COUNTY COUNCILS.

HEATHCOTE. The Heathcotc County Council met last evening. Present: Mr George Soott (chairman), Messrs G. K. Burton, lit. Armstrong, J. Gudßell, G. Js\ Hall, O. Flavell, and W. W. Scarff. Mr' Gudsell, having given notice, moved: —"That the name of the road now called River road (that is, from the Opawa bridge to the Rapaki road) be altered, and be called Aynsley terrace." The motion was carried. The committee of the whole Council reported that a Cashmere resident had drawn attention to the necessity of firo ■prevention in the Cashmere district, and had applied for permission to lay a 2in pipe to his premises for fire service. The clerk was directed to reply that the matter of fire prevention was etill under consideration. Mr F. Johnston, a representative or the Canter- j bury Rccruiting Board, had interviewed the committee, and suggested that a Bccruitins-Conunittce should be set up in the county; that Messrs Slater and Sons, solicitors, having notified the intention of Mr A. Currio to take proceedings to have the nuisance resulting from pumping from the Hackthornc reservoir to the upper level, abated, recommended that the matter bo loft to the engineer and members for Cashmere to deal with. The clerk had been instructed to roply to Messrs Slater and Sons, and to draw attention to the fact that there may be a difficulty in getting a suitable pump in New Zealand. —Adopted. Tho committeo recommended that an application from the Heathcotc Patriotic Committee that the lighting of the hall be paid out of the Valley Biding funds, be approved; that a reply bo sent to an onquirv from .the Hillsborough Burgesses' Association, that tenders were called for electric light poles, and the lowest acccptod; that

if the Hospital Board erected the clcctrio lighting wires to the Sanatorium the Council would provido tho lights free of cost. —Adopted. The engineer reported that the electric house-lighting wires had been completed in the closely-settled part of the Valley Hiding. There were 04 chains to install to complete the Settlement road, and also 50 chains to complete the Bridle Path road." The street lamps were in hand, and would bo erected during this month. Good nrogretfp w a a being mado with the ereeffon of lighting poles in Bromley. In this matter it was decided to make arrangements for a formal opening of tho installation, as in the ease of Heathcote Valley.

Tho District Health Officer wrote, stating that on visitihg tho Cashmere Hills district septic tanks. _ho had found that the filter-bed on Hills road, the new tank and filter at the foot of Hackthorne road, and the tank and_filter-bed at Malcolm avenue were working in an unsatisfactory ' manner, and ,as far as he could see, there was no provision for tho efficient ventilation of the sewerage system generally. Ho requested the Council to go into tho matter, and mado suggestions ns to methods for overcoming the defects. The letter was received, and tho engineer was asked to furnish a report on the matter at the next meeting of tj>e Council.

OXFORD.

The Oxford County Council met last week. Present: Messrs J. "Wells (chair-, man), Alex. Baxter.J2. Campbell", I>. Hawke, and B. \V. Meyer. Mr F. W. Johnston, on behalf of the North Canterbury Recruiting Board, waited on the Council, with regard to the formation of a local committee. After consideration, the Council decided that, as the councillors were not in favour of. the undertaking, it was not practicable to form a committee. The opinion of the Council was that the Government should send a recruiting officer in uniform, and that local doctors should examine the men. It was resolved that a letter of sympathy be sept to Mr A. "Wright and family in their bereavement. It was resolved to call a public meeting in the Coronation Hall on Tuesday, the 25th inst., regarding water-supply, w tae meantime the clerk to enquire into the approximate oost of It was resolved that application be made for authority to expend grants •on Mounsey'B Creek and Oxford Bush roads.

WAIREWA.

A meeting of the "Wairewa County Council was held yesterdays Present: Messrs W. F. Parkinson, Jas. V. Chapman, Thos. Thompson, J. C. C. Gebbie and John F. Buchanan (chairman). Correspondence was received front Messrs Harper and Co., stating that the motor and vehicle by-laws had been gazetted. From Mr Lavender, giving permission to cart stone from his paddock. The clerk reported having appointed Mr E. A. Radford ns inspector of motor and vehicular by-laws. From the Public Trustee regarding rates due by tho late S. T. Harris's Estate, part thereof being let to Dr. Pemberton. — ! It was resolved that Dr. Pemberton be j waited on in tho matter. Tho clerk reported having called and accepted tenders for cocksfoot on roads, as under :—M. Barclay's road, "W. Tirie, 10s; Okute road, "W. Tirie, os: S. S. Barclay's road, J. Archer, 13s; Puaha road, , J. Archer. 235: Kay's road, H. Lee, £3 3s 3d; Harris's to Hill-top, H. Lee, | 2s 9d; Harmon's road, J. Warkins, 10s; lleynolds's road. H. "Webster, ss. From Petone Borough Council, respecting amendment to Pensions Act.—lt was resolved that this question be dealt wjth at a full meeting of the Council. From Mount Herbert County Council, enclosing a resolution, asking that the Government be requested to pass legislation empowering local bodies to levy a Patriotic Fund rate.—lt was resolved that the resolution be approved. From Akaroa and "Wainui Road Board, asking that Waikamo road -and Island Bay road maintenance bp taken over by 'the Council.—Consideration postponed. From St. John Ambulance Association, asking for assistance for the Red Cross Fund.—lt was resolved that if the county should levy a war rate the fund would be considered.

