COUNTY COUNCILS.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 13145, 29 November 1906, Page 6

COUNTY COUNCILS.

THE LEVELS. The annual meeting of the Levels County Council was held yesterday at nboc. Present—Messrs C. 2s. Orbell. (chairman), J. Stewart, T. W. Mee, Barry, J, Mahony.. and T. B. Garrick. ..-.,-- . ANNUAL MEETING. On the motion of Mr Mee, seconded by Mr Garrick, Mr Orbell was .unanimousjy elected to the position of chairman. Mr Orbell thanked members for electing him as their chairman for another year. He said the Council could: congratulate themselves upon the successful working of the past and he thought that the Council was composed of a jconciliatory body of mem. The ratepayers were entitled to some of the credit in choosing their members, and although there .had been some great changes on the Council- he had always seen the members ready to work together as ond man. They were never ashamed of what they had done at the Council, and he had never known anything discreditable to issue from their meetings. One thing he had noticed with pleasure was the way members left- the meetings and left their business behind them. In this respect they could give other bodies a leason; the members always left the room as they should. . * . Mr Stewart thought that the credit of the Council's work was due to the officers, and he proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Orbell, Mr Whitehead and Mr Black. The motion was duly carried. The ordinary business of the Council wa» th? 3. taken. CORRESPONDENCE. Mr G. Butler wrote under date of November the Bth, acknowledging the request as their representative on the Hospital Board to oppose the present infectious diseases hospital being used for the purpose of housing consumptive patients. Under the circumstances he could pot comply with their request, because 'thk-pbjects of' the Board were to endeavour to pro-vide-a sanatorium for consumptives,:"and the transference of them from the - general hospital to thl Talbot Hospital, was only a tempora-r expedient, even if the Health Department sanctioned it. The object of the hospital was to care for the sick, but the Board apparently considered the healthy firstly. The pithisis patients were with the other patients,-and this was not only illegal, but most objectionable for several reasons, besides the room was required for Ordinary purposes. The. more freakly -patients would' be more-"likely to be affected; by an. infectious disease than stronger ones' coming in contact;with consumptives, and at the last meeting of the Board the medical officer stated that there w»s>riot one case of infection at/the.hosi pi4a?. ; The Talbot Hospital was in the centre of .8 "acres of land so that "any Manger 'of infection would! be reduced to;a He thought that the Board was acting in the best interests of aH coifcern6cLr-:-:' ' Mr Itfahont objected to the actionwhiyi. Mr ' Butter had takien on the Bodrd. As repfe'sentatiye" Levels "County;' Cottricß-and ratepayers he should /.have voted according to their wishes. He'tias not thereras a private individual to.voice his owb opinions. '■'"■ '.. * .-...-"! Mr Mee thought that "Mr Butler .had done the correct "thing. '"'- :> ,i The chairman remarked that. housing r ;the the" consiimptivW 'at Talbot 4 only done temporarily,, the Board was in difficulty.to to do for theibest: Mr ; tig%nt". that Mr Butler should,!siafl v ; .as i.of the CburiciT" and lay tliwr views before"/the Boafcnin^^^ly"own interests. saM. H&pital was'better the general h6spSari i mdf qjiofel words as being'given to the s 'health'''of *~'./. Mr'Mahony said' the Council had received, several petitions from residents in the locality of'Talbot" Hospital ;/agamst allowing consumptives to be housed there. The chairman said that they bad only received oiie signature in that coimection. Mr Mahohy said the Hospital Board j "was involved in several "works" at present —' the new steam laundry to cost about. £IOOO "and the proposed old men's home] to cost about £5000; and the latter was j proposed to be erected in the Talbot Hospital grounds. He thought that it should not be erected there and- the ratepayers should have a voice in that question. His own opinion, was that the old men's home should be erected* two or,three miles put of town, so as to miak'e' the, institution self-supporting: Finally :Mr Mahony said that he was quite satisfied that Mr Butler, as representing the county ratepayers, had not done justice in this matter. The chairman said that the Board was not controlled by Mr Butler and he as amember of the Board, must have some-dis-cretionary latitude. He' personally approved of Mr Butler's action in-the matter. Mr Garrick thought that Mir Mahony might just as well move-a vote o£- noconfidence in Mr Butler: %. Mr Garrick moved, and Mr 'r.eeonded.,- and it was carried, that Mi- Butler be asked to represent the Council on

