EGMONT COUNTV AFFAIRS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 14 June 1928, Page 6

EGMONT COUNTV AFFAIRS.

WORK FOR THE MONTH

Tli© monthly meeting of the Egmont County Council was held, at Opunake on Tuesday. There were present: Councillors W. C. Green (chairman), 1C C. Watson, 13. A. Collins, G. Gibson, J. S. Tosland, A. J. Lilley, and ,1. Young. Leave of absence was granted to Crs. J. Shepherd and J. Hickey. COUNCILLOR S’ TR AY ELLIN G r EXPENSES. The New Zealand Counties’ Association forwarded legal opinion on the subject of councillors’ travelling expenses as follows: The allowances to cover all charges in respect of attendances at council and committee meetings or in respect of attending to any business of the council when authorised so to do by the council are fixed* as follows : (1) The fares actually paid by public conveyance; (2) where no public conveyance is available, or is available only ai> gre&te-r cost, then either (a) the expenses of the member’s use of his horse or vehicle at 8d per mile (counted both ways) a and is tabling or garage expenses not exceeding os a night, or (b) fares actually paid for special conveyance; (3) with the consent of the Audit Department a member may be allowed, in lien of the above, the ‘ necessary expenses paid, by him. The chairman said a remit dealing with this subject will be submitted to the Counties’ Conference by the Eltham County Council. The chairman was deputed to take charge of the remit on behalf of the council. UNEMPLOYMENT.

The Hon. 0. J. Hawken (Minister of Agriculture) wrote advising that the Government would be glad to cooperate in carrying out- works for unemployment on the lines- that the Government will find 60 per cent of the labour cost on work which would not, in the ordinary course of events, be undertaken by the comity for some years.

Cr. Tosland advocated undertaking the straightening of the Main South Road at the Oeo bend by unemployed labour, but the chairman voiced a possible difficulty in the fact that the ouncU had already practically decided to put this .work in hand in the ordinary course of events.

Cr. Tosland moved that the Minister be written to asking for authority to put the work in hand, and also ask if loan money might be used to meet the expenditure of 40 per cent of the cost of the work. -He thought the council should make an effort to find work for the unemployed, among whom there were a number of married men with young families. C-r/Collins seconded the motion pro forma, but thought there were difficulties in regard to working at the place indicated as there were no means of accommodation there. —The motion was carried.

Failing authority to proceed _ with the work on the lines indicated, it was suggested that side leads- should he instructed on various steep bills within the county, Cr. Collins pointing out that the time was not far distant when settlers would compel the council to make these bill roads passable* for horse traffic in frosty 7 weather. Cr. Tosland moved that £3OO he placed on the estimates for the purpose of subsidising the Government grant of 60 per cent of unemployment expenditure, this amount to be used to cover cost of so widening steep hill roads, provided that the- general rate would not be increased «thereby.— Seconded by Cr. Collins and carried. On the motion of the chairman, the resolution passed asking for authority to expend Joan money on the Oeo bend was rescinded. DRAIN ON KAWEBOA ROAD.

Messrs. J. C. Cox and W. M. Hodges wrote drawing attention to need, for work on the Kaweroa. Road, in the form of an 80-chain drain to serve Messrs. Cox and Carter’s sections. The settlers were prepared to find £SO if the council would subsidise the* amount £ for £.—The clerk was instructed to advise that the chairman and engineer had made provision for this matter in the estimates*.

The engineer (Mr F. M. Gorki 11) reported :us follows on the* work of the past month:—

Alain Roads Reconstruction.—Work lms again been very slow on contrail No. 508, chiefly on account of the weather. and only 22 chains were renietalled and grouted to* the end of May. and 100 chains wore finally sealed. Since the close of the month, however, better results have been obtained and the work will be finished on Tuesday 7 if the good weather hold's.

Bridges.—On the Wait ah a. bridgp the '•' hole of the underwater portions of the north abutment- and one wing- wall or the* south abutment have been concreted and the temporary bridge has been constructed with the bulk Of its vparoach filling. Maintenance. The water-bound length of the main road from Pihmma to Oe*o lias boon graded and part has been planed with satisfactory results. ELsewbpre the sides of the bitumen have been banked up a® required. Arrangements are* being made for the repair of !*•“ steel bridges on the Wadaua, AVa.iteika and Ouri Rivers. •

'0«o Riding.—The Oeo, Pattiki (top end) and AVoka street- have been graded. ! ’h« T\ *ri and Patiri roads have been patched. Opua Riding.—On the Lower Kina Road, with, the assistance of settlers, 192 cubic yards were put from tin* pit and laid on 32 chains of road, and 18 ai'.d.s* were used for patching. The o*pu*a and Upper Kina Roadls* were Matched. Three hundred and nineteen cubsc yards of boulders wet© crushed and distributed for pat-chine; on the Upper Arawhata Road. The Ihaia Road* was Metcbed and drains* cleared. Tlie'Lowe*:’ AWteika. Road was patched. Rnhotu Riding.—Twelve chains on the Ngarihi Road were scarified, reshaped and re-rolled and 15 chains were draggied. On the Afanihi Road 281 'bains were re-metalled with pit metal. Heavy Matching was done* *o*n the Upper Kahni Road.

Nowall Riding.—All roads were attended to and a good deal of work was done on the. Lower Xewnll Road, which is now nassahlie.

General.—Tiie two. bush-felling .joins (Ngairikii and 1 Upper Arawhatn) are proin a on steadily. TAttE lias been done on the Wirernu Road this month. BITUMEN R EOU! REMENTS.

The engineer reported having attended the meeting of county engineers recently held at Eltham to discuss the. finest! on of hi turn on requirements of Taranaki local lauthorulc-s. It had been decided, lie said, to invite tenders for the supply of 2000 tons of bitumen. These will be reviewed at a later meeting. GENERAL. A renewal of slaughterbooise license was granted to Mr Raymond) TV. Dawson, Rahotu Road. The medical officer of health wrote noting with regret that the conned did not consider it necessary to. ■adopt the drainage and plumbing regulations for cither the whole or part of the area under its control.

Mr F. Williams wrote, accepting the position of ranger for a period of three month® 'in terms offered by the council. Messrs E. Holmes and Sons accepted the terms of rental offered bv the council in reference to the gravel reserve at Taungateia River as from January 1, 1928. . The Public Trust -Office was advised of the Council’s inability to uplift the balance of £SOOO of the bridges loan of £15,000 (192(3) for a. period of at least six months. It was resolved to comply with a. request. from the head teacher at Awatuma to lay a quantity of metal at the school gates. _ . On the motion of the chairman, it was decided to support a .remit to the Counties’ Conference in reference' tot the adoption of country roadls of half-chain and upwards. The remit emanated from the. Man gadoid branch of the .Farmers’ Union,