MURCHISON

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 28 June 1943, Page 3

MURCHISON

COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING CONSOLIDATED RATE REDUCED BY lcl IN THE £ I - i Mr E. M. Brown presided at the I monthly meeting of the Murchison ! County Council. Others present were i Councillors F. H. Newman, T. O. Morel, J. B. Milligan, A. Burt and B. C. Spiers, j Accounts totalling £415 8s Bd, and I comprising General Account £285 15s lid, and Hydro Account £129 12s 9d were passed for payment. ELECTRICAL ENGINEER j The Electrical Engineer’s report stated that there had been complete freedom | from electrical or mechanical trouble J during the period, and a continuous supply to the area had been maintained by the hydro station. The plant generated 29,900 units with a demand of 65 k.w. During the recent cold snap it be- j came necessary to operate the Diesel J plant for 25 hours to assist out the heat- j ing and cooking peaks, a total of 780 I units being generated during that time. , The recently completed tunnel diversion | had been in service for over a month and showed no signs of seepage. CLERK-ENGINEER’S REPORT The Clerk-Engineer reported as follows on the month’s operations: Expenditure to 31st May £2213 Is lid, receipts, £2012 15s lid, overdraft at bank £2OO 6s, expenditure for month of May £1369 5s lid, receipts £149 3s Id. Notices have been sent to all ratepayers whose rates were outstanding at 31st March, requesting payment before 24th inst. £24 9s 9d has been received to date. Surveys for work required on Meads and Howard roads have been completed and plans are being prepared. The water course on Howard road will be culverted when pipes are available. The Matiri River road (west bank) up to Miller’s and down to Sugar’s has been trued up with the grader, also the portion of Matiri roa'd between the swing bridge and Longford. The decayed traffic planks have been removed from the Blackwater bridge. On Grassey road water tables have been cleared out, pot-holing attended to, and two pipe culverts placed. Repair work has been started on Blackwater road and work will be completed during the coming week. MURCHISON-MARUIA General maintenance by surfacemen on the Matakitaki portion has been attended to. A four foot diameter concrete pipe has been placed near fords at Matakitaki to prevent flood waters overflowing the road. Washout in this locality has been filled in. Metal patching has been carried out op Six Mile portion. The Maruia end of highway is becoming rough through frost breaking up road surface, and will be attended to. On Maruia river road a 36in diameter concrete pipe has been put in to replace a decayed timber culvert. CORRESPONDENCE The Rehabilitation Board acknowledged receipt of council's proposals for development for the rehabilitation of men returning from the war, and intimated that the proposals were being placed before the Government for consideration. The Nelson Hospital Board notified that the hospital expenditure estimate for the year 1943-44 as previously submitted to the council had been approved by the Minister of Health. Murchison Theatres Ltd. requested permission to screen suitable pictures on Christmas Day, 1943. It was decided that the permission be granted. Messrs Pitt and Moore. solicitors, Nelson requested the council’s consent to transfer the lease of sections 59, 92 Pt .91. Murchison from Mr O'Brien to Mr Bradley. The transfer was agreed to, and the documents were signed and sealed. GENERAL BUSINESS The estimates of expenditure and re--1 ceipts for the year ending 31st March, 1943, were approved, and Councillor , Newman gave notice that he would move at the next meeting of the coun- | cil that the general rate be 3 7-8 d in the j £, and that the hospital rate be 1 5-8 d lin the £, making a consolidated rate of j s£d in the £. This would constitute a reduction on last year’s rate of one penny in the pound. 3rd LIBERTY LOAN The council agreed to invest the sum of £SOO in the 3rd Liberty Loan. While the primary reason of the loan was to assist the war effort, it was thought that any sum the council could set aside in this way would prove very useful to provide a fund for rehabilitation works.