COUNTY COUNCILS.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17807, 5 July 1923, Page 7

COUNTY COUNCILS.

WAIPARA. The monthly meeting of the Wtipßra. County Council was held on Monday. Present—<Jr«. N. D. Campbell (chairman), A. Cameron, A. T. Allan, H. 11. Anderson, H. E. Fincham, and D. J. Doak. Tie clerk reported) that steady -work was being carried out in repairing the flood damage. Tho bridge gang had reinstated Lovo'e ■bridge, and were now repairing the iecond Grebv bridge. The main road to Cheviot was being kept open by putting the traffic through the fords at tho Mid and Last Gretas. To date £978 had been spent in repairing flood damage. A motion waß passed thanking the settlers lor the manner in which they had assisted in repair wonk by earning forward with teams and men.

Mr H. B. Billens wrote asking to be allowed to hire the ehingle waggons. It was agreed that his request be granted at £1 per waggon per day. Messrs Munro Bros, wrote asking for the trees to be removed on Quigley's road, ao they damaged the pucks. The matter was left in the hands of Cr. Fincham. The Medical Officer of Health wrote drawing the attention of the Council to the nuisance caused by ineffective drainage on premises at Hawarden used as a /stare. It was resolved to act. in accordance with the advice of the Council's solicitor and take steps to have the nuisance abated. The Engineer-in-Chief, Public Woriks Department, forwarded a plan of the North Canterbury highway district, which comprises the Counties of Kaikoura, Cheviot, Amurl, and Waipnra. The chairman was appointed delegate to the Counties' Conference to be held during the month. ELLESMERE. The monthly meeting of the Bllesmere County Council, held at Leeston on Monday, was attended by Crs. J. Cunningham (chairman), J. C. Free, J. P. McEvedy, John Heslop, John Nixon, and A. Quigley. The Hon. Sir Heaton Rhodes acknowledged a letter from the Council in regard to grants for public works, and stated that he would keep the letter -by him for reference when the Public Works Estimates were being considered. Sir Heaton also promised to furnish tho Council with copies of the Highways Bill and of any other Bills which he thought might bo of interest to the Council. Mr P. H. Grace, tree-plswiting inspector for the State Forestry Service, waited upon tho Council, and stated that the Department had been getting into touch with all local bodies with the object of keeping up the timber supplies by afforestation and reafforestation. The Ashburton County Council was now holding £9OOO, entirely derived from the plantations. It wa* desired that all County Councils should place a certain sum on the estimates annually for planting. pinus inaignis and Eucalypti were the favourite trees.

The Council members were oympathetio and decided to take advantage of the treeplanting legislation as opportunity offered. It was decided to set aside £4O per annum, for planting costs. The chairman said he considered that the Highways Bill, if carried through in it 3 present form, would bear very' heavily on Elle3mere County, eapeoially if the main arterial road wero made from Christohurch to Ellesmere bridge and on through, to Ra.kaia.

The chairman and engineer were deputed to attend the Counties' Conference in Wellington. The clerk was instructed to request, by formal notice, the landholders near Baggy Creek to widen it to its original widfch and depth. , _ The Clerk stated that' the original width was 12 feet. .

