NOXIOUS WEED ERADICATION

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29896, 9 August 1962, Page 7

NOXIOUS WEED ERADICATION

Ellesmere County Work Reporting to the Ellesmere County Council at its meeting this week, the noxious weeds inspector (Mr R. W. MacKenzie) said that the weather had not helped eradication work lately and that nodding thistle was thriving. It was very noticeable that in the river bed where gorse had been burnt in the autumn by the Rabbit Board, germination of the weed would be 100 per cent. The inspector said the marking out and burning off of patches of nassella tussock in anticipation of seedling strike had been done. All areas had been marked with T irons and all gorse in and around these areas had been burnt with a flamethrower. In the course of this work two new patches had been discovered and dealt with. The council discussed the subject of ward representation on the North Canterbury Catchment Board in order to give better rural representation. It was left to the chairman and county clerk to go further into the question. Mr R. T. McMillan, who has represented the council on the Canterbury Provincial Patriotic Council for a long period, asked to be relieved. He was thanked for his work and it was agreed to ask Mr H. D. Jones to act in his stead.

As a protection against the spread of rural fires in the summer it was agreed to have all fire breaks ploughed during the second week in September.

Resolutions levying the rates for the current year were carried.

Reconstruction of the un-sea’-ad section of the LeestonRakaia road had been continued. renorted the engineer (Mr P. Macfarlane). The council plans to have the sealing of the full length complet’d in the coming summer.