Ellesmere County Council

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume XXIII, Issue 3900, 5 September 1917, Page 3

Ellesmere County Council

MONDAY'S MEETING,

The monthly meeting of the Ellesmere County Council held at Leeston on Monday was attended by Crs J. Cunningham (chairman), .T. A. Stephens, J, Storry, J. C. Free, F. J. Lemon and Jas Quigley. The Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward and the Hon. R. Heaton Rhodes acknowledged receipt of copies of a resolution passed by the council asking the Government to discontinue territorial pfaVaßes and camps for the duration of the war and stated that they were forwarding the council's letter to the Defence Minister. The Waipara, Waimate and Springs County Councils assured the council that they were in sympathy with the resolution.

The council refused a. request from Mr W. Kelly, Doyleston, that it should pay half the cost of cleaning a drain in which he is interested.

The Red Cross organisation, Christchurch, asked for the council's assistance In the " Our Day " appeal and the clerk was directed to reply that each portion of the district already had the matter in hand.

It was reported that the council had agreed to accede to the request ot' the Ellesmere Lands Drainage Board that the council should assume drainage board powers over the area bordering Lake Ellesmere over which the board has held jurisdiction for a number of years, and therefore to control the outlets of drains discharging into the lake. A bill, giving the council the powers referred to, is to be submitted to Parliament shortly.

JMr C. Johnston's offer to place 20 yards of metal on Harris's road, Lakeside, at a cost of was accepted.

-Messrs M.Donnelly and son, solicitors for Mrs John Brady, South bridge, claimed £ii 9s for fowls poisoned by phosphorous poisoned grain accidentally dropped by a servant of the council while passing through Southbridge. The amount was made up as follows: 34 fowls and 9 ducks at 3s.per pair 9s, loss of profit £5.

The clerk was directed to reply that the council recognised no liability in the matter.

Mr O. Derrett drew attention to the state of the drain through his property at the lake, and offered to do the cleaning.—The council decided to offer 2s 6d per chain towards the cost.

A drain cleaning application from Mrs J. Henderson was granted, tenders to be called.

Mr W. O. Rennie wrote asking the council to have its portion of Boggy creek cleaned as soon as possible, as the other frontagers had already done theirs.-^The engineer was instucted to put a man on to do the work immediately.

Mr E. G. Hubbard asked the council's consent to the erection of a new boundary fence between his land and the council's reserve occupied by. Mr C. Armstrong.— Left with Cr Storry, the council agreeing to bear its share of the cost.

DEPUTATION^ Mr J. T. Parkin saw thS council with regard to the renewal of an embankment at the^Taumiitu lagoon culvert.

The chairman pointed out that the Taumutu drainage account was considerably in debt and that the council had ho funds to carry out the work proposed. It was for the interested parties to help themselves in accordance with' the area of their land affected.

It was eventually decided to call a meeting: of the interested;: ratepayers to be held in the Sedgemere Hall on a date ..to »b)e fixed, the members of thß^JMri^ii j agreeing to attend. */ Messrs T. H. Overton att'S W. J. Nairn interviewed the council and asked for relief from the stray stock nuisance. Stock belonging to several owners were on the roads constantly and although they had been seized by the ranger several! times the trouble was still as bad as ever. The deputation stated that the stock were a source of great annoyance to them. Mr Nairn stated that he had turned at least 20 cattle and horses out of his paddock on Monday morning.

It was decided to call the ranger's attention to the matter and to instruct him to take legal proceedings if the stock were not kept off the road.

Mr S. Doyle interviewed the council concerning a long standing drainage trouble and after a good deal of discussion the members decided to inspect the locality along with Mr Doyle. REPORTS. Reports from the waterworks caretaker, ranger and engineer were considered. The engineer was instructed to go into the question of whether concrete half pipes for water race crossings could be made by the council's staff and present a report at next meeting. GENERAL. It was decided to have 30 chains of the road leading to Fraser's corner metalled if one of the frontagers would undertake to find the shingle.

The paysheet amounting to £568 17s 7d was passed.