Messrs W. L. Hutton, W. German, W. H. Jaokman, J>. Millar, T. J. Free andi D. McDonald petitioned the Council to have Manse road, Leeston, metalled between tho town district boundary and the end of the road.—Left to the riding members. The annual balance-sheet showed the Southbridge riding to have a credit of £387 6s, Leeston riding a credit of' £53 7s Ed, and Irwell riding a credit of £485 10s 7d. The Taumutu drainage area account showed a debit of £537, with rates of £97 due, and Government subsidy of £2W to come in, reducing the ultimate debit to £l9O. An application from the Council's foreman for an increase in wages was granted. Discussion took place in reference to the state of the Selwyn ford in line with the main south road. The engineer said that previously the ford had been impassable for tlhree months during the wintsr. The Council had laid netting wire across, whioh provided a solid bottom and a good grip, but a traction engine driver, who had lately Veen complaining about the state of the ford, had run a traction engine across and cut the wire to pieces. The clerk pointed out what he .considered was an injustice in Togard to the respeotiye franchises of County Councilg. and town boards in' certain elections. In the case of power boards, for instance, the people of boroughs and town districts voted on the electors' franchise, whereas country people were restricted to ratepayers' votes. Th Council, doided to send a remit to the CcnmHrs' Conference to the effect that the country franchise be adopted for boroughs, town districts, and counties alike. AKAROA. At the monthly meeting of the Akaroa County Council, there wero present—Crs. E. Hay (chair), J. B. Thaeker. J. Stewart, and C. B. Thaeker. Leave of absence was granted to Cr. J. D. Bruce. Cr. J. B. Thaeker, as ono of the Peninsula deputation to: the Minister of Publio Works in Wellington to urge the'granting of. more Government assistance to repairing damages to roads and bridges caused by floods, reported briefly on the success of tho deputation's efforts. The Government subsidy had been increased to 10s in the £ on a total outlay of £7SOO. Tho Council had on the table a letter from the Minister confirming the grant. The Public Works Department wrote in reference to the Main Highways Act, and forwarded a list of grouped counties. The group in which Akaroa appeared included also Wairewa, Mt. Herbert, Oxford, Tawera, Halswell, Springs, Elleamero, Selwyn, Eyre, Malvern, Ashburton, Paparoa, Ashley and Rangiora Counties, representing an area of 4150 square miles and containing a popuation of 48,915. The rote collected would approximate £90,860, while there were 2710' miles of metalled roads. Considerable discussion took place, the grouping being strongly criticised. Eventually, on the motion of Cr. J. E. Thaeker, it was. resolved to protest strongly against the inclusion with .North Canterbury Counties, and to suggest that Akaroa, Wairewa, Mt. Herbert, ELleamei» and Springs Counties, where there, was some decided community of interest, would constitute a. very much fairer and. more satisfactory group. The executive of the Peninsula War Memorial Society wrote asking for the Council's contribution to the annual upkeep of the. memorial grounds. On Cr. J. R. Tracker's motion it was agreed to grant £2O, provided tho executive supplied balance-sheets. The executive of the riew Zealand Counties Association wrote notifying the date of tho annual conference and asking for remits. Cr. J. D. Bruce was reappointed Akaroa's; representative.

The Council opposed the suggestion from Huwke's Bay thai rooks should be added to the list of injurious birds.

The Akaroa Borough Council wrote drawing attention to the state of the main county road just beyond the entrance to the town. It was agreed to have the road cleared forthwith.

The "Wairewa County Council wrote recommending an amendment to the Main Highways Act to the effect that, as motor trotfio caused 90 per cent, of the wear and tear of the roads, the Act be so amended aa to provide that motor tiamco bo made to pay a greater proportion of the upkeep of the main highways.—Beoeived. The Kew Zealand Forestry League wrotu pointing out its objects and asking for increased membership. In the discussion tiiat followed it was pointed out that the Council hiid already bought 400 macrocarpa from a plantation in Robinson's Bay. Cr. J. B. Tbacker strongly advocated the systematic planting of trees. It would pay the Council to plant trees, fence, and later on cut up ths timber. The chairman suggested that one man should be set aside to plant trees and fence the plots. The chairman was empowered to arrange for this, and it wa.9 agreed, also, to buy 1000 more trees. Applications from Messrs C. Mann, T. M. Shephard and A. Y. Le Lievre, for th<9 renewal of slaughterhouse licenses were granted. A number of tenders tor dog collars wera received, and that of A. J. Parria ,Aiaroa, Was accepted, the price being 10Jd each. The finance report ehowed: Receipts £96 Is; accounts for payment £767 Is 9d; dr. balance 8.N.Z., £9M 6s 4d—Adopted. Cr. C. B. Thacker called attention to the bad state of the Summit road between Little Akaloa Saddle and the Hill Top. The chairman 6tated that he had arranged with the cruahor and engineer about the wort during* the next 10 weeks, when the •weath«r concUUmw zm&i aserost tha stas& fesm mtfr

