COUNTY COUNCILS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18435, 15 June 1920, Page 9

COUNTY COUNCILS.

WAIMAIRI. Waimairi County Council met yesterday aftornoon; prcscent— Mesara W. G. Spencer (chairman), S. A. Staples, C. W. Hcrvey, VV. J. Walter, F. Sisson, J. A. J. Uren J. Cleland, J. P. W. Reo, G. A. Cross and G. E. Currie. Tho fluancial statement showed that the debit balance at tho last meeting was £8593 10s Id; accounts amounted to £5631 15s Gd. The sum of £3102 14s Gd had been paid into the bunk, leaving a debit balanoo of £11,12.5 11s Id, Tho credit balance in the loans account amounted to £4BOI Is 7d, and the amount on deposit £5700. A deputation on behalf of the Avon riding waited upon the council to protest sgninst tho amount of tho overdraft carried bv the riding, and asking that tho rate levied should not be more than ljd in (ho £. It was pointed out to the deputation thnt tho rates had been vory low for a number of years, but it had been found impossible to proceed without more revenue.

After considerable discussion, tbo motion passed at tho previous meeting, striking a rato of 2d, was confirmed. Messrs Walter and Leo voting against the confirmation. A deputation, representing a portion of the Styx riding, complained of tlio flooding of property in tho vicinity of tbo Sponcerville drnin. The chairman said that on account of tho very high tide on tho Stvx, tho men had been unablo to clear tho drain.

It was resolved that tho county engineor should bo asked to taka steps to deal with tho matter and report.

A deputation wag received from the Watmairi School Committee, ashing that about five chains betweon Bligh's Bond and the school gate should be put in order. The engineer stated that the road wan private property and was used as a right-of-wav. Part of it belonged to the Education Board.

It was resolved to form a path twelve feet wide on the thorough faro. A deputation, representing the North Papanui district, ashed to bo excluded from the area rated to provido the additional £IOOO to completo the Panama Memorial Town Hall. The deputation stated that their small district could not hear the expense, and it w/.s possible that, in fho near future they would be ashed to support a liall of their own.

Tho council discussed the matter «.t length. It was stated that the meeting of ratepayers had not been unanimous in tho resolution asking for the poll to he taken to raise tho loan, and the chairman had given his castinp-vnto. It was finally decided that a legal opinion he obtained upon the question of one district being excluded from tho rate, also upon tho legalitv of tho nction of the chairman of the ratepayers’ meeting in passing the resolution upon a casiing-voto.