COUNTY COUNCILS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18015, 6 March 1924, Page 8

COUNTY COUNCILS.

AMURI The Amur; County Council met on Saturday. Present; Crs. M. Bethell (chairman), W. Harold Atkinson, T. Beaven, J. W. Black, H. R. Davison, R. L. Jamieson, R. Mercer, and G. L. Rutherford. Leave of absence was granted to Cr. W. Hanmer Atkinson. The engineer reported that the Whalesback metalling contract had been favoured' with ideal weather, and 3ht>uld be completed in a few days. Owing to large numbers of travelling sheep cutting the up the road, it had become necessary to regrade it. Before ! the contractor left the district several bad slips would be metalled. The grader team had almost completed removing the slips between tho Saddle and Whalesback. Work at Hell's Gates cutting was now complete, and the roadway through to connect with Latter's Service read was almost completed. The work at Ivcrach's cutting was finished, and tho creek had been bnilt up, and a good ford made. It was necessary to plant a few poplars abovo and below the ford, to prevent future wash-outs. It was intended to fill up the approach to the bridge near the homestead. Metalling work had been carried out on Waiau-Kaikoura road, Beaven's and Sherwood road, Pahau to Culverden, and to Culverden township. The Pahau river etopbank was now completed. The other grader team was at present double grading the road from Mouse Point to Culverden, and would shortly give a single grade to HurunuiPahau river section. The Mandamus Gorge work on the Main Wall was now completed, and work had been commenced 1 at the main groyne. l'he material for the Bourne bridge wm on order. The re-erection of the Wandle bridge would be commenced at an early dat^.

Mr J. Fidlin wrote regarding work in the Hurunui river district. The engineer was directed to interview Mr Edlin in regard to repairs to the Hurunui bridge. The poundkeeper, Waiau, wrote with regard to the condition of the pound. It was decided to inspect it in the near future. Mr G. Gelfs wrote oomplaining of a shortage of water in hi 3 water-races. It was decided that the chairman and Crs. and Jameson, with the engineer, inspect the races.

Messrs J. Chapman, D. D. Jelfs, G. Amer, and W. Brydon wrote asking for an increase in wages to enable them to meet the present? high price of horse feed. It was decided to grant an increase of 3s per day per team of two horses.

It was decided to acoept the offer of the Kaikoura County Council with reference to tho maintenance of the road' at Latter's cutting. Mr P. M. Hamilton wrote consenting to Mr Pi. A. Hoban erecting a fence on the west side of the trees adjoining his boundary.

Messrs Long Brothers were granted permission to creot a slaughter house on St, Leonard's road.

The financial statement showedßecoipte: General account £l4O Ife sd, maintenance £22 103 10d, general account dr. £4502 (la fed, •3rds and 4ths account cr. £222 10s lOd, maintenance cr. £8 10s 7d.

SELWYN. The Selwyn County Council met on Monday. Present—Cre. P. J. Andrew (chairmac;, W. Gilmour, T. E. Pearson, G. Hall, W. Stone, B. M. Izard, G. Hight-, .K. H. Johnston and 2s". J. Brown.

Tho engineer reported that the repairs to Raima Gorge Bridge road had been completed and tie contractor was metalling Kiley's road. The iron store cutting had Been scoured badly for about a mile in length by a cloud burst during the early part of .February. Repairs would be made as soon the present shingle contract was completed. The contract for shingling Terrace road had. been completed. The engineer also reported that Dunsandel road required about 1000 yards of shingle to put it :n repair. It was decided to do this work as soon as possible.

