ASHBURTON.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1790, 8 November 1919, Page 11

ASHBURTON.

COUNTY COUNCIL. From Our Own Correspondent. The monthly meeting of the Ashbur-; ton County Council was held yesterday, 1 there being present: Messrs J. Cairns (chairman), C. Reld, W. G. Gallagher, W. Goodwin, A. Horsey, A. Drummond, H. J. Harrison, W. T. Lill, J. Maginness and W. Lochhead. Mr C. Branigan, » stock inspector, wrote calling the council's attention to some of the plantations which were badly overrun with rabbits. A request was made by'five Mount Somers residents asking for a bridge over the North Hinds crossing at the Brothers. The Upper Ashburton Road Board wrote asking the council to reconsider its decision to provide only 20 feet of pipes for each water race crossing oA the Main South Road between Ashburton and Chertsey. A number of Staveley Dairy Company fuppliers wrote asking the council to erect a light traffic bridge over the ' stream near the factory. The letters were received.

The chairman reported on the water rates levied and collected as follows: — Rakaia, levied, £1933 4/-, collected £lOl2 12/6, outstanding £2O 11/6: Rangitata, levied, £1416 1/6, collected £1412 18/6, outstanding £3 3/-; Ashburton Forks, levied, £143 4/6, collected £139 2/-, outstanding £4 2/6; general rate levied £9777 5/11, collected £8424 0/8, outstanding £1253 5/3. It was reported that 2984 dog collars had been sold during the year, as against 2790 for the year 1918. The chairman and Mr Reid gave a resume of the business which had been transacted at tho Counties' Conference, and a vote of thanks was accorded to th cm. On (the motion of Mr A. Drummond the council heartily congratulated the chairman, on having been appointed a vice-president of the Counties' Association.

Telegrams were read "from the Hon. W.\Nosworthy with reference to the proposed bridge over the Ashburton River at Blowing-Point, and asking whether the council had everything necessary ready to proceed with the work, provided the Public Works Department would hand over the construction of the work to the council. The chairman stated that he had replied that the council was, of opinion that the Public Works had better opportunies of obtaining suitable timber more expeditiously than the council. The engineer was instructed to report on the cost of constructing a piece of road that will stand hard wear; the portion of road suggested was the Ashburton approach to the traffic bridge. The engineer reported adversely on the conditions on which the Mt. Somers coal-mine was worked. The report was adopted and it was decided to write to the Minister of Mines asking if he would send, an expert to report on the mine and its working. , Twenty-one applications were received for the position of assistant-engineer, and they were referred'to a committee to consider and to make an appointment. DOMAIN CARNIVAL.

.A meeting of members of various committees and others interested in the proposed Domain Carnival w,asheld in the Borough Council Chambers last evening, the Mayor (Mr R. Galbraith) presiding* Mr T. Hunter said that he considered that December would be the most suitable month. In January stock agents ■and many others are too busy to aSsist. ,The local band also contemplated a fete week, to raise funds for the new instruments, ami the committees would have to assist them in their effort. He moved that the date be fixed for December 16. This was seconded by Mr J. Watson. Mr A. Todd (Side-show Committee) said that December was much too busy a month t» work up side-shows; he doubted very much if they could be arranged. Mr Thomas (Produce Committee) said that December was a bad month in respect to produce and pot plants. This opinion was also advanced by Mr Clayton, Curator of the Domain, who said he could not have pot plants in bloom in December.

A suggestion was made that a special day could be held in the town in March for the sale of produce and pot plants. Mr W. G. Hillier, chairman of the Borough School Committee, asked if the meeting thought it possible that the school fete could be joined with the Domain fete. A percentage of the proceeds could be arranged. To ask the public to support Domain, school and band fetes would be too much. He wished it clearly understood that the money was not required for buildings, but for improvements in the school grounds. Until they got the support of the public, the present or any other school committee would never make progress. Mr Kerr thought the introduction of the school would be a grave mistake; other district schools would perhaps want a slice of the proceeds. The date, December 16, was fixed, and the question of the inclusion of the school fete was referred to the Executive Committee, who will be asked to report at next meeting. The various committees were reconstructed. ' The offer of the Christchurch Male Voice Choir to provide a concert in Asliburton was referred to the Musical Committee, which will probably give its own concert on the evening of December 15.

NEWS AND NOTES. The members of the Ashburton County Council were the guests of tlie director and staff at the Technical School at luncheon at the school yesterday. Mr J. Cairns complimented the students upon the excellence of the repast provided. Mr C. Ileid, chairman of the board of managers, said that the gathering had been arranged to enable members to make the acquaintance of the new director. It was too soon to say that Mr Thompson would fill the place of Mr Moore, but he was certain that thoy had secured a good man, and he was doing well. Mr Thompson, in reply, slated that the Ashburton school was well equipped and equal to any of its size in New Zealand. There was much room for advancement in technical education. It was not right that the child should have to go to the school; the school should go to the child. The Mayor (Mr R. Calbraith) and a number of retired members of the board were also present at

'the gathering. At the monthly meeting of the executive committee of the Ashburton branch of the Canterbury Automobile Association held on Thursday night, Messrs T. JJ. Hunter and R. McDonald were deputed to meet the Hon. W. Nosworthy in respect to the time limit on the Kakaia bridge. The secretary was ini structcd to write to the South Bakaia Board Hoard, pointing out the very dangerous nature of the approaches to [Crossings on the main road, and to offer 'the board £2 2/-per culvert for each culvert placed from side to centre of the road. At the request of the general

secretary it was decided to erect a temporary sign-post at the Rangitafca bridge for the convenience of visitors to Christchurch for Carnival Week. At a recent meeting of the Mt. Somers Road Board, a deputation waited upon the board, asking i£ it would give a conrtibution towards the Mt. Somers District Memorial Hall to be erected. After due consideration, the board decided to contribute £IOO, subject to the resolution being confirmed at. the next meeting .of the board, when all members will be present. Members of the Ashburton Ladies' Hockey Club assembled in the Victoria Hall on Thursday evening, to bid farewell to one of their members, Miss A. Brown, who is shortly leaving for Oxford. During the evening, which was devoted chiefly to dancing, Miss Brown was presented with a handsome white ivory manicure set. Mr W. R. McKean, S.M., presided at the Magistrate's Court (Ashburton) yesterday. W. Freeman (Dunedin) was fined 20/-, with costs, for exceeding the speed limit in East street. In a civil claim, W. H. Collins and Co. (Mr Buchanan) proceeded against T. E. Wills (Ashburton) for £l6 18/6, being balance of rent due. Wills counter-claimed £23 5/6, the difference between the amount allowed by plaintiffs and the amount of articles seized by the bailiff, which Wills considered were tools of 'trade. Judgment was given for Collins and to the claim and counter-claim. Wills was ordered to pay la/- hearing fee and to arrange payments with plaintiff.