COUNTY COUNCILS.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16881, 8 July 1920, Page 10

COUNTY COUNCILS.

ASHLEY. 1 The Ashler County Council met at Loburn. Present—Messrs Hiatt (chairman), BarweJl, ' Ensor. and Hutchison. Mr Joliti F. Dawson forn-arded his resignation, as ho was leaving the district. The chairman spoke highly of Mr Dawson's attention -to his duties, and said it was re■jicttr.hlo he had to retire after a brief apprenticeship. A fresh election "r.aa fixed for '27th insi. With regard to the Garry bridge, the- Minister of Public Works wrote to that a Government officer was in Australia endeavouring to arrange for the shipping of hardwood for public works. The District Engineer wrote advising that the approaches and protective* works of tile bridge should not be proceeded with until the construction of the bridge w;-s within eight. Mr Cecil Yv'ccd forsvardfi sketch plans for new Ccnncil Chambers, with memorial porch. The design was deemed excellent, raid further correspondence authorised. The chairman stated that he had 1 f<'n c&Tled upon during tie previous month to give a large amount of time to the business of the Council at various conferences. He referred in the-first place to tho meeting on June 15th. on the port question, at which a practically unanimous vote in favour of Lyttelxin had been secured, yet tb-ia vote had i'Ot been accept-;*! as authoritative at the annual meeting ci the Progress League on the following dav. Nov was finality obtained even at this meeting, the matter having been forwarded only by tho arrangement of a f-pecial day, July Mill, for its- further discussrion. A conference of Councils and the Canterbury tricinlxii's of Parliament was called by the Malvern County Council for the discussion of difficulties in the matter of rates from Crown lauds. Mr Knight \entilatad tho subject, but did not see Lis way _to define a remedy, an-i the subject wiw ic-ft in the hands"of the members of Parliament. Much more defmitenesa and unanimity, -he chairman stated, had been shown at die meetings at Kaiapoi for furthering the proposal to make a harbour at Kaiapoi and construct a training wall at the mouth of the Waimakariri in "order to obtain a navigable d»pth of water at the entrance. Endeavours wore j now being made to get a local Bill throu; h , Parliament during the pres-nt cession, ex- j tending the Harbour Board';-, area, and giving authority to ;aise a larger loan. The chairman finally reported on his at- ! tendance at the meeting of tho Elcctric j Power Board at Rangiora. It had l>een decided that the- Ashley County would not come in save as a member ci tho "outer area." as defined by the Act.

ilembers complimented "ili-3 chairman on his reports, and commented on the increasing calls on tho time of men in public positions.

The; Canterbury branch of the New hud. Counties' Association wrote notifying its annual meeting- on ihc l<lth Inst., and for remits and for the appointment of •■ielegate.'. Tho chairman and ilr Hutchison were asked to represent iho Council, and the remit epprovmg- of the payment oi hospital and charitable aid requirements out of the Consolidated Fund was ordered tobe tseni• forward. In pursuance of notice of motion the chairman moved, ilr Ensor seconded, and it was resolved, that a general rat© of one penny :n the pound be struck and levied over both ridings of tho county.

A severe caution vv.a ordered to he forwarded a traction engine proprietor who Irad l>oeu hauling during the evening with insufficient lights. A case of tho apparent gating of a. side road without permission was ordered to bo enquired into. In reply to a letter, permission to us© the grader fox tho improvement of Ms frontage was ted Mr Honry Mrtlrrell, and in reply to a request from 2lr j-I. G. Philpott, the clerk was instructed to report on the Skew road.

Mr Harwell broil frht up the reed of widening the roadway over llie pully known as Harwell's c.rcli, and members agreed to inppect the locality l>efore next meeting.