen surface on the Mountain Rload. General.—The Acme crushing plant lias been brought in from, the Elltham Road, and minor repairs are being attended to before setting in on Templar Street. The seasons supply of bitumen has come to hand, and is in very good order. 'Fhe ranger, Mr. H. E. Williams, reported that 29 head of stock had been released. A conviction with costs was obtained in. tiie court- against a resident for keeping an unregistered dog. Four notices to have drains cleared were issued. The reports were received.

LOANS FROM HIGHWAY HOARD

The chairman of the Main Highways Board. Mr. C. J. McKenzie advised that as a. result of recent amendments to the Main Highways Act, the board now had authority to advance to local authorities such amounts as might be required providing that no. more than £SO,CKX) should not.be advanced at one time. Before the local authorities could take advantage of this it would lie necessary to obtain authority under the Local Bodies’ Loan Act, either by poll or the ratepayers or by consent as may 'be required with sufficient security to provide for payment of interest and sinking fund to redeem the loan within ten years. Each application would be dealt with on its merits. —Received.