COUNTRY NEWS.

Colonist, Volume LIII, Issue 13054, 14 March 1911, Page 4

COUNTRY NEWS.

MURCHISON.

At the last monthly meeting of the Murclnson County Council there were present: Councillors John Rait (chairman), Owen Lynch, F. C. Page, John jerry, (*eo. Ihomson, and W B ihomson.

Correspondence was received and dealt with as follows :-From tho Agricultural Department, ro Noxious ¥,eeds Act.—Received. From the i ourist Department, pointing out the value- of finger posts, where main roads diverge.—lt was resolved that the Overseer have finger posts erected at tlis.Longford and Buller bridge. From Mr R. T. Sadd, Commissioner v PqOW" Lands' Ndso "> « Maniia Hot (springs and Springs reserve —It was resolved that Mr Sadd be informed that the Council will endeavour to raise a loan sufficient to build an accommodation House of about twenty rooms at the, Springs, and that in view of the rough, state of the GOOO--acre reserve the Council is of opinion that the whole reserve should he vested m the Council it bojng the intention of the Council to lease the reserve together with the accommodation house, excepting a small portion near tho Spring, H-lnch f s to he set aside ior free public use. It was further reralyod that the Minister for Tourists ai.d Health Resorts be asked to eon tribute £ for £ towards the cost of the "action of accommodation house, and that the Hons Thomas Mackenzie and Roderick Mckenzie be invited to visit the Springs in company with tho members of the Council. Messrs Bout and Sons wrote asking tho touncrl to compensate Mr RanJcferson for clearing and grassino- a portion of Fairfax street through" an J-, 1; 1" 01' ™a. dc °.V the surveyor of some.— I he Chairman read a copy of letter he had written to Messrs Rout and Sons during the, absence of the Clerk Mr Elijah Bunn drew the Council's attention to tho state of Fairfax street m front of his new dwelling, and stated that if the Council would call tenders for the necessary work he would contribute £ for £ towards tho cost.—lt was resolved that the Overseer inspect and report to next meet-

Mr J. BeniiGtt wrote asking tin Council to fill in the hollow in froni oi his premises in Fairfax streot.Itesolved that the Overseer ask Mi Bennett if he would pay £ for £ towards the cost.

As no scheme had been approved hy the Public Works Department for work on the Matjri East road, it was resolved that telegrams be Bent to tho Resident Engineer at Nelson and to the Commissioner of Crown Lands informing them that the. Council would proceed with the work at once. It was resolved that the Overseer arrange, if possible, with the contractor to erect one dividing fence and necessary .shelter at the pound; and also to procure a brown birch dug-out trough, tenders to be called if the contractor is unwilling to do the work at Overseer's estimate.

It was resolved that a special meeting of tho Council be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April Bth, for the purpose of amending the county by-laws, and that tho next ordinary meeting of the Council be held at 11.15 a.m. on tho same day.

It was resolved that the Clerk call a meting of the Executive, if necessary, at any suitable time before the next ordinary meeting to deal with tenders, etc.

lha Clerk reported having interviewed the Resident Engineer, Mr Harding, at Nelson, and that Mr Harding stated that his department could not proceed any faster with the erection of bridges in the county unless his staff was increased.—lt was resolved that the. Clerk write to the Minister of Public" Works, urging the early construction of the bridges, and that Mr Coivin be written to and in formed of the reasons given for no starting tho works

Cr, Lynch moved that the Minister for Public Works bo asked if some arrangement can be made to obviate the present dejay paused by works having to be inspected by the Public Works Overseer.—Seconded by Cr. Pago and carried.

Or. Lynch asked the Council to authorise) thoi filling in of a hollow in the road caused by a fallen tree—Resolved that the Overseer attend to it. Tenders were revived and dealt with as follows:—Bracburn Settlement road (Overseer's estimate £33 10s) Mr James Whittein £36 19s: Mr Joseph Goodyor £32 10s.—Resolved that Mr Goodycr's tender be accepted No. 2, Braebiirn road.—Resolved that Mr H. I'auchelle's tender be not accepted, as. it was informal. Matiri river road (Overseer's Estimate £30) J. A. Burgess, £29 17s od.—Resolved that Mr Burgess's tender ho accepted. It was resolved that owing to the difficulty in obtaining tenders for some of the county work, the Overseer let the Braeburn Settlement road to Mr H. Fauchello if he, complies witJi necessary conditions; and also that the Overseer be authorised to let the 30 chains of metalling on the Tutaki road on complying with the conditions of contract.

The Council rose at 5 p,m