OISTRICT NEWS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 1 April 1915, Page 3

OISTRICT NEWS

MURCHISON. VALEDICTORY. (From Our Own Correspondent.) On Thursday evening last a fare-well social "was given to Mr A. V. Willis in th© Public Library. .Mr Willis has been in charge of St. Paul's •Church, Murchison, during the last 2£ years,, and has now received an appointment near Christchurch. A very pleasant time was epent, and during the evening, on ■behalf of the friends of Mr and Mrs Willis, a small purse of sovereigns, was presented to them. Various games were indulged in "and recitations and musical items rendered by thp following: Recitations .by Messrs Willis and Common, and Mrs Clayton (2); songs, Messrs Gibson and Clayton. We understand Mr Fairie has been apt, pointed to succeed -Mr Willis at St. St. Paul's.

MURCHISON. COUNTY COUNCIL. The -usual monthly meeting of the Murchison County Council was held on Saturday last. . Present: Crs. Badcock (chairman), Brown, Rogers, Win, Thomson, Monahan, and Whittem. Correspondence was read and dealt with as under: — .From 'Geo. O. Anderson, dealing with Hunter's Road: Resolved (Chairman and Rogers), that the Overseer have the slips removed. ■ C. G. Morel asked for a refund of £2 19s 6d rates paid on a section he does not hold. The Clerk explained that the Valuation Roll was wrong in that the property was included in the roll twice. Resolved that' the amount claimed be refunded. . From H. F. L°g an C. Johns and Sons, re damage to road : The Clerk reJ ported that Mr Johns had undertaken i to repair the Toad. | Resolved (Monahan and. Rogers), that the "Clerk ■write to the new lessees pointI ing out that the trouble will .recur from time to time, unless the fault is remedied, and that a copy of the letter be sent to Mr Logan. •J. L: Adams wrote stating that he had paid rates for 25 years on his property at Rotoiti and Arnaud, and had received no benefit in return in the way of repairs to his-road: Resolved, that Mr Adams be asked where he would like a small amount spent on his track. James Bunting again wrote re the w;ash-out on his road. ■ A letter was received from the Public Works Department in reference to the same subject, and it was rescolved to advise'Mr Bunting of the contents of same. O. B. Oknam applied for permission to erect a gate across the road from 'Longford Store to Mangles Bridge.' - The Clerk said he was not aware if Mr Oxnam had complied with Section 126 of the Publifc Works Act 1908. Resolved (Chairman and Monohan), thai Mr Oxnam be informed that the application cannot be dealt with until he satisfies the Council that Section 125 of the Public Works Act has been complied with. The Overseer's report was adopted as read.

The Chairman reported that tenders had been received as lollows: — ,

•Contract No. 62 TeWiriki Valley to Te Patiti Valley, 45 chains metalling (more or less): G. H. Blissett, £314 10s. Od. Only tender, and "was accepted. Contract No. 63—Maruia Valley, i 25 chains metalling: Bredbmy Bros., £l2B 2s 6d. This was the only tender, and it was resolved that the tender be held over for a fortnight. H.: J. Burke wrote re width of tyres, stating that his tyres were in conformity, with the Public Works requirements. The Overseer stated that .the width of Burke's tyres were not right for a wag-, gon; they were the; right width for an express. iGr Whittem explained that Mr Burke was not on the road muchj and it was resolved to let the matter stand over. From the Government Insurance Office re accident policy: - jßesolved that the. policy Bfe renewed on 1 the terms stated.'

—"From Runanga County Council re increased cost of living. Cr Win moved, seconded by the -Chairman, that the resolution be supported, and that'a copy ibe sent to Mr Colvin, M.Pi, and to the Prime Minister. Cr Brown moved as an amendment, that tha letter be received, but no acttion be taken. Seconded by Cr Rogers. For the amendment: Crs Brown, Rogjrs, and Whittem. Against: "Chairman, rs Thomson, -Monahan, and Win. The amendment, was therefore lost and the •motion carried.

The Inangahua County Council wrote re road to the Springs : Resolved that the Council be informed that a scheme has been .submitted for expenditure of Government grants covering the road near Monteith's, .but that this Council has no funds at present for the other work; also that the Inangahua Council be thanked for its > offer of co-operation in re the Bluff road.

The Nelson Hospital and Charitable Aid Board wrote intimating that the estimated share of the cost of administration of the Board for 1915-1916 to be contributed by the MurchisJfc County is £149. Received.

.The Nelson Land Board- wrote asking the Chairman's consent to taking of a road through Section 2, blk. xii, Rahu. —The "Chairman was authorised to sign the tracing. . ' —From Commissioner of Crown Lands, re exemption from rates.—Received. From the Under-Secretary for Lands re Matheson's section and want of road. —Received. :

From Commissioner of •Crown Landa ro expenditure of road grants in Murchison County. It was resolved that the Lands Department be acquainted "-with the facts, and that the "Public Works Department be Informed that this Council considers tho statement made by it to the Lands Department to the effect that road works were . not being carried out as "quickly ae they should be "owing to a large extent to the apparent inability of this Council to undertake the amount t)f work which might reasonably be expected of it "as misleading and contrary to fact. V From the Prime Minister and .the Va-luer-General, stating that .the question of period of exemption from rates had been ; referred to the' Solicitor-General for his interpretation of the Statue. Resolved (Thomson and Whittem), that: the Public! "Works Department be written tcr and/asked' when'they will orovide' acces* •to Messrs Williscroft's, Poulter's, Hill'a.etc., sections at Ma»*uia. :

Cr Win referred to log on the Council Chambers reserve, and he moved that ten cords of firewood be cut out of it, five cords of three feet, and five cords of six feet lengths. This was seconded by Cr Thomson and aarried. '

Resolved, that the cost of a water' trough, wood or cemenj, with plug iU bottom, and piping, ibe ascertained before next meeting. Cr Monahan referred to some ruts on the Maruia . road, and. asked that Mr Symonds be ,aliowed> to put in three or four days with his cart" on the road.- — Resolved that Mr Symonds be employed for three or four days. , Cr Monahan also referred to a culvert between Hunter's and Russell's bridge.

Resolved, 1 that the culvert be attended to if Overseer considers necessary.

Resolved, on the motion of Cr Win, that ±55 be spent on Newman's road. ■ ■Cr Whittem referred to the TBlackwater Track, and suggested that a temporary track ibe made to enable settlers to get grass seeds, etc., j>ast. . There was also the Grassy road—-the water tables required cleaning out to prevent water running across the-road. Resolved; . that {,he Overseer attend to it. .

; Resolved, that the next ordinary meeting be held on April 24th. - Accounts as read {excepting the Valuation Department account for £l3 10s) were passed for payment. A vote of thanks to the chair closed the meeting.