ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 September 1919, Page 2

ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly -meeting of the Eltham County Council was hold on Saturday. Present: Cr. C. J. Belcher (chairman), Councillors W. 11. Smith, A. Campbell, A. Messana, W. M. Baker, 13. .T. Gilford, C. E. Mcduinness, and \V. E. Carter. CORRESPONDENCE. Messrs. Salmon and Reeve wrote in reference to the delivery of boulder stone at Chiselburst, stating that, they were prepared to deliver all the available stone on the metal road handy for the lorries at fls per yard, plus royalty..—Held over to bo dealt with in committee.

Tho Kaponga Town Board forwarded a statement of receipts awl expenditure qn county roads within the town district during the past year, and estimates for the current year. The Hoard proposed striking a county rate of for the current year, and the Council's approval was asked for this. The subsidy due from the Council was applied for. Tho statement showed tiie receipts to have been £32fi 4s 3d, including County Council subs% of £1.39 17s, county rates £lB6 7s 3d, and leaving a balance on March 31, 1910. of £241 17s 9d. Tiie expenditure had totalled £568 2s, including Eltham Road £'246 3s od, Manala Road £7G 8s 9d, transfers £lB5 4s. « The expenditure for the current year was estimated at £553 18s lid.—Approved. The State Advances Office notified that it had been - decided to entertain tho Council's Application for a loan of £IO,OOO for forming and metalling toads in the South Riding, the currency to be 30% years, and the rate' of Interest 4% per cent, per annum—Received.

The Patea Borough Council wroto supporting the movement to obtain' supplies of metal fjjo'm tho Mount Egmont reserve near Waipuliu, and stating that ,a delegate would attend any confereneo on the matter decided upon. The .Hawera County Council also wroto supporting tho proposal, and stating that Mr.. C. J Hawken had, been appointed delegate Further support was received from the Moa Road Board and the Clifton County Council—The correspondence was received. The Moa Road Board wrote urging the desirability of the development of hydroelectric power by the Stato in T.uanakilt was decided to support the Board's efforts. , The general by-laws were diseased, and the chairman stated that the conference had completed their work and any delay in bringing the by-laws into use they were not responsible for. , Mr. Toswlli said the engineer would meet suring the coming week for the purpose of flxaminng the by-laws. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer (Mr. Toswlli) reported) :-rSouth Riding.—Water-tabling has been continued on Eraser Road, and metal patching and repairs have been carried out qp Skeet, Boylan, DalaieJ. Campbell, and Mangawhero Roads.

Muugatokt Riding—On Eltham Road, 41 chains of metal shoulders was laid as a backing to the tar macadam on various steep grades, and the work of cleaning up after the grader and water-tabling has been completed on Hastings Road. Omona Riding—Slips have been removed and tables have been cleaned on Karewo. Matalwhetu and Matalnarolce Roads. Similar maintenance work has been done on Rawhitiroa Road, also two concrete pipe culverts have been laid, and tho cutting back of a very Sharp point .on the road near the Patea River has been completed and work on another on the Omona Hill is well in hand.

