COUNTY OF ELTHAM

Taranaki Daily News, 15 July 1935, Page 6

COUNTY OF ELTHAM

REPAIR WORK PERFORMED INCREASED BRIDGE SUBSIDIES. OPINIONS ON LAND DE-RATING. That the county fund would show an overdraft of £2019 after the payment of accounts for £3566 was mentioned by the chairman, Mr. A. L. Campbell, at the monthly meeting of the Eltham County Council on Saturday. He said loan interest payments amounted to £2185. It was decided to reply to Mr. M. Granville’s request for road improvements on Pukengahu Road stating that the work had been attended to. The council decided to procure trees from the Unemployment Board’s allotment from the Forestry Department’s surplus and carry out tree planting similar to that done last year. It was stated the trees were growing successfully. The decision was reached as a result of the Minister’s invitation to take part in Arbor Day celebrations. Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., advised that the Government had decided to grant a £1 for £1 subsidy for the reinstatement of bridges damaged by flood. This meant that the subsidy had been increased from £1 for £4 and the present subsidy would be £4OO instead of £l6O for Brady’s bridge, Whenuakura Valley Road, and £225 instead of £9O for Ararata bridge, Mangawhero Road. Expressions of satisfaction that the council had taken control of noxious weeds administration were expressed when,a communication was received from the Taranaki Local Bodies’ Association. The Local Bodies’ Association also wrote concerning a meeting to confer with Farmers’ Union representatives regarding de-rating. Crs. Knuckey and McGuinness voiced opposition to-such a proposal and Cr. Carter spoke in favour of it partially. It was decided that as many councillors as possible attend the conference. ( The clerk was given permission to attend the annual conference of the New Zealand Institute of County Clerks at Wellington on August 27. KNEE-DEEP IN MUD. The chairman, engineer and riding representative were authorised to confer with the Hawera County Council regarding an inquiry from Messrs. Naim Bros, as to the prospect of undertaking work at Brady’s washout The letter stated conditions were about as bad as possible and involved wading knee-deep through mud. The writers stated that it would be impossible to hold out over another winter under present conditions in which case they would feel justified in asking assistance from the council by way of compensation for their life’s work. The Hawera Hospital Board advised that the annual levy had been made on local bodies as follows: Hawera county £2873, Eltham county £2260, Waimate West county £1839, Hawera borough £1176, Eltham borough £317, Manaia town district £92. The inspector said complaints regarding stock straying on roads had been attended to and the practice stopped. The hedge at the corner of Mountain and Boylan roads had been cut back and a clearer view of approaching traffic was now obtainable. Several roads were checked for driver’s -licenses and vehicles without lights. Several prosecutions were pending. An anonymous letter concerning stock straying on roads was disregarded. The engineer was empowered to reconstruct the tar boiler. Cr. Messana asked if a request for a subsidy had been received from the Egmont National Park Board and the chairman replied that no application was before the council. He said it was not long since the council had given a contribution.

The engineer, Mr. F. Muggeridge, reported that Mountain, Boylan, Rotokare and Mangawhero roads had been sur-face-patched, slips were cleared on Campbell Road and water-tables were cleaned on Neill Road. On Upper Duthie Road a side-track was metalled and a culvert replaced with larger concrete pipes. Patching was done on Eltham and Lower Hastings roads. Water-tables were cleaned on Upper Hastings, Upper and Lower Stuart and Upper and Lower Hunter roads. On Whenuakura Valley, Tahuri and Rawhitiroa roads slips were cut back and water-tables and culverts opened. The stream was tapped at White Pine Bend and a 3ft. concrete pipe constructed. A safe car track was cut past slips on Moeroa Saddle and d 12in. concrete pipe culvert put in. A gig track was opened past Moeroa. Formation was widened on Omoana East hill where an underslip occurred. On Eltham Road water-tables and culverts were cleaned, and similar work was performed on Upper Auroa, Mangawhero and Manaia roads. Maintenance work was done on Rawhitiroa Road and culverting and filling in of underslips east of Hu Road were completed. Lake Rotokare rose eight feet during recent rains, endangering the road filling, but a trench was cut back to release surplus water. Water-tables were cleared on Hu, Sangster and Tirimoana roads.

There were present at the meeting Messrs. A. L. Campbell (chairman), R. J. Knuckey, W. B. Robertson, A. V. Messana, M. W. Barker, P. R. Brown, W. E. Carter, C. E. McGuinness and E. J. Gifford.