COUNTY COUNCILS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 16805, 15 March 1915, Page 11

COUNTY COUNCILS.

ASHLEY. The Ashley County Council met at Loburn on Friday; present—Messrs Hugh Elisor (chairman) Hiatt, Joyce, O'Halloran, Philpott and Wilson. Communications with regard to the Harvest Festival at. Christchurch on April 10 were considered. It was deemed hardly practicable at the present time to. fit up a separate stall, hut it was decided that cartage and conveyance for produce should be provided and monetary donations would be received by the clerk as treasurer. The council would co-operate with the Loburn branch of the Farmers' Union and tho county wouid bo canvassed, districts being allotted as follows: — Glentui, Mr John P. M. O’Halloran; Okuku to Glentui, Mr Hugh Ensor; Whito Rock and North Loburn, Mr John S. Hiatt; Grey to Makirikiri, Mr John Joyce; Ashley and Loburn East, Mr James Wilson.

The annual tour of inspection of the county was fixed for Wednesday, March 17. Some shingling and repairs were authorised for tho new road at the Wooded Gully and the Hayland White Rock road west. Cases of owners continually allowing cattle to be at large were reported and the ranger was instructed to take the cattle to the pound rather than to their owners’ homes. Tenders were authorised for patching the main road, to bo in by next irfeoting. The clerk reported that the Public Works engineer had taken extensive surveys of the sites for Govvernment grant bridges on the main road. Members emphasised the urgent need of hurrying on with the new bridge over the Okuku fi"st and foremost. Accounts amounting to £123 Os 5d were passed for payment.

PAPARUA. At tho last meeting of the Paparua County Oohneil thero were present— j Messrs J. Leslie (chairman), H. Pater- i son, J. A. Henley, T. Stone, W. C. Smith, F. J. Carr, G. Watson and J. J. M’Cartliv. I Tlie chairman reported that he had attended a second conference convened by the Ellesmere Lands Drainage Board and that the meeting passed a resolution asking the Drainage Board to approach Parliament with a view to having the functions of the board reduced so as to free it from the necessity of cleaning the drains in its rating area, : but confining its attention to the Halswell River and the outlet of the lako. The resolution was opposed by the Springs and Paparua counties, who were, however, outvoted. It was decided to write to the Drainage Board stating that the council expects tho! board to maintain the public drains in 1 the Ladbrooks riding. _ J Tlie Ellesmere County Council wrote ; stating that a meeting to consider the : advisability of constructing a traffic bridge over the Selwyn River adjacent „ to the Main South railway line, would be held in the Drainage Board’s office, j Christchurch, on March 24. As the nroposed bridge will be many miles j from the nearest point of this county I it was decided to reply that the council 1 would not bo represented at the conference.

Tlie district health officer wrote pointing out that the drainage of a house in Sockbnrn was defective. The clerk was' instructed to serve notice on the owner in accordance with the requisition from the health authorities. It was decided to have the Californian thistles on the Sandy Knolls water-race reserve destroyed.