Kaponga Riding—The Munala Roa;l, the Eltham Road from Kaponga to Rowan Road, and the upper portion of ißowan Road have had the grader over them, and the work of cleaning up and tabling Is almost complete. The Mangawhero Road has been patched with metal and water-tabling Is in hand. Eltham Riding.—Two worn out timber culrevts on Sangster Road have been replaced by 0-in. concrete pipes- On Horol Road the watertables have bcch cleaned, the metal has been patched, scarified where required, and well Tolled. The shell rock has been patched on Hul Road and slips have been removed from Manßnmingi Road. Water tables have been cleaned and ruts have been filled in on Tirimoana . Road. On Rawhitiroa Road shell rock has been taken, napped, and used' for patchine tho road, the balance of the shell rock previously delivered by contract has been napped, water tables have been cleaned and slips havo been removed on Mungaminp:i Ridge! - General.—About 250 yards of metal for rep.'il; ; work has beon delivered on various roads n> well as 260 yards of sand for tar sprayiiu purposes. The matter of ajrrunging foi supplies of tar for the season's work is nr urgent one and should receive immediate consideration. ' The purchase of a small crushcr for the production of "chips" for tar sealing vv»rk was favorably considered by the com mitteo appointed, and same has been ordered Applications have been received from .1. Maxwell for the purchase of five yards of gravel, and from E. H. Thomas for the purchase of | disused carburettor from the county car, also from V. Ogle for crossing and metal at gateway. It is proposed to call tenders' for the following works, viz, the supply and delivery of 'JO yards of sand and 230 yards of crushed metal for Auroa Road,, 180 yards of sand and 250 yards of crushed metal for Auroa Road, 180 jiards of sand for Eltham i Road, Kaponga, and for the delivery of 4>t> | yards, oi' shell rock from Mr. Barnard's pit i for Rawhitiroa Road—Adopted. I The engineer stated that 45,000 gallons of tar I would he required to carry out the season's I programme. The prices last season were: No 1. !)>id; No. 2, 9%d; and No. 3, lid. The chairman said he would again like to impress upon members the need for keeping i their expenditure within the limits of their j finances, but, he supposed they would hare I to get tho tar. I

SOUTH RIDING LOAN PROPOSAL. Cr. Campbell, referring to the South Riding loan proposal, said that two public meetings had been held, and those ratepayers who attended were familiar with the details of the proposals, but, unfortunately, there were some who did not attend. The present, general rate for the riding was 2%d, and if the loan v.as carried it would bo reduced to l%d. A special rate of Id would not only pay interest on £20,000, but also on existing riding loans. Some ratepayers wore not satisfied that the rate on existing loans would not be collected if the new loan was carried, but ho was prepared to state that It would not. He had a notice of motion which he intended to bring forward on this matter if the loan were carried. A Id rate would produce £l3flO 3s fid. The interest on a £20,000 loan would Ue £1283 10s fid, so tha<. they would have £lsfi over the amount required. Out of this they would pay the Interest on the existing loans, and have £?8 over. It was as plain as a pikestaff, and he could not understand why there should be any q\ribbli«s about it. Cr. Campbell pointed out that at the present time ihey could gel the money, but if the opportunity was lost the money may not bo available for ten years or more. The money market was getting tighter. The last Government loan was nor, fully subscribed, and further Government loans were going to absorb nearly all the money in the country, If. the ratepayers turned down the loan it would b« the saddest day for the riding for many years to come.

Proceeding, Cr. Campbell said he had a resolution to move, namely, that they apply to the Government for a grant for the metalling Of unmetalled roads in the South Riding on a basis of £1 for £2. The roads were: Mountain .Road, estimated cost, £">000. subsidy £1250: Fraser Road £6OOO. subsidy £1500; Te Rotl Road £S."O, subsidy, £212 103; Rogers' Road £250, subsidy £O2 10s; total subsidy £3025. The chairman said he was sorry to oppose the motion, but he was n*?;ud it would have a bad effect on the remit passed by the recent conference relating to the upkeep of roads, After further discussion, the motion was lost. ALTERATION OF BOUNDARIES. Cr. McGuinness moved his notice of motion: "That the question of altoring the boundaries hetween. Stratford County and Eltbam County on "NVingrove Road, near Best's property, be discussed." The. chairman said there had been three or four adjustments of county boundaries already, and they had all been in his riding, which, had suffered every time. By, handing the area over to Stratford they would be losing a valuation of £6OOO, and rates amounting to £54 7s 3d. • Cr. Smith Raid that 'the ratepayers In tho area would derive no advantage from the proposed change. The matter was left in the handi "of the two members for the riding. GENERAL. If was resolved that the attention of the Government be drawn to the unexpended grants for the Moreawatea Ridge Road appearing on the public works estimates, and that the Council request's thai theso bo authorised for expenditure during the present financial year. Tho ranger reported that for tho month he had impounded 23 head of cattle, tho feea totalling £2 ss—Received. Mr. B. A. Martin was appointed toll col-, •lector at the.Riverlea gate, .