ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 12 March 1934, Page 5

ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING 1 HELD

PRESENTATION OF REPORTS

Members of the Eltham County Council present at the monthly meeting. .on , Saturday were. Os. ...A L. Campbell (chairman), R. A. Knuekey, A. V. Messana, M. W. Barker, \\ . E. Carter, C. E. McGuinness, and E. .1. Gifford. The county engineer (Mr. F. Muggeridge) reported as follows on the work of the month: South Riding.—Maintenance work was carried out on the Sheet and Fraser Roads. Mangatoki Riding.— Watertables and culverts were cleaned on the Eltham Road. One side track was . filled in and metalled on the Upper Hunter j Road. Metal blinding was done on the Sheet Road. Oinoana Riding.—Slips were cleared from the Whenuakura Valiev, Matemaroke and Tahuri Roads. Scrub was cut back and watertables cleaned on the Rawhitiroa, Mataiwhetu and Karewa Roads. Lengths on the. Etpero track were widened. Kaponga Riding.—Tin? contractor commenced the construction of the Mangawhero stream bridge It was found when excavating for the pier that, to get a suitable foundation it would be necessary to drive piles. A test pile was driv’en to determine the depth. Eight iron bark piles were then procured and are now being driven. Bitumen re-sealing was done on the Eltham Road 85 chains and Upper Manaia Road 96 chains. A start has been made to re-seal the Opunake-Stratford Road. The crushing is completed on the Mangawhero Road. The plant will next be set up for crushing on the Melville Road. Eltham Riding.—Metal patching and watertabling was done on the Rawhiti* roa Road. On the Tirimoana hill loose metal was raked ut> and the roadway blinded. Further' widening of the formation was done on the Sangstei Road. The contractor is progressing with the metal carting, 890 cubic yards being carted to date. The first coat, has been laid for approximately 100 chains. It is now proposed to lav the final coat on this length. The inspector (Mr. H. E. Williams! advised that 130 dogs were registered during the month. Some farmers had made' no attempt to have dogs registered and he recommended a prosecution for harbouring an unregistered dog after March 31. The health inspector (Mr. R Gooding) reported that one ease of diphtheria from Matapu had been notified during the month. The South Taranaki Automobile Association wrote asking council to help in the preserving of white stakes at bends of road m order to assist motorists. It was agreed to assure the association that the council was very willing to allow employees to help wherever possible. The solicitors to the New Plymouth Harbour Board advised that it would be necessary to levy and collect sucll of the rates as were leviable in the county district. The clerk of the Tauranga County Council wrote asking for support to a request to the Prime Minister urging that early consideration he given to the granting of easement to ratepayers, as was done in 1931-32. to the extent of permitting councils to make a rebate allowance of 20 per cent, on the 1933-34 rates.—There was no harm, said the chairman, in supportin0 * the resolution, Cl', Cartel letnaikin° that if no easement were received he"did not know what the farmers were to do.—lt was agreed to support the suggestion of the Tauranga council. The Transport Board forwarded explanatory notes on the sections of the Amendment Act, 1933. The Commissioner of Unemployment, referring to structures on the main highways, advised that all such made on the main roads must be mane to the standard adopted bv the Highways Board. He added that before lie would grant a subsidy plans must be submitted to the Public, Works engineer.—The chairman, remarking on the question, said the council had never done anything else. . . Reference was made to the preliminary work in connection with repairs to a bridge in the Kaponga riding, where difficulty was experienced in getting a solid foundation for the piles. The engineer reported that boring for 3J feet had just about reached solid ground, but he had now got a good foundation. Cr. Barker said the difficulty was created by an old swamp near the bed of the river The chairman reported that the Sangstei* Road contract had been satisfactorily begun and was proceeding well. . , Cr Gifford drew attention to the dangerous crossing at the point where the” Hunter Road intersected the Eltham Road and where an accident was narrowly averted recently. He said the willows on one side and a hed°e on the other were a source ot danger in that visibility was restricted. cut and the owner be called on to do his part.—The ranger’s attention will be drawn to the position, asking him to give a. warning to the lorrv driver in question. Crs. Messana and Barker were appointed to represent tlie council on the Rgmoiit National 1 ark l>onru.