COUNTY COUNCILS

HBATHCOTE A meeting of the Heathcote County Council was held last evening,. Cr C Flavell presiding. Also present were: Crs. W. W. Scarft, F. W. Freeman, W. Kerr, E. Rowse, A. G. Williams, and J. F. Scott A letter was received from Mr C. W. Jones asking the council to rename River roadTSt Martins. It was decided to rename the road Palatine-ter-race. .The Huntsbury Residents' and Rate§ayers* Association asked If it would e possible to reduce the charge for water to Is per 1000 gallons. It was decided to reply that as the account was in debit the request could not be &cc&dcd to The Beckenham Burgesses' Association wrote drawing attention to the alleged danger at night caused by the acute angle of the footpath leading to the approach to the bridge on the north side of Malcolm avenue. It was decided to reply that in the opinion of the council the approach to the bridge was perfectly safe. The Christchurch City Council advised that it had adopted on the estimates for the year provision for the expenditure of £450 for the Dyer's Pass road highway. "This is very satisfactory," commented the chairman. Co-operation Favoured The Town Clerk of Christchurch forwarded a resolution adopted by the council on September 4: "That the several local bodies be approached asking whether they are prepared to co-operate in suitable schemes of common interest and value, and applicable to the reilef of unemployment. It is understood that such undertaking does not commit the local body to any particular scheme or expenditure until the full details have been approved by it." It was requested that if the council approved of the resolution it should submit with estimates proposals which could be carried out. "This can be a very valuable movement," remarked Cr. Williams. He moved that the council accede to the request. "They have a body in Auckland operating on these lines, and I don't think the beggars ever go to sleep," said Cr. Scarff. "They have one idea in view—that Auckland is Auckland, and must be at the head all the time." The motion was carried. It was decided to renew the annual grant of £ls 15s to the Canterbury Progress League. It was decided to advise the Bexley Residents' Association that its request for the planting of trees in Wai-iti street and High street could not be acceded to, because the tree-planting season was over. Work in the County The inspector's report stated that in the Cashmere riding a store wall had been erected at the foot of Hackthorne road to widen the footpath. Similar work had been done at the junction of Cracroft terrace and Dyer's Pass road. Channel covers were being moulded in readiness for covering Colombo street channelling, and slips resulting from wet weather had been cleared from roads in all ridings. Some 2500 fir, pine, and gum trees had been planted on roads and reserves in the Mount Pleasant riding. Delivery had been taken of the new Ford truck. The foreman electrician reported that wires had been run on St. Andrew's Hill for street lighting as well as two phases for house connexions. Several meters which had been damaged by lightning had been replaced. The bank balances as at September 12 were:—

County fund account—Temporary loans, £7000; credit, Bank of New Zealand, £2313 2s sd; debit balance, £4686 17s 7d. Mount Pleasant No. 3 electric light loan—Credit, £96 lis 2d. St. Andrew's Hill sewerage loan — Credit, £IOO lis. At a special meeting of the council the decision to consolidate and convert the county loans was confirmed. November 1 was fixed as the date of conversion. RANGIORA The Rangiora County Council met yesterday, the chairman, Mr W. Stalker, presiding. There were also present: Crs. G. K. Crysell, H. Tallott, J. Brosnan, J. M. Young, and A. Mcintosh. The financial statement showed that at the beginning of August there was a debit of £2920 lis 6d, while at the end of the month it was £3093 17s 7d. The chairman said the position was quite satisfactory. The Waimakariri-Ashley Water Supply Board wrote stating that in times of heavy rain a large amount of storm water was being diverted into the main water-race near the Moeraki Downs road. The storm water should be carried on into Jockey creek. The chairman, Cr. Brosnan, and the foreman were deputed to meet members of the Water Supply Board to inspect the area. The traffic inspector (Mr P. L. Rouse) reported that altogether 160 motorists had passed the braking and lighting tests. The garages had passed as correct 81 vehicles, the brakes of most of these vehicles being again tested and found correct. The Wanganui County Council asked that the following resolution be placed before the council, and if approved that the member for the district be notified: "That this council considers the Transport Board is not functioning in the best interests of the farming community inasmuch as its operation is creating a monopoly, with consequent increased costs, by eliminating competition in the carriage of goods to and from farms. It is considered that the payment of heavy traffic license fees by the owners of motor vehicles is sufficient to cover the use of any road, subject to compliance with the road classifications or special local restrictions." The chairman said that he thought they should support the resolution. He considered the board was not studying the farmers. Mr Tallott said he did not think they should support the proposal. Transport was very necessary. He moved that the leter be received. The motion was carried. The annual grant of £2O was made to the Canterbury Progress League. It was decided to give £1 to the Southbrook Fire Brigade. MALVERN At the last meeting of the Malvern County Council, those present were Crs. Adams (chairman), Gillanders, Townshend, Deans, Cullen, and Morrison. The chairman and Cr. Gillanders reported that they had considered tenders for water race cleaning, and had let contracts to Messrs W. McCausland, W. J. Thompson, Elston, and Thomson, and Roper and Hulston. The chairman was deputed to attend any meeting that might be called to consider ways of financing the Canterbury Museum in an appropriate manner. The Counties' Association and the Wanganui Borough County Council wrote with reference to motor taxation and transport. Cr. Gillanders and Cr. Cullen were appointed a committee to draft suggestions to place before the Transport Board in time for an investigation which the board proposes to make. Crs. Townshend and Wright reported having made an inspection of the trees in the Waddington cemetery in the rear or leased portion of the reserve. These comprise about 150 good clean trees of considerable value, and it was decided to call tenders for cutting them into firewood on a royalty basis. It was reported that during the month a trial had been made in the Hawkins riverbed with a power screen, but the shinale proved to be

yery rough. Further consideration as to the advisability of purchasing the machine was deferred until a trial .' n more suitable shingle. t>r^?o^f n i? I 2 e u r ®* a t®d that the motor graders had been almost continuously work during the month and had graded the Main highways.