MACKENZIE COUNTY.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 4 May 1926, Page 4

MACKENZIE COUNTY.

meeting of county council. A mooting of tlio Mackenzie County Connoil was held yesterday in Fairlic. Present—Messrs C. J. Talbot (chairman), H. Mrnnton. J. MolFatfc, J. AfeCort, J. J. Pago, A. F. Campbell, and F. H. Buckley. THE LATE AIR JAMES WILSON. The chairman made sympathetic reference to the death of the late Mr James Wilson, who had gone to the Fairlic district between forty and fifty years ago and taken up a large block of land (tho Allandale estate). Ho had been one of tho most extensive growers of wheat in Canterbury at one time, and they remembered how ho had overcome all obstacles and finally conquered. ' Air AA r ilson had taken a quiet, but very real interest in public affairs, and for six years ho had represented Mackenzie County on the Timaru Harbour Board, and had taken a prominent part in tho sliingle-shift-ing controversy. He had also been a prominent member of tho Fairlic branch of the Farmers’ Union, and for between thirty and forty rears was a. stalwart of the Fairlic Presbyterian Church.. .Of a generous disposition, Air AVilaon had given freely of his means; during the war period ho had unostentatiously, and unknown to most people, given hundreds of pounds to patriotic ■ funds: and they would all remember how liberally be had found monev for a survey of Lake Tekapo for the proposed, hydro-electric scheme there.. Though not a man who advertised himself, ho was nevertheless nulilie spirited and verv generous. Mr Talbot said it was fitting that the Council should pass a motion of regret on account of tho . death of a man who Had served tho district so well, and ho proposed that the Council records its appreciation of tlm public work of the late Air AA r ilson, and tenders to the members of bis family the Council’s most sincere sympathy on bis death. Tire motion was carried by silent vote, all standing. CHAIRAI AN’S STATEAIENT. The chairman reported on tlie visit of members of the Council to Tekapo Islands—a visit which had been productive of a. lot of useful information. Tho smaller of the two islands was found to be worth preserving for the native shrubs and trees which.were on it, while the trees on the larger island were found to bo making good growth, hut it was suggested that some fruit i roes - should be added, so .that the island would increase in popularity as a picnic rendezvous. Tho plantation at . tho ton of the Long Cutting was seen to he making remarkab’o growth, and the younger trees planted at Paddy’s Market were now peeping above the tussocks. An inspection had also been made of roads atld bridges, so far as time would permit in one day. Since the previous meeting _of the Council there had been a meeting of tlm Highways Council for Group 15, and lm bad' again tried to get- the Middle A T allev road made a .main highwav:'- But' without success., Horsefeed -sufficient to last- a considerable time had been secured,' and the Conned bad ceased buying in tlm meantime. The accounts for the veer bad, been-audited, and tlm Conned liad come out very well indeed. Mr -Buck-lev said tlmy shoidd - .continue to a git/, to until they got the Aliddlo A 7 allcy road made a main highway. AVitli this other Councillors agreed, as this road is now very largely used by tourists going and coming from. Aft. 'Cook, and is preferred to tlm FairliePoint road, by reason of the pretty drive which it affords. THE YEAR’S FINANCES.

Air Tr.lbofc went on to sav that the Conned and the ratepayers could congratulate themselves on the satisfactory position of the county finances at Ist - March. The ridings improved their financial position as follows: —Albury riding £195. Fairlic ridiim £-119. Onuha ruling £143, Tekapo riding £909; a collective total of £1960. Contributing factors to this result were:—-(1) Increase in contribution from the Main Highwavs from one-third to one-half: (2)'reduction in levies of Harbour and Hospital Board; and (3) a considerable expenditure bv riding gangs on loan and land fund work.' Outside general and riding expenditure a number of important works were carried out durum tlm vear, including South Onuha bridge £3O-1.7. Opihi bridge £1667, Richmond to Afount Gerald road £316, Riikaki tn Oban road 9625, Lake Tel: apo to AYoUls road £416. Lake Tekapo to Li’vlmnk road £330. Main Ilmhways £1716. forest tree planting £142, and La-d Fund £637: ’Hie Albpry . riding commenced ; the rear with ii credit'balance of £l49'nud ended with a credit balance of £344: the expenditure on roads and works in the riding was £l4Ol. The Fairlic riding began the year with a debit balance of £340 and ended with a credit balance of £80; the expenditure on roads and works being £1289. Tho Opnliß riding began the. year with a debit balance of £4Ol, ard this was reduced at the end of the year to £260: the expenditure on works was £IOB6. Tn the Tekapo riding the year began with a credit balance of £7O. end ended' with a credit .balance of £379. Roads and works in this, riding ac'"ujnted for £1445.

Oil Ist Anri], 1923. when the present Council took office, i lie riding balances wore ns follows: —Alhury, credit £142; l«Wio, debit Opulin. -debi* £44; Tekano, debit £285: a collective debitor :C.‘5G7. ns compared with a collective credit of £544 at 41st March Inst.

