YESTERDAY'S COUNCIL MEETING.

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume XLV, Issue 3174, 6 December 1927, Page 5

YESTERDAY'S COUNCIL MEETING.

A monthly meeting of the Ellesmere County Council—the. first meeting held in the new council chambers—took place yesterday, and was attended by Crs. J. Cunningham (chairman), John Heslop, A. Quigley, A. Anderson and J. P. MeEvedy. I CORRESPONDENCE. The Auditor-General returned the annual balance-sheet for the year ended March 31 last, certified as correct. Mrs Alpers warmly thanked the council for its letter of sympathy with her and the members of her family in the death of Mr Justice Alpers. Mr David McClure notified the council that he had left the district and suggested that his son, Mr A. McClure, should be appointed poundkeeper in his stead. The council decided to fall in with the suggestion. Replying to an application for a subsidy on the maintenance of the Rakaia bridge, the Main Highways Board stat- i ed that there was no prospect of its being able to pay a subsidy this year, as j no provision had been made in the es- , timates, but advised that application be made again next year. It was decided that application should be made next year. The Public Works Department forwarded a copy of draft regulations under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1927, and a copy of the Motor Spirits Taxation Bill was received from Mr D. Jones, M.P.

Mr H. Bilbrough, of Dunsandel, informed the council that a waterrace had been leaking into his paddock for two years, and had formed a miniature lake. He asked that either the race should be repaired or the water stop ped.

The waterworks caretaker undertook to remedy the trouble at once.

Mr J. Penny asked the council to give a supply of water to one of his paddocks.

The engineer is to look into the matter and also ascertain whether Mr Penny had cleaned his races satisfactorily.

Mr Penny wrote a further letter acknowledging the council's final notice to clean water races. He also asked for more time in which to clear gorse from his frontage on the Oakleigh-Ra-kaia road. Farming profits had been low in the last few years.

An extension of two months was granted for the gorse clearing.

Mr R. J. Riches wrote thanking the council for its offer to repair a culvert at Messrs Buckenham brothers' and

Dawson's frontage

Permission was granted the Ellesmere Aquatic Club to' make a charge for admission to the Fishing Reserve at Taumutu on New Year's Day, the occasion of the annual regatta.

Cr. Quigley mentioned that the Aquatic Club desired to obtain permission from the council to procure clay for the road leading to the land at Taumutu on which the Club's pavilion is situated.

The council granted permission for clay to be taken under the supervision of the council's engineer.

Mr W. Broughton notified the council that he would do his best to comply with notices to clear gorse from his frontages on the Oakleigh-Rakaia road, and to clean roads on Oakleigh estate. NEW SELWYN BRIDGE. The question of arranging for an official opening of the new Selwyn ferroconcrete traffic bridge was raised and led to some discussion. i It was decided to communicate with the Canterbury Automobile Association, stating that the council was willing to co-operate with the Association, and with other county councils interested, in any function arranged, and would bear a share of the expense incurred. THE HOLIDAYS. The council decided that its offices should be closed for the Christmas holidays from December 21 to January 4, both days inclusive, and to hold the next meeting on January 9. WATERWORKS. Mr John Glassey, waterworks caretaker, reported that the position with

regard to the supply of water to the races from the Rakaia headworks had been quite satisfactory. Gale's race, which came into Ellesmere county from Selwyn county, had been very irregular for some time, and he had met the Selwyn caretaker on November 25 and pointed out what required to be done in the matter of cleaning. Cleaning the race was urgently required in the plantation reserves to give a more permanent supply. Mr T. B. Howson, of Southbridge, had made a new race and required pipes to give him a supply at Mr James Adams's. He suggested a set of 6 inch pipes. There had been a good response to final notices to clean races. In regard to Mr J. Penny's application for a supply of race water, this could be secured as the race would end on section 2382 held by Mr L. Barnett.

It was decided to grant the pipes required to give supply to Mr Howson. -

Cr. Anderson was appointed to the waterworks committee.

Cr. MeEvedy mentioned that a race at Mrs Kaill's place at Little Rakaia was overflowing and flooding Mr W. M. Gabbie's crop. The caretaker undertook to have the matter attended to at once. There was evidently a blocked culvert. WATER AND GORSJB. Mr W. Broughton, owner of the Oakleigh estate, waited upon the council in regard to notices served upon him to clean races and clear gorse on his road frontages. He explained that he had a very considerable amount of work to overtake and asked the council to grant him an extension of time. He was willing to have the work done and would have it attended to as soon as he could. It was his desire to have the property and its surroundings kept in a tidy state. The chairman explained that the council did not wish to be unreasonable, but it was being pressed by others to have race cleaning and gorse clearing done. Although the notice served mentioned two months as the time in which the work was to be done, if reasonable progress were made he thought the council would agree to give an extension of time. HANMER ROAD DRAIN. Mr W. E. Candy waited upon the council to inquire if it intended to do anything with regard to the drain on Hanmer road from Chapman's down past his place to his boundary with Mr Bowis. It was in a very bad state and required a thorough cleaning.

The chairman said that if the council cleaned the portion of the drain referred to by Mr Candy it would have to continue on to the lake. The council had not paid towards the cleaning on that side of Hanmer road.

Mr Candy said that a splendid job was being made by the men working on the drain on the opposite side of Hanmer road. There were two splendid men working there, and he hoped the council would put them to work on the other side. He suggested that the council should put the drain into firstclass order now and allow the property owners to keep it in order.

The council could not see its way clear to undertake the cleaning, on the grounds that it would be expected to clean the drain in future years, and other drains where the circumstances were similar. OLD OFFICE DISPOSED OF. Two tenders were received for the purchase for removal of the old council office. The tender of Mr W. L. Sutton, of Manse road, Leeston, at £36, was accepted. FINANCES. The pay sheet totalled £867 5s Id. When the accounts were met there would be a debit balance of £279 17s sd. A LAKESIDE RACE. Cr Anderson mentioned a water race at Wallace's, Lakeside, as requiring some improvement to take away dead water. The engineer, who had made an inspection, explained the position. Sufficient fall could be obtained to take the water away, but it was a question who should undertake the work required to be done. The engineer is to have the matter attended to at the first opportunity. ROAD REPAIRS. Cr. Heslop asked that certain roads at Irwell should be repaired. These j were duly noted for early attention.