COUNTY COUNCILS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18094, 9 June 1924, Page 4

COUNTY COUNCILS.

ASHLEY. The Ashley County Council mat at Loburn last week. Present: Messrs Barwell, Dawson, Elisor, Fitzgibbon, Miller, O'Halloran, and Philpott. Mr Miller was elected chairman. A vote of sympathy wag accorded the widow and relatives of the late Mr Arthur E. Cook. On the motion of Cr. Ensor, seconded by the chairman, Mr Dawson -was appointed deputy-chairman. The refusal of the Public Works Department to make any grant to the Council for relief of flood damage was further discussed and it was decided to make a direct application to the Minister. The chairman and Cr. .Elisor and the cleric were appointed a deputation to go to Wellington for this purpose. The chairman, with the clerk, was asked to report on the question of obtaining improved accommodation. The Oxford Council wrote with regard to the Gtorgo bridge, approving of a further plank decking with asphalt cover. It was decided to suggest to the Oxford Council that a conference bo held at the bridge at a' time when the resident engineer might be present. Messrs Ensor, O'Halloran, and t.ho clerk were asked to rep-resent the Council. Mr A. Tate's applied for a permit to haul some hundreds of cords of firewood from the Mfc. Thomas riding. ITembers stated that haulage of this kind wouM require a compensation feo on account of special damage to roads, and that this fee would bo heavier during the winter. The matter was left with Cra. Dawson and Philpott to bo dealt with The Public Works Department wrote askIn? the Council if it was prepared: to go on with the Karetu bridge :'it the ford leading to Horsford Downs and the lime-kilns. As the Mn>erikeri bridge had "reoodenco it was decided to reply that tho Karetu bridge would bo built if the Council obtained an adequate grant for relief of flood damage. It was also decided to mako application for grants for bridges in the following ojder: (1) Makerikeri bridge at the StStten ford; (2) Karetu bridge; (3) reconstruction of tho Mill bridge and Croft's bridge, Richardson's track, Glentui, In reply to a request fperm the Borough Council, Raaigiora, it waa decided to contribute £lO towards the cost of the morgue. The ohairman reported on his inspection, with Mr Dawson, of some bridge timber from tho Gladstone wharf. The Forestry Department wrote granting a twenty per cent, reduction of price on account of failure of last wintor'a plantings of maorocarpa. Mr Philpott was asked to deal with the matter and continue planting at • tho Okuku this winlor. Consideration was given to the approximate estimates of works required on the main (highway during the current year, and tho present financial position and the bal-ance-sheet as at March 81st Ifi6t, prepared for tho auditor, were a'so considered. It was stated that some increase wou'd be necessary in the genoral rate of tTin toburn-Wh'to Hock Riding, and that the Ashley traffio bridge loan rato might be halved. The chairman therefore gave notice of motion to strike a general rato of Jd in 4 he above riding, of 3d in the Mt. Thomaß llding, and of l-20d for the Ashley bridge.