Tit the (Tonornl Account the receipts totalled £15.240. and included rates £11,204, subsidies , on rates £l7Ol, rents £221. license fees £994, sundry reeeinf's £2l-1. 'The expenditure, totalled £9075, the principal items hemp: Undoes and works £OB7, Harbour Board £1516, Hospital Board £2407, small birds and -kens £7B. Public Beventies Act £lO9. ponmllreoncr and dog tax collector £lßl, dog collars, insurances. etc. £2-12. sundry expenditure, includin' l ; public health inspection, revision of valuation rolls. grants to various societies, etc. £lsi, motor-car and lorrv £415. interest on overdraft £94, administration £1216, interest on county loans £196. The excess of receipts in, this account, amounting to .''r>|92, laid been transferred' to the riding aceounls in accordance with the previsions el I lie Counties Act. The Lund Fund Account boonn the nvir with jx ■ credit balance of-£824, and ended with a credit balance of .£'994. The receipts during the year were £l2-17, and f he’ expenditure £1079. In till' forest tree p’anting account the amount expended in planting xvas £142, rents of reserves received for the your £-194,, and the credit balance at lho cij i] of the venr was £-175. The Fairlie electric light rrr.-mnt continued to give satisfactory returns. The year began with a debit balance of £147, and ended with a debit- bounce of £99. Sale of current brought 'in £l4Ol, meter rents, ete. £69, a total revenue of £1470. 'Fxnendituro comprised eonsl ruction £lO5. maintenance £4l 1, Interest on loans £520, sinking fund’£9l. a total of £1044. > On Ist April. 1’924, this account was in debit to the extent of £llOO. so that in three years (he debt had been reduced' by over £IOO0 —this notwitbslmuling the fact that "during that period £875 was., expended on construction and paid for out of ordinary revenue instead of boiim charged to capital account. During the year three new loans were obtained —bridges loan of £2960 fi-om I be Plate Advances Office; I’air'ie Fire Brigade Loan £llO. anil Irishman Creek Telephone T.oao £4OO. both from the Public'Trustee. One. loan, matured ]

during the year, Tekapo Riding telephones £1320, and the debentures had been returned to the Council cancelled.

Tho water-race accounts were in a satisfactory position. Tho remaining accounts call for no special mention. The total receipts from all sources for tho year amounted to £27,-449, and tho total expenditure to £27,270. Thesjo figures are much above any previous years, due to loan moneys and numerous Government grants expended during the year as already mentioned. ENG IN EER’ S R EPORT. The County .Engineer (Air R. L. Banks) -reported in detail on work done throughout tho county during the month. Ho recommended that about twenty renewal poles required in the Fair lie electric light area should be of silver pine,- instead of larch ; that ten-, tiers be called for tlie supply of 200 to 300 cubic yards of gravel on. tlio Fairlic and Cricklewood -highway; also that SOOO P. Laricic bo planted, as renewals on the southern portion of reserve- 291 S at Edwards’s Creek; and the erection of a short subdivision rabbit-proof, fence. The report was adopted. TENDERS. 'Teiulers for the erection of threo small bridges in tho Albury riding were received as follows: — Hainlyn Bros. £205 10s (accepted); J. Trott £330; Carlton Bros. £345; Bray and Slow £296 10s; J. A. Scarf. £530. SANITARY SCHEAIE FOR FAIRLIE. Air Talbot (for tho committee appointed), reported on a sanitary 'scheme for Fairlic township. This was approved and adopted, and it was decided to call applications for tho position of sanitary officer. FINANCE CO AIAHTTEE’ S REPORT. Air Moffatt reported for this committee as follows:—Credit balance at Bank £1836 4s (including antecedent liability). The ..pay . sheet amiounted to £2901 3s lOd. The fund account . included, horse feed £B3B 16s 9d, bridges £286 10s Sd, hospital levy £595 3s llkl, contracts £2lB os'. Irishman Creek telephone loan account £229 13s Id; Fire Brigudo loan account £72 17s lOd; electric light account £7B 13s 8d ; cemetery account £1 7s 3d; antecedent liability account £96 10s. The receipts for the month included, A lam Highways £243 7s 2d, Government subsidy on koa. beaks £ls, rates £79 Is lOd, rents £25 8s 6(1, cqntrac- | tor’s deposits £ls, motor lorry licenses £22 4s, interest on war bond £l2 10s,' funidry receipts £ls 11s Gel; a total of £428 3s. Tho committee had examined the accounts submitted and recommended tliat they be passed for payment. I lie report was adopted. TEKAPO ISLANDS. Air Buckley proposed that the Tekapo islands be made a sanctuary for | flora and fatma, and spoke m support. The motion was seconded by Mr Alanaton. Mr Page said be thought the less they advertised these islands, the better, as if picnic parties wont there they would destroy botli birds and trees. Air Buckley said he did not agree with that; people could easily be educated to protect their own property, and'it would bo a shame to- keep two such islands from tho public. It was decided that Air Buckley and the County Engineer should' go into the matter- of the best fruit trees to plant there, and the most suitable birds to • liberate. Mr Buckley, suggested; that they .might add to. the collection, of- veronica's there, and Mr Banks said he had reason to think that Air IJarte (Lawrence) would .give veronicas for this'purpose; THE ESTIMATES. The estimates for the year were considered! in detail and adopted, and notice of motion was given for the striking of the same rates as Were struck last year in,,the several ridings. . CORRESPONDENCE. ;

