AWATERE COUNTY COUNCIL

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIX, Issue 248, 19 October 1915, Page 6

AWATERE COUNTY COUNCIL

The monthly meeting of the Awatero County Council was held on Thursday, the nembers present being Messrs E. A. "Weld (chairman), J. G. Armstrong, R. Marfell, J. J. Jenkins, J.-W. Shirtliffe, and A. C.Mcßiie. * The Maryborough B,ast Coast Association was advised, in response to an inquiry, that the annual meeting of the council would be held on the 24th November next.

A draft railway time table was submitted by the "f'laxbourne Settlers' Association which it considered would meet the convenience of settlers in that district.' The Association asked the Council to use its influence to have the proposed timetable passed. Jt was resolved to appoint Mr Jenkins, the member representing the Plaxbonrne district, a delegate to at tend tho conference to watch the interests of the Association.

The Flaxbournc Settlers' Association wrote asking if a higher rate coukl be given for birds' eggs and heads, also if the Council could arrange a ''poisonous clay," throughout the district. It was decided to buy lieads and eggs at the same rate- as last, year, all the members and the secretary being empowered to purchase them. The question of arranging a special "poisoning day" was not entertained, the- Council being of opinion that it would bo best for farmers to poison when sowing their crops. ft v:is decided to renew J. Clem■ofcb's maintenance contract for a further period of one year on the siino conditions and rate as last term, arid a bonus of £10 was voted to the contractor for the satisfactory manner in which the section of road had boon maintained.

The. Council was advised that a local or.-m:nittr-e liad I>een formed to act in conjunction with th<> New Zealand Council of Agriculture, and was invited to appoint two delegates to sit on the committee. It was resolved that Messrs A. C Mcllae and R. Marfell be the delegates to represent the Council.

Messrs H. E. Lissaman and A. Simpson interviewed the Council in respect to some improvements requiiv od on the road leading to their property. It was decided that Messrs Armstrong and Mar fell pay a visit to tl;a road and report at next meeting. The secretary was instructed to inquire from the Public Trustee if his Department would lend the Council a further sum of £1300 to meet the levy made on the Council by the Wairaix Hospital Board for the completion of the new. hospital. It was resolved to notify the New Zealand State Advances Office that the first instalment of the loan raised for-building, a bridge over the Awatere River would not be required for six montlis owing to''the plans for the bridge being delayed. A memo, was- received from the Engineer-in-Chief of Public Works advising that an approximate estimate of the cost of building the- bridge over the Awatero River at the Limestone Ford would be £5400, including cost of approaches. The Department of Agriculture was advised that the Council is in sympathy with the scheme to collect grass seed from the side of the roads by school children for patriotic purposes. Notice was ordered to be given that <i 11 owners of unregistered motor-cars or motor cycles travelling through or being in the Awatere County after Oct. 31 ne-xt would be prosecuted, and that iho secretary inquire from the Sergeant of Police if he would instruct Constable Williams to proseoute such persons. No tenders were received for building a footbridge over the Flaxbourne River, and it was decided to hold the work over for a time.

Accounts for £314 16s lid were passwl for payment. The inspector's report was as follows:—

Uopor Awatero district.—No. 1 Contract (P. Nation): I visited this part of the district during the month. The contractor has made a great improvement to this section, during the month. He is now repairing the Suxon Pass road. No. 2 Contract (J. .Sykes) :*■■ This section is in very fair order, and is being well maintained. The contractor is now clearing the Gray Track. 'No. 5. Contract (J. CMeniebt): This contract is being well maintained, and a good deal of patehinttailing has been done. The watertables are beintr kept well cleaned wit. No. 4. Contract (R. Middlemiss) : This section is well maintained. The surfacemen <are repairing the Taylor Pass road, ft will take about another ten days to finish tlus job.

Lower Awatere.—The Council's and Lyford's teams will bo finished meta?liiifj the Richmond Brook road about tlii> end of the week. Lyfovd's team will then be finished. The road from

• the Richmond Brook School to Allan's 'corner requires patch-metalling very badly before, the heavy carting starts. Ftaxbourn© Riding.—Mr Koan lias finished patch-metalling the Gulch rfi.-tcl. This team has now finished working I'or the Council. As there is v.ii maintonance man on tlie Ure to Clarence section'l would suggest that, J. Christie be put on this section until such time as a maintenance man is appointed. '