COUNTY COUNCILS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18302, 9 February 1925, Page 4

COUNTY COUNCILS.

KAIKOURA. The meeting of the Kaikoura County Council took place on Friday. Present —Councillors James Boyd (chairman), D. 13oyd. r. Curran, E. H. Workman, G. T. Shand. Apologies were received for the absence oI C'r3. G. D. Smith. C. Pannell, G. Ka-ton, and P. Acton-Adams.

A rote of sympathy was passed to Cr. Acton-Adams in his recent accident. A I offal opinion wae received concerning' obstructions in Lycll creek, and it was respired that legal notic« be given offending owners of property, and that legal proceedings be instituted after expiry of notice if obstructions were not removed.

The wharfinger (Mr M. Mackle) reported for the month of January as follows:—lnward cargo: General 292 tons, timber !)04 super feet. Outward: General 50 tons, fish tons, wool and skins 718 bales and btir.tllfs, sheep and pigs 1767. Inward chargts £59 Ss !>d, outward charges £94 Is 6d, ship and other charges ±"22 Is lid, wages £76 17s 2d.

In speaking' to the report the chairman said the wharf appeared to be doomed, as c result of the increased freights. Motorlorries had stepped in, and were handling wool and cargo at much reduced rates, and were doing equal work to the steamers. The lorries had come to stay, and the Council would have to consider the question of reducing the wharf staff. The matter could be deferred until next meeting. * Tho Awatere County Council forwarded a claim for £35 8s 7d, being the Council's portion of expenditure in connexion with Clarence bridge. On the account being examined, it appeared that £l7 2s 6d of the claim was for inspections, timber and material jEI, and wages i' 7 4s. The Council considered tho charge for inspection out of ail res3on, and it was moved by Cr. Shand that, t]jo Kaikoura Council pay 45 per cent. >?'' th'! charge, and to per cent, of half cost- of iii:-ncct:ons. The motion was carried.

K. J, Boyd (surfaceman) that a be sent out for cleaning water-tabu's, which application was approvod. He also reported on work done for the past month, and intimated that Clinton bridge needed painting and tightening up, and that the corner of road at Turner's Mistake needed widening, as it was at present in a. dangerous state. The matters were left to the engineer to attend to. Tho Royal Humane Society of New Zealand forwarded a, circular, and asked that the work of the Sooicty bo mado known; also that a vice-president be appointed for Kaikoura. Cr. Curran was appointed vice-pre-sident.

Mr Langbein (Resident Engineer), under direction from the chairman of the Main Highways Board, askod when -the Council proposed to proceed i#ith the reconstruction of the Hapuku river bridge approach. Tho letter was received. Tiie solicitors for Mr H. SnushaJl advised that an agreement had been drafted for the sale and purchase of the Greenhill "paper" roads, The matter was left to the chairman to deal with.

Tho North Canterbury Hospital Board advised that it was intended to secure the consent of the Minister of Health for raising a loan of 4:70,000 at 52 per cent, for the erection of new buildings at Christchurch, Cheviot, Littlo River, Chatham Islands, and Waikari. The chairman remarked that one-third of tho rates were now going to tho Hospital Board. He could flbot sco where tho matter was to end. The letter was received.

It was resolved thai 10 per cent. bo added to all rate 3 remaining unpaid for the curront yrtar. It was decided to put an additional man on the North road for tho pijrpose of putting the road in a xnoro eatisfgetory condition. It was agreed that Stanford's road be completed at Oaro, in accordance with tho request of settlors. Mr R. Gibson, solicitor for Mr A. W. Wilson, advised that be had been instructed to notify the Council that Mr Wilson would not allow any further work to be dono on tho I'uhi Puhi road until a proper understanding with the Council had beab agreed upon. It was decided to inform tho writer that Mr Wilson would be held responsible for any obstruction. The chairman referred to tho Hapuk-.t river approach, stating that in tho North Island the Highways Board liad agreed to the expenditure of £IOOO on a road running parallel with the railway, and it would, only allow £ for £ on the Hapuku approach, which was on a main highway. He considered Kaikoura. was entitled to bettor treatment, especially as tho Hinistcr of 'PubLp Works had agreed to. other arrangement*. Mr R. Gibson, solicitor, on behalf of Mr T. McGregor, w»ited on tho Council relative to the bolanco due on ft contract. lie was advised that if, was Government money, that the work had not been satisfactorily completed, and £3O had b«on retained until tho w>rlc vas completed, to the .s&tisl3.ct;on of the Public Works Engineer. _ Mr E. H. Eccles waited on the Council m reference to the road to his homestead at Clavericy, pointing out that lio bad paid £7OO in rates, last year £123. The Government had made a grant of £6OO. It would require £ISOO to complete tho road. He was willing to be rated if tho -Council would raise n, loan to cover tho ccet of the "it was stated that tho Government should have loaded the place, but it seemed they had dono nothing. As four councillors were absent, nothing could bo dono at tho present meeting, but the Council sympathised with Mr Eccles. A W. Wilson waited on th« Council concerning fencing of Puhi Puhi road. He was troubled with trespassing stock, and his own stock got out. ' Tho engineer stated lhat it was a legalised road, duly gazetted, and no obstruction could be 'permitted. Mr Wilson was advised that it was a question between himself and the settlers concerned.

SELWYN. At the monthly meeting' of the Selwyn County Council there were present Crs. F. J Andrew (chairman), W. Gilmour, T. E. Pearson, G. Hall, W. Stone, G. Sight und N. J. Brown. Leave of absence was granted to Crs. Johnston and Jarnian. The engineer reported that the river fords had been gcoured out during the pwst month and had been put in good order again. The cuttings in the Lako Coleridge Elding had received attention andl repairs made on the Snowden and High Peak wads The engineer waa instructed to make an appointment for tho position of roadman for the Lake Coleridge Riding caused by the resignation of Mr L. Paintin. The dog registration fees were fixed at "s 6d for cattle and) sheep dogs, 6s for rabbit doss and 10s for all other dogs. The clerk was instructed to take proceedings for the recovery of all rates outstanding nnd tho ten por cent, penalty. The engineer in chief. Public "Works Department, forwarded a copy oi the proposed motor-lorry regulations, which wero approved. Messrs Bates and Neil wrote regarding repairs to St. Helens iohA and suggesting that Steventon Creek be bridged and the creek Outlet improved. It was decided to improve the creek autlfit. . , , The Minister of Internal Affairs forwarded rcffuUtions under the Motor .Vehicles Act, igli w ith regard to motor drivers licenses. The .North Canterbury Hospital Board t* that it wa» intended to *sk Z C the consent of. the MmisterofHealth ° tl ,„ Board raising a loan of £7OOO at U per cent., with a currency of fifteen years fm- the purpose of erecting necessary build- * L It was decided that the proposal be Proved and that the Board be written to A«tinc the "urgent need of & m&termty S'ii »«™ '••• OT """ instnicUa to eMiin ««?», .«* Vn<t that other xoads in thft county fr©