ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 August 1915, Page 3

ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

THE iiOM'HLY MELTIXU. The monthly meeting of the Elthani County Council was held oil Saturday. Present: Crs. A. C. Pease (chairman), A. McAVilliam, J. Granville, A. Tait, 0. A. Campbell, D. L'lack, C. J. Belcher, E. J. Clifford, and C. E. McQuinness. ENGINEER'S REPORT. Mangatoki Bridge, Hastings Road. — This bridge has been open for traffic for the past three weeks. The metal has yet to be rolled and tar sealed. Karcwa Koad.—Contractor has been employed during the month removing slips caused by the receist heavy rains. Lieneral,—Serious damage was caused in the Omona Hiding by rain and floods. The road between Omoua and Moeroa was completely blocked by .slips ;uid washouts and it will probably be three or four months before the road is opened for wheel traffic. The centre pier of the Patea bridge was carried away by the flood. The two GOft. spans are thus converted into a .single span of 120 ft., and there is a deflection of -l'/jiu. at the centre. To renew the pier will cost in the neighborhood of £IOOO, and it will take a similar amount to repair the damage caused by .slips and washouts. The chairman and myself went to Wellington and interviewed the Minister of Public Works and asked his assistance in the matter. We received a very sympathetic hearing and were assured that the matter would have his attention when the estimates were propared. In view of the inevitable increase of traffic at To Roti railway Elation, due to the construction of the Opunake railway, I would that the authorities lie approached in (he riiatter of providing-an overhead: bridge on the Sheet road crossing adjoiumir the 'station yard. I have made a trial of a drag scraper on the mountain road. It is too early as yet to say what the result will be, 'but if successful it should be a very economical method of maintaining clay roads. The motor lorry has been thoroughly overhauled, after having travelled over 8,000 miles. It was found to be in excellent order. It will he ready to resume work on Monday. I propose to commence crushing as soon as the weather is" sufficiently j settled. The report was adopted.

.SETTLKRS CUT OFF. 'The recent floods carried away tlie centre pier of the bridge over the lV.tea river in (lie Oniona riding, and as the structure was unsafe it was decided to close tin 1 bridge. A deputation of settlers in the district affected waited on the Council. Mr. V.. Dive, on behalf of the deputation, said that at the present time the Omomi riding was cut off through the hridg'e being- closed, and he ashed that steps should he taken to provide suitable communication. The chairman said that as far as the concrete bridge was concerned it was completely closed, and it was not lively it would lie repaired for four or si\ months. In 'closing the brid<rc the Council was guided by the advice of the Government engineer. The Council could not open the old bridge for other than foot traffic, as the bridge would not stand it. Settlers would have to tranship their goods, etc.. and carry them across the old bridge, The Government engineer had said the Council was quite right in closing tlie concrete bridge, and the Council could not entertain the suggestion that anything could be taken across this bridge, hut goods could he carried across the old bridge. Jn answer to the chairman the engineer said it would cost about i-200 to put the old bridge in a condition to cam- up to two or three tons. Mr. ]>ive thought that if that was done the settlers would be prepared to contrih.ite towards the cost. When life outlet, was first blocked the settlers were starving because carriers, could not get out witii store*.

Cr. McWilliam said t-lio settlors were "bottled »p" and it would lie very soriOU3 for them if they cou'd not got out their wool and produce. It was cquivnlent tn the dairy factories being cut off from the .suppliers. There was no other outlet from the district except over the brjdsro across the I'atoa river. Jt was imperative that the old bridge -hoiild bo repaired to enable traffic to pass over it.

The chairman pointed out that the old lii-id.!,'!* bad been condemned, and if the Council opened it again they would be responsible for anything that happened. Cr. Oanville said thai if the wool could not be got out of the district three-fourths of the settlers would be bankrupt. The chairman saw no reason why the wool could not be gut out by transhipment at the river. After some further discussion the matter was left in the hands of the chairman, Cr. McWilliam, and the engineer to see what could be done toward; strengthening the old bridge, and they were empowered to spend £2OO.

Till-: KATKS. The following rates were struck: Oinona Hiding, general rate l-;-|d. separate rate '/ s il: .Uangatuki Hiding', general rale %d, separate rate : y,d; Kltham Hiding, general rate I'/.di South Hiding, general rate l'/..d; Kaponga Hiding, general rate ]i/.d. separate rate '/,<!. GICXEKAL. The question of an overhead crowing over the railway at the Skeol road, near To itoti railway station, wa-. again referred to, and it was decided to apply to the Railway Department for an over head crossing. A circular" letter was re.oi-.ed fiom tile .Manawalu County Council seeking .improved telephone communications in Ike Lack counirv. and it was decided to support the effort of the .\ian-.iuatu Council. JlesoT* A.'llali-'.cl; and Co.. V, iiet.iiliui, wrote asking it' the .Mataimaroko bridge v.u.s safe for light traffic up to two tons and also if the Council intend.,', to replace the present .structure, —The matter was referred to a i-oiumiUe- to deal with.

The Trr-iuiir,- Department wml- rUI inj;' that tin- (lira] Mint Oru lva I 1= si:i was roi-civiii- «t!-.nti(»ii. The Department regretted tin- dii'i'hsiltv cmil-l i"'i hi- met liv the joint -uiiu.--li'i:ns of the lluv.eru and Klthain fomitv 1',,-ineil*. A re tran-ffi- of the natality and ,i n-w apportionment would n»t afltrl liii' Stratford (.'ounly Council. If a ic-.dn tion i-liiiiii.'iji« tliOK' parts within Hie Klthain eouiir.v uviv i-azelled tin- -peciai rate could l. ( | im-iva-.-d to provide for paunent of the inter,-I eliar!:cl.-11 was decided to send a eopc ~f tin- Idler to tin- llawera Conntv iwuinoi, Mr. A. 11. flower wrote' -latin- thai lie liud regarded a port'on of tin- Pal<a

river referee adj(>iiiiat!' his prop'-; tv a--pari of ills [arm and lie had farmed tin- reserve lie «»kci tin- Council to put, liini in to lils position.—Some discussion iuon-i-l the question of compensation, and the r-hairiniui pointed out that Mr. Cower had liad the land free for eiplit years and had taken crops from it, It was decided to allow