EYRE. The monthly meeting of the Eyro County Council was attened by Crs. H. E. Evans (in the chair), Jas. Wright, C. E. Baynon, R. O. Dixon, R. G. Wo/2, and John Lowery. Cr. H. E. Evans, tho chairman for tho past year, was re-elected to tho position for the onsuing year. An application lia/ving come in from the residents of Mill Island for road repairs, it waa decided to put tho work in hand at once. It wns decided to mako a grant of £lO towards the coat of the erection of a morgue lately built in Rangiora. Tho chairman reported that, at a conference of Councils, outride tho Metropolitan Heavy TratSio By-law Group, convened by tho Waircwa. County Council/ to formulate by-laws for tho ccmiitiee outside that group, he hid moved tho postponement of tho matter until the by-laws proposed by the Main Highways Board for the whol© colony had been submitted to the counties, and that the motion had boon carried practically unanimously. A resolution received from tho Pi&ko County Counoil urging th« Government to mako tho regulations covering the importation of stock from countries afflicted with foot nnd mouth disease more • drastic was accorded tho fullest support from tho Council. Tho subject of cleaning a drain in Ashworth'a toad again came befora the Council, and 06 tho ratepayer had not fully complied with tho order made, it was decided to do tho work and charge tho cost to tho landowner. Arrangements wero made to clear gorse from Reserves at Mandevillo and East Eyreton, and fence same preparatory to planting' with pinus insignis. The subject of a bridge at Perrin'e ford, towards which the Council agreed to contribute -tiuuu, Was again alacuasad. It was thought, eii it w.'is proposed to make a now xoatl from tilo end of the Middte Island road to tho Girder bridge, that this bridge was now of secondary importance. The Council decided to a®k the Itangiora, County Council to doicr further aotwa until the Council had been consulted, and to hold a contotence with, the uouncii on the matter of concentrating on tho now road—which was to bo a main higaway—instead of endeavouring to keep the bndgo'project alivo Six tenders were recoived —varying from 3s Id to 4s per yatd—for the supply of 18U0 yards of gravel on the Fornside .Boundary road. Tho tender oi Messrs Woods isros., i of Jfernside, at 3a Id, waa accopted. Tho ciork reported that the Council would now bo wollung on an ovordriUt until tho ratea began to como in. Plans were submitted for a £ve-room«u" roadman's cottage at West Eyreton. A-' fcttnnnco for this .building was aesureu" through tho sale.of timber, without waiting for receipt of the Government loan, it was decided to call for tenders for the erection, to be received at tho next meeting. Mr Evans gave notice of motion that tho Noith road, the itangioru, road, and tho ClarkviUp-Bennotla roud, via tho Eyre bridge, bo declared county roads. Emphatic proteste having been received from the residents of the YVest Eyreton district regarding straying stock at night, the rangor was instructed to, cnae&vou? to lessen tho nuisance. The ciei-K presented estimates of probable ieoeipta and expenditure for the current year, Mid enovved that t-hb West Eyreton .hiding had got Lehmd, and tuat, uu.c-sa tiio tonds were neg.ected, it would ronwin permanently behinu if tiio rate in that Riding was increased to tho fcths of a penny paid by the ratepayers in tho Eyre Riding. It was decideu to give notice of motion that a rate ot |tlis of a penny bo struck over tue whole county, to bo payable on July Slat. ' _ ■>,. Tho engineer reporte3 estimates of new work proposed:—Widening at Rico'a homestead, iilbO; taking land and improving Profit's corner, £120; new bridge and approaches at Cherry s ford, £350; lengthening culvert at Burgess's ford. —55. It was decided to undertake tho following road repairs Cherry's ford to Eyre bridge, Evreton church to Two Chain road, Two Chain road from Eyro river to Boundary road, Fernskk; Oxford-Ohoka road from Kennedy's road ti> Vfater-rnco crossing. It was agreed to improvo various othex roads in tho Swannanoa district by tho' use of traction engine and lwid grader.

TAWERA. At the annual ' meeting of the Tawera County Council, there wero present, Crs. W. K. McAlpine, J. Milliken, W. M. Williams, R. Milliken, H. a. Miller, and E. JR. Gillanders. Mr W. McAlpine waa re-elected chairman. At the ordinary meeting which followed, the Hospital Board notified that tho levy for the current year would be £573 4s 10d. It was decided to endorse a resolution from the Piako County Council urging that more stringent regulations should bo instituted to guard against 'the introduction of foot and mouth disease. It was resolved to apply for a £ for £ j subsidy from tho Government towards the i erection of a light bridgo over the Little Kow&i river. It was considered that the existing bridge over the Hawkins at the Mill was capable of being made fit to carry the required light ■ traffic, and in consequence no provision was made in thp estimates for tho current year for the erection of the "suggested new bridge at the lower crossing. The lento of Rea- 977 at Russell's Flat was transferred from Mr J. T. Bloor to Mr J. H. Jebaon, subject to a certain condition being fulfilled. MALVERr ; At the annual meeting of tho -J-ah'orn | County Council, at which all members were | present, Cr. H. A. Knight was unanimously ; re-elected chairman. Tho notice given at last meeting that a i rato of three-eighths of a penny in the Cour- I teaay and Shaffisld Bidicsa, and. » half-

