ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 14 February 1921, Page 4

ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING.

The monthly meeting of the Councilwas held on Saturday,. When there were present: Crs. C; J; Belcher (chair), R. J. Knucikey, A. .MdWliliann. A; V. Tait, W. M. Barker, A. Campbell, W. E. Carter, C. A. MeGuinness, and S J. Gilford. i

AUROA ROAD. I The question of metalling the upper Auroa Road came up for." discussion as tbe outcome of the following paragraph | that appeared in a report, covering several matters, by a special committee: "Should this not interfere with the carrying out of work authorised in, Kaponga riding, we recommend that the metalling of Palmer Road be left with the' Kaponga and Mangatoki riding members, with the engineer, with power to deal' with the present contractor." " . The engineer explained that the Council had let v a contract for metal for the Duthie and Auroa.Roads,.but as there appeared to be some doubt as to whether the work on the latter road would be gone on with, sufficient might be taken for the Palmer Road. This would enable the Council to keep faith with/ the contractor so far as the quantities were concerned.

Cr. Barker said .that that suggestion was no good to the Auroa Road, which required the metal, and he moved that the work be proceeded with according, to previous estimates. Seconded and carried. j FRASER ROAD WORK. j Cr. Campbell complained that the 1 South Riding was not getting a fair deal in regard to its loan money work. It was understood that every endeavour was to be made to push on this work during the summer months, and the chairman's riding cut their work down so as to allow Fraser Road work to proceed. But nothing had been done there for a mohth. The chairman said they had left 50 chains of the Rawhitiroa Road to assist the South Riding, but th^y had had hard luck with their lorries. The engineer remarked that as a matter of fact the lorries and roller were working as hard as possible on the Duthie Road. They were trying to do three times as much as they were able to get through.

ELTHAM ROAD IMPROVEMENTS. Grs MeGuinness, Gilford, and Carter, in the course of-a special report to the Council on several matters, said: "We have also seen Mr Martin re land for ■' improving the turn west of toll-gate 'on Eltham road. He, having generous--Ily granted this request free of remuneration, deserves the Council's > hearty appreciation and.the ratepayers' >' and travelling public's very best • thanks."

GENERAL. i Referring to the circular letter sent out by the Taranaki Progress League, in reference to the Mount Egmont quarry metal, the. chairman remarked that he understood very satisfactory replies had been sent in, and the Government now had orders for more metal than they would ever be able to supply. He hoped they would now see the railway put in and the quarry opened up; they had had these circulars before i them every meeting for the last few ; years^and it was now time there, was some finality and the work commencedThe Rowan Athletic Club asked, the Council for permission to hold, a cycle road race on March 10 over the Eltham,. Stratford-Opunake, and Rowan roads. It was pointed out thai the Council had no authority to give such permission, and could not accent liability for. any accidents that might arise therefrom. If sports committees desired to hold road races they must do so at their own rißk. I The secretary of the Taranaki Counties' . Conference notified that the Council's share Of the cost of preparing and advertising/the new joint by-laws amounted to £139 9s sd, plus the sepa-: rate amount of £11 17s 6d, the cost of advertising the repealing of the former by-laws. This cost represented, oneseventh of the ! total amount; The chairman stated that the amount was' I less than was anticipated. The.account was passed for payment. i Cr Tait drew attention to the fact that recently a ratepayer had shown such disregard to their roads and carelessness as to drag a set of tripod harrows along .the Upper Auroa road, tearing away a portion of tarred edge. The Council decided to caution the offender that any similar offence would be severely dealt with in future, and the, cost of repairing' the damage so done would be' claimed. " ' The Eltham Borough Council notified the County Council that they had ; appointed a committee consisting of j the Mayor, Crs White and Bridger to j confer with a 'committee from the Eltham County Council in regard to damage that may be caused by the county traffic to the borough roads. Crs MeGuinness, Campbell and Knuckey were appointed to represent the county. ( The County Clerk remarked that practically all the 1919-20 rates had now been collected.

