MACKENZIE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVI, Issue 16355, 3 October 1917, Page 4

MACKENZIE COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Mackenzie County Council was held yesterday at Fairlie. Present—Messrs F. R. Gillinghanj (chairman), T. ,D. Burnett, E. Macdonald, Tasman Smith, R. Irving, and L. J. McGregor. CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT. The chairman said he was pleased to be able to isay that since the previous meeting of the Council uo further casualties of men belonging to the county had been reported from the war. The Council's credit balance that day stood at £1096, and 'their pay sheet (that day amounted to £924 which included the quarterly levy to the Hospital Board and grants ugainsb bridge contracts. Though 'the newrates had only been due for six weeks £2340 had already been paid in—little more than, a third of tlbem. In spite of the heavy rain 'there had been no serious damage to the county roads though the fords had been knocked about a little. The Council had decided to appeal againslc the calling up for war service, of Dr. Matheson, of Fairlie, as it was impossible to do without a medical mam in the district, and-the doc'tor was probably more urgently required in Mackenzie "County than at the war. The Military Board' | had seen the force of this argument and I had given Dr. Ma/oheson indefinite j leave. Mr Gillingham also referred to the train service between Timaru and Faiirlie. They had a double ttrain on, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, ;but as Thursday was a half-holiday the double service that day was of Hotle -or no value, arid he though* they should ask for the double servioe on "Mondays, instead of Thursdays, or in the. alternative give the -double service on Mondays, 'Wednesdays, and Fridays. , It was decided to do -this. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer (Mr R. L'. Banks), reported for tho month as* follows: - Work in hand at the time df -lasfc meeting lias been continued. Floods during the month interfered somewhat with progress. In all the ridings river crossings are now being repaired. The damage done is light. The amount of the Government grant for Sherwood Downs roads still : to be drawn is £333 9s Id. As it is a £1 for £1 grant this would cover an expendi'ture of £666 18s 2d. The contract for the erection or new bridges over the Opawa and Little i i Opawa rivers at Albury is progressing, satisfactorily, and the construction! of approach banks is going on. Inconvenience to traffic was caused when the streams 1 were in flood, as the old bridges had to be taken down before the new work commenced. I have imspedced the ■ light traffic bridge over Coal Creek, below Ma Waro. This bridge was erected almost/ wholly of old material, some of which is 34 years old. The hand rail especially is weak, the timber .in it/'.being probably older still. ' I would commend the strengthening . df -s-thc bridge, as in a few years :i'D will quire to be entirely rebuilt. The piles would be utilised in the, new- structure with an additional centre rail; and the ;girders could-probably be* cut down for caps. ' ,f ~" '. ".- •' Bridge applied, for ■ ,over> " Sherwood Downs Creek.—l • find 'that"a*: light' traffic bridge can be'erected'at this place at a coslt of say £lls. - * Plank foot-bridge asked- for. "over Ribbonwood Creek. —This crossing is ,a bad one in flood time, and if a bridge is erected it should be wide enough to take light traffic. The cost o/f such a bridge would be say £110: Bridge applied for over Boundary Creek on the Richmond ■ road.—A bridge at this place would .require to be 80 feet in length, and would coat say £l7O. The cost of this work, or a portion of it, could be fairly charged to Government granit for Mackenzie run roads, of which there is still an unexpended balance of £537. Jollie River Bridge.—Owing to a misunderstanding with 'the _, Public Works Department, the length of the Jollie River bridge for was 120 feet in excess •- of , fche; required length,, >and consequently the cost of the structure -will be reduced in proportion. Mr Burnett's contribution, - reduced to £213 5s lOd, and the' Government grant of £3OO will pay whole cost of .the, work.' charge to be made on 'the' Riding funds extent for the approach banks,- '*;6tiq>f j which will be done by the Riding gang. •„ BRIDGES TO BE BUILT. • v'l »! ,:■ ~ '. \i . j ■ '/A-.'long, discussion took place r-cott-.' e'ernirig f the "erection of" bridges," and eventually il was decided to erect a bridge' at Boundary Creek at an estimated, cost of £l7O, £IOO to*be charged Ido t&ieJGovernment grant for the Mackenzie'run roads,, £4O to be paid by tlhe ruhholders interested, and £3O to be charged to the'riding. '" It was also that two bridges' should be built on Plantation '.road at Sherwood Downs —one at Ribbonwood creek and one'at Sherwood . Downs.creek.