COUNTY COUNCILS

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 16213, 14 April 1913, Page 3

COUNTY COUNCILS

MOUNT HERBERT.

The monthly meeting of the Mount Herbert County Council was held on April 7 ; present—Councillors C. Bradley (chairpian), A. R. Fleming, ii. Field, L. M. Wilson, J. Hunter, J. E. Davenport and R. Allan. A letter was received from the Scott Memorial Fund Committee asking for a donation to the fund, and after consideration the Council decided to subscribe privately. Tho borough of Woodville wrote regarding imposing a moderate tax on motor-cars and motor-cycles, the tax to be expended on the upkeep of the roads. 'The letter was received. With regard to the visit of 11.M.5. New Zealand the Council decided to arrange for all the school children in the .county to be cortVcyed to the ship and back again at the cost of the county. The Waimate County Council wrote regarding alteration of section 28 of the Rating Amendment Act, making it legal to charge 10 per cent on unpaid rates after two months from day of issue instead of six months as at present. The Council expressed approval of the proposed alteration and decided to urge the member for the district to support it when brought forward. It. was resolved to call for tenders for-metal at Cass’6 Bay, Cook’s Point, Rocky Point and Manson’s’Flat. Councillor Field drew the Council’s attention to the encroachment of the sea on the Beach Road at Port Levy and Pigeon Bay Road. The work was loft in his hands to repair at once, as was the improvement of the beach road at Purau wharf.' Accounts amounting to £lO4 4s wore passed for payment. ELLESMERE. The monthly meeting of the Ellesmere County Council was held on April 7; present Councillors J. Storry (chairman), J. Cunningham,- J. Lochhead, T. A. Stephens, F. J-. Lemon and J. C. Free. The special order adopted on March 3, bringing into operation tho traction engine by-laws, was confirmed. A donation of £2 2s was granted to the Scott Memorial Fund. The Minister of Public Works wrote promising to give the Council’s request for a subsidy towards the cost of repairing the Solwyn bridge full consideration when the Public Works Estimates came up for consideration. The 1 Minister also wrote regarding the Council’s request for further grant of £IOO for repairing' -. coper’s lagoon culvert, promising to give the matter his consideration.

The committee set up to make arrangements for the entertainment of the crow of H.M.S. New Zealand during the warship’s visit to Lyttelton wrote for financial assistance, and a donation of £5 5s was granted. The Postmaster-General advised the Council that an additional telephone wire would be erected between Leeston and Christchurch to relieve the present congestion of business, but the request that the bureaux at Southbridge and Leeston should be opened for an hour every evening could not he granted. The Under-Secretary of the Public Works Department wrote regarding the votes of £SO and £IOO for the Ellesmere village settlement drainage and repairs to Cooper’s lageon culvert respectively, and stating that application should be made if„a renewal of the votes was desired. reported having sent in an application for renewal, and his action was approved. Messrs T. B. Howison and J. Parkin interviewed the Council with regard to the drainage at Taumutu lagoon. Mr Howison said that out of 362 acres of Crown land 262 acres were under water. He estimated that there must he 12,000 acres of land drained to the Taumutu lagoon and Forsyth’s outlet pipes. He had got an official from the Lands Department to inspect the condition of the drainage, and his report was that the only way to remedy the trouble was to repair the culverts at Cooper’s lagoon and the Taumutu lagoon. A rate of Jd in the £ collected over the area of 12,000 acres would give a revenue of £250, which would keep the culverts in order. It was decided to purchase five acres of land at Killinchy as a site for a residence for the water-race caretaker. Tho engineer reported on several works done during the month. Councillors Cunningham, Lochhead and Free were appointed a deputation to interview the Hon W. H, Herrins regarding the maintenance of tho Rakaia bridge. The following tenders were accepted For cleaning Hartnill’s drain, John M’Dermott, at Is 6d per chain; for cleaning Ludemr.nn’s drain, J. Rapley, at Is 6d per chain ; for lease of cottage on the Council’s reserve at the show ground, G. H. Jones, under the condition that the lessee secured a fresh tenant. Accounts amounting to £509 6s 9d wore passed for payment.