The resignation of the county engineer waa received, he having been offered a position, at considerably increased remuneration, with the Feilding Borough Council. The Council considered the position at some length in committee, and finally decided to offer Mr Fitzgerald £500 a year to remain with the Eltham County. Upon the decision being conveyed to him, IMr Fitzgerald pointed out to the I Council that his resignation was ia t their hands, and it was for them to accept it or not. He reminded them i that he lost six years of time on war j service, and although he had no re- ' grets on that score he had arrived at { that stage* in his life when he must j consider saving money. The Feilding people had made him a liberal offer, I which, although he disliked moving ■ about, he felt bound to accept. This j Council had, however, no.w voluntarily I offered him a substantial increase in salary, and if it was the unanimous wish of councillors that he should remain with the Eltham County he

-9 would do so. Upon being informed by the chairman that it was an absolutely unanimous desire by councillors that he should remain, Mr Fitzgerald , consented to do . bo. ENGINEER'S REPORT. South Riding.—Metal for Skeet road ; has been arriving at the rate of two j trucks per day, and the roller was mov- j ed on to tne job this week. This riding is still without a foreman, and nothing has been done for some weeks j to the back roads. No progress has | been made on Fraser road for some weeks, firstly because the roller couid not be spared from other work, and teesndly owing to the crusher being put out of order. Mangatoki Riding.—Tar sijraying fime during the month includes'the proper Hunter, 30 chains of Lower Hunter,, and 80 chains of Duthie road. The gang spreading stone on the Lower j .Duthie has been working overtime in •: order to cope with the work, but the • rol'er has been unable to keen nace. nnd I unfortunately it has had to be taken 1 away for urgent work i nthe south rid- ' ing. ; Omona Riding.—Rawhitiroa road is j h&n't widened at, the larse nnderslip • just this side of Ofhona. Shell rock is

being quarried from the Mangatoro-nijii-o. VV'o|k of ; a general nature lias been done on the Rawhitiroa, Mataiwhetu, and Waitiri roads. The Lower Moeawatea road, recently handed over to the County, is not quite up to the 12ft. standard, and I have arranged to visit jjt with the Public Works Depart ment engineer, when it is expectea we BuaU agree, about further work to be done on this road by his department. Kaponga Riding.—, Tar patching has been done on Manaia road. Rowan and Mangawhero^. roads, have, been watei-

tabled and blinded. A further offer hits been received for the purchase of the old wooden bridge spanning the Mahfeawheroiti on the Eltham road. This oiler is submitted for the Council's consideration. Jliltham Riding.—Tar patching has ■ has been done on the Mountain and Rawhitiroa roads. Attention has-been gyven .to the wa^ertables and culverts : \)i Rawhitiroa road beyond the ridge. General.—During the of Jan- , vary the lorries made a record of 3941 j| miles, of which the-Leyland accounted j :or 1825 miles, which is also a record ; for an individual lorry, and is largely attributable to the overtime worked on ■ Duthie road. This pressure is too much for the roller, which cannot keep pace i with the work. The Daimler lorry had s just settled down to good work when l• it unfortunately broke an axle , and . damaged parts of the differential. The Leyland lorry requires reoairs and al-

terations to the tip body?' This work is covered by Messrs Wilsons' guarantee,, vide their letter (submitted). I would suggest that the work be done at New Plymouth by the makers of the tip. A motor car which recently travelled without a tyre on its off hind' wheel through 'the County from Ngaere . towards Hawera has cut the carpet of Mountain and Boy lan roads. It is not yet clear whether damage will result to ; the roads. My last report stated that we *• ?'d sufficient asphalt for five -chains. The report should have read 50, riot 5. The crusher has been overhauled and .new jaws and bearings are being fitted. i^Eltham Borough Council asks for a. committee to meefathem>and go into the' question of damage done by stone traffic. I accompanied the committee who . visited Palmer and Finnerty roads. I The Auroa Road Committee did not meet, and, I 'am awaiting in?t-"ct before proceeding with work on this road.