\.,lt>was decided that the 'members for the riding "and the Vehgineer. should meet the settlers• on '. the ground, some day .this'month"'and ; ascertain their wishes in the matter. - .; cdRRESPON^ENCE. ,' :, Mr John -Bray, R'aincliff, -wrote asking for certain work to be done oh th'e Meikleburn road, as.it wias getting out of repair in places.—Work to be done as soon as possible., - . '- ' ' The/Department of Agriculture, Wellington, wrotle approving of the issue of 'slaughter licenses ,to W. "Baxter, ,J. Sims and W. Heward of' Fairlde.\ \ Mr ,C. J- Talbot, M.P., wrote' regarding the Council's resolution against tihe holding of tierri-borial camps and parades. He had, several times mentioned the matter in the House, but th-3 most ho could get was a promise thatt the* Minister for .Defence would give a final decision next February when, the _camps were again_ due^—lt was -.. said that, this ' would be in the middle dfi .harvest,- and that th'e farming dommunity must have an "answer before then".- , <- .' /Messra A. Davison and T. L.' Johnston, Albury,, wrote asking for a foot-' plank to be placed .across a stream .on Whiteman road to allow- children to get to ' school.—To be provided. "i " Mr' "Donald. -. Ross, > Burke's Pass; applied .for-, a ; year's extension of his lease 1 of. the Burke's Pass Coiunty buildings ' on 'the existing rental and conditions. „. ' _' , - ' It ".was,-said that Mr Ross only pays -Bs' _a ""week" for these buildings which are worth,very much more, and it was not to Jet them any longer for '.s6Vlpwl';a;.fent, but'to pall tenders for l_"' ■_ r - . -.' v ,' Thje|_';South ' Canterbury«', Hospital <Board "-wrote" advising of one case ' of infectious disease in the county, 'during, the month of August. - " ; \ •_ ' '- ' AUCTIONEERS' LICENSES,.' i - The Waimate County Council wrote in reference to auctioneers' licenses being-issued by County Councils, suggesting that a representative from each of the four South Canterbury County Councils wait on the .Auctioneers' Association in Timaru on.the matter. ' \ -;-- -"-; •.'-.

The chairman said they ctould appoint a representative, but they were quite satisfied with the position as it at present existed as the Council received the license fees from the two auctioneering firms which have places of business in the County. Mr Gi llingham _ was appointed to attend the meeting as representative of the Council. CIVIL SERVANTS' BONUS. The Green Island Borough Council wrote asking support to their proposal that the, Government should pay no war bonus to civil 'servants receiving 6alarieas of £l5O and £220 per annum i lidi'Minmarried and married men respectively. • '"' -Mr Irving said he did not believe in ' the bonus at all. ■ Mr Smith expressed a similar opinion and spoke strongly against the action of th'e Government in this respect. , Mr Burnett proposed that the letter be simply received. The chairman said the matter had nothing 'to do with the Council, who should take no part in •politics. - It was derided to simply "receive" the letter. 'GROWING ROOT SEEDS. The Timaru A. and P. Association wrote asking the Council for, a contribution towards a fund -\to provide prizes for the best roots produced from locally grown seed. It was anticipated that the tiompetition would encourage faimers to produce their own turnip and mangold seeds. Mr Smith said that he had - been saving all. his own seed at. Ma, Waro for years, and found .it better than the seed he could buy. He proposed that a grant of £5 be made. Mr Burnett thought the. A. and P. Association should be strong-enough to run a competition of this, kind "without appealing to, other 'bodies'; 'the matter had nothing to do with the Council. Mr Smith said it was surely important to encourage the production of their own seed. The chairman supported Mr Smith's suggestion, and it was- decided "to vote £5, "Mr"'Burnett dissenting.