COUNTY COUNCILS.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17295, 5 November 1921, Page 5

COUNTY COUNCILS.

MOUNT HERBERT. The monthly meeting of the Council nt held on Monday list in the Council Chamb*n, furau. iTesanf; Councillor* W. iL I'umsooji Anhwrrnwnj, J. A. Uoilaty, A. B. Williams, H. Jackson, K. A. Anderson, L W. Quj, and Reg. Gebbie. The Banks' Peninsula War Memorial Committee wrote re. the upkeep of the Bite. The clerk was instructed to make farther enquiries. The Lytte'.ton Harbour Board wrote regarding the Council taking charge of all the jetties situated on the boundaries of the county. The chairman, Councillor H. Jackson, and R. A. AnderMn were appoint- ' td to interview the Board at its next meeting. 'i'he Counties' Association wrote regarding the proposed Main Highway Bill. The Council resolved to oppose the measure in its present form, and request the member for the district to oppose it when brought before Parliament. The Woodville County Council wrote regarding the proposed imposition of a rural fee for the delivery of letters, atating that it was an indirect tax on country settlers, and if revenue were required it should be raised by means of increased postage rates. .The Council approved of the resolution. The Rangitikei County Council forwarded a resolution passed by that Council: —"That County Councils be exempted from the operation of all Arbitration Court Awards." The Council resolved, as this remit was adopted by the late conference of local bodies in Wellington, to urge the member for the district to give it his support. The Manawatu County Council wrote regarding the high freightage on benzine on the railways, and to request the member for the district to urge a reduction at an ear'.y date. The request was approved. The Council resolved to take stepß to extend the 'boundaries of the country e° «" to include the whole of the watershed at Teddington. The financial statement showed a debit balance of £847 2s 4d. Rates received during the past month amounted to £l7 Is 2d. MALVERN. At the monthly meeting of the Malvern County Counci'. held on Tuesday, Cr H. A. Knight presided over a, full attendance of members. Tenders were received for work on Cliff road, Wbitecliffs, and for gorse grubbing at Norwood. Mr J. Milne was successful for the former, and Mr H. Earnshaw for the latter. Correspondence was received fromthesolicitors for the trustees of the late P. Clinton, offering to accept the Council's offer of July Bth last —Agreed to, subject to certain minor conditions being complied with. The Darfield Athletic Association wrote requesting improvements to be carried out in the Darfield Domain.—Left to the Domain Committee to deal with. The St. John Ambulance Association wrote asking for a grant in consequonce of a few users of the ambulance not making any payment for same. —It was considered that steps should be taken more promptly for collection, and that as the Council paid a full levy to the Hospital Board, the latter body was the one to allocate funds if necessary. Letters were received from the Rangitikei, Woodville, and Manawatu County Councils dealing with Arbitration Court awards, rural delivery, and railway freight on benzine respectively. Cr. Hawke agreed to accompany the caretaker in order to get suitable metal if possible for the South Malvern Hills road. The caretaker was instructed to make a oareful survey' of the position with regard to the Coalgate water-race, in order to arrive ■at a more satisfactory solution, both financial and otherwise, as at present the race Was Very much on the debit side. The caretakers reported that the cleaning l of the Oou-noii'B water-races were almost comEleted. The chairman reported that memen had visited the proposed deviation of | the main water-race at Springfield by the [ Railway Department, in order to make room for a.' new station yard. The deviation was considered quite satisfactory from the Couni cil's point of view. i ASHBURTON. - Tse monthly. meeting of the Ashburton County Council was held yesterday. Present: Crs. C Eeid (chairman), A. G-. Gallagher, G. Murdoch, F. Frampton, H: B. C. Withell, J. Magson, W. Turton, T. Blackley, W. Goodwin', A. Horsey, A. T. Lill, and H. Maginnis. . It was decided to make a general inspection of all the reserves in-the county t with "a> '■ view to deciding, what planting, should be done next season. . . It was agreed to continue the laying of poison for the destruction .of rabbits.,.., : In regard to a letter from the. Health' Inspector, it was decided that the provisions ■ of the Act should be complied with in ail ' circumstances. . ~ ,■ \ ' It was decided that all users of water, either for ponds, rams, or water-wheel ser-r vices, should be charged the usual rates. A letter'was read from the Hon. W. NoeWorthy, expressing a hope that the Council would not oppose the Geraldine River Board Bill, which would give the River Board control of a portion of the northern bank of : the Rangitata, , ~ , . i ■ ' After discussion it was decided to strongly i protest against the -Bill, and that the Rangitata and Coldstream Road Boards, and Mr, Nosworthy, be advised accordingly. I The Woodville County Council asked the Council to support a resolution protesting against the imposition of a rural delivery fee by the Postmaster-General. It was deoided to support the motion. The Rangitikei County Council wrote ask- ■ ihg the Council to support a movement reouesting the Government to introduce legislation which .would exempt CWy °ou n " oils from the operations of all' Arbitration Court awards. It was decided to comply , with tho request, and to strongly protect against any preference being given Jo unionists. . __ , ■ .' . , . •The Minister for Public Works wrote statin* that the timber for the Blowing Point bridge had been on older .for some months, but none of it hnd yet arrived. . . The Board of Education wrote endorsing • a plan of a reserve .at Cnrew for a.school ■■ site, ana asking the Council to wediteth* .(OmalltfefeMMM* the land to be reserved). If was resolved that the Board's request be seceded to. but as the to* J* . free tho Council would take no liability Mr ML it was decided to write to the Government asking for a reduction in the freieht on beniine. A committee wss set up,to frame a reoor nrntßßt,™ kp.in.tfhe provisions of the Docal Bodies Finance Bill now before the House.