AMUBI

The monthly meeting of the Amuri County Council was held at Oulverden Friday. Present: Messrs D. Rutherford (chairman), VT. H. Atkinson, M. Bethell 11. R. Davison. G. Fulton, B. Hamoton, L. J. Pulley, and K. Pettiyrciv. Mr J?. Cowrie, contractor for the Lottery bridge, applied for an extension of time' for tlic

completion of tho work. After discussion, it was decided to give him an extension of six weeks. Mr C. J. O'Malley, Rogcrson, wrote complaining of the bad state of the road leading to his property, owing to the growtn of broom. It was decided .thaV* tho | chairman and overseer make an' in-

■ spection during tho month. ;> Tho I chairman reported that if a few chains ' ; j of scrub was cut down along the driving spur it would bo a saving to the i main track over Jack's pass. It was ' • agreed that £5 be sjicnc, tho peoplo usirtjg tho spur subsidising tho amount i> Ijby 5 per cent. Mr F. Meekin wrot6 Vi ; complaining of the dangerous pit at : the mouth of a bridge in the "Wandlo Bush. It, was decided that tho sur- g faceman fence off this particular por- I ' v tion. He also complained of tho rough ,j| state of -the road from, the" Zigzag tho Mason, but nothing "was dono this matter. A petition was received Jp from ratepayers and otherg, < that the road from Bainbow dation house to Tophouse ba put in r .After discussion it was d& Jf cided to write to Mr J. E. Horton -S asking him. to f~vard a report in the '•& matter. Ratepi. »' on Balmoral com- -ih plained of wandoiuig stock on the Bat- -[J moral roads. —The ranger to bo notified to attend to the matter. The k i| North Canterbury Recruiting Board wrote asking that names of ; persona suitable to act on the committee oo \ forwarded to tho secretary. Membeis of the Ckiuncil Vera of the opinion that f; it was difficult to secure the service of , local .people, , bat would reoommend | that a military, officer and , doctor =& make a personal canvass of the diatrict. The executors cf the late J>. I>. Macfarlanc's estate offered the sum ' ; | of £1 for the right to cut cocksfoot ; on the Lyndon roads. ; Tho offer wab '/ accepted, tho proceeds to go to the« Amuri Queen, contest. The Receiver; of Land Revenue, Nelson, notified the payment of £1 12s lOd, "thirds" ac crued to date. . The clerk reported;that he was drawing up plans and;. - specifications for the expenditure^*;!Di'f'' "thirds," due on the Hurunui * Woodbank settlements. It . solved that tho dog registration be the same as last year, and that the Brackenfiold Hounds be registered a "pack" for £2. It was decided t©.::£s Say A. Hadocke the balance owing is contract, and £100 on account of extras done. Two tenders were reccived for ths Lottery Abridge up- 'pji, proaehes, as follower, X'--: Chapman, iWi iVaiau, £311 5s (declined)"W. Watt, Woolston, £225 (accepted), * The haU-' Si?| yearly balance sheet. was .received from tho Auditor-General; certified aa correct, and was adopted on tho tion of Cr.' Bcthell,- seconded by Cf/ Fulton. • ■

PAPABUA.

_ •' - , ~-x • ■ ' •: -■ ■■ \ The last meeting of 'the Council vas attended by; Mr J.lieslie (in tho?*® chair), Messrs "Wat6on,'~6tone,* Paterson. Henley, Smith, Bailey, , and Carthy. The AVaimairi CioUjjty cil wrote, stating that they were present reticulating" their county, giving particulars of lamps to be erected, along - the' roads. It was decided to reply | this Council could not agree to "w||j|| proposals. The chairman* of tho coin Cemetery Board :wr6te ' w itli •jflßfip ifcrence to the boundary . fence '■GHkI twecn _ the cemetery and,-one of Council's reserves. *; It was 'decid<Hßg| to have the fen'ce put in order. Johnston, a member'■ of. the ing Board, waited on the Council regard to recruiting in the oountfj||i§ 'Hie members of the Council themselves into a committee to assift,3p§| recruiting. The Prison wrote with reference to the which were impounded in the Prcbble*i?V| ton Pound from a farm at Ladbroofcs, ?f? and fonrarded an opinion from Crown Law Office, which stated any stock belonging to the Governmont is not liablo to the provisions the Impounding Act. The mcnt asked for a refund of the - '-a pounding fees. It was decided to re-' - •!& ply that tho horses in question were J§ driven to the pound by a farmer, asd the poundkeeper could not refuse take thorn, and that the faes charged , were those set out in the Act. siderable discussion took place as to, tho best method to be adopted to raise this county's quota of the Pa- ; trjotic Fund. It was decidod to call. ,-$8 a meeting of ratepayers to discuss the >a| question with the Council at iheir ."3gj next meeting. " ,