So many sufferers have found instant relief in St. Jacobs Oil that you should get a small bottle from your chemist to-day, and the moment you use it you will be free from rheumatic pain. Stop taking drugs! Not one case in fifty requires internal treatment. Enb soothing and penetrating St. Jacobs Oil directly upon the "tender spot" and instantly the pain is gone, and a warm comfortable feeling takes its place. St. Jacobs Oil is clean to use and is free from the usual stickiness and greasineas of many so-called pain relievers. Get a small bottle of St. Jacobs Oil from your chemist and see how quickly it gives relief. 2

ing. The engineer had agreed to take charg-e of repair work on the Summit road. The Council then considered the estimates for the yoar. The rutin items wero as under:—

Receipts:—Unpaid rates, to March 81st, 1923, rents and accounts, £280; Government subsidy, £800; rent to March 31st, 1924, £180; licenses and taxes, £220; rate required to meet expenditure, £4S7S 14s lid. Expenditure:—Dr. balance, March 31st » S -^'^ 3G6 Hs 10d i Hospital and Charitable Aid Board's levy, £2877 Oj 7d; reduction in antecedent liability, £3OB 5s 6d; administration expenses, audit, ranger, and miscellaneous, £lO6l lis; interest and sinking fund (£3OOO loan), £195; labour on roads, tools, materials, horse feed .and tree planting, £270. Total, £5953 lis lid. ■o,]t e3timate s were aoproved, and Cr. C B. Thacker gave notice to move that a rate' of 5-12 d in the £ be struck LEVELS. The monthly meeting of the Levels County Umncil waa held in Timaru yesterday Present: Crs. C. W. Orbell (chairman), G. D. Selbie, T. B. Garrick, T. W. BroanaW, C. E. Kerr, and E. G. Cleland. |Mr Orbell thanked the Council for i«electing him chairman. j±e also wisnacl to thank Mr Garrick for the excellent way. in W ,\?\ he had carried ou during his (Mr Orbell e) absence.

Mr Garrick eaid that the Council were glad to see Mr. Orbell back in tho chair again after his illness.

The county engineer reported in detail on work done during tie month. The financial statement showed that the month was started with a debit balance of £1930. Receipts were £2OO. After accounts had been passed for payment, the debit balance at the bank would be £2740. The department of Agriculture wrote that rooks were being added to the li ß t of injurious birda. The Council's opinion on the matter was requested. After discussion no objection was made to the Department's action.' Mr P. J. Rolleston, M.P., wrote that it had been decided to wait on the Prime Minister and Minister of Public Works, and urge the formation of a separate Highways Board for the South Island. In order to meet the argument of the additional cost caused by two boards, it had been decided to suggest that each board should consist of throe members only. These members would be a representative from the counties, a representative from the motorists, and) an engineer from the Publio Works Department—Approved.

The Waihemo County Council forwarded a copy of a resolution they had passed on May 23rd, which read as follows:—"That this Council protests against the system adopted in elections for members of Hospital and Harbour Boards, whereby every resident in borouglha over 21 years of age, whether ratepayers or not, has a vote, thereby giving an undue advantage, to the towns in the election of a representative; and that this Council considers that some amendment is necessary."

It was decided to support the resolution. The Publio Works Department forwarded a; schedule showing the grouping proposed in the Levels / part of the country, in connexion with the Highways Act. : Messrs T. B. Garrick and) F. E, WhiteLoad (County Clerk) were appointed to represent Levels . County at the annual conference of tho County Councils' Association. A deputation .waited on the . Council to, •request that'repairs should be made to the Spur road, in the Hadlow and Oakwood Settlements-.

■The settlements, said the spokesman, had recently been visited by Sir Andrew Russell. On that tour, the'road in question, was the worst encountered. It had taken, the cars all their time to plough their way through it, A speoial rate was suggested to cover the whole riding, so as to provide funds for repairs. - One member of the deputation stated that farmers from Roaewill and Tybho used 'the road in dry weather, cutting up the clay; The. chairman said that there was only atiout £BOO to expend over all the roads in the county except main roads. The deputation said that the Commissioner of Crown Lands was prepared to recommend a Government grant for repairs to the road. ' ••

"Wo had quite enough mud in France without coming back to it in New Zealand," said another member of,the deputation. The chairman said it was a question of finance. If the GoT/ernment would grant a £ for £ subsidy, that woud alter the position. The solution of the difficulty was to endeavour to raise a loan. The Council'was anxious to do what it could in the matter. The chairman promised that the Council would give every consideration to tne request and the deputation, after ospressinir thanks, withdrew.