penny in tho Homebunh Riding, bo struck, Was confirmed. Tho chairman and Cr. Reid reported having lot the contract between Coalgata and Whitacliffa for repairs to the road, to Al'r C. Stuart. This was approved. Grading has been held up for about 0. week owing lo wet weather, but the roads are now dry enough to commence, and the main highway. will be graded from tho boundary of the I'aparua County to that of Tawera. A number of the by-roads can bo graded with tho horse grader at a yreat Saving. It is hoped to be able fo use the smaller implement on tho Ilills road abovo Austin's bridge, where the road is bo narrow that there is difficulty in passing two teams, and an effort will be made to widen it about [ six feet. I Tho chairman and Cr. H«uvlre inspected ft I road near Hush Gully, but as it ia in ' swampy ground, it was decided unserviceable, and the purchase of a Btrip of higher land was recommended. ( Tho material iB on the ground for tho renewal of Whytft's bridge, on the Homebtish and Kowai road.

IVY OF LINWOOD LODGE.

A.D. Bro T. AY. Burgess presided over a very largo attendance ut tiio half-yearly mooting, held in 'the Orange Hall. THo condition of sick brethren was • reported upon by tho Burda and sic!: pay £lO was passed for payment.. Olio maternity boum claim was received una payment made. candidates sought adiuiision and wc-ro received nito the lodjo by tho usual ceremonies, which were carried out in a. splendid and efficient manner. Two candidates were proposed for. membership. The balance-sheet of the lodge was presented tind received. Tho audi tore complimented tho lodgo on its financial and membership position, al3o the secretary and treasurer for tho manner in which tlrcy Itept the books. Broa. Batca and Luxton reported on tha work of (ho U.F.S. Dispensary, and infoimed tho lodgo that all was running well and tho financial position fairly sound,- but strongly urged all brothers to fully patron'ao the diauensiiry, us by doing eo they were

strengthening th'eit own institution. D.P. Bro. M. O'DonaJiuo and Gd.. Secretary Bro. J. Burg«S3 acted as scrutineers for the election of officers. Tlife following were electedA.D.; Bro. O. Ironside; V.A., Bio. G. Kuseell; secretary, Bro. A. B. Palmer; treasurer Bro. 11. B. Luxton; milluta secretary, Bro; S\ Lcggo; in guurd, Bro. W. Griffith; out guard, Bro. L. Smart; A.D. bards, Bro. J. Childd, C. Dunford, G. Usher; V.A. bards, Bro, L, Ennia, It. Bromley; musician, Bro. E. H. George, auditor, Bro. F. Legge; distress committee, A.L)., secretary, treasurer, two A.D; bards, and Bros. (J. Bates and E. Widdowson. D.P., Bro. M. Q'l)onohue, assisted by P.D.P. Bro. C. Tonkin, then installed tho newly*, elected officers in their respective chairs in a very impressive toaunsr. A hearty vots of thanks and- appreciation \ybb extended to P.A. Bro. B. Bigg for buying fulfilled his term ah A.D., and he wi» presented with, a framed P.A. diploma. Congratulations were extended to the installing officers on the excellent, manner in which they conducted tho installation. Next lodge night. Grand Lodge officers will pny an official visit/

Tlie lluia: Is it extinct ? is a question asked anil replied to by the Kew Zealand. Native Bird Protection Society. It says: Persistent reports come to hands of this bird having been seen in widely different localities, . liiid the authorities and experienced bushmen am 1 bird callers have made persistent efforts to verify these reports, but without success. If this existence of tlie species can be definitely proved, then efforts will be made to have the locality deelured a sanctuary, and thtf birds efficiently protected. Seafchers are out in all'likeiy situations on every opportunity, and there is every reasonable hope of success. Bird-loverß are, however. warned as to giving correct localities where they may see the bird, in order to avoid the possibility of the last of the species being shot by some selfish collector to adorii his individual or museum glass case.