COUNTY COUNCILS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 364, 10 April 1915, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCILS.

At the monthly meeting of the Rangiora County Council, held yesterdays there, were present: Messrs F.-Horrcll (chairman), M. H. Stokes, <H. Fallot, L. W. Campion, W. Stalker, H. ; Garrett, and A. Mcintosh. ; ' ! The clerk was authorised to arrange for the shingling 6'f German's Bead, Ciist. 7 \ The clerk was instructed to. take immediate action to recover outstanding rates. The Prime Minister wrote.;that the council's request for legislation in the direction of allowing a rebate in connection with the prompt payment of rates would receive careful consideration. '...',.. It was resolved to accede to, the request to lay a line of pipes,on the Drain Road to convey water to the lands of Messrs■ W. Smith, A. Mcintosh, A. Ironside, J. R. Campbell, A. J. Tutton, and Mrs Thompson,'they paying the cost. It was agreed to increase the wages of the council's two draymen by £ls per annum, and to pay casual -draymen 1/- per day extra, in consequence of the increased cost of horse feed. . The surveyor was instructed to put in concrete pipes on Miles's Road. It was decided to authorise the Kaiapbi Borough-ranger to impound cattle on roads adjoining the Kaiapoi Borough. The receipts for the month were £lB7 12/-, .and the bank debit 'balance £267.

PAPARUA. The last meeting of the council was attended by Mr Leslie (in the chair) and Messrs Henley, Carr, Smith, Watson, McCarthy, and Bailey, Mr Tipping wrote asking that the crossing at the Sandy Knolls Railway Station be improved. The matter was referred to Messrs Smith, Watsan, and the clerk to inspect and act. The inspection is to take place on the morning of April 12. The Public Works Department wrote enclosing plan of the transmission line to Tai Tapu, and stating that on half chain -roads the poles would be placed On the fence .line, while on full chain 4'oads the poles would be placed s ** ee i

from the fence line. The positions 'of the poles were approved. The clerk reported that extensive damage had been done by traction engine traffic on the Ellesmere Road, and that a very considerable sum of money would be necessary to repair the road. He suggested that the haulage license be increased so as to cover in part the damage done to roads by the excessive traffic. Members were of the opinion that traction engine- traffic, if spread well over the road, greatly improved the road, but when constantly on the same track, as on the Ellesmere Road,' great harm was done. It was decided to write to all engine-owners stating that while the council had no wish to, put a heavy fee on their engines, if the owners did not exercise more care in the use of the roads such a course would be necessary. It was pointed out that' two of the adjacent counties had a heavy tax on engines, with the result that much of the heavy haulage work was diverted from those counties to this one. The water-race caretakers reported that the races were all running well duriug the month.