LEVELS COUNTY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18063, 8 March 1923, Page 4

LEVELS COUNTY.

MONTHLY AIEETING OF COUNCIL. Tim monthly meeting of the Levels Comity Council was held yesterday. Present—Messrs C. N. Or'oell (chairmanL IL G. Clelnnd, T. li. Garrick. !L ,1. MeKnown. C. E, Kerr, and T. W. Brosnahau.

('■HALLMAN’S STATEM.ENT. The Chairman said that there had Viren received during the month a. sum of £765,2 10s 7d, including £7400 14s in rates. The credit balance at March 0. was £3338, hut the accounts to he passed that day totalled £1171; the Council's antecedent liability amounted to £2395, and after paying these two sums there would ho a debit balance of £228 16s. Added to this they had to pay interest, amounting to £BS cn their antecedent liability, and £l6O on their current account. This would bring the debit balance up _ to £473 .1 Os 3d, hut receipts from various sources to come in before the end ol the financial year (March 31), amounted to £1590, and 1 assuming that'-1 his money was all received they would have a. credit balance, of £llOO at March 31. Their financial position was. therefore, satisfactory. Authority had cohie to hand for work near Losewill School, and it was being gone on with.

MOTOR TRAFFIC. 'The. MacKonzie County Council wrote in reference to the licensing ot motor lorries, and enclosed a copy oj corIrespdndeuee between the Waitaki. Countv Council and the Minister of Internal Affairs. Front this /it appeared that the Government would not sanction the issue of an Ordcr-in-Couiieil under section 110 ot the Counties Act, 1920. (This correspondence was twelve months old). _ A letter was received from the A\aimato County Council acknowledging a! receipt frjom. <bho Levelw County Council of a legal opinion, in. regard_ ui motor lorry traffic, etc., and stating that they were anxious to have this matter gone on with, . and would lie pleased to attend a conference with other interested Councils as soon as possible. The \Y a ini ate County Council had appointed Messrs 1 'Hart, - Drinuau, and Johnstone to attend any such conference. ~ , , The Chairman .said the Department was entirely wrong in assuming that the Levels Council proposed licenses for all motor traffic; all they had asked for was the licensing of motorlorries. .Something- would have to Vie done in the matter. Mi* Garrick said that all the County Councils in South Canterbury should act in unison in the matter; it would be useless to do anything if one. County Council were- to stand out. Word was received from the Geraldine Countv Council that they were willing to take part in a conference- with Levels, Waimate and Mackenzie County Conueils, and it was decided that a ccmi'erciice should he- held in Timaru next Friday .week.

LOWER PAREORA BRIDGE. A letter from, the AYai-nia-c County Co unci L in regard to the.. Lower Parcora Bridge, stating that in view of the largo expenditure that would be necessary to put the bridge in good order for traffic they thought .the Government-should bo approached' •with a view to obtaining a." £ for £ subsidy towards the construction of a, new bridge. In reply to Air Kerr, the Chairman said that a new bridge was estimatedto cost £BOOO to £9OOO. It was not proposed to- I'ebuild for a couple of years.. Mr McKeown said ho lioped that the bridge when rebuilt would be e-d of ferro-concrete, as it would then be there for all time..

Air Garrick said that tlie_ engineer to tho Waimate County Council had expressed the opinion that it was little, if any, cheaper to build in ferro-con-crete than in Wood, as interest on tlie. high cost of tho former mounted up so quickly. It was decided to apply to the Go-, vermnent for a £ for £ subsidy for a new bridge. GENERAL. Tho Timaru Gold Club forwarded a cheque for £l4 for rates, but applied for a refund of half this amount on tho. ground that they were a sports body, and as such had had the Govern r meat valuation of their property reduced'by half) Owing to an oversight on tho part of tlie Department Levels Council had not been advised of this, and in consequence had made their claim for rates on a wrong basis.—As the Council had no option in the matter,' it was decided to give tho rebate asked for. ’

An application was received from theSociety for tlie Prevention of Cruelty to- Animals for a donation to their funds. —£1 Is was granted. Tlie W.E.A. wrote asking the Council to continue affiliation with that organisation. —Hold over. Mr G. R. Wilson, Totara Valley, wrote complaining that a barbed wire fence had keen illegally erected across the road at the corner of his property.— It was stated that the obstruction had been removed since the letter was written. Oil a letter'from Air G. Bowker it was decided to agree to a transfer of the lease of Graham’s gravel reserve of eight acres at Cave to Air A. R. Seymour. Tlie County Ranger (Mr T. Glidden) reported on stock impounded during the foil tin, ;.nd said lie had registered 600 dogs to date. Tlie County Engineer (Air T. Black) reported in detail on work done throughout tlie County during the month. Air Garrick drew attention to tlie need for repair work on the main Totara road, and the engineer was instructed to call tenders for the work, and also for work on the Rosebrook road. DEPUTATION. A deputation of Claremont settlers— Messrs A. Esler and W. Lott —waited on the- Connell and asked that the upper portion of the Aloiint Horrible road should be improved; about 58 chains required metalling. Mr McKeown said the farmers bad been badly treated in the locality referred to, and something should be done i f possilflo. The Engineer said the cost of metal/ing the road referred to would he considerable. Air Esler pointed out that thcro was plenty of metal on hiis property, and ho would he willing to give this for use mi

the road, •■without charging any royalty. Alter discussing tho matter fully the Chairman told tho deputation that the Council would do the host they. could; they would be. considering their estimates for tho year shortly, and were anxious to do ali they could for settlers, provided they could got tho money. This eoueltided the business and tho' mooting closed.