COUNTY COUNCILS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15693, 12 September 1916, Page 5

COUNTY COUNCILS.

PAPARUA

-All the councillors' were present at the lust meeting of tho Paparua County Council. Mr James Lcalio was in tho chair. Tho Akaroa County Council wroto asking i{ the Council would join with it in protesting agaiiut tho Riccarlon Borough Council s by-law relating to th<» driving of stock through the borough. It* was decided to reply that the Council wae of th© opinion that the time had arrived when tho Addington jalevards should bo removed to a less thickly populated district. Members expressed the opinion that wherever, tho yards were situated, stock buyers would attend, and the producers would not suffer in tho least. The Commissioner of Crown Lands wrote on behalf of the Justice Department asking if tho Council would bo willing to sell a twoacre section on Cliurch road, Xenipleton, containing a shingle pit, as tho Dopar.tment were anxious to consolidate tho block of land currounding tho Paparua prison. It ,was decided that the Council could not eee its way to sell the land, as it was the only, piece_ of bhiggle land which they held in that locality, and it was only after eome years of endeavour that it was possible to acquire the eection. Mrs F. Holmes wrote regarding etormwater at Sockburn, and Messrs Leslie, Carr, and Maginneas were appointed to inspect and, if possible, rectify the trouble. Mr T. Burns, of Harewood. wrote asking for some repairs to the road near his residence. It wan decided to have the rai-'/cr attended to during the current month. . . A deputation from Ladbrooks _ waited on the Council asking for something to Be dor.e to two peat roads in their locality. It 'vas decided to inspect the road 3 next morr.intj $nd to meet tho deputation on tho spot. Messrs Leslie, McCarthy, Patereon, Henley, and the clerk were appointed to represent the Council, and report as to whether the amount of traffic on three roads warranted tho large expense necessary to form and shingle them.

WAIMAIRI. The YTaimairi County Council met yesterday. Present—Messrs S- A. Staples (chairman), T. D. Boag, S. Bullock, G. E. Curry, R. W. Hawke, J. P. W. Leo, W. P. Spencer, and F. Sisson. The balances of tli=. various ridings were reported to b$ as follows: —Styx (dr.) £702 5s Bd, Marshland (cr.) £108 ISs 6d, Avon (dr.) £421 IBs lid, Belfast (cr.) £239 fc 2d, Harewood (dr.) £37 13s 6d, Papanui (dr.) £207 lis Bd, Wairarapa (cr.) £83 15s 9d, Riccarton (cr.) £61 13a 7d, Fonda!ton (cr.) £354 lis 4d, Middle ton (dr.) £196 lis Cd. Fendalton loan wm shown to be in credit to the extent of £ISO 6s 4d, James avenue loan (cr.) £17 5-3 Id, electric light loan (cr.) £10,756 17s lOd. Scotston loan (cv.) £102 7s 9d, Hillmorton loan (cr.) £1045 19s 3d, Shirley loan (cr.) £283 2s 2d. The general account showed a debit balance of £2485 5a sd. _

The engineer's report was read. Arising out of the report it waa decided to ask Mr H. Overton to grant an easement over his property, and to pay half the cost of piping. It was also dccided to aproe with the request of Mr Vale (Waimairi road) to afford him relief by means of a drain. The Paparua County Council wroto objecting to tlie statement of accounts presented to them by the Council, and demanding details of the items, and demurring at the charges for metalling and labour. The chairman etated that the amount came to considerably over £100. and ho recommended that thematter bo referred to_Mr E. Short, the Arbitration Commissioner in the matter of the severance of the countks. It was also etated that tho other local bodies similarly charged had paid without demur. It was resolved to act on tho chairman's advice before taking leg*! action. It w%b decidcd to i»-namfi Miiile Park road "Riecaxtcn avc-nne," and put "up nameboards.

A deputation from tfco B'.ieh'i- School Commi;tco waited on tho Council v{:h r»foresee to the improvement cf the toad lead-

ing to the school. This was stated to bo almost impassable in wet weather. The chairman pointed out that tho road in question. was a private road. The chairman of the School Committee (Mr Hookhatn) stated that they had applied to tho Education Board, and had been assured that the road in question was vested in the County Council. Mr Staples stated that the 'county engineer had made a moat careful search, and found tha\ the titles were held by the Education Board and others. If tho private proparty owners would assist, the Council might be able'to subsidise their contributions, but he could not promise. Mr Marshall, one of the deputation, stated that tho private owners had been paying rates for years, and nothing had been done to tho road.

Tho chairman said that they had also been using other roads in the county. This road, however, was private property, and they had better apply to the Board of Education in order to get their grievance rectified. A table presented to the Council disclosed the fact that tho cost of watering the roads from January Ist. 1915, to January Ist, 191G, was £200 4a sd, the cost of watering done by the Tramway Board being £35 19s sd. Tho engineer suggested that the Tramway Board should in future water the North road u.9 far as Papanui, and tho Council teams water the roads up to Northcote road, and nlso that there be two additional wells sunk. A ratepayer waited on »the Council' aarl suggested tho installation of an oil engine at the Styx river to pump water to tho North road. The suggestion was received, but it was pointed out the cost of the piping would be too severe. Tho engineer's repcjft was adopted. Buildiug permits were issued as follows during the month : —Belfast (2) £1201, Riccarton (1) £500, Fondalton (1) £616.