ELTHAM COUNTY

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 11 June 1932, Page 9

ELTHAM COUNTY

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.

MONTH’S REPORTS RECEIVED

Members of the Eltham County Council present at the monthly meeting, held -to-day, were Crs O. E. McGuinness, E. J. Gifford, W. E. Carter, M, W. Barker, A. V. Messana, P. R. Brown and R. J. Knuckey. Owing to the absence through illness of the chairman (Cr A. L. Campbell), Cr C. E. McGuinness was voted to the chair.

The engineer (Mr F. Muggeridge) reported on the month’s work as follows :

South Riding.—Bitumen patching was done on the Mountain and Boylan Roads. Watertahles and culverts were cleaned out on the Dalziel, Fraser and Rotokare Roads.

Mangatoki Riding.—Bitumen patching was attended to on the upper Hunter and upper Duthie Roads. Watertahles were cleaned out on the lower Hunter, upper Hunter and lower Hastings Roads. Metal patching was done on the lower Stuart Road. One sidetrack was metalled on the upper Suart Road. For direction of traffic white lines were painted at the intersection of the Hunter and Eltham and Hastings and Eltham Roads. South Riding.—Further sections of the roadway between the Patea bridge and the Matamaroke Road were scarified. reformed and rolled, extra metal being added where necessary. Slips were cleared and watertahles cleaned out on the Rawhjtiroa, Mataiwhetu, Tahuri, Matemaroke and Moeawatea Roads. One concrete pipe culvert was put in. watertables cleaned, and slips cleared on the Whenuakura Valley Road. Two new concrete pipe culverts were put in on the Omoana east hill and two culverts were renewed beyond Moeroa.

Kaponga Riding.—Metal patching was done on the Palmer and Neil Roads. One nine-inch culvert was put in on the upper Mangawhero Road. Watertahles were cleaned out on the Eltham, Auroa, Manaia and Rowan Roads.

151 tliam Riding.—Metal patching; was done on the Maata and Hu Roads. Drains were cleaned out, the small bridge repaired, and overhanging; scrub cut back on the Win grove Road. Watertables, culverts and drains were cleaned out on the Rawhitiroa Road. Slips were cleared and one' concrete pine culvert was put in on the Man gain ingi Ridge. The metalling of Ma'bey Street has been comnleted, and will be rolled when the roller returns from the Onion na Riding. General.—Leyland 1 No. 1 was completely overhauled and painted. Repairs were effected +o the grader. Road classification, signs have come to hand and will be erected as soon as possible. ROADS CONTROL. The inspector (H. E. Williams) reported that during the month 82 head of stock found on the roads were released. Thirty-five farmers’ waggons were weighed and the unladen weight was painted on the sides. This was only about 60 per cent, of the number of waggons estimated to be in the district.

Or. Barker said that there were too many stock left out on the roads. He instanced one case of nine heifers being out for about two weeks on the Auroa Road and pigs on the Eltharn Road, and botii had done damage to water-tables. Cr. Knuckey: If stock are out in fine weather on the roads they do good to the roads by clearing the sides. Cr. Messana considered the council should not be too hard on settlers in the present difficult times. Cr. Carter said that if stock were out at night or in wet weather the practice should be stopped at once. HEALTH REPORT.

The Health Inspector reported one case of erysipelas in the Kaponga riding. He added that the county was particularly free from infection and that he watched very carefully matters pertaining to the public health in the county.

It was agreed that the finance committee go into the matter of the amount paid to the health department and report to next meeting. OMONA RESERVE. Mf. \Y(, Robinson waited on /the council in regard to the reserves in the Omona district which he wished to secure. ( Cr. Brown said he and Mr. Muggeridge had inspected the reserves and there was oil one a splendid building site which with about an acre should be given to the applicant. Mr. Robinson said the accommodation paddock held by the county contained about three acres and there was water on the lower side. He would like to get about 3if acres. Some discussion took place and it was finally agreed to add C’r. Knuckey to the committee and that it should have power to act in the matter. BACKBLOCK TRIALS. The question of the position of back-, blocks settlers and tlieir ability to pay rates was brought up in a letter from the Stratford Farmers’ Union executive with a view to inquiry in what way relief could be given. The letter referred to the position in which county councils were placed where a greater portion of the area controlled was composed of back country, part of which had been abandoned and tin balance not producing sufficient to provide maintenance for the farmer and to pay county rates. The letter referred also to the hardships imposed on settlers in special rating areas where a number of farms had been abandoned and the full burden of the rate hao fallen on those remaining. It was suggested that cases of hardship be re-

ported with a view to calling a meeting in Stratford to formulate a scheme for presentation to the Minister of Lands asking for relief. An invitation was to be given to the Minister and Taranaki members of Parliament to make a personal inspection. The clerk said that in the case of a special rate, if some settlers went out the rest .would have to go l on paying until the loan was paid off. Or. Knuckey suggested that, in an extreme case of hll going out but one, that man would have to go on paying until the amount was redeemed. Cr. Barker: Where does the council stand, in this matter? The clerk said the council could increase the general rate if necessary. Cr. Carter said he knew that many settlers on land behind Stratford were in a bad way and might have to leave their holdings. He knew of cases where the families had to go out to work because they could not keep going and the country was going back steadily. He considered that if a man came in to take up the land he would need to get it for nothing, because the land had deteriorated so much. Cr. Knuckey said that if these men were assisted by the Government they might be able to stay on the land. On his motion it was agreed to support the matter and that the chairman and Cr. Brown represent the county in any meeting; to he held. general. The Commissioner of Transport suggested in a letter that the county inspectors should warn taxi proprietors and others in the habit of providing road transport at the time of races or shows to be careful ,to apply for a temporary licence. He drew attention also to the praotice of car-owners carrying passengers for reward, however small. This was a breach of the Transport Licensing Act and Third Party Risks Act. Applications for temporary license to carry extra weight on lorries was made by three carriers and a special permit was granted, the privilege to be granted only to lonries operating in the county area. They were advised to act with discretion.

The Unemployment Board adVrsed that arrangements were to be made for an insurance pool so that lower rates could be secured for insurance of men on relief work. It was- resolved that the council agree to join the proposed pool. The chairman said that such action should have been taken long ago.