ELTHAM.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LIII, Issue LIII, 13 April 1908, Page 8

ELTHAM.

COUNTY COUNCIL.

(From Our Own CoxreapondenM The Eltham County Council concluded its business after the- Stab went to press on Saturday. The following is the remainder of the report :— ENGINEER'S REPORT. The County Engineer (Mr Basham) reported as follows: — 'There is one 30ft span over the Mangatoronui stream and three small open culverts of 20ft spans that require renewing. I would recommend that reinforced concrete be used, and I estimate the total cost at £900, made up as follows: — Mangotoronui bridge £300, three culverts at £200 each. "I would again draw the attention of the Council to the unsafe condition of a small bridge on the Lower Mangawhero river: I would suggest that the Council ascertain its position in the event of an accident occurring. "Owing to broken weather' l have not had an opportunity of inspecting the Eotokare road to enable me to report on the Cost of widening, etc. I hope to do so early nest week, and will report to Council at next meeting." The Chairman said he would have to, leave the first portion over till the riding member (Cr King) was present. The second part, it had been, stated, rendered the Council personally liable if an accident occurred, on the bridge after the engineer reported it unsafe. They could declare the road closed; that was their right. Cr Swadling suggested a loan. The work could be done in anticipation of a loan. The bridge would cost £240. Half the traffic came from the Waimate district. - Cr Dive moved, That tenders be called for a culvert. Cr Swadling could not see where the money was definitely coming from. The Clerk could not see how a loan could be raised, as the Council wanted all the money that could be raised elsewhere. Cr Swadling thought the ratepayers concerned would go in for £150 loan. Cr Phillips seconded Cr Dive's resolution, but it was finally held over till next meeting. It was decided to obtain legal opinion as to whether the councillors individually were responsible in case of accident, and if so the road will be declared closed. RIDING FOREMEN'S REPORTS. The South Biding foreman reported that during the month he had been occupied doing general surface* work and patching. Had put in a new culvert on the Boylan road. During the bad weather the roads had broken up badly, and it will take some time to get them' in good order. There were also one or two new > culverts required on the Campbell and Boylan roads. He applied for an extra man to get work done as soon as possible. Mr F. Muir had finished contract on Boylan road, supplying 10 yards over. — The Chairman did not think it advisable to have another man on. He would give instructions for the Tawhiti Hill to be attended to. The Kaponga riding foreman reported that he had been engaged patching and raking in metal. Owing to bad weather Mr Dodd had been delayed getting out metal on the Eltham road; he had 200 yards out. E. Whitcombe was getting on with his contract of picking and breaking on the Eltham road, and was making a satisfactory job; he had 11 chains completed. The Mangawhero road was in a very bad state, and would take a lot of patching this winter. — Cr Swadling said Mr Treweek had been appointed foreman. — The action of the riding members was confirmed. — Cr Swadling said the Mangawhero road was in a very bad state, and if the bridge loan was not raised nothing could be spent on the road for four or five years. He thought it was essential that the loan should be raised. — It was decided not to recognise any overtime claimed by Mr Toban,' lately foreman at Kaponga. — Report received. The Mangatoki East riding foreman reported that during the month he had been clearing water-tables, patching, gathering up loose stones, and doing general surface work. The Eltham road broke up with the least drop of rain and required a lot of attention.. He recommended that Mr Luxton be notified to go on with his contract on the Eltham road. He had delivered no j stone for six weeks, and was only about half-way through his contract. Mr Martin was getting on very slowly with his job, only delivering about 100 yards since last meeting. Had put Mr Sweeney in Mr Treweek' s place as surfaceman. Was giving 3s 9d per yard for the stone delivered between the Hastings and Hunter roads, on Martin's contract, as the stone was very hard to break. — The report was adopted. The Mangatoki West riding foreman reported that he had been engaged on the Eltham road patching, cleaning out water-tables, re-metalling a few bad places) and feplacing an old culvert. On the Lower Hastings road he had done patching and replaced a wooden culvert with concrete pipes. He had also done patching and general work on the Upper and Lower Duthie and Upper and Lower Palmer roads. Mr L. Webby had completed his contraqt on the Lower Hastings road of carting 150 yards of boulders. — Cr Phillips said the surfaceman had left and another man had been put on till the meeting day. — The question of appointing a permanent hand was left in the hands of the member. — Report adopted. The Eltham riding foreman reported that he had been patching on the Rawhitiroa and Mangawhero roads. He had shifted slips on the Anderson and Wingrove roads and re-decked the Patea bridge. Mr Hornblow had begun the painting of the Ararata bridge. Had arranged with Mr Nairn to deliver shell-rock where he required it for 7s per yard. — Report adopted. POKAI AND HUIROA ROADS. Cr Dive said the Pokai and Huiroa roads needed attention. It was resolved to proceed with the work as the money was available. FOREMEN'S REPORTS. The Chairman thought the reports should be posted instead of being brousfci in ai->a cost of 8s per day. — The Council decided ftat this should lie CHEAP METAL. Cr Preece thought the Council mieht apply for information about the monorail, as there was plenty of metal up.

the Manaia road if they could t. ar t it cheaply. The could compare it with the price of stuff from the Government quarrj. > The Engineer satil a motor waggon was not a succeaa) as it only carried five yaErds, and could only travel 2J miles without water. It was resolved to apply for the information. TOTARA TIMBER. Only one tender was received for totara timber from the. Stuart road bridge, and the offer was considered insufficient. The Chairman thought the timber was worth £20. <-y The Engineer put its value down at £5. The sale was left in the hands of the riding members. DEPOSITS. The Chairman brought up the question of a case where a contractor's deposit of £300 would have to be held for several months, and he asked if it would not be fairer to arrange for approved bonds. — This was agreed to. ADJUSTMENT WITH HAWERA. Cr Preece asked if the adjustment with Hawera county had proceeded. The Chairman: It will arrive about as soon as the mountain stone. (Laughter.) There was no word at all from the Hawera County. Council. Cr Swadling: Are we paying interest? The Chairman: Certainly not. He would not agree to the respective clerks settling th 6 question as approved by the Hawera County Council. Still, they had nothing before them and they must leave it. TENDERS. Tenders were received from F. J. Muir, for shell-rock on the Rawhitiroa road, as follows: — Contract 53, 2760 yards at 9s 6d ; contract 54, 3460 yards at 10s 6d; contract 55, 5160 yards at lls 6d. Mr Muir subsequently reduced his tender to 8s 9sd all round, and this .tender was accepted subject to a loan being available. The meeting then adjourned.