The Canterbury Automobile Association wrote offering to contribute towards the cost of putting a. concrete floor across the Gtream at Camping Gully. It was decided to do the work as soon as possible. Tho Sipringe-EHesmare Eflecjiric Powef Board wrote stating that the electric poles ir. the Dunsandel area would be erected so as to cause as little obstruction to traific as possible. Messrs Dennia and Mallard, the lessees of em»U grazing run, 90, wrote aakiag

that arrangements be made with tlxe Commissioner of Crown Lands to alter the eito of the proposed bridge over the Hororata River at Rockwood to McKie's Ford. It waa decided to apply to the Commissioner for the necessary consent. Mre Danlop applied for planks to be put across the two creeks on Riversleigh road so as to enable children to get to the nearest school in winter time. The request tras granted. Mr F. Collison applied for a slaughter house license, which, wm granted subject to the approval of the officers of the Stock Ueoartiment. , , It waa decided that the necessary plant be obtained for mixing' poisoned grain, and that both wheat and oats be jwisoned for distribution to farmers for the destruction of email birds. 'lt was decided to write | 0 the Malvern County Council with regard to the dangerous position of the motor bridge over the waterrace on Coalgate road, and to suggest that the race be covered in. . * It was agreed that notice be given to all property holders who had not cleaned their water-races to do the work within seven days, otherwise the Council will put men on to do the work at .their expense also that any person found interfering with the water-race gauges be prosecuted. _ The secretary of the Un,onat T)nnsandel wrote asking that when water Ta I culverts were placed across roads sufficient roam be left for stock to obtain a drink. The matter waa. left in the flatus the engineer to arrange. WAIPARA. Th<s monthly meeting cl tho V, aipara County Council waa held on Saturday, Present—Crs. N. D. Campbell <<***»«>. A. Cameron, H. U- Anderson D. J. Vozk, A. T Allan, and H. E. Fmckam. . A special order was passed authorising a loan of £4OOO for repains. to roads and bridges caused by flood damage. The clerk reported that Tatee to the amount of .£66 were still outstanding. It was resolved that he take immediate steps to recover the game. It was resolved to amend the motor lorry by-law by making a charge of £5 per annum on all vehicles feeding the railways. It was agreed to advertise for a head teamster at .£l9O per year with a free house. Petitions from the following .for tho eroction of telephone lines were granted:—T. Croft (Omihi), Mtb D. Sidey, P. McFarlane, D. Sidey, Mss Mason, and H. A. Reese.

Tho clerk was instructed to take step 6 to see that all persons hawking in the county take out hawkers' licenses. Mr F. U. I}alzel! wrote offering to fence in a. water-hole on the eide of the Dalmeny road if the Council provided the material. It waa resolved to agree to Mr Dalzell's request.

Mr George Gibb wTote in reference to the ford on Tobin'3 road. It was resolved to have tho matter attended to.

The tender of Mr D. McLachlan was accepted for the shingling of the Allandale road from the "Washpen pit. The clerk was instructed to prepare estimates for thr, coming yeai's work, the general rate to be struck at tho end of April and a, discount of 5 per cent, be jriven if paid within tie thirty days. It was rwolved that in future, no deputations be admitted unless forty-eight horns' notice has been fnven to the clerk, and the nature of tue business Btated.

eyre. The monthly meeting of the Eyre County Council was attended Dy Cre. H E Vv n ;,in the chairl, C. E. Baynon, Jag. Wright 8 John Cowens, E. G. Wolff, anc i R° o' Dixon.

Correspondence was read from Me«srs fiar per, Pascoe, Buchanan and Up ham and from :c'- -North Canterbury Freezing Co m regard to the improvement to a road behind the freezing works, that the company had contracted to form. It was dee'ded that several councillors ajid the enginecshould meet representatives from the company to try to arrange the matter.

