ELTHAM

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXII, Issue LXII, 23 November 1911, Page 5

ELTHAM

At the statutory meeting of the recently elected Eltham CqiMty Council, held at noon on Wednesd&y, there , were present: Crs Quin, SwadlW, McGuinness, Phillips, Best, O'Neil,belcher, and King. An apology for absence was tendered on behalf of Cr Pease, r Cr Quin, who was re-elected chairman, on the motion of Crs Phillips and King, thanked the Gouncil for its renewed expression of confidence in him x and expresased the hope that, with the* assistance of the Councillors staff, the business of the Council would continue to be- conducted with advantage? to the ratepayers. i The Balance-sheet was submitted and. ordered to be printed, and the Council ' then proceeded to deal with ordinary business* ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £2495 10s lid were passed, ipr, payment. - CORRESPONDENCE. Correspondence was read and dealt. with as under:— From vac Wanganui Education Board, stating, that arrangement' had been, made for installing a drainage system; and septic tank at the Mangatokx school. ' From E. Dive, Matemateonga, stating that he would mend a fence on Rawhiteroa road, when the mud ut.. present covering it had been removed. —Left in the hands of the riding representative (Cr King). From the Kapona Town Board, asking the Council's endorsement of the* Board's action in levying and collecting, the Town District" rate and County rate over the Town District area. Resolved uiat a committee consisting of the Chairman, Crs Pease, SwadW O'Neil and Phillips be a committee ta meet the Kaponga Town Board to discuss the whole matter and endeavor tocome to some arrangement and report to the Council. F™m same, asking that an early date be nxed for the proposed conference between.the Board and the Council.— Clerk to reply. The^ Public Works Department wrote enclosing an offer permitting the Council to. expend £604, balance of vote for Wenuakura Valley road, and asked that an intimation of the Council's willingness to expend the amount be forwarded within two months or the offer would be regarded as cancelled.— Resolved that the Council cannot see its way to undertake the expenditure im-»

less some allowance is made for the cost of supervision. . . From the County Ranger, explaining Ids action in impounding Mr F. J. Mailman's horse.—Resolved that the Council considers the Ranger's explanation is satisfactory. From the Commissioner of Crown Lands, New Plymouth, enclosing schedule of thirds accrued to 30th September, 1911, totalling £125 7s lid, and_ asking that proposals of expenditure in connection therewith be submitted to the Land. Board for approval.—Referred to the Omona riding representative. ENGINEER'S REPORT. . The County engineer, Mr F. Basham, reported as follows: — Kaponga Riding Loan. —The concrete bridge over Melville creek is completed and men are now at work on the small culverts at Riverlea. Contractor has commenced delivery of metal at Awatuna but in common with all work in the county, is sadly handicapped by wet weather. I have arranged with contractor to supply screenings at 3s per yard. Mangatoki Riding Loan. — Eltham road :^ Up to date a distance of about 75 chains has been metalled, rolled and blinded, only 13 chains having been done since last meeting. I shall be glad .to know the Council's decision r.e, Kapuni bridge, as the man engaged on concrete work will soon be at liberty in this,riding. Stuart road: This road with the exception of about 20 chains near 8 the Cornwall road, is now completed between the Eltham and Finnerty roads. Omona Riding Loan. — Contractor is all ready to commence : delivery of shell-rock on the Rawhitiroa road, but is stopped by the continued wet weather/ Waitiri road: {Cocker's request) This has been attended to. Eltham and South Ridings .— I would recommend that tenders be called for maintenance metal on the following roads:—Rawhitiroa road, 300 yards; Mangawhero road, 50yds; Anderson road, 50yds; Skeet road, 50yds; JBojlan road 200 yds; Babziell road, 350 yds; Stuart road, 50yds; Mangawhero road 200 yds. These are the totals prov-vied for'in this year's estimates, and I would suggest that next year's supplies be anticipated on the Boylan and Babziell roads, and double quantities be obtained as it will take this amount to do any permanent good on these roads. The engineer was empowered to go on with the work of raising and encas- . ing the Kapuni bridge in concrete^ the extra cost of ihe concrete work having | been estimated by the engineer at from £250 to £300,. which would, however, say© an annual cost of about £15 for upkeep of the bridge. The calling of tenders for metal as recommended in j the engineer's report was deferred, for ] the present. A WILD ASSERTION. In answer to Cr Phillips, the engin- : eer stated that fifteen pe"r cent of i screenings was being taken out of the metal going on the road at Mangatoki. Cr Phillips said he- had mentioned the i matter on account of \ a ridiculous i statement made to him that 75 per cent! of screenings was, being put on the road. GENERAL. The matter of adjusting a claim made by Mrs Forbes against the Council in respect of some fencing was left in the Itands of Crs Belcher and Best. The chairman and Crs McGuinness, Phillips, Pease and Belcher were appointed as a finance committee. On the motion of Crs Phillips and Best, a sum of £30 was voted to the chairman in recognition of bis services to the Council last year; , , It was resolved to further consider the proposed by-laws at the next ordin- ■ ary -meeting of the Council; that- the day for the Council's ordinary meetings be the second Saturday in each month (theFinanqe Committee at 9.30 . a.m. and Council'at 10.30 a.m.); to invite tenders for the supply of dog collars; and v tnat the engineer be asked to furnish an estimate of the cost, of maintenance of the No. 1 Omona loan metalling.

The meeting then adjourned.