COUNTY COUNCILS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18922, 10 February 1927, Page 7

COUNTY COUNCILS.

MALVERN. At the last meeting of the Malvern County Council those present were: Crs. bright (chairman), Gillanders. Cullen, Chamberlain, Adams, Pearson, and Hawkc. The engineer reported that the crusher was temporarily stopped owing to the engine drying it being required for harvest, so tte chairman and the engineer were a"'' l^* 0 * £ obtain the services of another engineif pos sible. and in the meantime to put Ue per f manent men on to repair the worsi j * the Main Highway between ?•»*«»"*£" field. The work done by the crusher d,.r ng the month was disappointing owing to unsuitable nature of the material in ne Pits around Hawkins, only MO y»rds havm. been put through. The Pigsaddlc«»« ■■ d bee,, reformed and metalled where required and was now in good order. During the raontn a trial of a road drag was held. It was nra\n by two horses and did satisfartor> work levelling and filling in potholes. It was pro posed to continue the work * hc ™ "'° metal had been thrown aside I>> mmor .*- Kepairs had also been completed on int Telegraph road. Grecndalc-Burnham, (Jmton s and Coal Track roads. _. A letter was received from the Town Clerk, Christcburch, euquiring whether wic Council had any reserves suitable for planting. and it was decided to reply that they had numerous small reserves all over ino county, „nd were planting tho suitable ones a3 occasion offered. , .. The Medical Officer of Health re, ,r> c the Council to make bylaws relating to tit Health Kegulations submitted to tbcm from time to time, and instructions were pun to usk Iho Department for further information before taking action. , Two applications for auctioneer., licenses were received and granted. The Main Highwajs Board proposed to provide thu major portion of maintaining the road between Rolleston and the Kakain river and wrote to enquiro what part was in Malvern, together with the number of lalld owners, amount of rates levied, etc. The c'ctk reported having written to inform them that no partcof tho road was in Hie Malvern county, as tho lino was tho boundary. Tliero was a road on tho Malvern sido for which Iho Malvern County Council was entirely responsible. This was approved. The hot weather had caused tho usual growth in the water-races, and tho consequent obstruction of water. Tho carctaker'n whole timo was taken up pointing this out to occupiers as it was imperative that during harvest every farm should bo supplied. Tho head works at the Kowai were now in a very' sound state, and If necessary all tho water could bo taken from tlio river so that thcro waR no reason for farmers and others to Imvo to complain of a shortage, if all branch races were kept clean. When the Council put men on to do tho -work it was treated as urK"nt and an extra charge made, as tho Council determined to enforca the bylaw as to tho cleaning of races. Tbo Wsirekn, ttreendale, and Coalgato systems had also plenty of vnlcr, and where shortages had been complained of it had been proved in every instance that the cause mi tho neglect of occupiers to clean their races, thereby causing blockages nnd overflowing of water. Gorso growing on the road frontngos was another cause of inconvenience to the- Council and to users of tho public roads, and notices had been sent out to have tho obstructions removed. A few of the worst cases had been made an example of. The Mayor of Christcburch had convened a meeting to discus? the question of unemployment, and Cr. Cullen was deputed to attend.

I'APARUA. Air James Leslie presided at the recent meeting of tho Paparua. County Council. A deputation from the Hornby Ratepayers' Association waited on tho Council to put beforo members tho need for better transport facilities for tho district. Messrs Winter Colo and L. C. Walker wcro tho spokesmen, and asked (hut a committee should bo formed to go into tho question. After hearing tho views expressed, it was decided that Messrs Leslie, Ryan, Freeman, and tho clerk be tho Council's representatives on tho committee.

Tho secretary of tho Smokeless Fuel Company wrote asking permission to lay gas niairiß on tho county roads. The chairman reported that bo had taken Mr Harper's opinion on tho subject which advised that tho Christchurch Gas Company's Act of 1870 granted tho right to the Christchurch Company, and that tho Council could not grant permission (o a second company without tho authority of a second Act. It was resolved that a reply to tho company be sent in accordance with Mr Harper's opinion. The chairman of tho District Highways Board, Group 11, wroto asking for the number of 'Paparua ratepayers fronting on the main highway between Rollcston and the Selwyn bridge. Tho clerk was instructed to reply stating that no part of this county touches tho main highway between tho parts mentioned.

