COUNTY COUNCILS

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20957, 11 September 1933, Page 19

COUNTY COUNCILS

KAIKOURA At the monthly meeting of the Kai- ■ 'iJura County Council there were pre- .«? Councillors F. J. Monk (chairse"'\ pS. Humm, E. Weavers, B. J. Cle,"G. E. Parsons, J. Boyd. D. &B, L, Withers, and E. H. Eccles. The Valuation Department advised that an assessment court to deal with . Serial • valuations would be held in tfiikoura on Friday, September 15. £jfr n j;, Cholmondcley was appointed fhp council's assessor. j r W secretary of the local unemnlovment committee wrote stating that travelling unemployed men were 'lt nresent given food and shelter at •the hospital, but the hospital .authorities had been advised that this practice must cease. The committee sought 'the assistance of the council in an endeavour to arrange suitable accommodation for men on the road, for inJL nC e, by purchasing a hut from the public Works Department to be used for providing shelter. It was decided to write to the Minister for Employment emphasising the full facts. It was decided to co-operate with ijjp Mackenzie County Council in discussing questions pertaining to the gouth Island. The engineer was requested to recorf on the drainage at Mangamaunu School, as asked by Mr A. E. Lester. The Public Works Department forwarded estimates for main highways <or 1933-34, as follows:—Black Miller Creek bridge, £IOOO (free); HurunuiWaipara sealing £771 (£3 for £1); leader-Waiau Castalay road bridge £]oO (£2 for £1): Stanton road bridge £IOO (£2 for £1); works not specified £IOO (£1 tor £1); engineering surveys £SO (free). Maintenance: .Clarence river-South Bay £1125 (£3 for £D; Kaikoura township sealing £284 (£2 for £1); South Bay-Conway nver £2300 (free): Kaikoura-Conway (inland road) £450 (£3 for £1; Kaikoura Beach highway £39 (£3 for £1); Puhi Puhi highway £3B (£3 for £1). The Lands Department, Wellington, advised that a report was being obtained as to what works were considered necessary for the improvement of the Waimangarara river reserves. The Under-Secretary for Lands wrote stating that a copy of the council's letter had been forwarded to the Public Works Department regarding the planting of willows on the reserve. The chairman said that since the letter Mr Langbein had visited the locality, and advice had been received that the county council had full power to carry on as hitherto and do such improvements as it thought necessary. The Hon. E. A. Ransom, Minister for Lands, in reply to the county council's letter and deputation to the Minister for Public Works, wrote: "1 have to state that after reviewing the reports furnished by my department, I have decided that the proposal to alienate the boat-landing reserve ' either by way of sale or exchange ' must be held over for the present.' A letter of thanks was requested tc be forwarded to the Minister. Mr F. Langbein, the board's representative on No. 13 District Highway? Council, wrote: "With reference tc the matter of grader hire charges, J have to advise that the matter was considered by the board, and that the board is unable to recognise any trospective claims for payment fon grader hire before April 1, 1932, ir view Of the fact that the council can not substantiate such claims with time I sheets pr other evidence. However 1' the board is disposed to accept claim: grader hire as from April 1, 1932 in respect of which vouchers hav< been received from the council. Fo: the years 1931-32 and 1932-33 the sub sidy payable to the council appears t< be £141."

Mr Langbein also advised that in view of the special circumstances the board had approved that the Kaikoura Council be relieved of any contribution towards the construction of the Black Miller Creek b.ridge on condition that the council claimed no subsidy for grader;Jiire up to March 31, 1933. Claims for the current year ■ would be paid if in order. '. . The chairman said unfortunately the vouchers in the past had not been forwarded. On his motion it was •" agreed to accede to the terms of the ■ letter regarding construction of the ■' bridge. The chairman said everything was in readiness to arrange for a poll for a water supply. An area would have ! to.be denned before a meeting was held to go into the question. - Cr. Parsons was of the opinion that the taking of water from the stream would not be detrimental to the settlers, and he moved that the matter be left in the hands of the chairman, Crs. J. Boyd and Withers. The motion was carried unanimously. Cr. J. Boyd moved that the council purchase blackbird and thrushes' eggs at 2s a 100. The motion was carried, With a limit of £2O. Cr. Withers- referred to the state of the footpaths in the township. He moved that the engineer report on the estimated cost of construction of tho paths from Cooke's corner to the Dairy Company's office. The motion was carried. Crs. Monk, Withers, Humm, and Weavers and the engineer were appointed a committee to deal with the request of the Lynton Downs Tennis Club regarding a supply of trees and fencing. The pay-sheet, general account, £654 7s lOd, and electric light account, £65 19s lOd, was passed for payment. A hearty vote of appreciation was passed to Mrs J. Washington for her cervices in caring for the Garden of Memories, and for hospitality extended to councillors.

ASHLEY. The Ashley County Council met at Loburn. Present:—Messrs H. T. Metherell (chairman), Ensor, Macleod, Mackintosh, McCracken, Philpott, and , Pulley. A readjustment of some of the | rentals of the council's gravel re- | serves was made, and the clerk was instructed to enquire as to the remaining reserves. The Christchurch Unemployment Committee wrote drawing the council's attention to the bad state of the Lees Valley road, and asking for an unemployed camp to be set up there. , It was decided to reply that a surfaceman was engaged continuously on the worst part of the road, and that unemployed men gave help after bad weather. It would be difficult to do Wore at the present time. Approval was given the proposal of the Mackenzie County Council that Shatters of .South Island interest should '*w be discussed at a conference in Christduring the November showIn' response to a request from the Progress League a further donation of £2 2s was made. The Commissioner of Crown Lands Wrote stating what rates could be paid by the Crown, and it was decided to ■ ' apply for payment of the Ashley bridge rates and the Okuku bridge rates, in cases where these remained unpaid: and the Crown held a mortgage over the rated property. Mrs Thomas and also Mr F. T. Lowe applied for the right to graze the unopened road along the Ashley riverbank above the traffic bridge. These applications were not granted, and after prolonged discussion it was de- ' ended to notify the permanent campers to move away from the council's roadlands about the Ashley bridge. The chairman and Mr Mackintosh vjere asked to inspect, in wet weather, a short length of unopened road adjacent to Mr Fulton's homestead, White Eock. The clerk was instructed to attend to several frontages overgrown with fiorse, and in a neglected case to ask \, we Government inspector to take *■. action. 4. Members having expressed the :'-' opinion that the present amount of ■'. deposit for road ploughing was excessive, Mr Philpott gave notice of mo- ' ■ . «on to rescind the resolution on which , "!'■ tho present action was taken. A highi'-' ■ way grant having been obtained for >; the Bullock bridge, the clerk was ; , instructed to prepare an estimate of the i.. cost of redecking with gum planking.