ELTHAM COUNTY AFFAIRS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 14 May 1928, Page 3

ELTHAM COUNTY AFFAIRS.

REVIEW OF WORK. RIDING BALANCES IN CREDIT. The monthly meeting of the Eiltham County Council was held on Saturday last, when there were present: Councillors C. J. Belcher (chairman), E. <»• Gifford, C. E. McGuinness, \Y. E. Carter, A. Li. Campbell, M. W Barker, A. V. Messana, and A. MoWilliam. Leave of absence was granted to Or. R. A. J. Ivnuckey. RATES ON ABANDONED HOLDINGS. In reply to the council’s communication in reference to loss of rates on abandoned Crown sections in the Omoana riding, the Hon. A. D. hi cLeod (Minister of Lands) advised tluu he intended visiting the district at tlie latter end of the month, when he would be pleased to discuss the mattei with the council, which would benot;' tied of the definite date of his visit. The Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. O. J- Hawken) writing on the same subject, said he would take an early, opportunity of discussing the matter with his colleagues, the result of which would be made known to the council. , Mr. H. G. Dickie, M.P. for Patea, wrote stating that he would he pleased to motor the Minister of Lands through the district. The writer said that local bodies throughout the deterioiaed lands area were confronted with -the same problem; the Patea and_ Wait.otara County Councils were desirous of discussing the question. , The chairman and Or. A. Men illia.ni were appointed to meet the Minister. FINANCIAL, statement.

The treasurer (Mr. A. Tiplady) presented the following report on the council’s financial operations for the year ended March 31. Receipts, £25,212 Os Id; expenditure, £26,566 12s lOd; credit balance of county fund, £2297 4s. All riding accounts showed a credit balance. A record for the county was established in the collection of rates. Of a total of £10,773 Is 7d levied on general rate £10,505 17s 3d were collected, leaving only £287 4s 4d outstanding. A total of £4885 5s 3d levied for special and separate rates returned £4735 Os Bd, a deficiency of only £149 15s 7d. Arrears of general rates showed an outstanding list of £52 7g 9d after the collection of £627 9s 9d.

Miscellaneous receipts included: Dog registration, £lO4 7s 6d; heavy traffic fees, £442 10s od; motor drivers’ licenses, £164 19 s; ranger’s driving fees, £*2l, S.M. Court fines, £ll. On the expenditure side, additions to plant and buildings account for a total of £579 14s 9d, made up of electric motor and shed (£272 11s lOd), machinery shed (£276 17s sd), blacksmith’s forge (£l2 0s 6d), and a horse (£lB ss). These items would be nonrecurring and would pass into the tabic of assets.

The principal items of expenditure were: Hospital levy and subsidies, £3347 18s 4d; interest on loans and principal, £6154 2s lid; interest on overdraft —antecedent liability and general fund, £l6l 11s; main highways, £3970 19s; other highways, £7836 3s lid; loan account, £4ll 15s Bd.

The antecedcntliabilitv was set down at £958 5s 9d. Inscribed loans maturing during the next three yeans £5682) would relieve the council of an annual burden of £279 os,Bd. REDUCTION ON RATES.

Final liquidation of'the antecedent liability, the maturing of loans and the permanent nature of the council’s ■reading operations indicated that after the end of next financial year a gradual reduction of rates would be possible. CHAIRMAN’S REVIEW. The chairman (Mr. C. J. Belcher) said he was proud of the county’s position, as so clearly outlined by the treasurer (jMr. A. Tiplady), whose report showed the whole of the ridings were in credit as follows:—Eltham £436, South £489, Mangatoki £lB5, Omoana. £B4B, Kaponga £2l. He congratulated the treasurer, councillors, staff and workmen whose team work hud made such a satisfactory position possible. The position, in fact, was setter than it looked on paper. Aided by an exceptionally good season, the work had been systematically cleaned up instead of being held up until April or May as in previous years., The South Riding loan was finished, and there was. a metalled road through to Moeroa. He was not certain of the programme for the coming year. The council had considerable plant and could very well afford to dispose of a portion of it, though it would be hard to determine a starting point. The chairman extended his congratulations to the clerk, council, staff and the Brass on the position disclosed. Cr. A. L. Campbell also offered his congratulations on the position, it being, he said, the, first of its kind in the history of the council. THE ENGINEER’S SUMMARY.

The engineer (Mr. F. Muggeridge) furnished a report which he considered would be of interest at the caose of the financial year. The report stated, inter alia, that the building oi new roads, widening main highways, and maintenance had absorbed 0640 cubic yards of metal; 1982 cubic yards of chips were used lor top-dressinng, bitumen grouting and sealing work; 49,322 gallons of bitumen were used. The council’s policy of widening main highways to 18 feet, carrying out the work as finances permit, had resulted in the following "lengths being completed ;—Auckland- Wellington via Taranaki 10() chains, EltliainRawhitiroa. G 5 chains, Eltham-Awa-tuna 90 chains (the latter road on one side only). Where necessary new culverts had been put in and wooden culverts replaced with concrete pipes. The total length of pipe, culverting put in was 1250 feet, the pipes varying from nine to 24 inches. Nineteen miles of roads were resealed with bitumen, and two miles were treated with the first coat of tar; 305 chains of water-hound macadam were laid down, and 120 chains of new grouting work was done. The council s plant, was in good: working order, and, while travelling a total ot 24.201 miles, the lorries required no serious repair work. The chairman and councillors in turn made complimentary reference to the work of the engineer and his staff, Cr. Messana remarking that the summary presented was comprehensive—one could call it ‘ ‘.form at a glance.” The councils position, he said, had for a long time been looked upon as hopeless, but he was pleased to see that the long desired goal was . in sight. Cr. McWilliam hoped his fellow- ! councillors would not think hits riding ' (Oniona) was “rolling in opulence.” 1 It had had. a windfall in the way of a Government loan, and in the meantime its own finances had been straightout. A great deal of credit was due to the engineer, who had proved himself a competent overseer and an

