LEVELS COUNTY COUNCIL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, 9 May 1925, Page 10

LEVELS COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly mooting of tho LevoU County Council was uaid yesterday morning. Present- —Messrs^ T. B. Garrick (cnairman), C. IS. Kerr, It. G. Cloluml, D. Grant, T. W. Brosnnhau, r.nd G. D. Sclbio, CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT. ■ Tho chairman, in discussing tho Council's finances, said tney haa commenced tho month with u debit balance of £1504 LD« Ud; cash received amounted to £153 8s Shi, loaving a debit ba<anco of '£1303 23 Bd, to which hod to ba added accounts totalling £1736 12# yd. Since lact meeting tho tractor had come to hand, and was giving every satisfaction.

CORRESPONDENCE. Mr F. Langbein, chairman of the Main Highways Board, wrote advising that the Board did not approve of the Council’s recommendation that the road from Pleasant Point to Raincliff bridge be declared a main highway.—Received. A letter wan received from tho Public Works Department, Christchurch, ad- j vising that the heavy traffic regulations j recently gazetted had been in operation since April 1, and District 17 comprised all that area within the outer boundaries of Highway District, No. 15, including all boroughs therein. Ibo duty of administering tho regulations devolved upon the County Councils and Borough Councils within the gazetted district, and if nothing in that direction had yet been accomplished, it was suggested that the Council confer with the Mayor of Timnru and call a conference of local bodies interested, with a view of arranging procedure for issuing licenses, collecting fees, and distributing the proeoeds among the different brxlios concerned. —Conference *o he held at convenience of Mayor of Tiniarn. . ’ I

With reference to previous correspondence relative to the proposed alteration of boundaries of the Borough of Timaru, a letter was received from the Department of Internal Affairs, appointing a commission, consisting ot Messrs E. D. Mosley, S.M. (Timaru), G. H. Bullard, Commissioner of Crown Lands (Christchurch), and F. Stowell, District Land Valuer (Timaru). The engineer and Council’s solicitor were appointed to act in its interest. A letter was received from Messrs Tripp and Rolleston, solicitors, on behalf of Mr T. K. McAlwee, of Kingsdowh, who has purchased property from Mr J. D. Mathieson (yearly lessee of a Council reserve at Kingsdown). Mr Me A 1 wee was desirous of having the lease granted to him.—Lease will be transferred when the fences are put in' good order. j

BRIDGE SUBSIDIES. .Mr F. Langbein, chairman of the Highways Board, referring to the Council’s communication inquiring why the Board’s subsidy towards the cost of replacing the Pareora bridge should not be on the came basis as offered for the Solivyn bridge, £3 for £l, said he had been directed to inform them that the Pareora bridge was nob on tho same footing as the Seiwyn bridge. The latter bridge would be a new one, whereas tho former was built during tho time of the Provincial Government. Under the circumstances the Board could not grant more than £1 for £1 subsidy.—Received. ... Mr J. H. Seliiiore, Fairview, wrote asking what steps tho Council intended taking in the matter of the water supply for Fairview, in connection with which a deputation already had waited on the Council.—Report to be made for next meeting. 1 MAINTENANCE OF HIGHWAYS. Mr F-. Langbem, chairman of the Highways Board, wrote stating- that at tho last meeting of the District Highways Council a resolution was passed urging that the subsidy -on maintenance of highways be increased from one third to one half: He had forwarded the resolution to the Mam Highways Board and received the following reply : —“At the last mpetihgof (he Board, it was decided to recommend to the Government, an amendment of the Main Highways Act to enable the Board to declare at the commencement of each financial year, the rate of subsidy to bo paid during that financial year, towards the cost of maintenance, such subsidy to be not less than one third of the cost-, nor more than one half. If the Board is given such discretionary powers it will enable it to pay the cost of maintenance according to the finances available.” Advice was received from the Commissioner of Crown Lands (Mr G.- H. Bullard) to the effect that a grant of £2OO would be available for improving road access to Meadows Settlement; SPECIFICATION OF PLANT-. Tho Public Works Department, Christchurch, wrote asking tnat specifications of the plant required snould be forwarded immediately in order tnat tenders could be called for Die supply of same. . The chairman said' it seemed to him that they were being treated as a "pack of kids.” Apparently they were incapable of even purchasing a grader; It was decided to reply to the PublicWorks Department to the enect tnat a grader and a tractor liad already beeu purchased, and too account would be duly lorwarded for payment: The private secretary to the Prime Minister wrote expressing Die Prune Ministers deep appreciation of Die Council’s resolution of sympathy m respect of ins illness: The Public 'Works Office, Christchurch, wide asking that estimates of all works to bo undertaken during tho year should bo submitted for ap- . proval.—To be forwarded. HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION. The Knvitea County Council lor- ! warded a copy of the Commissioner s 1 report on the recent inquiry into the administration of the Palmerston North hospital. As a result of the findings of the Commissioner the Council was more than ever satisfied that the question of administration of hospitals was ono that should be gone into with tho object of obtaining certain reforms. in moving that the letter be received, Air Kerr said investigations as to hospital administration had been gone into very fully in Timaru, and everything appeared to be conducted as it should be. The bone of contention at present appeared to be the question of honorary staffs. Tho chairman seconded the motion, and tho letter was received-. GENERAL.

On tlio suggestion of Mr Kerr it was decided to carry out formation work and shingling on Daniel’s Road; Tho tender of Mr Mulcahy of £1037 15s 10c! for the metalling of portion of the Spur Road was accepted. The engineer (Mr T. Black) reported in detail’ on the work being carried out in the various ridings. Accounts amounting to £1735 12s 0d were passed for payment.