the Hospital Board for the ensuing twelve months.—Agreed to. The Mackenzie County Council wrote applying for a £250 grant from the Council towards 'the cost of erecting a traffic bridge over river near Albury. The estimated cost is about £2OOO and the river is on the boundary between the' Mackenzie and the Levels counties and would be of great service to Levels county was decided to reply that they could do nothing in the matter at ! present. A resident of Pleasant Point wrote asking for the gorse to be cut on the road near his premises.—Mr Black reported that he had the matter in hand and that the work would be done shortly. The Timaru Boraagli Council wrote ts proposed lamp post at the corner of Robert and Buchanan streets, asking the Council to- allow consideration of this ter to stand over pending the installation of' electric-light. " • . - Mr G. Kerr wrote thanking- the Council for their expression 'of sympathy -to, the Kerr family m their--receat bereavement; Mr J; Elder, Fairviewv complained of tbestray cattle and horses about the roads, much-to the detriment of fences; y Mr Myles Campbell,. ; Measanfc<^Point, wrote drawings-the- Counßtt%\ ; attention to the large number of cattle! bemg> ; herded daily along the Kerrytown the main raad' iiear the Arowh'etdja-- SoteL—• It was decided to take steps to.-enfoiee the by-lawsi- i■■" '". ' ' '' "'' J- ■ Mr G~ Crozier,' - Pleasant Point,: wrote stating that' owing to the ; drjsaess oi. Jrbfi weather the'' water-races could not be shut off for repairs; "Several- footbridges; wars required in the district -fbfr school- cbffilreii and bicycle and'the* sheep,- crossing over the big race on the- Mill road wanted repairing urgeafly,' as cpndlbibn' was dangerous- to ;. j A petition reefeived." front 17 fatapayeifs in the- "Tyiibo Flat district asking the Council to iEetalKthe ; Zig-zag at-Re-sen--dale's during the : summer Black was -instructed to report; on thisf work. ._"■'• \_ y."■ ; • • ;;"■- S The Waiinate-TDourity. Council wrote staiicg"that they would! furffier" consider the claims lodged by ;the Levels Qauncil. f« converging, •traffic^'and" they theni coihe to iMr -G. neighbour's draJnTrnnhing s oii : to; his-' land! in Moreton TownsMp.--MSj-Black was instructed to report on this ihatter: •The Mackenzie 'County- Council advisedl that Mr RollestoiE".-was appointed fc j; them to exercise one fete at the election; of ret- | presentatives on the. South. Qtaterbicrj; pital and GHiaritaWe;: AM' Board for the grouped'counties, of Mackenzie and Levels-. I '. ' -.' ipSCEiLAN'EpUS. '",. ■" "** It was decided .to levy a special rateof If d p*r stc're on the: value. Of property -withiii/tihe' -.SeadowhV, riding' for • the- maintenance of the. the jspecial late J-to commence from dfet.'..©£ I January, 1907, for a period of 12-: months.:. I" A formal-resolution was passed:that the; i registration of : all-dogs within the = county/ Ibe 10s; that when any dog is v.keptr-ior the purpiee of caring, for stock or for ithe destruction, of rabbits, the fee \ ; jactipn against'all r owners of ila^tip^^gmes;using ; the "county reads without a license^.under the heavy .traffic and ■traction. ;engjjde Jbjyi- ■ ft; was "resolved that the'; : Ghaiiman : be authorised to 3ay question" of borrowihg- : £B4p^.jE6r^tKe^sec T . tion of bridges and protective.works,,/undtiro thei Leans to Local Bodiers Act. -"-

Mr, D. Poino'-s tender, for thedogcollaxs was accepted, the* specified size,; •being-IS x |,- at ffid'.eachV;. •-v., ' -V^! - \t,V. (.:'-. ";;*»&, WAi.\ "' rPenders were tract* 22—-J.Hamjrtto* "£5?-10s!? j|i -Boor-i ■ney,:' £75; Blacfir ~aaad ,Son,. > £BO j E:-: "Pearce'£47 10s, {accepted). Contract jio.'' 23—A. Vincent, £376 13s 4d James.i Smith, £431. Contract? Kd. J. Hampton, £143" 14s; 4d (accepted); J: .Sngrue;" £l2s ;':': James': Smith, £125; Black and Sffn, M 46 17s'6d. : Contract No. 25 J." Hampton, £95 16s Bd> J. Smith,.-£'B9 lis 8d ? J. Sugrue,' £7O 16s 8d (accepted); Black and Son £91.1354 d. Tenders for the construction of v the~water races in the Tengawai-Opihi supply district were held over till Saturday,. the Ist of December, awaiting the return of Mr Marchant, the Council's engineer. It was resolved to call tenders for the following works authorised by Govern.raent grant:—Cliffs road, Munro's road, Arras's (under Rosewill Government grant), tenders to be in by 'noon on 14th of December.