equally -rood economist. The position was highly satisfactory, and ho trusted it would bo enhanced by an arrangement with tlio Minister of Landis which would ensure, the collection ol rates on unoccupied lands. THE TREASURER’S FORECAST. Messrs Tiplady and Muggeridgo acknowledged the complimentary references to the results of their labours, and the former gave au assurance that the council would be able bo reduce the rates in the near future, lhe Raponcra riding, he said, in reviewing the estimates, need not levy . a separate rate, as the credit balance was sutticient to meet payments for the next financial year ■ Tlig council would be able to decrease the general rate thus recovering the amount required ioi necessary work, and probably stabilise the finances at the beginning of next Year. Contrary to expectations, -Ma ngatoki riding would not' need to increase the separate rate. The South ri dino- finances were sufficiently satisfactory to observe the same general rate, but the special rate would have to be increased, as the riding was maintaining a borrowing policy. ELe had nothing particular to say of the Eltham riding—the position was satisfaCt°ryßOAD MAINTENANCE.

The engineer (Mr F. Muggeridge) reported in reference to the past month s ° P Tlic trimming up and water-tabling was completed on the newly meta led portion of the Te Rota road. The final claim will 'be submitted to the Public ’{forks Department during the month. On the Boylan road a start has been made to widen one dangerous corner. The clay taken out is being used to widen the formation. This work if continued, will greatly xmprovo the road, and help to take mam road traffic off the old Mountain road. It is suggested that the Post and Telegraph DePost DemTtment 'be approached and xe SSteiTo move .book all .poles that aK too close to the bitumen surface Rtumen patching was done on the Skeet road. The bitumen 'mdened out at two corners on the Botokoae ro Mangatoki Riding.-The grader and party have cleaned the grass off the sides and water-tabled the Lower Stuart road. One load of screenings was spread at the junction of *be Lower Hunter and Skeet roads. "At Mangatoki about 10 chains of the bitumen surface were widened out by adding new ■metal and grouting. to the Mangatold factory buildings and Hammond ’-s store were also attended to. One old woeden culvert on the Lower Duthie road was washed out during the last rains. This has been renewed with fifteen 2ft pipes and lowered about two feet. Work has been commenced on the Cornwall road to scarify and reform the roadway. , Omoana Riding.— Water-tabling, cutting back scrub, and widening corners was continued on the newly metalled portion of the Rawhitiroa road. Un other portions of the road gener il maintenance was attended to. Metal patching was done in the Matemateonga Valiev Water-tables and culverts' were cleaned out on the Witiri, Mataiwhetu and Karewa roads. Further slips were cleared off the Moeawatea ridge road. Ivaponga Riding. —During the month general maintenance, consisting ot •water-tabling, cleaning culverts and metal patching, was attended to on the Mangawliero, Manaia and Palmer roads. Bitumen patching, cleaning drains and metal patching was done on the Rowan roads. The grader and party are eno;,<>ed in cleaning up the formation and water-tabling the Opunake-Stratford road. On the Eltham road bitumen patching was attended to and one depression was raised near Awatuna. Eltham Riding.—Shell rock crushing at the foot of the Mangamingi ridge was completed, and the crusher brought in. to the depot. One culvert was lowered on the main highway length of the Rawhitiroa road. . Metal patching and water-tabling was done- on other portions of the road. Water-tables were cleaned out and wheel ruts filled in on the Mangawhero and Tirimoana roads. The report was adopted. GENERAL.

The action of the chairman arid Cr. Knuekcy in authorising the deepening of three culverts at the request of Mr P. Stoffel was endorsed. The ranger reported the release of fortv-one head of stock off the county roads. A dispute between Mr J. Hickey, ot Mangamingi, and Mr L9.lv in reference to the alleged blocking of a stream by willows, was discussed in committee. Tt -was resolved that certain roads should be closed to heavy traffic as from June 1, one month earlier than was the ease last. year. On the motion of Crs. Campbell and Messana it was resolved that the chairman’s honorarium be £7*s, as last year. Accounts amounting to £1712 10s lid wore passed for payment. Mr W. .T. Tristram, on behalf of the Taranaki Local Bodies’ Association, advised the returns from heavy traffic fees received and the amount of subsidv to the sum of £225 for the elimination of the South Road railway crossing, as far as the Eltham (County and Borough 'Councils were affected, as follows: — , , 'Pees Amount Eltham Allocated Subsidy Countv £3SI 40 G £l3 18 « Borough . £127 3 0 £4 13 0 A schedule of appointment of maintenance and capital levy for the year ended March 31, 19128, forwarded by the secretary of the Ilawera Hospital Board, and showing the following assessments was tabled: — Eltham (County: (Capital value, £2,052,003; total levy, £3315; monthly instalments, £270 'ss. The figures «s_ applied to Eltham Borough were: £0!9,011; £087; £57 ss.