COUNTY COUNCILS.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20908, 15 July 1933, Page 9

COUNTY COUNCILS.

—♦ — HEATHCOTE. The Heathcote County Council met last night. Present: Crs. C. Flavell (chairman), W> Kerr, J. F. Scott, A. G. Williams, E. Rowse, W. W. Scarff, and F. W. Freeman. St. Andrew's Ilill Sewerage. The special order passed at a meeting held on June 9, regarding the St. Andrew's Hill sewerage loan of £2750, was confirmed at a special meeting, and at the ordinary meeting a letter was received from the district engineer of the Public Works Department stating that the amended plans of the scheme had been approved. Rates Levied. It was decided to levy the rates for 1933-34 as advertised. The rates are payable in one sum at the council's office on August 1. Counties' Conference. The agenda for the conference of the New Zealand Counties' Association conference at Wellington, on July 26 and 27, was received, and the Institute of County Clerks advised that the institute's conference would be held in Wellington on July 25. Reduction of Electricity Charges. The Canterbury Progress League acknowledged receipt of figures supplied by Mr J. R. Templin to assist the league in its endeavour to lower electricity charges to county Councils and power boards. Application for Grants. The clerk reported having forwarded to the Public Works Department applications for grants, (1> of £4OO for widening and metalling Mount Pleasant road from Bellevue road to the summit, the council being prepared' to pay £ 100 additional; and (2) of £4OO lor work for the protection from continual flooding of land in the Bexlev district, the council being prepared to find £IOO additional. Works Done and in Hand. The inspector reported as follows: Avon—After a conference with the City Council's works committee, Page's road, from Cuff's road to Ottawa road, had been put in repair and 10 yards of screenings put on. Six chains from Bexley road to Kia-ora street, which was in bad repair, had been scarified, graded, and coated with blinding and screenings. Mitchell's corner has been reshaped and 10 yards of screenings put on High street. Bromley—Most of the roads in 'this riding had been patched, graded, and rolled, and were now in fair order.

Cashmere—At Valley road about 80 feet of 18in concrete pipes had been laid. The road reserve had been cleared and a start had been made quarrying rock and forming the road. The river bank was being cleared from Colombo street bridge and opposite Bowenyale. Cashmere road from Hackthorne road to the county boundary had been tar-sealed, second coat.

Hillsborough—The 12in concrete pipe culvert across Avoca road at Abbott's had been laid, and a turning place was being formed at the upper end of Avoca road. Chapman's load had been patched with 22vds of metal. Aynsley terrace and Port Hills road, from Scrutton's road to Garlands quarry has been scarified and metalled. Opawa road, Garland's road, and Station road had been patched. Valley—The concreting of stone kerbing along part of Hills road and Martindale road highway was about finished; 22 yards of screenings had been put on Bridle Path road, 10 yards on Flavell street, and 16 yards on the highway. Anangements had been made for the improvement of bad parts of the Bridle Path road on the hill to the Summit road. Mount Pleasant—At Rocky Point on thu Mount Pleasant road, rock was being quarried and the road graded up. About 15 chains of the concrete kerb along Sumner road footpath was now completed. Access to the Sea. The chairman and Cr. Williams were appointed to represent the council at the conference, called for August 2, to go into the question of the best means of gaining more direct access from the city to the sea; failing the chairman, Cr. Rowse to be the other representative. Arising out of a letter from the Christchurch Unemployment Committee advising that St. John Ambulance outfits for relief works were obtainable from the St. John authorities at 14s 9d, the clerk reported that the reI quirements for the various ridings were being ascertained. ! Cr. Scarf? said that two were required for the Cashmere riding. The invitation from the Aranui School Committee to the council and staff to attend an industrial exhibition to be held on August 8, was accepted. The action of Cr. Williams at the sitting of the Conciliation Council yesterday regarding county councils' drivers, in suggesting that there should be a separate award for county councils in the metropolitan area, was approved. The Health Department reported unfavourably regarding a small wooden dwelling in Hills road, Avoca, and the report was approved. It was reported that the Tramway Board proposed to remove part of the tramway loop between Cuff's road and Ottawa road. It was agreed to pay half the cost of the installation and the annual rental of a telephone to the residence of the ranger, the City Council to pay the other half. It was decided to recommend the renewal, of a slaughter-house license to Mr W. V. Flute, Bromley.

RANGIORA. The monthly meeting of the Rangicra County Council was held yesterday. The members present were Mr W. A. Stalker (chairman), and Crs. A. Mcintosh, G. K. Crysell, H. A. Tallott, J. M. Young, and J. Brosnan. Leave of absence was granted Cr. M. C. Ormandy, on account of illness. The chairman reported that the recent drive in the county for the Rangiora arid district relief of distress tund, had been most successful, and he was very pleased with the liberal response.

The traffic inspector reported that since the last meeting of the council 17 new licenses had been issued. The Canterbury Automobile Association had erected signs at Wetherel and at Waikuku School, as recommended last month. Twelve cases of breaches of motor regulations had been heard in the courts during the month, and fines had been inflicted.

