COUNTY COUNCILS

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18525, 29 October 1925, Page 7

COUNTY COUNCILS

« —■ GREY. (SPECIAL TO "THE I>RE3S.*'> GBEYMOUTH, October J?. The Grey County Council met to-day. Preterit: Cis. J. W. Hannan (chairman), P. Donnelian, A. Blair, A. Robinson, J. P. Irvine, J. Kya.ll, D. Baybutt, and H. G. Carter. Advice of Government grants totalling £653 14a Od received The Public Works Department loiwarded authority for the expenditure of £V2o 17s Id for the removal of the Nelson Creek bridge en iho old Maisdcn road, tor £IBO for the removal of Urn Mulligan Creek bridge on the same road, lor £250 for the Grev \a!leyi'eremakau road from Lady Lake' to Bell Hal. The Mines Department wrote forwarding £SOO for the deviation of tho road at the Greenstoce-Blat-kwater br.dgc. The Main Highways Board wrote stating it was willing where traffic required it to maintain detcnr roads on a scale s : milar to that adopted by local bodies controlling such dotour roads'. A letter was received from the UnderSecretary of Mines stating that tho Minister had approved of a subsidv of £IOO towards the maintenance of the "road between iiunangn, and the James Colliery, provided tnat plans of the work were submitted to the Inspector of Mines for inspection An objection was received from Messrs Hannan and Seddon, solicitors, en behalf of a client, to the closing of streets in -Ahanra. It was decided in view of the objection that the Council take no action in the matter. In reply to tho CouncTs application for further representation on the- Hospital I Board, tho Director-General of Health wrote that aa the Cobden Town Board, Boroughs lof Brunner and Runanga were entitled to two representatives on a population basis, it would not be equitable to take one from them and increase the county representation by one. Grants of £5 each were made to tho Blackball library and the Knmara goldricids jubilee celebrations, and £lO to the Greymouth Technical College. In regard to the Blackball water supply, tho Under-Secretary of the Internal Affaire Department forwarded a copy of an Order-in-Council conferring on the Grey County Council the powers of & Borough Council. The local secretap' of tho Canterbury Automobile Association wrote offering to subsidise tho Council for various works as follows:—l£3 ic.v taking off comer near Kaiata sawmill and thug improve visibility, i's to improve road on south side of Sevenmile Creek, also asking for improvements at Cameron's and objecting to the erection of gates on tho No Town-Kamaka road. It was resolved' that the Association's offer be accepted, and that the. two latter matters bo referred to the engineer for report. The State Forests, Hokitika, wrote regarding revenue fom Donnelian Bros.' .area, and stating that the area in question is within the Midland railway reserve, and that the matter of royalty will be 'reconsidered and the Council further advised. The Cour.ty Clerk said he had enquired into the matter as the question of importance. was the payment of the full rental ae against only one-fifth paid under the State Forestry regulations. He understood that Messrs Donnelian Bros, had paid at least £4OO in royalties, and under the Mining Act the county would be entitled to all the royalties paid. It was decided to obtain a legal opinion in the matter. Regarding the renewal of th© Lake. Brunner ' wharf at "Mitchell's, to which tho Minister in oharge of Tourist and Health resorts had agreed to contribute £SO and Mr L. H. Morgan, of Lake Brunner, £25, tho Council decided on the recommendation of the engineer, to contribute £25 towards the work. The Under-Secretary.for. Mines wrote with reference to repairs to the -P&roa-Dttngan-ville road, and forwarded a ccpy of tho j'reply sent to Mr J. O'Brion, M.P., stating that the Department considers that the cost of further ropaira should be borne by the Council and • the Dredging Company. The engineer explained that the company would have to pay £l9 .in.-.rates, and -he suggested that the repairs to the reed be left until the cartage of heavy material was concluded.' He added that the. sum of £2O would put the road in order. Tliis was agreed to. Regarding stray stock, it was decided to appoint all roadmen aa rangers with authority to prcßecuto offending owners. It was resolved to communicate with the Kumara Borough Council requesting it to enforce the motor-lorry regulations. The County Clerk waa instructed to prosecute all motor-lorry owners found using any roads within,the Grey County without a license. The County. solicitor wrote 6tating that as the Canoe' Creek bridge was en the county road, its ownership rested in the Council and there was therefore no necessity to pass any resolution taking it over from «<be Punakaiki Farmers' Union. The engineer said the bridge had served a useful purpose to the public, who used it in nreference to the ford, thua saving the Council tho cost of maintaining the ford. It was resolved to advise the Farmers' Union accordingly.