COUNTY COUNCILS.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17941, 8 December 1923, Page 6

COUNTY COUNCILS.

ASHBURTON. Tho monthly meeting of the Ashburton County Council twuj held yesterday. Present—Crs. W: T. Lill (chairman), Vf. G. Gallagher, F. Frsmpton, D. J. Morrow, j. Moore, T. 8. Harrison, A. 3. Hageon, J. Blaikley, A. Horsey, C. Bcid and A. T. Lilley. The chairman said that ho had examined tho Padding Hill Bridge and recommended with the consent of tho resident engineer (Mr Langbein), the structure ho oonciderably shortened. Application for a loan of £16.000 'for the Methvcn high pressure water schemo had been sent to various companies and finally an application for a. loan of £SOOO from the State Advances Department for this year was made. Tho Hon. |. W. .Xasworthy and. Sir Beaton Rhodes had i promised their issistanco in the matter. Rabbit poisoning in tho aouth plantations had not been too successful, and other means wouid have to be considered. The Government Auditor had- made an interim audit and had found things satisfactory. • The reorcscntations which had been made to the' Railway Traffic Manager regarding? I the Wednesday tram to Christchurch had resulted satisfactorily. Regarding the Highways Councils ho had informed the resident j engineer that ho did not think a representa- ' tive would be appointed until the grouping was finally fixed. The terms of the £SOOO loan from the. State Advances Department | towards tho Methven high pressure water snpply were highly satisfactory. He had asked Mr Braunigan, Government rabbit I inspector, whether one of his own men ' could supervise tho laying- of poison in the Council's plantations, and he had replied that the Government rabbiters could not -undertake the work. Cr. Blaikley expressed the opinion that the Council "shouid aptp-ly to the highest ' authority in the matter. The Government Department should be prepared to assist the Council. He moved in this direction. Tho motion was seconded by Cr. Reid and carried. Ou behalf of the Mothven people Cr. Lilley thanked the Council for its aotion in connexion with the water supply achemo. Tho traffic inspector reported that during the past month tho following- vehicles, etc. •had been registered:—Motor-cars, 40; motorcycles, 9; vehicles, 12; halls, 2. Tho amount paid in for heavy traffic represented £43 Cs Bd. A discussion took place on the' iinporFanco of seeing that all tho water races were properly cleaned, especially in view of the great growth of ■ vegetable matter during the present dry weather. It was decided to instruct tho water rangers to inspect and report on all races, and that landowners whoso races were not clean should bo instructed to put them in good condition immediately, otherwise legal action would be ta»cn. A letter was read from Mr C. Brannigan, Government rabbit inspector, drawing attention to the perfunctory ■-'.■ manner in, which the Council's man had poisoned tho Council's plantations. It was decided to employ two men in tho destruction of rabbits up .till tho end of February., B Mr R. Houston, as a deputation from th«r Upper Ashburton Road Board, waited on the Council and asked that a concrete bridge bo constructed over tho "Wakanui Craek on the Main- South roact, near the JJill Stream. Cr. Blaikley expressed the opinion that a good bridge should he erected at thie particular spot, hut th« Borough Council, theUpper Ashburton Road Board and the County Council should each be asked to contribute towards tho cost. It was decided to aajt the county cn- : gineer and the clerk at the U-ptper Aeli- > uurton Rood Board to furnish an estimate of tho cost of a, fiuitlvLo bridge. Cr. Morrow moved that 1 a, bridge be erected over tho creek at tho Brothers crossing, at the same time as tho bridge over Stonoy Creek and the Woolshed Creek were being built. ,*'■■■■ It was decided that the, plans for tho three bridges bo forwarded' to tho Public Works Department for approval, and that lenders for tho work bo called as soon as they wero approved. Tho chairman moved, and Cr. Gallagher seconded, that steps be token to -declare about 4-00. miles of main .district road's county roads, in view of the Highways Act coming into force and that a committee be eet up to decide wjhich particular roads should be declared county io»ds. • Cr.. Reid and Cr. Fiampton each expressed the opinion that before any district main roads were declared county roads the opinion of the ratepayers should, be known - in regard to the abolition of the Road Boards. *" -.- The motion was lost, the chairman and Cr. Gallagher only - voting for it. It was decided to take immediate etupfc to ascertain the- feeling of the ratepayers as a, whole ou tho question of tho abolition of the Road Boards. ' ? The chairman, speaking itf reference to ! the cost of the administration of the Road ! Boards, said it amounted to 21 por cent, au against 6 per cent, of eome of the other county councils. The Hon. J. G. Coates had told, him that tho Ashburton County was the most expensively administered of any county he Itnow of. A number of letters were received from neighbouring county councils stating that, their experience was that the abolition of, the Road Boards in their respective districts had resulted in, cheaper administration and tho work being done more satisfactorily. A circular letter was read from the en-ffineer-in-chicf, Public Works Department, directing attention to the absolute necessity of ensuring that all bark removed from hardwood timber, and which showed signs of having been affected by i>ests was bui'ned ' as soon as xjossible thereafter. The debit balance n-t the bank was reported to be £5578 10s sd, and this, with payments passed at that meeting of £1730 4s lOcl; made the overdraft £7303 is 3d. j The chairman was appointed to attend ! the meeting of the Levels County Council j to be held in- Timaru on the 11th inst., in ~ connexion with the Highways Act, ' A circular letter was received from the Canterbury Progress League asking for financial assistance towards organising a< special r.nblicitv campaign in connexion with thn British Empire Exhibition. Cr. Blaikley said he. would like to see tlm Council grant a si.i'm of money towards I this important-, object. Aphburtcn was a bis county, and it could well afford at least- I £25. He would ■ like to make it more, but tho Council could afford at least £-23. Ho j moved to thia effect. Gr. Gallagher said he had previously been opposed to the grant made to the Progress1/eague, but in this instance he- had much pleasure in supporting. Cr. Blaikley's motion. It was an important arid worthy object for which the grant was atited, and he believed they would get full value for it. The motion was carried unanimously. A letter was read from the resident engineer stating thut he was prepared to lecomrcend the authorisation cf the following works immediately upon receipt of satisfactory proposals from the rfouncil;—The. Hinds River Bridge £ for £ vij to £2sof Slohey Creek Bridge, £ for £, up to £850; Woolshed Creek Bridge, £ for £, v® to £350. ■. „ A petition was received fr?m residents in the Ashburton ■ village si-itlement . area, near the county saieyavds, asking for. a roiul between the railway lino and the Council's reserve to -connect with the Main South road to the town of Ashburton. It was decided to refer tho petitions to the Pest and Telegraph Department, as tho reserve belonged to that Department. A vote of thanks was accorded the cbair■ms.ii for the long continued interest he had taken in the question of speeding lip the Wednesday trains to and from Ashburton and Christchurch, and congratulating him or. having.at last been Successful. It w»s decided that the next meeting be held on Friday, December 21«t, and thai v.o meeting be held in January.