ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, 13 March 1933, Page 8

ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL

THE REVALUATION QUESTION. SPREAD OF RAGWORT WEED. The Eltham County Council met on Saturday, there being present Messrs. A. L. Campbell (chairman), R. J. Knuckey, P. R. Brown, A. V. Messana, J. L. Campbell, W. E. Carter, C. E. McGuinness and E. J. Gifford. An apology was received from Mr. M. W. Barker, who met with an accident recently, and expressed its sympathy and wishes for his recovery. Revaluation was referred to by the chairman. So many individuals were obtaining revaluations that the position was unfair to the county. The council decided to write to Messrs. C. A. Wilkmson and H. G. Dickie, M’s.P., asking them to use their efforts toward securing a general -revaluation. Regarding the eradication of ragwort, the Minister of Agriculture advised that the Government could not import and set up a system of distribution of sodium chlorate at a lower cost.

Ragwort was still increasing at an alarming rate, Mr. Carter said. If the Government would supply sodium chlorate to local bodies, the latter's inspectors could see that it was applied where necessary, the chairman said. There was no doubt they would have to tackle the ragwort in a much bigger way.

It was decided to see if arrangements could be made to supply sodium chlorate at lower cost. An amendment that the Government be asked to sell the materials to county councils at cost was rejected.

COST OF BRIDGE REPAIRS. The Eltham Borough Council forwarded an opinion given by the solicitor to the Municipal Association on the question of appointment of the cost of repairs to the Mangawhero bridge. The borough council agreed to provide half the cost of maintenance. The cost of the present work to the county would be £l6.

Mr. Knuckey: The borough has threequarters of the surrounding land and we have a quarter. Three cases of suspected diphtheria were notified by the health inspector.

The inspector reported that 319 dogs were registered during the month. Prosecution was recommended where dogs remained unregistered after March 31. The spread of ragwort had been very marked this season, and a number of occupiers had left the control of the weed too late. A considerable amount of seed was in the stalk left on the ground. It would appear that legal action would be necessary.

The engineer (Mr. F. Muggeridge) re-, ported that bitumen patching was done on Fraser Road in the south riding. In the Mangateki riding a further halfmile of re-sealing with bitumen was done on Eltham Road. Watertables were cleaned on lower Duthie and Skeet Roads. In the Omoana riding general maintenance was attended to on Rawhitirda Road. Beyond Moeroa a concrete pipe culvert was put in and the formation widened. Watertables and culverts were attended to on Mataiwhetu, Tahuri, Whenuakura Valley and Moeawatea Roads. The truss ordered to replace the Whenuakura Stream bridge had come to hand. ROADS IMPROVED. Watertables and culverts were cleaned on Manaia, Rowan and Mangawhero Roads in the Kaponga riding, Mr. Muggeridge continued. On Eltham Road 20 chains of bitumen re-sealing were done and watertables cleaned. The re-metal-ling of 90 chains of Opunake-Stratford Road was completed, and it was sealed with a primary coat of road oil. An old wooden culvert has yet to be replaced with concrete pipes. The grader was run over upper Auroa Roady The sealed portion was treated with a coat of bitumen. Metalling was done fronting Mr. Gray’s property. In the Eltham riding watertables and culverts were cleaned on Rawhitiroa Road. A wooden culve.t was replaced with concrete pipes at Mata Road. Further widening of the formation was done on Mangamingi Ridge. Corners already widened were metalled. Watertables were cleaned and clay-blinding was done on Tirimoana Hill. Scrub was cut and drains cleaned on Wingrove Road. The chairman said the Taranaki Local Bodies’ Association had asked each local body to report on the position of rabbits in its area.

Mr. Messana said there was no doubt the position was serious. Mr. Knuckey: I once saw what was believed to be a rabbit, but it turned out to be a hare. However, we want to be careful and assist other districts. There may not be long before there are and if we can help to keep them out of other counties it will help to keep them out of our own.

Mr. Carter; They are not very far away.

The chairman suggested that councillors report on the position at next meeting and that a report then be sent to the association.

The chairman reported on the association’s discussion regarding the amalgamation of local bodies. He had voted against the proposal. Mr. Carter said that while amalgamation might be desirable in some districts he did not think it was necessary here. The council decided to support the association’s resolution on the subject. NGAERE SCHOOL ACTIVITIES. PREPARATIONS FOR SHOW. The Ngaere school committee met last week, when there were present Messrs. J. Thomas (chairman), R. McGarrigle, D. Simpson, J. Scott and H. Clough. The head teacher, Mr. G. C. Harre, reported that the average attendance for February was 67.4 per cent, with a roll of 70 pupils. The secretary stated that the Education Board had given authority for the committee to make use of relief labour for clipping hedges and doing other work around the school. Following the committee meeting, a general meeting of about 30 residents was held to arrange details for the school show on March 16. Officials were elected. It was decided to invite the following to act as judges: Mesdames Coleman and Tarrant (cooking), Mrs. Orr, sen. (fancy work), Mr. R. Thomas and the Eltham school infant mistress (school work), Mr. R. Syme (vegetables), Mr. and Mrs. A. Walker (cut flowers). Messrs. J. Scott, O. Coleman, N. Coleman and K. Tarrant were elected a sports committee and Messrs. Addenbrooke and Pedersen a grounds committee.