COUNTY COUNCILS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15919, 3 May 1912, Page 11

COUNTY COUNCILS.

• * KOWAI. The first meeting of the newly-con-stituted Kowai County Council was i held on Saturday at Balcairn. All the councillors, Messrs W. H. Hale, , Thomas Hanna,. John W. Mathers, George A. M'Lean, James A. Rowe ; and Gerald L. Stead, were present. On the motion of Mr G. A. M'Lean, the | chairman- of tho late Kowai Road I Board, Mr W. H. Hale, was elected ' chairman for the ensuing year. Mr I Hale thanked the Council for the •honour conferred upon him. The chairman referred to the wreck of the Ti- ! tonic, and all present expressed their i sorrow by a silent vote, which was taken .by the councillors standing. Mr - George S. Hickman was appointed j county clerk, treasurer, surveyor and returning officer, and the appointments I of Messrs James and E. H. Ashby as i oermanent roadmen were confirmed. , it was decided to hold meetings on the ; last Friday in each month. The De--1 partment of Internal Affairs wrote re- ' garding the appointment of delegates I to attend the conference at "Wellington : to consider the proposed Local Government Bill. The councillors, being anxious to gain more information on this matter, decided to attend the meeting. Two case 3of blockages of i ivater-courses were considered, ,aud it ' was unanimously resolved that steps should be taken under the Land Drainage Act, 1908, to enforce the cleaning of such water-courses. The surveyor was instructed to prepare an estimate of receipts and expenditure for the current year for consideration at the next meeting. It was resolved that the Sefton-Ashley Drainage Board sh6uld be asked to remove willows m the creek below Weir's Bridge, as the shingle accumulation threatened to turn the bed of the creek. A deputation of Leithfkld residents waited on the Council with a request for some assistance to prevent an overflow of the River Kowai. Nothing definite was arranged, the Council favouring that a special rate over the area affected should be .struck to provide the necessary funds. Mr M'Lean gave notice of motion regarding the making of bv-laws to deal with traction engine traffic through the district.