COUNTY COUNCILS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16491, 5 March 1914, Page 3

COUNTY COUNCILS.

AKAROA.

The Akaroa County Council mot at Duvauchello on Saturday; present— Messrs Bruce (chairman), Hay and J. and C. Thacker. Correspondence was . read from the Government Insurance Department regarding the loan for Robinson’s Bay Wharf, to the effect that 10 per cent sinking fund would not suffice to pay off the loan in thirty-five years, and asking if the term should bo extended or the rate raised. It was decided to refer the question to the ratepayers in Robinson’s Bay. A long discussion took place on the rates of pay to the crushing plant staff, about which the chairman had tabled a motion at the previous meeting. It was decided to adhere to the payment of 8s per day and to give a bonus of 6d per yard on all over fifty yards per day, the amount to bo divided amongst the men. It' was also resolved that two men (the foreman and a surfaceman) should be retained permanently on the main road. The chairman reported having inspected the new bridge at Holmes’s Bay and recommended payment on it after two minor improvements had been effected. It was decided to make the final payment of £6OO to the contractor for the flat road and wharf. The engineer reported that the crusher would be able to start directly and would go to the Summit Road. Mr Hay was granted six months’ leave of absence for his visit to Scotland. Accounts amounting to £B4O 14s lid were passed for payment. WAIPARA. The Waipara County Council met at Waikari on Saturday; present— Messrs G. Rutherford (chairman), Campbell, Evans, Pannett, Todd and M’Rao. Mr W. H. Foster wrote in reply to the request of the Railway Department that the trees at a crossing at nine miles thirty-four chains on the Waipara-Cheviot line, should he removed. He stated that ho had written asking the engineer to visit the locality and meet representatives of the Council and himself, to decide what was best to be done. as lie was anxious to do as little as possible in the way of destroying the plantation. .It was decided to recommend Mr Foster to cut several gaps in the plantation, and to trim up the trees. Mr T. Capstick w'rote saying he was agreeable to put in pines on his private road, as suggested bv the Council, and asked the Council to put jn another row at the foot of the cutting where it joined the Blythe Valley Road. He would be prepared to assist the roadman with the work. Ho also applied for the grader to work on his road near the hopiestead. It was decided to put in pipes as requested, and that Mr Capstick! & attention should bo drawn to the necessitv of making a drain from the outfall of the pipes in his private road to prevent scour in the Blythe Valley Road. The District . Railway Eingineer wrote making an appointment for his inspector to meet some of the councillors at the railway viaduct in, the Weka Pass, and to report to him as to a washout, on the. road close to the railway there. Mr P. J. Overton requested the Council to ask the Railway Department to remove its fence to the roadline on the deviation at the nineteen miles Cheviot branch. The requisition was acceded to. It was decided to instruct the ranger to sue all owners of stray stock in future. The. chairman reported that he had seeiv the position of the roan, leading to Air Campbell's property at Davaar. It was decided that the Council could not accede to his request at present, owing to the shortness of funds. Mr G. G. Newton attended, and stated that ho and Mr Forrester were prepared to contribute £6O towards the erection of a bridge at the junction of Lee’s and Bontley’s Roads. It was decided to . erect the < bridge. It was decided to patch .portions of Jury’s Road,- and that the metal now broken at Reece’s Road should bo carted out, and napped by the Council’s men. Mr Evans was asked to report on the quality of the shingle j in , the Sale Yards Creek, on the Brookdale Estate. It was decided that fresh applications should be made to the Government for contributions, towards erect- 1 ing a light traffic bridge over the Veka. Creek, at Waipara. Air Evans gave notice of motion that, he would move at next meeting that _ the Council should take into consideration the building of a house on its property at Waikari. It was decided to post notices to clear gorse off the roadways fronting their properties to seToral ratepayers. ELLESMERE. - j At the monthly meeting of the Ellesmere County, Council on Monday there were present Councillors J. Storry (chairman), J. Cunningham, T. A. Stephens, F. J. Lemon, J. Lochhead. and J. 0. Free. The leeston School Committee advised that in the matter of tho school bath leaking an experiment was being made, at the instance of tho Board of Education’s architect, with a new composition, which it was hoped would be a success. DeputySuperintendent F. B. Clausen was appointed a fire inspector, under warrant of the Council, within the Leeston fire area. Mr John Chamberlain, Lakeside, requested the Council to serve notices upon occupiers of land along the boundary of Ludemann’s drain, requesting them to remove obstructions from the drain. Tho Council decided to have Ludemann’s drain cleaned. T.t was decided to instruct the Council’s solicitors to draft by-laws under the Lands Drainage Act. for. submission to the Council. Legal opinions were received with regard to notices from Mr Alexander M’Lachlan, calling on the Council to request occupiers of land along the boundary ora creek to have the stream turned back into its natural course. .A further opinion was received with regard to a request made by Mr M’Lachlan. The Council decided to take no action.

The Southbridge Town Boaixl advised the Council that it could not see its way at present to contribute a halfshare towards the cost of constructing a 40ft culvert at Flood’s Corner. There were two other culverts which were more urgently required, and the Council was asked to pay half the cost of these. The Council decided to adhere to an offer made to the Board. Messrs IV. Marshall, J. Nairn and G. H. Barnett interviewed the Council with regard to a drainago matter, and the Council decided to inspect tire drain referred to. Mr Milieu, of Brooksido, also saw the Council on a drainage matter, and Councillors Cunningham and Stephens and the engineer were deputed to inspect. ■ The following tenders were accepted: —For shingling Boundary Hoad, 800 cubic yards of metal, Thomas Jackman, at Is “lid per yard; for carting 200 cubic yards of metal from Ouningham’s pit, Dawson Bros., at Is od per yard; for shingling Sowden’s Road, Dawson Bros., at Is lid per yard-