From tlio South Canterbury Hospital Board, forwarding a copy of the Board’s estimates ior the current year. The levy, on Mackenzie county for the year was fixed 'at- £2380, as against £2400 for the previous year. Fro in the Commissioner of 'Crown Lands asking for proposals for tho expenditure of accrued “fourths,” amounting to- £54 18s Id.—To bo supplied. From/ the South Canterbury Hospital; Board asking the Council to cooperate with the Board in finding suitable work for able-bodied persons in receipt of relief from them.- —Agreed to. From the District Highways Council, stating that the Audit Office will allow as a set off any overdraft that is proved to- have boon incurred by tho non-payment of Highways moneys. From Air AV. Simpson, Albury, applying for a lease of gravel reserve 3914, on upper Mount Ncasing Road. — Agreed to. From Air A. L. Dobson, Fairlic, applying for a diversion of a water raceoil his land. —Granted oil condition that the applicant pays half the cost of tlie diversion, the Council paying the oilier half.

THEE PLANTLNG. Mr Buckley drew attention to the need for more tree planting in the county. Mr Pago said they should bo careful t-o plant only the best milling timber, and to start a propor system of trimming. Mr Banks said the system on which the Council was working was as near to Nature as it was possible to get, and there wan no need for trimming in Nature. In earlier days they planted the trees Bft apart and this gave room for the trees to branch out, but now they wero planting about lift apart, thus ensuring long, straight poles which required no trimming. Mr Buckley endorsed this, and said that in Germany, where they followed this system, they got oaks 70ft long, while under the wide system of planting adopted in Scotland, the trees did not roach half that height. He suggested that a series of recommendations should bo drawn up as a guide to their planting programme for the next five years. They ought to work on a well considered plan, and ho thought that when next they planted, the trees should include, say, 1000 gums. Air Campbell said it would be a good thing also to plant maerocarpa, which was very good for fencing posts. The County Engineer was asked to frame recommendations as suggested bv Mr Buckiev. GENERAL.

Air Moffatt- drew attention to the need for clearing the road leading, into Alhurv. of broom and gor.se, which was an eyesore and spoiled the approach to the township. He suggested that the Council do the work now, without prejudice, adjoining property holders to he responsible for keeping the road clear thereafter.

Alr.AlcOort endorsed Air Aloffatt’s remarks, and seconded his motion that the work ho done on these conditions. The request was agreed to. Air BuckI -v suggesting that the work should, •i' possible, be given to a local man, or men, to rehove uneniploviDient. On behalf of Air F. 11. Smith, Air AH Oort asked for permission to lay a 2inch pipe across the road at AYara.tah. ■ —Agreed to. Air Alefl'att- referred to the, Cave to Pareora road as being in need ol attention. and it was decided that the gang should go there as soon as work in hand is finished. Air Buckley referred to the need ol rolling the mortal on (kittle Valley road, and it was decided that this be done without delay.

Air Campbell entered a plea for the erection of a, bridge on Plantation road at Sherwood Downs, and. also for one across the creek above Clayton station. —lt was agreed that- (hose bridges he bui't out of material from file old Norfh ’River bridge. On Air Alanalon’s suggosi -nil. it was decided to gravel the top end of Sim's

road, Lambrook Settlement. On the suggestion of Messrs Campbell and Buckley, it was decided to inform Messrs Lyons, McPherson and Bladder ORainclilf), that the, work asked for by them on Spur road, would be <lone as soon as possible. Air' Campbell "mentioned that -the asphalt on the Raindilf bridge was. badly worn, and required renewing.— It was decided to draw the attention of the .Levels County Council to thi» matter, as the bridge is muter their control. Air Pago drew attention to the need for the better draining of water from some of the road surfaces in Tekapo riding, and it was decided that necessary action he taken. . .v ", ’

Air MeCort inquired whether the Council would lend their hut for use by the Alburv Collie Bog Club on the occasion of the latter’s dog trials, and' whether the Council would put a plank across the river.—Agreed to.. ; Air McGovt also asked that a channel should be opened up at the new bridge on Eraser's road. —Agreed to. Very complimentary references were made to the services of Miss Bind;clerk in the Council's office, and it was unanimously decided to .'increase her salary to C 3 per week'.

Various matters of detail were discussed, and the Council rose at 3.130 p.m.