COUNTY COUNCILS

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20988, 17 October 1933, Page 4

COUNTY COUNCILS

WAIKEWA The monthly meeting of the Wairewa County Council was held at the council chambers, Little River. Present were:—Councillors J. O. Coop CehairmanL W. J. Allen, J. V. Chapman, F. Coop, and T. Feather. The chairman apologised for the absence of Cr. W. V. Parkinson, who is recovering from an illness. It was decided to write a letter, of sympathv to Cr. Parkinson in his illness A motion of sympathy was passed with the relatives of the late Mr J D "VVvllie, of Sefton, a member of the Highways District Council, and with the relatives of the late Mr H. E Holland, M.P., members standing in silence. Mr W. R. Leeder (county engineer) reported that the county | crushing plant had been removed to the Wain road, and was now engaged crushing metal for the Main Highway, where widening and improving curves had been executed. Good progress was being made with this section of the work' The work of opening a cut through the shingle bank at Lake Forsyth had been completed. The bridge on Okuti road at Mr J. Keo--1 urn's was urgently in need of repairs. Cr. Feather said he thought the council should write to those who had complied with the conditions for maintaininr; their roads at Kinloch. It was decided to write to the Kinloch ratepayers, who had properly maintained their roads, releasing them from their responsibility, and to ask those who had not done the work to do so. Cr. Feather said that Barwick road and Feather's road should be put in repair, as a lot of damage would be done will] bad weather. The ranger's report stated that one man's stock was continuously on the road, and some action should be taken. It was decided to issue a warning to this owner. The Lank" of New Zealand wrote asking the council to keep its overdraft to Jess than £4OOO. Jf was decided to state that the council would probably require its legal overdraft limit, and to forward a statement of estimated receipts and expenditure. The District Highways Board advised that more money was available than was anticipated, and applications could be made for additional maintenance work. A letter was received from the State Kire and Accident Insurance Department on public risk. It was decided to make further enquiries. The Christchurch City Council forI warded .S2IIU i','.< \ld for heavy 1 raffle fees.

I'APAKIA Mr ,iami_' Leslie presided at the. last meeting of the Paparua County Council. The secretary of the Prebbleton jubilee committee wrote giving particulars of the celebrations to be held in December. One ot" the fixtures whic'.r it is hoped to hold is the opening of a swimming both Cor wnien a considerable sum of monev has been collected by previous committees. The committee asked for some assistance for the project. Mesrs Hartnell and Magmness were appointed to meet Ihe school committee- and representatives ot the education board to discuss the matter. The secretary of the United Burgesses' Association wrote asking the council to press for Ihc declaration of Blenheim ruad as a secondary highway. It was decided to reply that Ihe roa'd was wholly within the area of the iWaimairi Counly Council and the application should come from that body.

Messrs Ryan and Maginncss were appointed to represent the council at the conference of South Island county councils.

It was deckled to recommend to J the Main Highways Board that tome additional paving .should be done on the Upper Ricearton-Arthurs Pass main highway, and also a length on the Soekburn-Southbridge main road. 'Che proposed amendment <■( the Valuation of Lands Act was di-cussed. The opinion was expressed that it would be grossly unfair to take away from the owner of property the right which he now has of placing his property at the disposal of the Government, at the Government valuation. By the deletion of this safeguard members feared that very slipshod methods of valuation might be adopted to the great disadvantage of the property owners. Members did not view with enthusiasm the suggestion that county councils should be given the power to reduce individual valuations. A small committee was sot up to watch, this legislation and to take such action as it might deem expedient. The water-race overseer reported that race cleaning had started. on September 4 and that steady progress was being maintained. The main raceswere not as dirty as in previous years, due, in his opinion, to the amount of silt collected in the settling pond near the intake.

The clerk reported that ail the men employed under the No. a Scheme had been supplied with a load of iirewooti sawn into small lengths. The sawing had been done by Mr ilowman. of Upper Ricearton, free of charge. It was decided to send a letter of appreciation to Mr Bowman. The pay sheet, amounting to £1277 15s 7d, including three instalments of the hosoital levy, was passed for payment. This leaves only two more payments to be made to the Hospital Board for (he current, year.

KOWAI : ! At Die meeting of the Kowai County Council at Balcairn. those present were Councillors W. A. Kelcher (chairman), M. P.. Forrester, R. Peach. H. May, j. u. James, and D. j McLean. 1 Motions of sympathy were passed with (he relatives of the late Messrs J. D. Wylhe, H. W. Mockett, George Winskill. and F. P. Coleman. The chairman and the county clerk (Mr J'. Fitzpafrick) were appointed delegates to a conference of South Island counties to be held in Christchurch on November 0. The chairman was appointed to the position on the North Canterbury Electric Power Board, rendered vacant by Ihc death of Mr Wyllic. Mr Fitzpatrick was appointed to represent the council at a conference convened by the New Zealand Farmers' Union, to be held in Christchurch to-morrow, to discuss cost of power to electric power boards. A letter was received from Mr F. Langbein, engineer to the Highways Board in Canterbury, requesting an indication whether the council wished to let another contract from Leith(ield to the Waipara river, on the Pieton-Biulf mam highway. He stated that the work would be a single coat sealing, such as is being put down between Ashley river and Leithlicld. The council unanimously agreed to the proposal providing (he type of work, conditions, and terms of payment would be on the same basis as the present contract from Ashley rive;: to Leithlicld. The Waipara County Council wrote suggesting; the carrying. out of necessary work to the Waipara bridge and to the approach, and asking for the council's approval. It was decided to approve the work, and to recommend that the longitudinal decking be placed the full width of the bridge. It was decided to interview Mr Langbein about the sealing of the main street through Amberley. It was resolved to purchase small birds' eggs and heads at .3d a dozen for sparrows, and 4cl a dozen for blackbirds. The financial statement showed accounts for payment, £3Bl 19s lid; re-

eeipts since last meeting, £425 17s iJd: credit, balance at bank, £1747 10s lOd and fixed deposit, £I6OO.

A.MHM S i At the monthly meeting of the Annul County Council there were present: Crs. M. Bellied (chairman). H. R. Davison. J. J. Duncan, R. Mercer, K. Pcttigrew. G. O. Rutherford, \V. Hanmer Atkinson, K. L. Jameson, and J. J Gallagher. ft was decided ilia I. a Mason bridge interest rate of one-eighth of a yen ay I in the £ be collected-this year. | It; was resolved to make a grant of £5 for the current year for the maintenance of the Rotherham cemetery, j Advice was received from the Main Highways Board that it was prepared to make a grant towards metalling the Mason-Conway road, and on the board's recommendation it was resolved that this road be made a fourth-class one. The Hanmer Cemetery Board was granted a sum of £5 towards the maintenance of the cemetery, and it was agreed that any sodium chlorate that was required should be purchased through the council. On the motion of Cr. J. J. Galj laghor, seconded by Cr. R. L. Jameson, j it was resolved that the Rotherham i Domain Board be granted the use of | the grader for four days. 1 It was resolved that the council j should not take up publk: risk insuri mice at present. i The chairman of the Mackenzie j County Council wrote advising that the conference of South Island counties would' be held on November 9 in Christchurch. li was resolved that the chairman and Cr W. Hanmer Atkinson be the council's delegates. Accounts amounting to £852 lis lid were passed for payment. It was agreed that the Rotherham riding members meet with the engineer on Iverach's road with a view to going into the matter of carrying out further work during the current year, and that Mr W. Harold Atkinson be interviewed with reference 10 the fence line on the road.