ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 11 April 1927, Page 8

ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

THE MONTH * WORK The monthly meeting of the 1 El t ham County Council was held on Saturday, when there were present: Councillors C. J. Belcher (chairman), R. J. Knuckey. A. McWiUiaui, A. V. Messana, M. \Y Barker, A L. Campbell, W. 13. Carter, C. El. McGuiiiness, E. J. Gifford and E. Muggeridge (engineer). COB RESPONBENCE. Mr. John Campbell wrote eompJaining that he had been paying rates on certain sections in the Ngaire Block lor a period extending from '.1916 to 1920 and had not received any rebate, tor which he now applied. The clerk said he could find no record of the •sections mentioned on the roll and concluded that the rates had been paid to the Borough Council. The chairman and clerk were deputed to ascertain further particulars from Mr Campbell and report. HEAVY TBAtFE.rO FEES ALLOCATION. The secretary Taranaki Local Bodies.’ Association advised that the el feet of the adoption, in part, by the committee of the Stratford .scheme of allocation of heavy traffic fees, is, briefly: (1) That each local authority will be entitled to deduct, a .sum of not exceeding 5 per cent on amount of License fees collected; (2) The Taranaki County New Plymouth Borough sub-district, is required to pay the following percentages of its net. receipts, viz. : To the Inglewood sub-district. 5 per cent. To the Stratford sub-district, 3 per cent. To the. Eltbam sub-district, 2 per cent. (3) Each sub-district is required to pay to the Whangamomona .sub-dis-trict an amount equal to 2-J- per cent, of net fees received. (4) Each sub-district, shall divide the total net receipts received between its coupled local authorities in such proportion as may be agreed upon between them. The chairman pointed out that the foregoing held good for only the ensuing year, at the expiration of which there was a probability that the tiresome controversy on the allocation of heavy traffic fees would be again opened up. It was to be regretted that the Government did not take the matter in hand .instead of referring it to. local bodies, for .settlement. On the motion of CVs. Gifl'ord and Barker, (lie allocation was approved.' The chairman and Or. Knuckey were appointed to confer with two nominees of the Eltbam Borough Council on the question of sub-division of net receipts.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT LOANS BOARD.

The office of the Minister of Finance advised that the Local Government Loans Board Act, 1926, comes into operation on April 1. Under the provisions of this act every local authority which, proposes to borrow any moneys (otherwise tbaji in. anticipation of its revenue) bust submit an application to the Local Government Loans Board for sanction to borrow, — Received.

MOTOR LORRY REGULATIONS. A communication was received from the Main Highways Board to the effect that it is proposed as the result of representations placed before the Government, to add the following words to the present definition of “motor lorry” in the regulations: “And does not include any vehicle the owner of which proves to the satisfaction of the licensing authority (1) that it is used only as a taxi in the casual carriage of passengers (including their luggage) ; (2) that with its maximum load it does not exceed 2 tons 5 cwt. in weight, and (3) that the vehicle was, and-has remained, :in possession, of its present owner on and since March 24, 1926. —Received.

DISFIGUREMENT OF LANDSCAPE

The Oamaru Beautifying Society requested the co-operation and support of the council in the society’s endeavour to secure the passage, in the forthcoming parliamentary session, of a private member’s Bill dealing with the question of the disfigurement of roadsides and rural scenery by advci tisements and hoardings. A summary of the operations of the Sea pa Society, England, was quoted as an indication of what could be done in this direction.

Air. 13. P. Lee, member for Oamaru, has agreed to take an early opportunity of introducing a Bill dealing with this question.

On the motion of Or. MeWillia.in it was resolved that the council record its sympathy with the movement.

