COUNTY COUNCILS.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17320, 5 December 1921, Page 3

COUNTY COUNCILS.

ashbi/rton. Th« Athburion Friday. Preeeni—Gr«. C. xmbi, G. Murdoch, H. B. C. M&gson, A. Hor«y, F. Fruapton, VT. - a. T,,1). M. Magiaoeee, TV. G. G»lUgb«r, vv. W. Goodwin. . , A 6t*tement of th« current collected end tratatMding \ru «n »* tsble sa r*to struck, ££ol9 Ids 7d; collected. £3685 11« Id; outstanding, £2333 10a 6d; Rakaia witer cturgta, iIS63 108; collected. £995 4a 6a; outetand•ing, £967 6a 6d; RangitaU water charge*, £1450 6s 6d; collected, £590 8a 6d; outstanoinj, £BSB Ss. It vrtm decided to aead » letter of «ysipa thy to Mr W. Turton in tie i&nees. < Tho Mount Hutt Road Board wrote aiding the Council to roviße the by-law* relating to traction. ®agin«e in tie county, an " that the clerk of the Road Board be given the same power ai the County Council's traffic in*poctor with regard to traction engine* travelling in the Mount Hutt district. The letter also stated that the Board !^ aa opinion that the time wae now opportune for the bulk of the water now beiny conducted through the township at Methven being removed to a position at the south eiile of the township, allowing only «. smaller quantity to flow down a channel to be constructed of ooncrete along its present course. The Works Committee, which had met to consider the matter, raport-ed adversely on any alteration in the by-laws, except that during wet weather the limit of a traction engine load ehou'd be IB tone. Mr Maginnees contention that the Council had control of the tra:Uo on the roads, but tho Road Boards had to repair any damage I which was done to tho roads. The Boad Boards should therefore have some control oyer the traffic. The committee's report was adopted. The Minister of Internal Affairs end t-h# Hon. W. Is oaworthy wrote stating that it had been decided to omit from the Gcraidine River Boaid Bill all the clause® relMing to the inclusion of lands within 'the Ashburton County and abutting on the north hank of the Rangitata river. It was pointed out by the chairman that there tu still about 400 acres of Aehburton land left in the schedule to the Bill, and the Council decided to strongly protest against any portion of the A6Mnirtcn district .bein'g included in tho Geraldine i<iver Board district-. A letter wa« read from the Public "Works Department advising that 7000 feet of hardwood timber was being shipped from Australia for the proposed traffic bridge at Blowing point, Ashburton Gorge. The Ashburton Hospital Boord wrote stating that a supplementary levy at £2772 10s had been made on the oontributihi; bodies. It was decided to mike provision for diverting the present flow of water going! through the Methven townehip. &AIKOURA. At th§ monthly meeting of the K&lkoura, 1 County Council there were S. Andrew (chairman). G. Eaton, D. Boyd, J. Boyd, G. Smiitn, C. Nilaen, C. Pannell, and E. Workman. . _ Mr Adam Morton applied for permission to erect «. telephone party line, which was j granted, cnbjeot to the usual conditions. | The Department of Health forwarded a request that measures be taken to destroy rate, on account of the menace of tn« bubonic plague. It was decided to take steps in conformity with the request, una that 3d per head ke paid for rats. The Minister for Puiblic Worlcs wrote intimating that tie expenditure of (money ° n the Conway-Claverley road, Charwell deviation and Oharwelt Fork*, was not warranted as urgent work at present. _ Begirding the Kaiktwra-'Waiau road and the deviation at Charwell Forks, the Minwter stated that the plans had oorne to hand, 'but it w*A impossible to obtain authority for the work to be 4®ne. . . . It was decided to inform- the Minister that he had been misinformed regarding unemployment in th» district, as matters were far from normal, and there were numbers of men seeking work. -. Mr G. W. Forbes, M.P., wrote stating that he would use Us best efforts to oonvjnce the Minister of the necessity of. bridging Cribb Creek, and improving tho rural mail 6crvice. . ' . .. . Mr J. E. Todhunter wrote requesting that Ilarkaway rwd at cttendtd to, u it waa in a dangerous atate. It ww .agreed to have the road repaired. " , . . , The Minister of Internal AJfain advised that it was not at present intended to aocuire further scenic reservw. ' Messrs R. T. Pop«, T. Adair, «4 0. Agar . waited on the Council, asking .that tbe Council defray the co3t of the Show Ground. It was decided.to adhere to the previous resolution, the Association to to do the work' at ite own expense. , . The Racing Club was permission to cliargte for admission to South Bay Domain on Boxing Day. HALSWELL. ' J At the list meeting of the prnnty Council there were present—Messrs Mulooclc (chairman), Eaglesome, Morten, and Pater6°n. ' . The chairman's import on. the regotitiioiw for the purchase of a shinglo-pit at Birdling's Flat was received, and a oojnmittee appointed to deal with the matter.' • It was resolved that-, the Spark's road' extension formation be proceeded with a 1? soon as possible, the clerk having reported that the necessary bridge over the river Heath-cot-o had been commenced. The clerk also reported that the work ol widening Molhopt'a corner on the Akaron, road, had been taken ill hand, and it woa anticipated that a considerable improvement could be effected. The District Health Officer wrote Biking) that a vigorous campaign ho instituted for the destruction of rats. It was agreed to assist is every pcceiibla manner. The clerk was instructed to obtain a sup.ply of suitable poison for the purpose, aad distribute the same to ratepayers at cost price. The Canterbury Fruitgrowers' Association wrote regarding 1 the ravages of fir'eblight. It was agreed to tako no notion. A letter from the Mana,watu County Council regarding horaitii matters waa received. It was resolved to discontinue the practice of purchasing amal! birds' eggs, and to encourage ratepayers to take a more active interest in poisoning. Owing to tho fact that certain electrio consumers have r.ot been paying accounts promptly, it was agreed that- tho penalty on ovwdue accounts be strictly enforced..