ELTHAM COUNTY WORK

Taranaki Daily News, 10 September 1934, Page 6

ELTHAM COUNTY WORK

MAIN HIGHWAYS INCREASE KAPONGA TOWN BOARD RATING. COMMENT ON DERATING PROPOSAL The monthly meeting of the Eltham County Council was held on. Saturday. Present were Messrs. A. L. Campbell (chairman), R. J. Knuckey, P. R. Brown, A. V. Messana, M. W. Barker, J. L. Campbell, W. E. Carter, C. E. McGuinness and E. J. Gifford. The engineer, Mr. F. Muggeridge, reported that in the south riding metal patching, water-tabling and metal blinding was attended to on Skeet Road. Further widening of formation was done, water-tables and culverts cleaned and one 12-inch culvert lowered on Dalziel Road. Scrub was cut back and . watertables were cleaned on Te Roti Road. Similar work was done in the Mangatoki riding on the Eltham, Lower Hastings, Upper Stuart and Lower Stuart Roads. On Skeet Road 80 chains of the macadam section were scarified, strengthened where necessary, large stones broken, reshaped, rolled and blinded with chips and screenings. In the Omoana riding slips were cleared and water-tables cleaned on the Matemaroke, Whenuakura Valley, Tahuri and Moeawatea Ridge Roads. Metal patching was done, water-tables cleaned and scrub cut back on Rawhitiroa Road. The formation was widened at a sharp bend on the Patea hill. In the Kaponga riding bitumen patching and water-tabling were attended to on the Manaia, Eltham and Lower Palmer Roads. Metal patching was done on Opunake-Stratford Road and watertables cleaned on Mangawhero Road. Gravel was quarried at the Otakeho pit. In the Eltham riding w=ter-tables and culverts were cleaned on the Hu, Maata, Mangawhero, Tama and Horoi Roads. Slips were cleared and culverts opened on Rotokare Lake Road. Fern was cut back and water-tables cleaned on Tirimoana Road. Slips Were cleared on Mangamingi ridge, and metal patching done through the valley. CULVERT ON AUROA ROAD. A request was made by Mr. L. A. R. Pepperell for a new culvert to cut off the water from its present course adjato his property at Auroa Road, Awatuna. The engineer explained that it was intended to re-seal the road shortly. The question was left to the engineer and the riding member. Mrs. McSweeney wrote asking that the roadman’s whare at Omoana should be made more habitable. The engineer and riding member were empowered to deal with the request. The Kaponga Town Board sent advice of the position regarding the rates levied for the past two years, the amount collected and the amount outstanding. The board intended to strike a rate of Id in the £1 on 75 per cent, of the capital value, and it had been decided to ask the consent of the council to the striking of the’rate. It was proposed to place money so raised to the credit of the electricity account. The council decided to approve the town board’s proposal. Reporting on the recent meeting of the Taranaki Local Bodies’ Association, the chairman mentioned that the figures given by Mr. H. E. Blyde in connection with derating had not been accepted. It was difficult to know what benefits would be realised from the proposal. It seemed that it would involve a heavy tax on all forms of traffic, including cattle and sheep, and that they would never know where it would end. What local bodies feared was that they would eventually lose control of the roads. What was wanted was a larger proportion of the benzine tax for the roads; it was now going into the general revenue. A resolution to this effect had been carried. At a meeting of the Highways Council, said Mr. Campbell, it was agreed to include 5 per cent, more of Taranaki roads as main highways. Each local body would be asked to apply for the roads it desired to have classified. The inspector reported that the roads had been fairly clear of stray stock and that three cows were released before reaching the pound. Three convictions for breaches of heavy traffic regulations were obtained, the fines amounting to £6 12s. Some time had been spent in testing brakes and lights on motor vehicles. On a large number it was found the brakes did not come up to requirements. Nearly all lights required adjustment. It was intended to prosecute in all cases in future.