COUNTY COUNCILS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 17985, 31 January 1924, Page 14

COUNTY COUNCILS.

GREY. (SPECIAL' TO "THE PBE3S."> • ■ GREYMOTJTH,' January 30. '•"', The monthly.' meeting "of the" Grey County Council was held to-day, Mr J. "W. Hannan being ■. in the chair. ■ Tho Treasury forwarded £llsO lis 4d goldfields revenue for tho three months October,, November and December. It was stated that this was the largest amount received lor such period.

The following resolution was carried: "That the : Council protests, against any interference with' right already granted under ijho Mining Act in respect of timber, and particularly at the i proposal evidenced by the correspondence between the State Forestry Department and the Taumarunui County Council of State control of sawmill tramways already constructed under grants legally made by the Wardens Court as this would • constitute a. derogation of rights already granted by the Crown for a definite .term of year 3." . : v ; ' The chairman said it was proposed that tho J>eparUnent should take over the tramways of sawmilling companies with a view to their use for tho transport of timber and goods owned by others. An. application waa received from Mr W. J. Joyce, on behalf of Messrs Armstrong and Nyberg, for, 'permission to cross -the Grey Yalley-Tercmakau road at the 20 mile peg with a *-ater race. It was decided to grant the application subject to the usual conditions. ■

In response to a complaint by a. county resident, it was resolved •to obtain a- report from the engineer for next meeting, regarding the state of the Inchbonnie-MitcheLTs track. .

The Minister of Public Works wrote intimating, regarding the proposed vote of £3OO for tho Ten. Mile Creek Bridge, that ho could not agree to the Council's request. It was resolved again to approach the Minister.

The Under-Secretary of the Mines Department wrote stating' that the votes of £6OO for- Kiver Bridge and £3OO for Little Hohona Kiver Bridge had- been cancelled. The engineer was instructed to write'. asking the reasons for the cancellation. Only one' tender, having been received for a number of county works, it was decided to leave the matter of calling- further tenders in the hands of the engineer, who stated that it was .. possible co-operative contracts would have to be arranged. The tender of. Mr W. Burns-of £235 for roading between Halters and Haupiri was accented. The matter of providing access for settlers at Craigieburn was referred to 'the engineer to confer with the district' engineer, P.W.D.

It was decided to apply to the Advances to Settlers Department for a loan of £230 for 'the erection of three dwellings for workmen. An application by ike Hgabere fanners for a number of minor improvements were referred to tho engineer. JNo action was taken regarding a request from the Brace County Council that, the Council EUprrart a resolution regarding section 14, clause B of the Main Highways Act to the .. effect that the revenue from the tyre tax should be' distributed annually. A deputation was received from motorlorry ownera with regard to the proposed new county taxation. Mr P. Donneilan acted a3 spokesman. The viewa expressed by the deputation were that £52 per annum, tho present charge, was sufficiently high. It was thought that taxation ehouid be levied on motor-car 3, which did the damage. The new charges proposed by the Council would prohibit motor-lorry traffic altogether. It was also felt that sa-wmill owners who were damaging rodds should contribute their chare to the upkeep. . ~ ~ . Mr Higgins, county engineer, aaid that a motor-iorry running to Puakaiki was playing havoc with th« roads. The only way to ma,ko every person pay his share was by a toll, the collection of which had been authorised. It was decided to hold a special) meeting of the Council on February 18th, when a further conference will be held with the lorry owners. It was resolved in connexion witn tlio proposed water supixiy for Blackball that the engineer report on the jossiblc schemes at tho specialvmeeting.vßlackball ratepayers to appoint a deputation to attend'the meeting.

' ■ AKAHQA V _ .. . ; v , ; ... At- the.last-meeting of the;>Mairos ;Coanty Council the,re ■;were prcaenfcrrCrs., E. 'Hay (chairman),-J. K. Xhacker,;. F: - Stewart, W; ; D. Macphail,. and C. B. Thaoker. An apology was received from Cr. J. D.. Bcuce. Applications.' for auctioneers' licenses Were granted to Messrs H.' Matsjon and, Co., Pyno, Gould, Gninness, Ltd,, and ,the NJZ.; Farmers' Co-op.. Association. The Pigeon -Bay, Okain's Bay, Le 'Bon's Bay, and Akaroa-Wainui Road Boards, and the Wairewa County Council applied for the use of , the Council's' crusher. After considerable discussion, it was agreed that; the ©rusher, should' iinisli the metal at Wainui first, then'.travel up the Okain's' Bay road, break the metal at the Summit, go 'down to ie Bon's, finish there, return via the -Summit and liong. Bay road, and break _tho. metal for. Akaroa-"VVr*nui...Road Board. It was. further'decided that Wairewa be informed' that ■it ' could not hove the crusher before the end" of March. ■ With regard to the needs, it vas agreed that tenders be called- for the supply of metal at two':-places 'in Barry's Bay,-; and that the ' Council's own staff ©art metal off' the Duvauohelle beach." 'The Wairewa County -Council Wrote convening, a conference of local bodies in the Main Highways district, .to be ..held in Chrislchurch on February 6th.* The'' chairman was deputed\ to represent Akaroa County.' ■•';" .The Public "Works Department,,wrote; asking for information regarding expenditure on the Main traffic road in the County during the past three years. The statement prepared by the clerk showed - that £2436 had been spent "in that time; On 13 miles of road. • ■ ;■

The Public Works Department wrote also in reference to ..a drain to. bo run from the now post office in Duvauchello to the .beach. Cr. J. H. Thacker reported that he had seen the post office people several timca about the matter. They had agreed to expend £lO on the drain, and the Poßtal Department 'to -pay" : another "£S towards the cost of levelling the approach to the office. A written report' was received from Cr. J". D. Bruce detailing the. proposals regarding improvements to the foreman's house, including a satisfactory water supply. A long discussion took, place on this lastmentioned matter. "' The water would have to bo brought through Mr lo Valliant's property. A concrete tank and piping would; be required, while: it would be necessary to obtain a proper easement. Eventually the ■ chairman and the clerk-were-empowered to arrange- 'the' matter; with- Mr le Valliant,-: rind to'-' have the necessary papers drawn up. and signed.

The chairman reported that he had attended anothl.-r meaiting. of the District Council on- Januaryloth, at which a list of .main--highways" had tee-a drawn up. A very fine feeling animated the fleeting and the agreements mads had been reached in a. veuy amicable spirit. He had applied en AJcaroa's behalf for the main traffic road . and tho Summit road. The former had been granted; , the latter was hcla over. According to ' the. Act; three members formed - tno executive.. . The ' feeung of the meeting was that there "should bu at least five. .Mr J. Coop had been nominated to lepresent Banna .f eninsuia. .besides the main highways, the meeting had considered the question of uniform by-laws. 'l'ho mileage of main highways applied, lor was rougtuy SaO. iiany vi tlie local bodies were suit dubious is to tho cost of the road upjtcep under tho ilaia Highway .Board's control. The ' road Irom -adot/u----karara to Xcddington had. been included In tlie list, aa it -was the only outlet for tho ilount Herbert County^ The finance Eepart showed:—Receipts £163 17s, accounts priaented £956 15s cd, dr. balance Bank of New Zealand £2589 lis Cd. Considerable. di&cus3ion took place on the question of the Government subsidy granted to help repair damage caused by tie floods of January and Slay of last year. There was some misapprehension as to tho intentions of the Government in this respect. Eventually, on tho' motion of tho chairman, Cr. J. R. Thacker was deputed to interview the Minister of Public Wqrk3 in Wellington, with a view of arriving at an agreement that would be satisfactory to the Peninsula local bodies.