COUNTY COUNCILS.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17812, 11 July 1923, Page 5

COUNTY COUNCILS.

PAPARUA. At the last meeting of the Paparua. County Council all the members were present with the exception oi Cr. Morgan, who forwarded an apology owing to illness. The clerk was instructed to attend a meeting at the Christchurch Tramway Board's office to discus the question of a new award lor caahiero and clerka. r X"h& Christchurch uomains Board forwarded a copy of the local Bill dealing with the increased levy on local bodies within the ten rnilo Jiaut. Cr. Freeman, the Council's representative of the .board, explained the pro.isions of the Bill. It wi^3 resolved that in. the opinion of the Council the area to do ratea isnouid ba increased to a * a( iius oi thirty miles from Christchurch, and the Council would then have no opposition to tne annua, levy being raised to iSOJO per annum, provided that Christchurch City paid the same amount as heretofore. By extending the area, the Domain would be practically a .provincial matter as mentioned in the Domains Board's circular. _ In the event of the area not being £>o increased, tho Council would use every endeavour to bkck the passage of the Bill. It was pointed out that while the Domain was appreciated by country residents, it was tho inhabitants of Christchurch who reaped tho benefits. Tha Minister of Agrioulture wrote etating that the Hawke'a Bay County Council had suggested that rooks be added to list of injurious birds and asking for the Council's opinion. It was decided to reply that the birds in question were not considered injurious. The quo3tion of Park roads and their upkeep was introduced by letter from the Christchurch City Council and the AVaimairi County Council. Both bodies forwarded accounts of work clone on Park road 3. The City Council also forwarded a detailed list of proposed work and its cost, and asked if the Council was willing to contribute in the proportion as defined by the Boyal Commission. As most of the work proposed was new work and could not be regarded as maintenance, it was decided to reply that tho Council would adhere strictly to the interpretation of maintenance held by, the la,te Mr Justioo Dennis ton in Chairman, Waimairi County Council v. Chairman, Paparua County Council. The matter was referred to the clerk to deal further with should occasion arise. The "Waimairi County Council wrote stating that as a large '.portion of their county had recently joined Riccarton Borough and the Park had now been included in the city area, the t'aae had arrived for a redisfejjjution of percentages, and asking the Council to appoint two delegates to discuss the matter. Messrs Leslie (chairman) and Maginness (county clerk) were appointed to represent the Council. It was decided to thank tho Waimairi County Council for opening up the matter 'and giving the Council an opportunity of protesting against the injustice of contributing 18 per oent. towards the upkeep of a road several miles from its boundary. Letters were received asking for additional lights in the Tempieton Township and also on Russley road, the laftter to l>o in conjunction with the Waimairi County. It was decided not to entertain either of the applications, both districts being quite rural and rated as such, and the Council could noifc eeo ita way to provide suburban faciliues for rural districts. _ / The clerk was directed to again communicate with the Minister of Public Works regarding the reticulation of the county. An application for a permit to erect another soap works in the county was referred to a committee to investigate. The same committee wil* inspect the By-Product's Company's works about which complaints are being received. Tho clerk's report stated that -the crusher and teams had been at work in the j>it on the Main South road, Weedons, repairing the roada adjacent thereto, principally the boundary road and LarcomSe's Toad. It was expected that the plant would be moved into the Prebbleton pit on Monday to do some much-needed repairs in that district. Crs. P.yrn and Maginness were appointed to attend the Counties Conference in Wellington in Auguat.