LOCAL BODIES

North Canterbury Gazette, Volume I, Issue 1, 12 August 1932, Page 8

LOCAL BODIES

ASHLEY COUNTY COUNCIL • — £ — ■

MONTHLY MEETING. ANIMATED DISCUSSION ON RATES The Ashley County Council met at Lobum on Thursday, August 4. Present : Messrs. John Wilson, chairman ; J. W. Ensor, J. W. Macleod, A. Mackintosh, J. D. McCracken, H. T. Metherell and T. H. Pulley. Motion of Sympathy. A hearty vote of sympathy was passed, members standing, with the family the late Mr.' Frederick Hor- - rell. Request for a Bridge. Mr. Colin How interviewed the Council with a request for a light bridge at the Station Creek Ford. Mr. How ably stated the case for the bridge. He said toat as members knew he had battled for it for years, and he thought it could be done cheaply, as cheap bluegum stringers were available and he had found a suitable site. The ford was dangerous in flood time and often impassable for days, and for months in the winter sheep could not be got across dry. He would give help in the construction of the bridge. It was becoming very useful for traffic crossing from the highway to the back road. Members did not. think that the bridge could be built until possibly next a-utumn, but agreed that ; t should be thei next bridge to be built and that they would inspect Mr. How’s site.

No. 1 Road. With regard to the Council’s proposal of a drive-way across No. 1 road in lieu of gates as applied for by Mr A. H. Murray, an objection was again received, and the Council finally decided that the road should not be gated. A Traffic Inspector. The Rangiora County Council forwarded proposals with regard to a traffic inspector, and it was decided to join with adjacent Councils in the sharing of costs. Mr. Macleod was appointed delegate if a further conference should be held. The Oxford County Council did not see its way to join in. It was generally considered that fines for breaches of traffic regulations would recoup the contributing bodies for most, or perhaps all, of their costs with regard to the inspector, and it was pointed out that the Highways Board give a. subsidy of £2 for £1 on the costs of traffic inspection.

Joint By-laws. ,lt was decided also to' share in the matter of. joint by-laws, and approve of the steps now being taken by the Rangiora County Council. Slight additions with regard to penalties for leaving open any authorised gate across a road and .for keeping hawthorn fences cut low, Were added to the standard by-laws prepared by the New Zealand Counties Association. Members at the Rangiora Conference stated that bylaws had been desired for many years and it now seemed that a complete set would be adopted.

Petrol Supplies. Mr. C. C. Newton, representing A. S. Paterson & Go., interviewed the Council and briefly supplied the terms obtainable for petrol from his firm. He stressed the dominion nature of his firm’s business and the advantage of its produce purchasing department. ;' Hospital Board Vacancy. The Returning Officer notified a vacancy in the Hospital Board, and Mr. Pulley was. asked to represent the Council at the Appointing Conference, the vacancy requiring to be filled by joint agreement of the contributing

bodies. Pasture Lots. Approval was given the Committee’s arrangements for renewing the pasture of the Council’s pasture Lot 15 Loburn Orchards, also with regard to the grazing and renewal of the Clerk’s field. Work by Farmers. , s \ With regard to offers, from farmers, of team or hand-work, it was decided that the rate of payment should be 16/- for team and driver, 11/- for drivers of the Council’s team, and 10/- for labour only. The circular of the Jubilee Institute

for the Blind was received and noted. Traffic License Fees. The' Commissioner of. Transport forwarded considerations affecting the question of licensing farmers’ lorries engaged in heavy traffic, and it was .decided to recommend a 50 per cent, reduction of the ordinary fee in such cases. A Shingle Deposit, Mr. A. C. Pulley wrote asking the Council to deal with a deposit of shingle on his land, arising from the scouring and enlargement of a drain formerly known as Casserley’s drain. Members agreed to view the locality but did not think that anything could be done in the matter. Rates. With regard to rates, the • AuditorGeneral wrote stating that the 7-16ths a. penny adopted at last meeting would not be valid, as it was not the amount advertised, and the striking should be commenced de novo. The Council’s so licitor wrote also advising this course. Considerable interest was evinced in the County, and a- petition representing nearly two-thirds of the votes in the Loburn Riding was presented, asking for a reconsideration of the above rate, a still lower rate of | of a penny being preferred. Mr. Pulley moved a rate of f and Mr. Metherell of 7-16, but withdrew because of the apparent impossibility of securing a unanimous vote. After prolonged discussion this rate—the lowest on record —was adopted for the Loburn-Whiterock Riding, and 13-32nds of a penny for. the Mount Thomas Riding. Mr. Mackintosh said that he was' upholding the | rate because a full meeting of the Loburn orchardists had requested him to take this step. A Flooded Ford, Mr. Gordon Fulton referred to the trouble arising from flooding at a ford near his shearing shed, and Mr. Mackintosh was asked to report. The next meeting will be held on September Ist.