LEVELS COUNTY COUNCIL.

Timaru Herald, Volume CIII, Issue 15746, 2 September 1915, Page 9

LEVELS COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. Tho monthly meeting of the Levels County Council was held yesterday. Present—Messrt, C. N. Orbell (chairman), E. P. Stericker, S. Cain, T. B. Garrick, R. J. McKeown, and C. E. Kerr. The Chairman referred .sympathetically to the death of the late Mrs W. McKeown, mother of Mr R. J. McKeown, a member of the Council, and on his suggestion a. motion of sympathy with Mr R. J. McKeown was passed in silence, all members standing. Mr Orbollalso referred to the further losses the district had sustained since last they met, through the death of so many young men at the war. 'Hie young "men were showing a magnificent spirit in volunteering for service at tho Front as they were doing, knowing so well -what they were going to. The Council sympathised most sincerely with the "parents, wives, and other relatives of all who had been killed. CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT. The Chairman said that the creditbalance on August 31 amounted to £217 16s lOd. The accounts to be passed for pavment that day totalled £939 17s Sd, and after paying these there will be a. debit balance of £641 3s 3d. Cash had been received during the month as follows: —General rates £(io6 •Is 3d, water rates £2 8s Sd, dog registration fees £ll Ss, sale of horse £42, balance of subsidy £SS7 ,3s lOd, license fees £2, rents £0 4s, deposits refunded £25 14s, dishonoured cheque paid £l3 ISs (3d.

CORRESPONDENT.!-:. 'llie Education Board wrote r>ii that tho willow ti'cps bf» not. .cut again near tlio Spriugbrook Srhool on the Parcora River.

The Engineer explained that the trees had only Keen cut with a view to making them throw down their roots and thus strengthen the protecting fence. The trees had been treated the same as the Council had treated its own trees for years past. It was resolved that if the Education Board does not wish to have the trees treated with a. view to getting tho maximum protection from them, the Council will leave them untouched in future.

The District Manager N.Z. Hallways, wrote in regard to the erection and maintenance of level crossing; signals; as per design submitted, stating; that so far he had been unable to proceed 1 with their erection. The material required for the notices was not procur- , able in the Dominion. Tlio S.C Hospital Board advised that S cases of infectious diseases had been reported as existing within the County during the month of .July. One was diphtheria, and seven scarlet fever. The cases were at Pareora West, Wa Islington, Fairview and Pleasant Point. Mr J. Connolly, Geraldine, wrote asking for access to his land at Hazelburn. It was said that it would be a. most difficult and costly placeiu which to make a road. The engineer was asked to inspect the locality and report to the Council at next meeting. A long letter was read from the Council of Agriculture suggesting the appointment of local committees of agriculture and outlining a sphere of usefulness for such committees. The Chairman said the matter was an important one., and required more consideration than they could giro it at that meeting. ■■'■•■!'"• Mr Stericker thought tho matter one for tho Farmers' Unions to take up; he had repeatedly noticed a disposition on the part of the Government to slight the Farmers' Unions, and he thought this should not bo so. Mr Kerr said that the suggestions by the Council of Agriculture for the holding of experiments were good, and he thought they should have more of these experiments in South Canterbury; they had plenty of them in the North Island, but too few in the South Island. After a good deal of discussion the matter was referred to the Timaru Branch of the Farmers' Union. Mr J. King again wrote asking tho Council to take over Chaucer Street, off Otipua Road, so as to give him better access to his farm. The matter was held over pending an opinion from Raymond, Raymond and Campbell. NEW ROAD ASKED FOR'. A number of Kingsdown farmers petitioned the Council to make a new road for the end of the one which runs down to the sea past the Kingsdown School, to connect the latter with the Normanby railway station. The road would require to run through Mr Coster's land, but Mr Coster was prepared to give tho land free of cost. The petitions said the- proposed road would freatly benefit the majority of Kingsown fanners, and would divert a lot of heavy traffic from the Main South Road to the railway, thus saving wear and tear on tho main road. Those signing the petition were: —A. Coster, S. Bee, A. H. Trott, W. Campbell, J. Craigie, J. R. Davison, T. Campbell, J. T. Anstey and J. Charles. The Engineer said that a bridge would havo to be built over Pighunting Creek, and this and the formation of the road would cost £3OO. Tt was decided to ask Mr Craigie, M.P., to endeavour to get a Government grant for the work. TENDERS. Three tenders were received for the new road near Tvcho School —M. Sevb £738 13s 3d, P. 'Rooney £791 15s. A. Filibes £S34 lis 3d. The tender of Mr Rooney was accepted. Mr Seyb's tender, though the lowest, was declined, because it was said he is a German, who has been heard to express disloyal sentiments. Against this, Mr Kerr said he understood that Mr Seyb had one son lighting for us at the Front, and that two other sons were on their way there. The Chairman said he had known Mr Seyb for 40 years, and had always found him a really good worker. His tender was £SO lower than the next one, and that was a lot to lose.

Mr Garrick proposed. and Mr Stericker seconded, that Mr IJooney's tender be accepted, and Messrs McKoown and Cain spoke in support. Crashed metal fox- Rolling Ridges road:—A Fibbos £387 10s (accepted"), D. Ross £425 8s Id.

ENGINEER'S REPORT

The Engineer reported in detail on work done during the month in the various parts of the district. Works to he reported on included the road on Levels Plains between the Five Cross roads and Grant's pit. and the Main North road between the Freezing Works hill and Washdyke. He had not been able to get any satisfactory machinery for loading gravel into the traction trucks, but the trucks could be so constructed that the greater portion of the load could he conveniently filled by hand. Where the crusher was engaged the river shingle aud boulders would be crushed, screened and elevated into bins which could be so arranged as to conveniently fill the trucks. The plant now urgently required was an up-to-date portable crasher., and four waggons. After scarifying old roads in many cases, if the coat could bo resheeted with small material, the road could be put in order for a number of years. This sniall stone was also required to finish off the surface of main roads to cope with the motor traffic. With the large material now turned out by the Council's old crusher the

motor wheels drew out Hie blinding the big stone shifted its position, ;ind the road began to break up, but if the surface were finished with graded material tho wear would be mora graxhial and even. The trucks would effect a great saving in all carting over two miles, and in many places good sound material could bo placed on the road at a. cost o)' nut less than the present cost of poorer material. The cost of four trucks and a portable crushing plant would be about £920. A number of ratepayers were asking permission to take gravel from the Council's gravel pits, and many had been taking it without permission. Would tho Council give a ruling on the matter? Mr G. Crozier reported that all tho water-races were in a .satisfactory state. DECISIONS. It was deckled, after a full di.sous.-ion on the subject, Ix> postpone for the present the proposal to purchase loading machinery, as the Council has not the necessary fr.nrls just :m>w. Th" engineer was ...sked to make further inquiries and t;i report to thr> Council again two months hence. With regard to people, inking shingle from the CouiK-il's pits it was derided to advertise that before any such shingle, is taken nrrangouenf« must first be made with the Council. It was agreed that lenders be called for the promised work en lx-ve's Plains and the Main North Po:id at Wnshd rke ACCOUNTS. Accounts .i!i"oun:iri;r fr, -P939 17 S <;,] were passed (ov payment and t'ne Council rose.