ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 February 1918, Page 3

ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

| MONTHLY MEETING. The Eltham County Council met on Saturday. Present: Crs. C. J. Belcher (chairman), W. Hardwick Smith, ft. J. Clifford, C. E. McGuinness, A. C. Pease, A. McWilliam, W. M. Barker, A. V. Messeua and A. L. Campbell. TE ROTI STORM WATER. Messrs Barrow and Chattleton, Te Roti, waited on the council regarding the storm water accumulating iti the vicinity of the railway station. They thought a drain should be put in to carry the water away. Cr. Campbell, representing the riding, supported the proposal of a drain. At present there was no outlet to let the water escape. A motion was carried leaving the question of devising a means of removing storm water to Cr. Campbell and the engineer, who are to interview the Railway Department. MORE METAL WANTED. Mr. Hughes waited on the council, stating that he would like to see a little more metal placed on the Neil road. The approaches to the creek were dangerous, owing to the absence of metal. In the past, money had been spent on the top end of the road. —Resolved "That the matter be left in the hands of Cr. Campbell aud the engineer to report." SANITARY BY-LAWS. W. 11. Watt, health officer, desired information a3 to what the council intended doing regarding drafting sanitary bylaws. After some discussion, the chairman and Cr. Pease were appointed a committee to go through the existing bylaws. CORRESPONDENCE. Mrs. W. Webby, Eltham, applied for 18-inch pipes for a crossing.—Engineer stated they did not manufacture pipes under 20-inch, and 18-inch pipes would have to be purchased 011 the open market. —Application declined. The Department of Labor requested information as to the day on which the usual half-holiday is fixed.—Thursday the day appointed. Kltham Borough Council wrote accepting offer of site for septic tank at £IOO. —Received. Mangatoki Dairy Company stated that the council's demand for £35 for alleged damage done to roads would be considered at the next meeting of directors. —Received. M. O'Sullivan, on beiialf ot the settlers, wrote re the completion of the Upper Auroa road. They considered the objections to completion of the road as absurd, and a commissioner, if lie investigated the merits oF the work, would not listen to such childish objections. Upwards of 100G acres of level dairying land, three or four minutes' distance from the Awatuna Dairy Company, could be utilised if the road was completed. They had been waiting over twenty years to have the work complete:!, and trusted that justice would be done.— | He'ul over till the completion of the present road. The Department of Internal Alfairs noiifiea the council that they had allotted the distinguishing letter "K" and the numerals 501 to 1000, in addition to 1 to 500 already assigned to the council. —Received. State Advances Office notified conditions precedent to granting loans for public works. It would be necessary to give details of the proposed works: (1) Particular purpose for which the loan is required; (2) amount proposed to be borrowed for each purpose; (3) source from which it is proposed to raise such loan; (4) rate of interest; (5) statement of council's intention to employ discharged soldiers in carrying out works. Also whether debentures are to be issued at par.—Received. In committee the council considered a letter from the county solicitol regarding Templar road, and resolved that the chairman should interview the contractor on the question. ENGINEER'S REPORT. R. D. Tosswill, county engineer, reported a?, follows: South Riding.—General maintenance work, consisting of blinding metal, water tabling, cleaning out culverts, etc., has been carried out on various roads throughout the riding. The occupier of section 8 block 111 has been requested to clean creek to give outlet to culvert across Stuart road, and has promised to have this work carried out. Mangatoki Riding.—The tar spraying of Kltham road, between Palmer road and Hastings road is now complete, Gf> chains having been done in November, and the balance, 18» chains, during the past month. Water tables have been cleaned on Hunter and Palmer roads. Omona Riding.—The work of re-form-1 ing, water-tabling, and repairing c.iil- J verts has been continued on Rawhitiroa i and Miitaiwhetu roads. The iron work and balance of timber for Takau bridge has been delivered, and the erection of; the bridge, which is now open for traffic, completed. The shell rock .quarried at I Mangatoromiro stream has been carted out on to the road, and is now being napped. Hardwood for Mangatoromiro stream bridge, Mataimaroke road has been delivered at the site, and a strong gang has the work of dismantling the old bridge and the erection of the new one well in hand. Kaponga Riding.—The Eltham road has been tar-sprayed from Auroa road to Mangawhero road, from Rowan road to Kaponga and from Kaponga to Palmer road, a total distance of 310 chains. The Manaia road haa also been tar-spravfcd from the northern boundary to the southern boundary of the counts, a total length of 180 chains. Good progress continues to be mada with, the metalling of Auroa road and ug,-ta the,-end of th»

month about 2200 cubic yards of crushed metal and 200 cubic yards of screenings had been delivered, leaving less than a mile of road still to be metalled between the railway reserve and Opunake road. The occupier of section 69 block 10 has been asked to clean creeks giving outlets to culverts on Auroa road. Owing to the difficulty of obtaining labor she requests that this work shall be carried out by the council at her expense. Eltham Riding.—Quarrying shell rock at foot of Mangamingi ridge has been continued. A track has been formed into the pit and 102 cubic yards of rock has been delivered along Rawhitiroa road by the council's lorries. Maintenance work has been done on Rawhitiroa, and Tiromoana roads. The report was adopted. The culvert on Auroa road i» to be cleaned by county men as desired by applicant. GENERAL. Rates unpaid by 23rd instant to be charged an additional ten per cent. A letter is to be Bent to Mr, Gibson, Dahiel road, Te Roti, to attend to drain on his property. Cr. McWilliams drew attention to the state of the Rawhitiroa road, Mangamingi valley, just beyond Cr. Smith's residence. It was the worst piece of road in the riding. Something should be done, as it might be dangerous. This was probably caused through the heavy loads of metal going over the route.