Levels County Counci1.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2954, 28 November 1900, Page 3

Levels County Counci 1 .

The animal statutory meeting of the Levels County Council was held at noon to-day. Present:—Messrs Orhell (chairman), Pringle, Mee, Campbell, Butler, Macintosh Mr McLaren was apologised for, being absent at Dunedin.

The chairman said there was not much to do. Ratepayers had a right to be present ,and ask for any information they desired, but there were none present. He had to make a few remarks on the work of the year, and they had to elect a few officers.

The clerk, Mr Saunders, read the follow IHff CHAIRMAN’S REPORT.

“ The principal event of the past year, apart from the ordinaiy routine, has been the question of bridging the Opihi river at or near Pleasant Point. Last year a petition was presented to the Government by the ratepayers of the counties of Geraldine and Levels, asking that a sum he put on the Estimates towards the erection of such bridge. The petitioners left the rite to be fixed by tbs members of the ..00.-j Councils. On the 20th January, a. reply received from the Minister of Lands stating that the sum of £IOOO would be granted by the Government, presumably on the conditions stated in the petition. The Councils met on the gn.und on the 29th January, and after careful in-•'pj-t-on the majority decided iu favour of

...- -unrest site, known as Shepherd’s Cros--■r.-g. On the 7th February, Messrs Meaaou and Marchant were instructetd to prepare plans and specifications, but on- the 14th a letter was received from the Department of Lands and Survey stating that as a great difference of opinion existed as to the best site, they had decided to hold an inquiry, and had appointed Mr \V. S. Short to make the same. After a most exhaustive inquiry, this gentleman reported that he thought that two bridges were requisite, but in effect said that if only one could be built, one at Shepherd’s Crossing would be of most use to the district. By the time the Commissioner had made his report, the grant for that year had lapsed, but I understand that it has again been passed for the current year. The war of sites continues, and does not seem nearer a solution than it was at first. During the year the Council have by special order constituted a special Drainage District, to drain part of (he Seadown Riding. The sum of £259 has been placed on the Estimates for improvements to the Main South Road, and it is proposed to expend the same in rebuilding the small bridges between Timaru and Pareora. lam sorry to say that for the first time we have felt the benefit of insuring our employees against accident, as one of our surfacemen had the misfortune to break his leg. One of the principal works undertaken during the year is the widening of the Waimataila.i bridge to 33 feet in the clear. On and after the Ist April next all slaughterhouses wili be licensed only on the approval of the Minister of Agriculture, and all fees wili be received by him, and all (barges incurred in carrying out the Act will be paid out of thd Consolidated Fund. Our overdraft to-day amounts fo £1056 17s, and we have moneys to come in before the 31st March next, amounting to £2816, leaving us a balance of £1759 3s to expend to that date, or £440 per month. Owing to the high prices for horses and the number of works going on in the district, the outgoing year has been a very expensive one to the Council, in m.-.my cases the schedule rates for work being voiy largely increased. Nineteen contracts have been entered into and completed at a-cost of £2056 Is 4d. The complc’.ed works consist of seven miles of formation of roads, 8000 cubic yards of beach, pit, and river shingle, and 1145 cubic yards of bluestone metal spread, 2000 cubic yards of earthwork, masonry culverts, bridge at Pareora, and renewing Saleyards. bridge at the Point Our own teams and men have constructed and reformed over 15 miles of road, with necessary culverts and waterways, besides (attending to repairs to keep all unshingled roads in good order. They have also repaired and shingled the Main North Road from Timaru to the Arowhenun bridge; also extensive repairs and shinglo to the Point to Timaru, Totara and Seadown main roads. For the destruction ol small birds 152 bushels of poisoned wheat have been prepared during the season, and about 30 bushels of this is still on hand. Two men have been employed during the winter, and will be employed up to the end of this month, distributing the poisoned grain. As far as I can learn the poison has acted very satisfactorily. During the year we have had to send cut a. great number of notices for persons to clear gorge off roads, and generally most of the ratepayers notified have done their best to abate the nuisance.”

Mr Pringle congratulated the Council on the fact that they were living within their means. In the old Road Board days they had an overdraft of about £2OOO. They reduced that gradually, until they began as a County Council nearly clear, and he was glad that they had kept clear ever since. Mr Butler was glad to hear this from one of the old Road Board members, as it came better from them than from one of the later Councillors. Ho was glad to see the amount of work stated that had been done by the Council’s own teams, and from the total it could be seen that a great extent of repairs had been done that could not be economically done by contract. He was satisfied that the Council got good value for their expenditure on the teams. He thought it would be well to add to the report the amount paid to the Harbour Board and Charitable Aid Board, to show how much of the rate was taken for these purposes; the two items were equal to nearly one-third of the rates collected.

The chairman said these sums were £478 14s 4d to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, and £1335 5s 6d to the Harbour board, and the two were about one-fourth of (lie total revenue of the Council, including everything. On the motion of Messrs Macintosh and Butler, the chairman’s report was adopted. The clerk then look the chair for the ELECTIONS.

annual election of chairman. Mr Mee proposed that Mr Orbed he re-elected. It was unnecessary to say anything in support of the motion ; they all knew that he was the most thoroughly 7 fit member of the Council to lie chairman.

Mr Pringle had great pleasure in seconding the nomination, as Mr Orbed lookgreat interest in the Council s work, and he never gave offence to anyone, in or out of the Council.

The motion was carried unanimously 7, and Mr Orbed on resuming the chair thanked members for the renewed proof of their confidence in him. He had always taken great interest in the Council, and was ready to devote all (he time al his command to his duties.

The election of representatives on the ITospilill ami Charitable Aid Hoard was then taken.—-Mr I’ringlc, one of the retiring members, asked to be excused from nomination for lack of time, and Messrs Macintosh and McLaren were proposed by Messrs Mee and Campbell, and unanimously appointed. A letter was read from the Clerk to the Geraldine County Council, inquiring

whether the Levels Council has yet obtained power to elect a member to the Timaru High School Board, and whether the Geraldine County Council must still appoint two members for the combined counties.—As no change has been made by the Legislature, the Council have no power to appoint, and the matter was left to the, Geraldine Council. The Clerk asked fur instructions under the new Slaughterhouse* Act, as it was a puzzle how much ..■ al body has to do with it, and it w.,s suggested that he had better consult the solicitor. The meeting then, terminated.