WAIMATE. '■■'-;.; The monthly meeting was held yesterday. Present—Mr P. Studholnie (chairman), and Messrs Lyall, Hardie, Walker, Elworthy, Rhodes, Hart, Breen and Milne. The engineer's report was read and adopted. CORRESPONDENCE. Mr. J. O'Rourke reapplied for permis-

sion to erect a saving gate on the roiad near T. Kelcher, Herstlea, .wrote objecting to the erection of the gate.—Mr Walker said gates should never be permitted across public roads, i and those-that -were on should come off.— The. application /was not granted. J.Messrs and Izard offered to .contribute £l5O towards Parker's road, the Government £75 and with the Council's £l5O, this should be enough. They asked .the. committee to undertake) the' expenditure of the £37s.—The engineer said there were several Government grants to be expended- Work on the present one would' take the best part of a month.—-It wux left to the engineer, to-push the work »'head as fast ais possible.' :■ Mr A. Kirk, Hunter, asked for compensation for shingle'taken from, his land bycontractors]—The" "engineer is to report. 'Mr A. Morgan,--Springbroak, St. Andrews, complained of gorse growing on the roadside-and becoming a nuisance. The engineer is to report. - v Mr W. Gaarder and others, Morven, asked that the road on the east side of Morven railway station be repaired.—The engineer stated that it was a Government township and-the Council had hitherto repudiated any liability. The Government i had handed over the roads completely; unformed and an application for their forming had not been granted in the estimates. The' Council, having taken this stand, was not till the roads were formed and shingled or the means given the Council to do the work.—lt was' decided that the Council has no liability, but representations -will be madey ; to the-member for the "district and estimates' would be prepared and sent to the Land Board. In speaking-of "the Motor Car Act, Mr Walker said there-was likely to be a great deal of trouble and litigation, and he thought a committee should be set up to compare their:.- by &ikms' andhothers- withthe Act! Action in this Regard'was approved, but it .was.' fejt that there was ample time before next session. ■:. • Mr Rhodes said he- noticed, in : -the ba-' lance sheet;,that Mr Warburton stated that certain , accounts were illegally charged in a certain manner. - He would like to hear something-in this regard. The. chairman said the same objections were made last year and the clerk, had fully explained them. He could make a statement now. ; . .- • The clerk then read an explanation oi the manner in which the various items were charged up, all being done nvaccordance with the advice of their solicitors: The chief engineer of roads,. Wellington, stated that the Government the Waihao bridge cost up'to 1 ' £490. Mr J. K. Wright, Hunter, rewrote consenting to the purchase of birds heads and .esro-s for the season. Mr J Fitzsimmons, Hakataramea, complained re stock on the roads.—The ranger had been notified. , The treasury Department notified tue transference of 75. per cent. Government subsidy o-a 1906-7 - rates, less £l4l 7s llcl deducted on, account of road and nailwaiy bridges arid road maintenance. The chief engineer of roads notified that the' tlkih'g over a£ Bradshaw s roadline The annual meeting, was then held. The chairman thanked councillors for their courtesy and hsped his successor would be treated with the same good feeling. As regards the county finances they endeil the fear about £9OO better than when, they started, despite the fact that! this ?ear thev paid two years' levy for maintenance of the combined road and railwatv Bridges. ' . /. the:-dark- then called for nominations for chairman. _ Mr-^Eait'proposed Mr Studholme' for reelections He had taken greatest interest iit the business-: during tlie year, and had carried if on' most satisfactorily. Mr Rhodes, in seconding the motion, endorsed the mover's remarks.

