ELTHAM COUNTY AFFAIRS

Taranaki Daily News, 15 July 1929, Page 10

ELTHAM COUNTY AFFAIRS

MONTHLY MEETING OF COUNCIL.

KAPUNI STREAM BRIDGE PROPOSAL

The monthly meeting of the Eltham County Council was held on Saturday. Present: Councillors A. L. Campbell (chairman), R. J. Knuckey, P. R. Brown, A. V. Messana. M. W. Barker, W. E. Carter, E. J. Gifford, C. E. McGuinness and J. L. Campbell. A letter was received from the district engineer of railways asking that St. Andrew's cross signs should be erected at all crossings that were not yet equipped. The chairman stated that only one

crossing required attention, and the matter was referred to the engineer. The engineer, Mr. F. Muggeridge, reported for the month as follows: — South Riding.—Watertables and cul- , verts were cleaned out on the Dalziel and Campbell Roads. Metal patching and watertabling was done on the Mountain and Skeet Roads. As weather permitted, the widening of the formation on the Boylan Road was continued. It is proposed to discontinue this work in the meantime, as soon as the surfacemen clean up the cutting they are working on

at present. Mangatoki Riding.—The grader and party have completed the cleaning of the watertables on the lower Stuart Road and the bitumen-sealed portion of the upper Stuart Road. While the tractor was on the lower Stuart Road 50 chains of the metal were scarified, reformed, rolled and blinded. Bitumen patching was done on the Eltham and Upper Hunter Roads. Watertables were cleaned out and screenings spread on the Upper Hastings road. The scraping and painting of the Kapuni stream bridge on the Eltham Road was continued. Omona Riding. —During the month slips were cleared off the Rawhitiroa, Matemoroke, Mataiwhetu, Moeawatea Ridge and Valley Roads. The decking on the Takau bridge was renewed. On inspecting the Whenuakura Valley suspension bridge, it was found that extensive repairs were necessary. Timber was ordered and sent out. The bridge carpenter, with the assistance of the riding foreman, is now' carrying out the work. When this is completed the surfacemen will clear slips off the Waitiri Road. Kaponga Riding.—Watertables and culverts were cleaned out on the Manaia and Neill Roads. Drains were cleaned out on the Eltham Road. The decking of the Awatuna creek bridge, on the Opunake-Stratford.Road, has been given a dressing of colfix and sand. The timber ordered for the Mangawheroiti bridge has come to hand. The 'work will be commenced when the bridge caipenter has finished in the Omona Riding. Eltham Riding—The grader and party completed the cleaning up of the Mangatvhero Road. Metal patching was done on the Rawhitiroa, Naata and Hu Roads. Minor slips were cleared off the Mangimingi Ridge-and Tirimoana Roads. The lowering of the culvert on the Horoi Road was completed. . During the month’ the a-ton White truck was completely overhauled. Repairs were effected to the road roller, metal screens, and elevators.

The report was adopted. In his report for the month the inspector stated that -ix cases of infectious disease had been notified, one of diphtheria, one of scarlet faver and four of pneumonia.

BRIDGE OVER KAPUNI STREAM. The Public Works Department wrote stating that the Stratford County Council had given notice of its intention to construct’ a bridge over the Kapuni stream on Palmer Road and recover half the cost from the Eltham council. Cr. Messana remarked that it was current talk that the Public Works Department was refusing to authorise reinforced concrete bridges, preferring steel girders. The engineer, in reply to the question, stated that he had not heard of any decision taken by the department, which he knew was still building ’ concrete bridges. . Cr. Messana said the weakness or the steel girder and stringer bridge had been revealed at Patea, and he thought reinforced concrete would last longer than Cr Barker said he also had heard it definitely stated that steel bridges were to be built in future. Tho council went into committee o consider the Public Works Department s letter, and the matter was referred to a committee, with power to act. THE TRAFFIC REGULATION’S- ' The inspector’s report stated that some farmers continued to remove eai i from the sides of roads without t ie en gineer’s permission. Unless the piac ice were stopped prosecutions would have o be taken. . . Complaints of farmers carrying their motor lorries goods and manures for neighbouring settlers had been re ceived by the inspector, very few o ie farmers having taken out heavy, tra c or vehicle licenses. Licensed carriers re garded this as unfair competition. A growing tendency on the part o motorists in country districts - to cu corners and cross intersections on ic wrong side ot the road had been no>e by the inspector. Motorists also failed to reduce speed when approaching mai highways intersections. . A car with insufficient headlights, i inspector reported, had come under no tice, but the excuse given had been ae cepted. The time, however, was last approaching when action might be deem ed necessary in every case of breac i o the regulations, no matter how sma , in view of ths serious danger to life an property. The clerk stated that it was very di cult to obtain evidence of breaches o the regulations, especially in the cast of a farmer carrying goods for a neig i bour. , Cr. Carter said there were cases n which farmers who owned lorries cai ec manure and other things for neig i ou who in return assisted the volunteer c riers. In such cases no money passe, but the procedure was certainly untai to licensed carriers. , Cr. Barker said farmers should not o harassed, but must be permitted to man 1 age their own affairs. The inspector's report was adopted.