LEVELS COUNTY COUNCIL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13920, 3 June 1909, Page 2

LEVELS COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Levels Couulv coiuKil was Jiciil in me Council diaiuuci's ycsiciuay. I'reaeut — -•icssis C Oiueii, cnairuian, i. B. uarncK, J. Mammy. It. Parry, S. v_aia, and J. aicnai'i. CliAißjiA-Vo STATEMENT. The chairman saiu tliat uie overdraii siouu now at hue as me com nbillion ot £OOO to tne south Canterbury Hospital and Cha.-itablo Aid Boaru was uue and must be paid, the ovcruraiL woulu shuiLiy mu.uu au ■LJ.SUU. Some nule trouolc had been experienced with the general labourers' award, but it hud iiu\v been satisfactorily settled. In answer to a question the chairman said they were still paying o'. per cent, interest on the ovcrdiaft. Mr Mahony suggested that the Council i'oliow tue .borough Council's leau and take money on ueposit at A.\ per cent., as that would be cheaper tnau paying 5.; on an overdraft. '' CORRESPONDENCE. The Department of Agriculture, Veterinary branch, noted the applications from uie Christchureh .neat Company lor renewal of the meat export license in respect of Smithfield and from the Canterbury Frozen Meat and Export Company tor a similar license.—Received. A letter was received from the secretary of the New Zealand Counties' Association re schemes for local bodies' superannuation and asking for certain julurmaliou.—lnformation to be scut by the clerk, and the matter to be gone into further, the Council's delegate being instructed what steps to support. The Timaru Harbour Board forwarded communication - re - Harbour Boa rd levy.—Received. The South Canterbury Education Board wrote with reference to the appointment of an agricultural instructor for the district, and requested the Council's assistance in the matter. — The Council would favourably consider the question and accord the matter its sirpport. Messrs Cain and Parry did not agree that an agricultural instructor was necessary. The Waimate County Council wrote suggesting that the 7th of June would, be a suitable day for the conference re the proposed bridge over the Pareora at Southburn. It was decided to meet the AVaimate County Council at 2 p.m. at the site of the bridge on June 7th.

The South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce asked for the Council's support, and requested that it become a member. —It was decided to become a member.

Mr Geo. Hutlcr asked for the repair of a footbridge on the boundary road near his propcrtv.—Work to be done. Mr A. J'. O'Callaghan sent a complain t with reference to a nju'saiice caused by a traction engine and threshing plant camping on the road in front of his gate. If the Council would take action he would give evidence to s:cure a conviction. —The Council decided to advise Mr O'Callaghan that this was a matter for the police. A petition from Levels Valley settlers asked for the shingling of Levels Valley Jioad from Kinnahan's homestead to Michael's Road. —Surveyor to report. Mr I). T. Carter wrote re a bridge over Hazelburn Creek, on the Mount Gay Road, which was unsafe. —A ford to be made over the creek and a stock bridge out of the materials of the present bridge. Tenders to be called lor the work. Mr K. J. Tooth asked for three crossings across the Harbour Hoard's tramway line for access to residential sections. —Application to be forwarded to the Harbour Hoard. The Springbrook School Committee asked for a plank across gully on the Main Koad for the use of children.— lli-ld over in the meantime for an inspection lo he made. Mr Gladstone-Robinson wrote drawing attention to the bad state of the Glcuiti Road, between Gleuiti Store and Page's Corner. A largely signed petition of settlers in that locally also prayed for something to be done in the way of repairs.—lt was decided to call tenders for half of the work asked for by Mr Robinson, viz., 50 chains, and the balance was to be made passable. The clerk was instructed to send out a batch of gorse notices, 34 in number, to various offenders. Mr Mahony complained that the

Borough Council were planting trees along the West Town Belt, before the levels had been agreed upon, and without letting the Levels Council know anything about it. As a matter of courtesy he thought the Borough Council .should have ' communicated with them before doing the work. COUNTY SURVEYOR'S REPORT.

The County Surveyor, Mr T. Black, reported in detail on work done by Council's teams on Old North Road, Morgan's Koad. Saltwater Creek Road, Main Glcniti Road, Saltwater Hill. Hoad, College Road, and Main NorthRoad. The Point team was engaged on work on Howell's Plantation, Totara Road, Clelland's Hill, Chisholm's Hill, Paterson's Hill: also at Beaconsfield and Upper Pareora. The contractor for metal contract on Fairview Hill had thrown up the job. The contractor for Cave footbridge had all material on the ground but had not yet made a vtart. The overseer recommended that Mr Thompson's application for diversion of surface work at Pareora East be granted. (Held over for inspection.) The portion of the Main North Road from Taeheu's to Arowhenua station (200 chains) needed a light coat of shingle. (Tenders to be called for shingling 100 chains, with screen shingle, 12 yards to chain, and 100 chains with unscreened shingle, 1G yards to chain.) Before repairing and remetalliitg the Gleniti Road, as asked for in the petition, it would need to be broken up, reformed, and well rolled. In the near future the Council would' have a considerable amount of metalling to do as a large amount of heavy traffic would soon be traversing the roads. He had taken offers of 1500 bushels of oats for horse feed at Is 6d per bushel. TENDERS. The tender of Mr A. Beck for contract No. 56 accepted at £llO. i'or contract 61, shingling Abattoir Road, W. J. Black £l6 17s (id (accepted;, E. Tregenza £'lß 15s, E. Pearce £lB 15s. It was resolved that offers be obtained from agents a£> to the supply of an up-to-date steam convertible road engine, roller and scantier. The usual formal resolution was passed making a general rate of Id in the £ for a period commencing Ist April, 1909, and endiug 31st March, 1910. pavable in one sum on Ist Julv. 1909!

Mr S. Cain's plea for preferential treatment for the rating of his riding, was not entertained. PAYSHEET. Accounts amounting to £llO4 19s were passed for payment.