Mr Milne supported the mofcian, which was carried /imanimous^y'. Mr StraLholme thanked the Council for its confidence and the honour they had conferred on him. Next year he hoped to have mare time to place at the: Council's disposal. The following appointments were made to the-South Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Boaud •-—■ Messrs Studholme and Lyafl, with Mr Coltman, the borough nominee. Me&sis.Breen, Walker, Hart, Hardier and Studholme were reappointed to the jWaimate Hospital' Board, , and Messrs .Sanders and Miller from the | borough.. 31a Bey. George-Barclay was, reappointed <lhe Council's lepresentathe on the Timaru High School Board. MISCELLANEOUS. I

The-engineer and Mr W. Campbell, Bounty foreman;,, reported two breaches, of the heavy traffic by-laws, said these were considered in committee. , Messrs Hamilton and Moore gdTe as their opinion that Mr Owen McKee- should he sued for expense incuried in eiecticg a. fence where he cut the .willwrcs. i The ranger's- reports were isd approved Mr James Meehan complained of diversion, of water into his land by tlie Council's surfacemen.—"Hie engineer stated that the road was merely cleaned in 'the* usual way, and no water was diverted.

The General iManager of Railways* wrote in regard to the Council's protest, against the payment of £152 for the, upkeep of Upper Waitafa. road and railway bridge that it jivas nor part of the Rai|w,ay Department's- duty to provide bridges for load traffic, and it was decided by Cabinet that where combiaad bridges existed the local bodies were to be? charged an. annual sum" for Baaintenance, etc. A commission was set up to apportion the charges, but the : Council absolutely declined to be repre- ] 'seated, (and tWcommissioners had to base | their finding on evidence obtained from i other sources* They were*»f opinion that [ the maintenance; of the north bridge was < fair charge against the Cauneil'and of the southern against Waitaki Council and no. reduction corflii be mada. » ' '

Dr Barclay i»pprted! a easa*-b'f- diptheriar iai, Morven, iaxdJ |fc ©. Wilson ferer at Makikibii; i-pi..■<<■■'■■■ '••"'■ * : ?Ehe Waihab Watef"'€feriTmittee imported 'that the wrerflow .paddock -was stopped. Mcv objection, was considered, jand: ii>r tpis-;de-cided that unless the "main face were faltered nothing could.bfe done.—-Mr Cnaick--shank's 'was, that he had t« pay <. rates, and yet to gpt waterVhe-; had to; erect a -windmill. '•- In reply to the Lovefe County. Cfcuncil'sclaim for further contributions re- conjerg-' ing roads; it was decided that Waamate Council abide by the '■' decision "of Commission. '.'' Mn Walker's motion, seconded, by Mr -Elworthy pro ; formal that ox-eye daisy be declared a noxious weed was lost. Councillors who apposed' it said thatoff.. w&h sheep killed "' '■'■■ Mr Rhodes asked that, the attention of the. Inspector of Stock "be called ■Vlfo\ J 4fo : & existence "of CaKfortdah' -thistle'in 'the;. : j??ai-' : : hao- river,' as •stated' by 'Mr Walker ,V. arid; .• this was decided -on. - ' : '.' : r ; ' ''i :i '

; Mr-Walker Forks-to the Lake the riverbed was a mass" of Califbrnian thistle. One man complained bitterly that' the' Council, and the Government took no steps, and every year seed was. deposited on hi-i land by the river. A lot of ownei*s of land at Willowbridge side of the river

' said their lands would be rendered useless, and -they- '■' were- amongst the most valuable in the colonv. .'-•■-'"' General accounts for £846 10s 7d, land fund £2B 2sj Waihao water maintenance £25 16s, loam £ls, Pareora.v water interest. £3, contractors' deposit = £2s,'' were" passed. - - TENDERS. Tlie following tenders were received, the lowest being accepted in each case:—No. 584, A. Cochrane £64 18s. No. 586, R. White £3lB 18s; A. Cochrane £268 3s; J. C. Williams £472 17s, No 587-^J:' Hampton £76, J. Patterson and Co. £69 12s, A. Nicol £7l 16s r W. Cochrane £B4, A. Shirley £76, R. White £Bl 12s: No. 588—R, White £92 6s, A. Shirley £lO2 19s, W. Hawke £9l 10s W- Cochrane £97, Johnston and Co. £B7 3s lid. No. 589—A. Shirley £39 Bfi>, R. White £25 10b, W. Hawke £3O 12s '; ' DEPUTATIONS. Mr Black, Waihaorunga, waited on the Council in regard to an order to remove three gates from the road. Two had been on the road for 20 years, and others were more dangerous and worse hung than his. There was very little traffic on the road,: — The' Council decided to give it consideration; ' A deputation in Tegard to the 'Shearers' Hill road waited on the Council.—Mr Thomson said he had been asked to object under certain sections of the Act. His objections were; not changed- He would be isolated and. the value of his property would be .deteriorated. Seventy per cent, of. the ratepayers in Waihao- riding were opposed to the deviation, and he a»ked could they. not' take i a poll of the ratepayers. : -Their, two members were going against the; majority.—ln reply to Mr Milne, said ; his- outlet was not stopped, it opened; on the new road 1 , which might be ir»6fe satisfactory, but it ; would open up a big question, inasmuch as any .30 or 40 ratepayers could apply ifor'a deviation. .>- - ■ :' rM» John Morriss waited on the. Council as: a deputation from the settlers- to urge: that the work not 'goneon with,, as it, would cost too much... ; The money, would be better spent in .other; parts of; the' ridtj ihg! . A. bridgeuiover;:,thernorth,fork! 'of, the Waihao,-for : instance, at,.£450, .was; more necessary than the deviation:,', which would cost £ISOO-to £2OOO. Be had opposed? iother deviations when'a member: of the Councfl. .Mr Breen had opposed the deviation of "Ward's road at '£200.-,!-; Yet; he was in favour of spending: £ISOO on Shearers Hilljv :,; x ;7 ."'' '._' Mr John Ryan.' llctvihg -also 'been .heard in opposition to the deviation, the whole matter was referred!: te>'the Council's legal advisers,; to come on for discussion again at the, next meeting.