Tho question of wandering slock was ngiiin disousaed. It had been reported that tlio ranger had poized horses in hames and blinkers on their way from tho harvest field* to the stables. It wag decided to point out to tho ranger that tho Council wis concerned about cattlo and horses running at large, and that, whilo technically tho horses about which tho ratepayc.r wroto wero at large, thoy were not tho class of stock that were dangerous to tho travelling public and a nuisance to landowners. Tho clerk's report dealt at length with tho financial position of tho Council for the balanco of tho current year, and suggested proposals for the next years. Tho possible revenue for thi a year was estimated to be sufficient without recourse to tho bank, but the lean period in May and Juno would require the strictest economy. Tho report dealt with tho question of a term contract and the means of financing over a per" o "- The water supply during tho month nsn not been satisfactory, and tho teams and mon had been working at tho heads on several occasions. Much unnecessary tampering with dams and gauge, had been in evidence during tho dry spell. Tho offenders in this class of offence, wero wrj'hard to catch, but great inconvenience w» bmmm to the consumers, and ■J*™"**?™ travelling had to be done by the ow«"£ Tho final payment in common with the Main South road had been made as also had the final payment of the Hospital levy.

ELLESMERE. The monthly meeting of the Ellcsmcrc County Council was held at Lee.ton orj^lljnfled:—H. Brown, fishing hut at KaKaia mouth to Mrs H. 8. Mtnzi* Fleming, 50 acres at Lakeside to J. »• Ths Government Statistician asked for a return of plantations in the county and of land still to be planted. The Reserves Committeo of the Christchurch City Council made enquiry as to the reserves the County Council intended fo have planted. The cleric was instructed to supply the information desired in each case. „ . . .1.. Trees for planting wero offered by tne State Forestry Service. It was agreed that the engineer should present a report to the next meeting in regard to the planting ol the pines pit reserve on the SouthbridgeLecston road. The Council could not see its way clear to make a grant to the Canterbury Yachting Association towards the entertainment of the crews participating in the contest ,to be held at Lyttelton. The Main Highways Board asked for 0 monthly report on the work done on the main highway and the present condition of the road. The engineer is to furnifch the report. The Board also stated that it had offered to provide tho major portion of the cost of upkeep of the Rolleston-Rakala road, and desired data to find the Ellesmere Council's proportion of the cost of maintenance, as an adjoining county. The engineer u furnishing the required particulars. As instructed at the previous meeting, the clerk presented 1 * report upon a scheme to obtain a better supply of water to the county races, dealing with the iubj»ct under the heads of the supply coming in from the Selwyn County, and of the supply from the Council's own headworks. After considering this special report, and tho report of the waterworks caretaker, the Council decided to inspect certain r»rt J oJ races referred to.

Authority was given the water-race caretaker to serve final notices upon certain property-owners, who had failed to comply with notices to clean races. Cr. Hettop said he had accompanied me engineer when he had met the engineer and caretaker of the Selwyn County Council with regard to water-races. The Selwyn engineer had offered to give his prompt attention to any complaint made by the Ellesmere Council regarding the supply of race water. It remained for the Ellesmere Council to see that all its own races were kept clean, so that full use could be made of the water obtained from the Selwyn County headwords. Mr Charles M. Sheat, of Dansandel. asked that a road leading to his property shou d be shingled and that two water races should be either graded or covered In. It «as decided to have both matters attended to. The Medical Officer of Health requested the Council to serve a doting order upon » resident with r.gard to a hoase °«°P'* J °y him, to take effect until extensive »> t «»"°« and improvements were made. " «■»» agreed to comply with the i«<«»"»:,- ... In a further letter the Health Officer asked the Council to adopt the various health regulation, ieeued by the Department to that they would become permanent by-laws. This requert is also to be complied with. Mr H Edwards, >f Sedgemere. applied f'r a renewal of (he lease of th-i Council's re-

serve held by him. Ths opplication is lo bs considered in connexion with other reserves at the next meeting. Mr John Christcy. of Littlo River, served notice upon tho Council to remove drainage pipes that were put in by tho Council, and illegally discharged cm to his land in the vicinity of Dobbin's ford. Mombcrß of the Council decided to make an inspection in order to acquaint themselves with the portion. Mrs Richard Allen applied for a site for a hut next to Mrs Day's section at the Rakaia mouth.

Tho clerk reported hnvlng replied that there was no site available at tho point mentioned, tho open 6paco being a roadway leading Into tho river-bed. Mr E. R. V. Winter, of Brooksidc, wrote in regard to royalty on shingle obtained from his pit. Tho engineer undertook to interview tho writer with regard to tho Bbifgle. Tho financial statement showed that the rates outstanding wero as follows: —Leestos Riding, £983 2d 2d: Southbridgo Riding £1609 19s 2d; Irwell Riding, £763 4s Od; total, £3456 6s Id. Water rates outstanding amounted to £357 13s. Tho total amounts paid in each riding to dato were:— Lceston Riding, £IWI 0s 7d; Southbridgo Riding, £1730 16s Id; Irwell Riding, £1770 Ms; walcr-raco account, 1350 17s lOd.