HEATHCOTE COUNTY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17284, 27 September 1916, Page 9

HEATHCOTE COUNTY.

; OLD ORDER PASSING. COUNCILLORS' VISIT OF INSPEO- ■" ; TION. So tar as Heathcote County is concerned the old order, of administration is passing, giving place to something new. Opawa will becomo part of tho city on October 2, and other ridings are seriorisly considering the advisability 'of following, that .example- Bromley is expected to become a borough, tho petition in favour, now being circulated already having secured over 230 votes. It would seem that within a short period Heathcote Valley, with perhaps Hillsborough, will alone bo left within the county's administrative area. l ln 'accordance with a resolution! Agreed to'at the last general meeting of the-Coupty Council, an inspection was made yesterday of the various ridings. Tho party, *. which included every member of the council, tho clerk (Mr TV. V. Biddall), the engineer (Mr E. J. Barnes) uid other members of the office start', motored -first to Cashrnero, and from there' drove to Heathcote Valley, via St Martins, Opawa, Avonside, |Bromley and Hillsborough. One of the partywas Mr George Longdon, who is now in

his eighty-sixth year., He was employed as a surfaceman for' over thirty years In the ; Opawa riding, retiring two years, ago. ;

En route various stoppages were made to inspect paths, newly made roads, and similar facilities. The members of the council made themselves acquainted with the requirements of tho particular spot; which information will doubtless prove '.of valuo when votes .and.''estimates, etc.; n'ro next considered. Dust is no respecter of persons, and by the time the Valley was reached it was difficult to recognise the party as tho spick and span councillors who left tho city, everybody being .covered by thiek layers of dust. Following' an inspection of the effluent from land filtration to the septic tank, dinner was served at the -Heathcote Hotel. The only speech was one of thanks for ■tho excellent repast to the hostess, Mrs Round. The Valley, although a rural- area, has many of the conveniences of citv life, including electrio light, high-pressure water supply, and sewerage, The electric light supply in the Valley has proved successful beyond all expectations. Ninety-one houses out. of one hundred and twenty in the-area have had electric light installed, the revenue being over £3OO for tho first; year. Of thi s sum £l5O has to go to the Public Works Department, but the remainder will more than cover the interest on. the Joan and tho contribution ,to the sinking fund, amounting to £96. Tho return for home was delayed until the electric lights were switched on, and fhe route taken was via Hillsborough, Opawa and Bromley, to allow the councillors to see how well lighted these districts were. The trip was generally agreed to' have, been very successful, and appropriate, perhapr 0 at tho passing hence of the county as it has been for the past few years'.

PAST SERVICES,

MEETING OF COUNCIL.

CHAIRMAN'S RESIGNATION TRIBUTE TO MR SCOTT'S SERVICES. A special meeting of the Heathcote County Council was held last evening to consider the resignation of the chairman (Mr G. Scott), who for the past sixteen years has served, first on the old Heathcote Road Board and latpr on the County Council. Tho coming inclusion in tho city of Opawa, the riding of tho county for which Mr Scott was member on the council, made the resignation necessary, and Mr Scott formally tendered 'his resignation on September 18. When the council met last evening Mr Scott said-that as this would be .tho last meeting he would attend, he would like to express his appreciation of tho way the officers had carried on the work. The clerk, Mr Siddall, had proved a valuable officer. and he (the sjieaker) »s chairman appreciated the manner in nhich trio clerk had carried out the duties. The county was not now in a bad position. That day's visit should satisfy thorn that the * county roads compared favmirably with the roads ot tho city. Ho would also express his appreciation of the work of the engineer (Mr Barnes). The carrying out of the drainage of Cashmere Hills and at the Valley had been very creditable. It might be easy to suggest improvements,, but that was wisdom after, the event. The inspector (Mr Johnstone) had carried out his rather unpleasant duties capably, and the other members of the staff had also done well.

Continuing, Mr Scott said that he was leaving the county with some regret. He would have liked to wait for three or four years, and then to have had the whole of the county join the city. They all knew his opinions, and on some things they had agreed to differ... The time hail como when thoso in the county and the city should work- together and think " Imperially." Tho city seemed to think that the wunty would got .the better of any

amalgamation, but really it would be the city that would get the most advantage. Ho had endeavoured to oaTry out his duties on tho council as well as ho could, and had done what he thought best fearlessly. Groat changes were taking place and ho hoped that all would work together for tho good of city and county. Mr" Scott then vacated the chair.

Mr G. K. Burton moved a resolution of appreciation of Mr Scott's services to Heathcoto and said that they had only to look at the various ridings in the county to seo the many improvements and progress made during Mr Scott's tenure. Mr C. Flavell seconded the motion, and each member of the council paid a tribute to tho good work done by the) retiring chairman. Tho engineer (Mr Ba.raes), on behalf of himself and of tho men employed by the council, expressed their regret at Mr Scott's retirement.

Tho county clerk (Mr Siddall) also expressed his thanks to Mr Scott for the courtesy and help ho had always extended to the speaker. Tho motion was agreed to unanimously.

Mr Scott expressed his thanics with considerable emotion. Councillor G. M. Hall nominated Councillor C. Flavell as chairman of the council.

Councillor G. K. Burton seconded tho motion.

There being no other nomination, Councillor Flavell was declared elected unanimously. Mr Scott announced that he would bo resigning as the council's representative on tho Board of Governors of the Technical School, and he suggested that Mr J. Longton should be appointed as his successor, as the lattor's Knowledge of agriculture, would greatly strengthen the board.

OAK TREE PLANTED. TO COMMEMORATE MR SCOTT'S SERVICES. During the afternoon's visit of inspection the councillors stopped at the grass triangular plot at the corner of Ensor's Road and Opawa Road, for the purpose of attending the ceremony of tho unveiling of an inscribed stone at tho foot of an oak tree planted to commemorate Mr Scott's services. Mr G.K. Burton &aid that the members of the council thought something should be done to commemorate Mr Scott's work in tho county. His reelection so often as member for the riding proved that he had the confidence} of the ratepayers, and his period as chairman of the council proved that he had the confidence of councillors. Mr C. Flavell endorsed the remarks of the previous speaker, and referred to Mr Scott's services on tho Heathcoto Road Board and on the County Council. He added that all hoped that Mr Scott weald long be able to work for the interests of Opawa, as a memb?r of tho City Council. (Applause.) Mrs G. Scott was asked to unveil the stone, and beforo doing so sho expressed her appreciation of tho compliment paid to her husband. The stone was then unveiled, amid cheers. The inscription read:— 1 ' This tree was planted to com- ' memorate the services of George' Scott, Esq., to tho county of Heathcote, member 1898 to 1903 and 1906 . to 1907, chairman 1903 to 1906 and

1907 to 1916." : Mr Scott said that he greatly appreciated the decision of the council to have a troo planted to commemorate his connection with the district. It bad been a labour of love to hjm to havo been tho representative on the old Heathcoto Road Board and later the County Council. Ho must express his sorrow that parts of the county wore being severed at the present time. He thought that the district of Opawa was making great progress, and most of the improvements made had beon paid for cttt of rates, the loans raised being smaller perhaps than in any other part of the county. More permanent improvements had been made in Heathcote than in any other county near Christchurch. Ho was glad t 3 know that the time and work he had given to* the county had been so appreciated by the councillors. The year 191(3 woukf be a memorable one to him.