GERALDHSTE. A special meeting of the Geialdin& County Council was "held yesterday. Present: —Messrs J. Talbot (chairman), SWright, W. Dixon, A. Metcalf, and G. J.. Dennistoun. BRIDGE PROPOSALS. The chairman said that the most important business, they had to consider was the position of the Council's finance in view of the- proposals>for a loan for bridgebcdlding having been,lost on the vote of the' ratepayers. He very much regretted the-loss of the proposals, i and thought that Yerg little information - could be gathered from the vote. Although they 'had to accept it as the decision of the ratepayers, ih could, hardly have been such,, for there had been pratctically no voting on the question, the vote having been lost through indifference. Now that the vote was loot it was certain that some of the proposals for new bridges would have to be 1 dropped while- works which were of pressing need would-have to be obtained by extra rates. In all about £6OOO-of the £12,000 proposed to be raised" by loan wculd now have to be obtained by extra, rates.". ihe repairs to the Temuka bridge and reconstruction of the Opihi bridge would amount to fully £6OOO. The Teramka bridge work which involved an' expenditure ot fiom £IOOO. to £ISOO, would have to )>e gone on with. The timber was on the ground and the engineer's advice was that the I work -was absolutely neceswary, is, the bridge was unsafe for the present heavy traffic. Mr Macdonald bdieved that if tne proposal -Has put before the again to-morrow it would, be carried e 'S'jy. The engineer, who was pieseut, stated that traffic on the; Temuka hiidge would have to. be stopped fol laDout tw\» jionth&, and hex asked, if i£ would be neeeisuiy to provide a temporary bridge foi motor cars, as the waten. in the ford would be toe deep, for them." . i Membeis did nc£ cent-dder that motor car traffic justified, the expendituie sary for a. temporary bridged , The-,;engineer- suggested daing the work by dav labour even if it cost a litfc'e moie' than by «ontract. The weiej that they could start'work next week, and they would meet til/2 wants of the levelling j publk. hetter than a contractor wrulct. It j was Tesoived " Hat the engineei be in-j s'truofcad to proceed, with the repahs of theJ Temjjkdt bridge as soon as posi-'ible; tha-j \Vork to be dore by day istboui." j i The following, notice of 'motion waw tabled.:—" That the Council at its next J meeting strike so- general rate of bi e far-1 thing in the £ ®a ,all rateable propei ty Lxl the> county for the perisd ending ilazoh. 316*. 1907." Tins T at« will biiig the? general rate for ,-tLefyear up to u\ the £1 * ' STATUTORY MEETING. The annual statutory meetirg vn? izeid after the special when the namemembers were'"'present and no other iate> payers. On the motion of Mr-DennS-trun. iMr J. Talbot" was re-elected* -chahjiun of the Council. Me£sr&& 'Talbot &i 3W. tS. Manlin weret [district on the.hospital and Charitable Aid '< .Board. t -Messrs^LvaTalboftisand-B. R. Macdonald were re-elected .jas-yrtfpresentatives 'to the Timaru £Kgh Scßool Boajd! The meeting thW\esniraai»d.