GRAZING RIGHTS. A circular letter from the Alain Highways Board was received, drawing attention to the danger of allowing stock to graze on roads at night time. It was pointed out that many local bodies grant ' grazing rights to owners of stock in many eases without any restriction, with, the result that cattle are allowed to graze on the roadways at night as well as during the daytime. The presence of stock on the roads at night is a source of very great danger to the travelling public, particularly motorists, and the Main Highways .'Board suggested for tlie consideration of local bodies who allow grazing rights to stock owners that the time of grazing on highwovs he limited to the hours between sunrise ancl sunset. Hie board trusted that local bodies would accept the suggestion and take steps to ensure that any limits so imposed on the granting of grazing rights were strictly enforced.

Cr. AlcWilliain said he understood that the issue of licenses to graze on roads was illegal. The chairman explained that the right was optional with local authorities. but he believed that wherever issued the licenses permitted stock to be so grazed only between the hours of sunrise and sunset. The letter was received.

ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer (Mr F. Muggeridge) reported oil work for tile month as follows 1 : South Riding.—General inainteiianee work was attended to where necessary in this riding. Alangatoki Riding.—The construction of the grouted shoulders on the first 40 chains on the Lower Dutliio road has now been completed, and the sealing of the road ha.s been completed throughout. Bitumen patching was continued on the Lower Dnthie and Upper Hastings roads. Water tables and culverts were attended to on the following roads: Lower Hunter, Lower and Upper Dnthie, and Upper Hastings roads 1 . A start has been made to lower the grade on the had hill on the Cornwall road. Screenings were spread on one hill mi the Upper Stuart road. Omoana Riding.—The clearing of slips on the Upper Moeawatea ridgo

road is now being attended to. General maintenance work was attended to on the llawhitiroa, Mataiwhetu, Karewa, Matemaroke and YVhenuakora Valley roads. With the use of the Ford son tractor and grader a great improvement hasi been made on the 0 moan a. west hill. It is thought that if sufficeint shell rock were secured to fill in the wheel tracks this road could be kept in very fair order. The grader is also being used to clean up the road as far as the Pateai bridge. Kapouga Riding. —During the month the crushing plant was dismantled on the Sheet roacl and re-erected at Riverlea to crush metal for the Lower Mangawhero load: Good progress is being with the metalling, about 70 chains being completed to date. A start, with the grouting work will lie made to-day. Bitumen patching was continued on the. Elthain road. General maintenance was attended to on roads l throughout the riding. 1 Eltham Riding.—The culverts have been, placed and the fillings completed on the Aorere road. Foreman Robinson having made a splendid job. Metal patching was attended to on the Mangamingi ridge. Water tables and culverts were cleaned out on the Rawhi tiro a: and Mountain, roads. When the grader lia.s finished working in the Omoanff Biding, a. start will be made to clean up the edges of the metal along the Mangamingi Valley. General. —During the month repairs were effected to the five-ton and threeton lorries. The 60 tons of bitumen ordered had come to hand. The report was adopted. CITATION UNDER AWARD. Discussion of a citation under the drivers’ award was taken in committee, and on the motion of Crs, McWilliam and Knuckey finally referred to the Counties’ Association conference. GENERAL. Or. Campbell reported on the state ol' disrepair of portion of the. Te Roti Road as a result of recent heavy cartage of shingle by settlers. Hie l urged immediate attention to 15 or 20 chains of the road if the crusher were available. . lb was resolved, on the motion of Or. Messana, that notice boards in regard to 'regulations' governing heavy traffic on county roads from May to September be renewed or erected forthwith where necessary. Or. McWilliam regretted that wet weather had prevented a proposed visit of councillors to the Omoann Riding last month. He recommended the employ men t of si- small motor 'scjcrifiieir an<i roller for roughening the wheel tracks, without disturbing the original foundation of boulders and hand-spawlcd metal, on the roads in that aiding. The chairman discountenanced further excessive expenditure on new machinery. He sympathised with .settlers who suffered through the existing low pay-out for butter-fat and was averse to" shrinking another rate to mie'et expenditure on new plant, and advised a policy of caution. Accounts amounting to £1699 5s 9d were massed for payment.