The foreman reported that shingling had been carried out on Oxford road and Ashley street, and these roads were now in good order. The main drain was now receiving attention, and a good deal of general maintenance work in cleaning drains and repairing roads had been carried out. As men had been absorbed on the Ashley river protection work, unemployment had been growing less in the district.

The financial statement for the month of June showed receipts to have been £G92 14s 3d and payments .f-.nDri l*ss 4rl. The bank debit balance, as shown by the pass book, was£2297 13s "id.

The Eyre County Council wrote acknowledging receipt of the council's ltttcr suggesting the granting of an extra allowance to the traffic inspector for expenses. The letter stated that the Eyre council thought that consideration of any increase should be held over until the end of 12 months' service by the inspector. It was decided to send no delegate this year to the New Zealand Counties Conference.

A transfer of the lease of a section on Bell's road from Mr J. C. Banfleld to Mr Kenyon was granted. Acting on instructions from the medical ofiicer of health, it was decided to issue instructions to a resident of Cust to abate insanitary con-

ditions on his property there. It was decided to observe Arbor Day, as recommended by the Minister for Internal Affairs, on Wednesday, July 19. The chairman gave notice to move that a general rate of Jd in the pound be struck to cover estimates amounting to £0159, and a hospital rate of ]d in the pound on the capital valuation. SPRINGS. The monthly meeting of the Springs County Council was held at Springston on Thursday. Present were:— Crs. J. S. Simpson (chairman), P. V. Bailey, J. W. Kime, J. Woods, C. H. Watson, and J. H. Williams. The clerk reported the receipts for the month to be £343 17s lOd, and the credit balance as follows: —Springston riding, £561 9s Id; Greenpark riding, £lO2 4s 3d. Accounts for payment totalled £775. Advice was received from the North Canterbury Hospital Board that the Springs levy for the current year would be £llOO 12s 2d, a slight increase on last year's levy. Acknowledging receipt of the council's letter supporting a request for a reduction in audit fees, the Minister for Internal Affairs, stated that the Government could not favourably consider making a reduction at present. The expenses of administration of the Audit Office, in common with other Government departments, has been curtailed with the object of assisting to balance the budget.

The health inspector reported having paid 10 visits to the district. No cases of infectious disease had been investigated.

An offer from Mr W. Thomas, Lincoln, to purchase bluegums in Munro's plantation, and on the opposite side of the river, was held over pending an investigation by the clerk. The Burnham School Committee asked the council to purchase 150 pinus insignis and 100 macrocarpa trees for planting in the school grounds. A similar request was made with regard to trees for planting on (he council's property at Burnham. Both were granted.

The overseer was requested to pre pare an estimate of the cost of fenc ing (he river bank at Dulieu's corner

The council appointed Mr G. Maginness, engineer to the Paparua County Council, its representative to the counties conference to be held in Wellington this month.

The chairman reported that the finaivje committee had,considered the estimates for the current year, and was of opinion that the council could live within its means on the same rates as last year. On account of the reduced valuations, there would be a small fall in the total revenue. It was accordingly decided to levy general rates of jjd in the Springston riding, and 11-16 din Greenpark riding. The Waimakariri River Trust rates will be a special of 361-1200 d, and a general of l*9-3000d.

Referring to unemployment, the clerk <Mr E. L. Neale) stated that several fresh registrations had been added to the list of unemployed, and that hardship was being experienced in some cases. He suggested that the council should arrange for a meeting representative of the whole county to deal more thoroughly with unemployment relief.

The chairman said he preferred to see relief administered by a small committee, which would work more efficiently than a larger organisation. The committee could confer with the Women's Institute and other bodies. Cr. Bailey said that the Springston Farmers' Union had decided to give its energies to collecting goods for the relief of local distress.

The chairman, clerk, and the Rev. A. H. McC. Acheson were appointed a committee with full power to act.

LONDON'S WATER SUPPLY. IMPROVEMENT PLANNED. USK OF OZONE. LONDON, July 9. Water of a purer, nobler "brew" is being planned for Londoners by the Metropolitan Water Board, which is experimenting with a view to converting 15,000,000 gallons of river water daily into a product as delicious as that from mountain springs, by means of ozone.

Although its size and purity have made London's water supply world famous, small scale experiments at Barn Elms have suggested that ozone can further improve London water.

Ozone and chlorine are equally deadly to bacteria in the water, and ehlorination, on which the health of London at present largely depends, is less costly than treatment with ozone. But on every other count ozone wins easily. It makes the water remarkably clear and crystalline, removing the harmless colouring matter caused by aquatic life and vegetation. It removes the accompanying flavour common to river waters and obnoxious to many consumers. It leaves no trace of its presence or taste, whereas it takes all the skill and vigilance of the board's scientists to free the present water supply from chlorine. These results have led to the conclusion that the extra cost —perhaps 1 per cent, on the total cost of ozonisation—might be justified by the new sparkle and flavour.