COUNTY COUNCILS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXII, Issue 15557, 6 March 1911, Page 4

COUNTY COUNCILS.

WAIPARA. A meeting of the Waipara County Council was held on Saturday, February 25 ; present—Messrs A. Todd (in the chair). S. B. Gibb, G. Rutherford, and J. 3ones. Mr T. Capstick wrote, applying to have the Blythe Valley Road ploughed and graded as fur down the river as the point where he intended building. It was decided to reply that the application would ho considered alter tho heavy carting of the building material had been completed. Mr W. Buss wrote, applying for some repairs to be done to a road leading to the Government sections on the back part of his Scargill property. It was decided to reply that, it was the custom of tho Council, if the necessary funds wore available, when applications were received for money to be expended on roads leading to backldocks or to any other partvpl’ a property than the homestead, to expect half the cost to be defrayed by the owner of tho property. Mr J. Dampier-Crossley wrote complaining of tho reckless pace at which motorists wore permitted to travel on the Weka Pass .Road, often at night and without using either lights or horn. It was decided to reply that tho Council was quite in sympathy with the sentiments expressed in tho letter, and was taking steps to move in. the matter. The Council had also consulted the Christchurch Automobile Association, asking its advice as to what means to adopt in order to protect tho public from serious accident. It was decided to widen the cuttings on each side of the bridge north of what is known as the Washhouse Hill, on the Weka Pass Road. Tile tender of Mr W. Harrington lor quarrying and breaking 500 yards of stone at Wnikari, at 3s 9d per yard, was accepted. Accounts for £306 3s 9d were passed for payment.

ASHBURTON. A monthly meeting of the Ashburton County Council was held on Friday; present—Messrs J. Lambie (chairman), J. Cairns, W. J. Dickie, C. J. Harper, C. Reid, J. Studholnie, W. Morgan and H. Friedlander. Tho chairman reported that the demands for rates had been issued, and £2IOB 17s 4d had boon paid on this account. The number of dog collars sold this year was 910, and 33 traction engines had been registered. The Acton irrigation channel extension had been surveyed. The county overseer reported that on February 2G the stream from the Pudding Hill dam was considerably flooded, and some of the work in the weir at the dam was shifted, but the damago done was only slight. The travelling shinglo was very troublesome and required daily attention. The intake of tho auxiliary channel had been blocked, but had been reopened without delay. Some of the main drains in the Winchmore and Wakanui districts were considerably ovorgrown with vegetable matter, and a number of owners had been cutting back the growth. The distributing races from the Ashburton main had been kept well supplied, but considerable shortage in the supplyhad taken place below the main line of railway and towards Lowcliffe. The erection of three reinforced concrete

stock and motor-car bridges in the Mayfield and Mount Somers district would be finished in about a week. Councillor Harper drew attention to the large amount of vegetable growth at present in many of tne water-races, and ho suggested that ratepapers should be requested to give early attention to the water-races this year. It was decided that tho Council should contribute pound for pound for necessary concrete channelling at Rakaia. Complaints were made as to the intermittent state of the water supply in portions of the Hinds, Lowcliffe, Waterton and Ashton districts, and it was resolved that the chairman should be requested to appoint another ranger for the lower part of the Rangitata water supply district. It was resolved to enforce the by-laws with respect to heavy traction engines crossing the Ashburton traffic bridge, and net to allow any traction engine traffic across the bridge till the asphalt, which was now being laid, was set. Accounts for £745 7s 8d were passed for payment. Mr T. Williams waited on the Council with reference to the erection of a motor-car bridge across tho Lagnthor Creek, in tho Tinwald Town Board district. The Town Board would he prepared to contribute an amount up to £lO. the sum it would cost to erect a footbridge. Tile Council decided to postpone dealing with the matter until a legal opinion was obtained. The matter of finally dealing with the Ruapuna special water district water charges was hold over tili tho following meeting. The matter of protecting or the water-race running through tho Winchmore township was discussed, and it was decided to confer with the Mount Hutt Road Board, inviting suggestions as to what course should be adopted.