EGMONT COUNTY

Taranaki Daily News, 13 February 1935, Page 3

EGMONT COUNTY

FINANCE FOR ROADS ESTIMATES FOR COMING YEAR. FERN OVERGROWING ROADWAYS. In reply to the district engineer’s request for tentative road finance.estimates for 1935-36, the Eltham County Council decided yesterday to ask him to include in the programme of relief work several roads adjacent to Wiremu Road, for the Public Works grants asking for a revote for the Waiweranui bridge on Okahu Road, and to place OpunakeStratford and Parihaka Road on the An authority for £l5l 13s 9d for the Rahotu-Kahui highway was received. Complaint was received from the South Taranaki Automobile Association, relative to lorries not carrying proper rear vision mirrors. Cr. Willcocks said he had travelled for miles behind a lorry without being able to pass. He moved that the inspector take steps to see that the lorries were fitted with rear view mirrors, which was agreed to. Information was received from the Unemployment Commissioner relative to the revised scales of relief under scheme 5, and in regard to compensation insurance to workers receiving injuries in the course of their employment. The Wairewa County Council asked for an endorsement of its effort to bring down the rates of interest in conformity with the present bank rate for fixed deposits. “I think we have passed hundreds of resolutions in connection with that and it will not cost us anything to pass another,” said the chairman. The motion was moved and carried. “What about bringing down the value of land?” asked a councillor. “That has not been asked for,” replied the chairman. The ranger reported that 46 head of ■stock had been seized and released from the- roads. To date 267 dogs had been registered. COMPLAINT ABOUT STOCK. Cr. Tosland complained about a Pihama settler who ran his cows on the road. The complaint came from the custodian of the bowling green, who said the cows were grazed on the road to the bowling green on days when there were visiting bowlers, and it was inconvenient if the gates were left open. The chairman: You want the rangers attention drawn to wandering stock around Pihama. Cr. Toslandv Yes, we do. A motion to that effect was carried. The overgrowth of fern on Nopera Road was mentioned by Cr. Tosland, who said the settlers urged that county workmen cut it back where it was encroaching on the track. It was suggested that settlers be allowed to graze their frontage under proper supervision or to extend their fences further. He pointed out the danger of fires arising from dry fern. _ | The chairman said it was a question whether the council could not serve notices on the owners to clear the fem away themselves.. Cr. Gibson: Ferr. is not on the schedule of noxious weeds. Cr. Tosland considered that the solution on by-roads was to allow settlers to fence and use the ground to the roadway. The chairman said if settlers made the necessary application the council could grant permission to bring fences out. Cr. Young said this was impracticable owing to power and telephone poles. Cr. Tosland moved that the council clear the fern encroaching on the metal. Cr. Gibson, in seconding formally, said it was opening up a big question. There were willows that were just as bad. If they started where would it end? The motion was lost. li was agreed to legalise the Paora Road, block IV., Cape survey district. NAMU ROAD EXTENSION. Mr. E. Gif kins waited on the council requesting that the top end of Namu Road be extended about half a mile. The chairman said there was no hope of having the work done out of general rates, but if the council could obtain a free grant it would subsidise the work by the use of machinery. He promised to push the matter as far as he could and would let the applicant know the result. The - engineer was voted expenses to attend the annual conference of civil engineers. Cr. Willcocks referred to the extraordinary damage being done to roads by the driving of settlers’ cows on certain roads. The chairman considered it was not fair for a few farmers to do this and it was resolved to notify them that action would be taken against them for the recovery of extraordinary heavy traffic damage. The question of hawkers’ license fees was raised by Cr. Willcocks, who said he considered it would be better to charge a smaller fee and collect a certain amount of revenue. The present fee of £lO was impossible, but perhaps they might be paid £2 10s. 'The clerk pointed out that the general by-law would not permit this, and it was suggested that the question of amending the by-laws be investigated. A motion to make a refund of 12% per cent, on rates paid was carried, and it was decided to impose a penalty of 10 per cent, on all rates unpaid after March 25. The engineer, Mr. J. G. Mclvor, reported that the resurfacing- work at Punehu stream was completed. In south riding SO chains of maintenance sealing was done on Watino Road. In central riding four chains of Lower Kahui Road were pit metalled. In north riding 16 chains of pit metalling was done on Warea Road. Metalling is proceeding on Wiremu Road. Traffic tallies have been taken for Main South, Eltham and Kahui Roads. • There were present Messrs; W. C. Green (chairman), T. Willcocks, S. R. Farquhar, E. A. Collins, G. Gibson, J. S/ Tosland, A. J. Lilley, E. G. Holmes ‘and J. Young.