COUNTRY NEWS.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13410, 7 May 1912, Page 3

COUNTRY NEWS.

MURCHISON. ,

COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the Murehison County Council was hold on Sattirday, the 27th of April. Px-esont: Crs. J. Brown (chairman), Monahan, Badoock, Rogers, Win, Pago, and G. Thomson. . Mr. J. McDormott asked the Council for an extension of contract ti:uo.—Granted. Correspondence was recived as follows :— From Hon. J. Colvin re £1500 loan. —■ Cr. Brown moved that the Clerk write to Mr., Colvin asking if a Bill can be. passed next .• session empowering the Advances Board to grant a loan to this county. Seconded by Cr. Badcock and carried. •, . . ■ The Chairman's..action in congrntu--1: ting Mr. Colvin was confirmed by the Cmneil. From Mr. A. E. Macgrcgor, Westport, notifying the Council that the ]'\st and Telegraph Department were. ;: to an acetylene gas lamp being placed on the front of the new Post Office, the Council to pay for tho lamp and lighting.—Received. From Tyree and Co., Nelson, making an offer re photographs of tho Manna Hot Springs, etc.—Offer declined. From Messrs H. Bunn and W. Ba-s----tin, asking for improvements and repairs in Hotham street. —Resolved ihr.t the writers be informed that tho Overseer is preparing an estimate of making the streets, and that a proposal to raiso a loan will be submitted to the ratepayers. From Messrs W. J. Roberts and others, asking that Grey street bo opened for traffic. —Resolved that petitioners be informed the same as Messrs ]hi tin and Bastin. Cr. Badcock moved that Mr. W. J. '.Roberts bo notified that ho must .-'.nologiso to tho Council before any notice will bo takon of his correspond-' odcq, and that the Clerk be instructed not to place any correspondence from. Mr. Roberts before the Council until tho apology is received. Seconded by Cr. Win and carried. Mr. Flowers asked the Council to improve Braeburn road by filling in holer,, cleaning out watertables, and by letting the water off where required. Mr. W. Goodyer sent in his resignation as permanent roadman.—Resignation accepted. Cr. Rogers moved that Mr. Potter be appointed to the position of permanent roadman. Seconded by Cr. Win and carried. Cr. Page moved, and Cr. Rogers seconded, that Mr. Goodyer be instructed to start repairs to Braeburn road as son as possible.—Carried. From the Nelson Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, notifying the Council that a levy had been made- on lorn! authorities within the Nelson hospital district, and that the amount to be paid by the Murchison County Cour.cil was £159, the same to be paid in four quarterly instalments. —Resolved that payment of instalment bo niado bofore the end of the month as requested. Cr. Badcock moved that tho Cleric confer with the Mining "Valuer, and lodge objections to the valuation lists where necessary. Seconded by Cr. Rogers and carried. From Mr R. T. Sadd. Commissioner of Crown Lands, re vesting of Marv.ia Hot Springs reserve in Council. —Received. From the same, asking the Council to forward a list of the votes being applied for for the construction of back blocks roads.—List to be forwarded. From the Public Works Department re estimate of cost of work on Newman's road. The Clerk read a letter which had been forwarded by the Overseer in reply. From the same re vote of £200 for Maruia south road, and stating that tho money had already been expended by the Council. —Received. From Mr. James Patterson, Reefton, enclosing a letter from the Resident Engineer at Nelson re a claim of £2 10s made by Light, Collings, and party for work done on road from Sheep Pens to Rahu Saddle, and referring them to the Council, who had control of tho road. Tho Overseer reported that tho work had been authorised by the local engineer, and the Clerk said that he had written to Mr. Widdowson to that effect. From Mr W. F. Dovey re the application of Mr. J. A. Burgess to erect gate across tho road on the west bank of the Matiri river. From the R-esidont Engineer re the same matter, and informing the Council that as tho road in question was under their control, they had the power of granting or refusing permission for the erection of gates. As no application was before tho Council it could not be dealt with. From the Department of Agriculture enclosing a slaughterhouse license for C \H. Ricketts.—-Received. ! From Mr J. Hislop, Under-Secretary i for the Department of Internal Affairs, I informing the Council that request had | been made on behalf of Her Majesty I Queen Alexandra for the collection of I information as to memorials in Nov.- ---; Zealand to His late Majesty King Ed- | ward VII., and asking.the Council's cooperation and.assistance in supplying this information. From Mr B. M. Wilson, Director of Tourist and Health Resorts, notifying them that the Hon., Mr. Mackenzie could not at present visit Maruia, hut that he would himself shortly visit Maruia ro the Springs. From Mr W. G. Wickham, New Zealand Trade Commissioner, asking for particulars of the- number of motor cars [ and cycles, in the district, with i>iir.v::s of makers, etc. . From the Under Secretary, Mines Department, re prospecting in-Murchison" County, and stating that tho Minister, of Mines had aproved a subsidy of £100, at the rate of £1. per week per m:m. From the- Public Works Dppartimm;:. forwarding a notice published in tho New Zealand- Gazetts setting forth particulars to be furnished when apnlvu^c for license to construct and.ußo electric lines for lighting and othcr;purposos. From the Minister of Internal Affairs re the Local Government BiH; and informing the Council that two delegates

would bo required to represent tho /pi, son hospital district at tho forthcoriiig Wellington conference.—Cr. Pago roved that this Council sond a delegat |to the .Nelson conference. Secondec.by Cr. Thomson- and carried. '. It was resolved on the motion, of Gr. Rogers, seconded by Cr. Monahan, tiat Cr. Badcock be appointed delegate fpr this Council at tho Nelson conference;

It was resolved on the motion of Jr. Win, seconded by Cr. Monahan, t,at tho public bo notified that tho balaiqe sheet.is printed, and that copies n?iy bo obtained at the County Office. J

On the motion of Cr. Badco(|, seconded by Cr. Win, the Chairman va s

authorised to sign tracings

It was resolved in the motion of Cr. Badcock, seconded by Cr. Rogers, tiat tho executive meet to consider a schesne for raising a loan for improving Mnrchison streets when the Overseer and Clerk have prepared tho necessity data, and that they take the necessary steps to raise the loan. '<

Resolved that the nest ordinary meeting of tho Council be held on Saturday, May 25th.

The Overseer reported that a little improvement was required in front of tho new Post Office, and it was resolved that the necessary work be done.

Cr. Monahan asked that something bo done to the road up the Glencairn. On tho motion of Cr. Rogers, seconded by the Chairman, it was resolved that tho Overseer attend to the matter.

Cr Monahan asked for repairs to be done on the road to M. H. F. Sutherland's. —Resolved that £1 be spent under tho Overseer's direction.

Cr. Thomson asked that the scrub be cleared off tho road to Walker's Maruia property;— Resolved that the Overseer attend to the matter.

It was resolved on the motion of Cr Pago that the balance of rates on properties of Messrs McAuliffe, McCaa, Main, etc.. unpaid, bo written off, and that Messrs. Dickson and Morel be allowed a deduction on their next year's rates of the difference between their first and second year's rates.

Cr. Page stated that the gravel pit on the road near his place was a danger to travellers, and asked that a rail bo erected near it.—Resolved that Cr. Page get a rail erected. Cr. Rogers asked that the Council out in p. new anchor in the rock for tho chair across tho Matakitaki. —Resolved that Cr. Rogers have tho work done.

Resolved on tho motion of the Chairman, seconded by Cr. Win, that the Hon. Mr. J. Colvin bo urged to try to get a bridge across the Buller at the mouth of the Rotoroa.

A vote of thanks to tho chair terminated the meeting.