ELTHAM COUNTY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 13 December 1926, Page 3

ELTHAM COUNTY.

administrative work. MEETING OF THE COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the,- Eltham County Council was held on Saturday, there being present: .Crs. C. J. Relcher (chairman), R. J. Knuckey, A. V. Messana, H. N. Barker, A. L. Campbell, W. E. Carter, C. E. MpGuinness, and E. J. Gifford. . " , • „ Leave of absence was granted to Cr. A. McWilliam. TIMBER VALUATION. - A letter received from the Dominion Federated Sawmillers ’ Association called attention to an appeal which was being made by certain counties in timber districts for the Government to revive or perpetuate the system of levying rates on the value of standing timber, though the Valuation of Land Amendment Act, 1926, enacted that the system should cease at the end of the current financial year, . ' The letter covered a budget of reasons why tne system should not be revived, which the council was requested to consider. ■ The .chairman thought the matter did not materially affect the council, and the letter was received. ACCRUED THIRDS.

A communication, received from the Commissioner of Grown Lands stated that at the last meeting of the Land Board a schedule for accrued thirds in the county amounting to £25 17s od was submitted, but before a definite decision could be reached it was desired to ascertain whether the council would be agreeable to the thirds, amounting to £l3 10s, in respect of section 16, block XV., Ngaere district, being spent on the Whareroa Road in the Hawera county. In the schedule referred to, the thirds were shown as proposed expenditure on the Rotokare Road between the section and the Tirimoana Road. It was resolved to agree to the proposal, provided the Hawera County Council would pay the whole cost of maintenance of the boundary bridge on the Makino Road .but, failing agreement on these lines, the Elthctm council proposed to alter the schedule of the thirds to provide of their being spent on maintenance of the boundary bridge. WANDERING STOCK MENACE,.

A communication from the New Zealand Counties’ Association embodiedj and asked suport to, a resolution received from the North Island MotOT Union requesting local bodies and county councils to pay more serious attention to the grave , danger to the public caused through stock wandering on roads at night.' “The county has the services of a vigilant ranger and everything possible is being, done, to check this menace on the county, roads,’’ said 'the chairman. The clerk [reported that fhe matter had been brought to the notice of the ranger. The letter was received. A COURTEOUS COMPLAINT, “As a communication embodying .a complaint this is the most courteous in my experience, ’ ’ said the clerk in reading a letter from B. H. Parker, of Mangatolci, who wrote explaining that, owing to his rate demand having been posted to Kaponga, he had not received it in time to take advantage of the hve per cent, rebate allowed for prompt payment. He requested that, as it was not his fault that the demand was not received previously, he be allowed the rebate. The clerk, further explained that the address had been taken from the valuation roll according to the usual custom, and the fault in the address could not be attributed to the council. The circumstances were unfortunate in Mr Parker’s case, but as the time for allowing it had expired, the rebate could not now be granted. . It was decided to reply expressing regret that the rebate could not be granted. HEAVY TRAFFIC FEES.

The secretary of the Taranaki Local Bodies’ Association (Mr W. J. Tristram) wrote asking for an expression of opinion as to the council’s preference of the schemes proposed for the allocation of heavy traffic fees. The chairman gave the opinion that the system of taking a traffic tally had not proved satisfactory. He thought that the allocation based on 50 per cent, capital valuation 'and 50 per cent, metalled road mileage was most favoured. „ , _ On the motion of Cr. Campbell it was decided to reply stating that this method was favoured by the council. MANGrAMINGT LETTERS.