The clerk having reported tiiat rates amounting to £lB5 and rents amounting to £lO5 were still unpaid, it was decided to take action against all persons havin<* amounts unpaid on the 17th inst. °

The chairman reported that as a result of a meeting well representative of the Hangiora County Council, it had been decided to endeavour to acquire a portion of the Matheeon Estate as a grave! pn. It was resolved that the tax on dogs for the current year be ns tor sporting, 2s 6d

for sheep and cattle dogs, and Is for rabbit dogs. Cr Wright was authorised to have a gate repaired' on the road leading southward from tba Empire bridge, and to place thereon J notice that the BEume was the Council s property. Cr. Wolff urged the necessity of straightening the road and the ereotion of a new bridge at Cherry ford. After discussion it wae decided to wait until the road had been proclaimed a main road, and then the Council could receive half the cost from the Highways Board. Cr. Baynon advocated the widening of Rice's road, just opoeite Mr Rice's house—a long promised work—before entertaining the idea of the new work.

At a special meeting called for the purpose a special order was passed in regard to the raising of a loan of £2OOO, to be need in building three cottages. The engineer reported that Campbell'* contract in the Tram road was almoet completed, that the northern approach to the Empire bridge had been asphalted and gravelled, that various bridges had been painted, fences impaired, and creeks cleaned. A suggestion was. made that traction engines running continuously on the same road, day after day, should be charged a higher fee than £5, or thalt they be prohibited from using the roadl unless some arrangement was made with the owners to recoup the County for tho damage done. ELLESMERE. The monthly meeting of the EUesmere County Council was held aif Leeston on Monday. Present—Cre. John Cunningham (chairman), Andrew Quigley, J. P. McEvody, and J. C. Free. ' Crs. Healop and J. Ntton sent apologies for absence. Messrs W. Dovle and Amyes waited on the Council, as lung for a culvert to improve their drainage by taking a.way the water from Boggy creek. The engineer sind Or. Quigley were instructed to inspect and report. Mr W. JoSnston requested the Council to clean the drain on Bcetham road, which had floode3 his property. The request was agreed to. Messrs S. Graham and George Cooper waited on the Council, asking for improve- j ment to a dangerous corner near their properties. They were prepared to meet the Council in the matter of land if required. It was decided to make an inspection with a view to having improvements effected. Cr. Free said he went with the engineer to nee the water-races at Greig'a, and found that the Selwyn County complaint had been justified. Ho thought that when the races were next cleaned, EUesmere should send up its teams ajid assist.

Hon. Sir R Hoaton Rhodes, M.P., replying to fne Council's request for a subsidy of £SO towards the cost of rebuilding the Selwyn river embankment *t Coe's ford, forwarded the decision of the Minister of Public "Works on the matter. The Minister stated that .MiO, at the request of Ilic Lands Department, was placed on the estiunder the Lands Miscellaneous Vote, the whole "work costing £282. It had since transpired that only freehold property should have come "under th:a head. He, therefore, did not think it advisable to establish a precodent by contributing iowards the cost of the work.

It was decided to refer the matter back to the Minister, pointing out that Crown lands were affected.

Mr P. R. Climie, organiser of the Canterbury Progress League, and Me3srs H. Macartney and Jaa. Storry, members, waited on the Council with a view to enlisting anew its support. The deputation enumerated some of the work done by the League, and spoke of its advantages to country districts. The League wie sorry to find that any one Council ebon Id want to eever its connexion, as this might result in a general breai-up of the League. The chairman *sked if the League was not allowing the Government to evade its national responsibilities in regard to mail eorrices.

Mr Climie said that other districts where the League was not operating did not get Government porrices.

*-r. Free eaid the Council objected to the Leagun requesting a contribution on tie valuation basis, and fixing the amount. Or. r ixon, who -rena not able to be present, wrote statin; that he would be in favour of supporting the Canterbury Progress League, which undertook work that other bodies di>l not haw He. Djacussion was held over until a full meeting of the Council.

Mr TC. G. Dalzei! complained tbftt the water-rac* culvert on Cooper'i road con -

the amount <>t w|ter > mere direction. [ would he pleased■ if i Jenkin's pit; made , as possible. . The qtIOTfIEHKHM referred to the that the pit was The Council Canterbury' Hospital '"BofiTOHBBBB [ casualty weid ,be Maternity Hoepitil, Bhodes be agftfn