An objection to the opening up of a metal pit by the council’s employees on liis property was raised in a letter received from Mr John Granville, of Mangamingi. He stated that the opening meant the entry into a new paddock and the creation of a permanent precipice which would run across a hillside, thus endangering the lives of stock and causing inconvenience in working the paddock. A suggestion was made that the pit could be fenced, thus ensuring the safety of stock, it being further considered that serious intereference with the property would not be incurred. — The chairman pointed out that it was essential the metal should be obtained by the council. , ' After discussion, : the . chairman _ was appointed to interview Mr Grahvillfe. Mr J. Hickey, Manganiingi, wrote pointing out that nothing had been done to the stream running through an adjacent property, which the chairman and clerk inspected some time ago. He stated that he had been compeleld to re-clean fifteen chains of the creek in consequence. The clerk was instructed to render seven days’ notice to the downstream occupier to remove obstructions, failing which legal action would be taken. WORK FOR THE MONTH. The engineer (Mr F. Muggeridge) reported as follows:- — South Riding—General maintenance was attended to on the Mountain and Boylan roads. The drain leading from Mr Gibson’s property on the Dalziell road was cleaned out. One wooden eul--1 vert on the Campbell road was replaced by concrete pipes. The side track on the Mangawhero road was repaired. Mangatoki Riding—The metal used for widening the bitumen surface on the Eltham road has now been grouted. Water-tables and culverts were attended to on the Hastings, Stuart and Sheet roads. Bitumen patching was effected on the Eltham road. Omoana Riding —Following on my report last month re Omoana flood damage, an inspection has been made of the whole riding, and it was found that considerable damage has been done. Beyond Moeroa especially the road--is full of slips and debris; underslips have gone out * in numerous places, leaving the road only three to fovir feet wide. Down the Wiienuakura valley road, the small bush bridge at Brady’s filling has collapsed and requires’ ; renewing; The road' has also slipped away for about a chain at this place. On the

Omoana side of A. Gower’s house one small filling has been washed out and the road has subsided badly in places. An estimated cost of repairing the damage is £598 7s 9d. This estimate has been forwarded to the Public Works Department in anticipation of procuring assistance from the Government. In the meanwhile I would be pleased to have the council’s instructions as to what work, if any, shall be done pending a reply from the Public Works Department. Owing to the weather the contractor has done very little crushing, but is making good progress with the quarrying of shell rock. Kaponga Riding —Metal patching has been attended to on the Palmer and Mangawhero roads; clay blinding is being done on the Opunake, Stratford and the Upper Mangawhero roads. Bitumen patching was continued on the Eltham road. Eltham Riding—The side track leading to the Maata factory has been . metalled, 20 yards of metal being used. One old culvert on the Rawhitiroa road was replaced by 2ft concrete pipes. Widening was ' attended to on the Mangamingi ridge. Water tables were cleaned out on the Sangster road. Good progress is being made with the widening of the bitumen surface ou the Rawliitiroa road; it is expected that one side will be completed to-day. The widening of the Mountain road has been completed except for the bad corner; this will be gone on with next week. Cr Barker drew attention to the damage to fencing by straying bullocks on the Opunake-Stratford road. —The matter was referred to the ranger. The report was ml opted. GENERAL. The ranger reported that during the mouth 48 head of cattle were released off county roads. Four were impounded , Several settlers were warned for using sledges on the roads. Unless this practice ceased prosecutions would follow. The Stratford County Council wrote requesting co-operation in . extending a fitting welcome to their Royal Highnesses, the Duke and Duchess of York, when making a ten minutes ’ stay at Stratford on their way from New Plymouth to Palmerston North on the morning of Thursday, March 3. —The chairman and clerk were deputed to keep in touch with the Stratford Council in this connection. Mr L. Bunn, of Puniwhakau, waited on the ■ council with reference to the use of a metal crusher. The chairman, engineer and riding member (Cr A. McWilliam) were appointed to arrange the matter. Accounts amounting to £3351 were passed for payment. The usual office holidays, from December 23 to January 5 (both days inclusive) were granted, and Christmas

Day, Doxing Day and New Year’s Day for the engineer’s staff. The meeting, being the 4 last one of year, the chairman extended seasonal greetings to councillors, expressing the time-honoured wishes for prosperity in the coining year. Similar greetings were extended to the Press.