MACKENZIE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18584, 3 June 1930, Page 7

MACKENZIE COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. * The monthly meeting of the Mackenzie County Council was held yesterday. Present.—Messrs C. J. Talbot (chairman), W. Scott, H. H. Fisher, T. J. Seay, A. F. Campbell, G. Murray and W. T. Smith. Chairman’s Statement. The chairman stated that during the month a meeting in connection with the Cancer Campaign appeal had been held at Fairlie, when the attendance had been most encouraging, and a committee had been appointed. So far about £4O had been collected, but it was hoped to considerably increase this sum. The new heavy lorry had come to hand, and was doing very gbod work. It should prove a very valuable acquisition to thp Ccuncil’s plant. The engineer was still working on a scheme to further improve the efficiency of the plant. Mr Talbot said that during the month, the Waimate County Council had made a tour of their district and members of the Mackenzie County Council had met them at the Pareora Bush Road to discuss the carrying out of work in the vicinity. The discussions had been of r most cordial nature, and the ques-

tion of proceeding with a bridge there had been satisfactorily settled. Unemployment. I 'T’he chairman said that the Council had received a communication from several men in the district who w'ere seeking work, the majority of whom had been engaged in threshing and wool scouring during the season. In view of the Government purchase of the Brinklands estate, it was expecte four drainage contracts wouiu be let and it might be of advantage to these men to present a tender. Not much plant would be needed, and the men could easily combine and do the | work. The Council would probably be asked to find similar work to last a year for unemployment relief. At present eight applications for work had been received. Financial Statement. mittee (Mr Campbell), reported that the credit balance at the bank was £990 5s lOd. That day’s paysheet qmounted to £1420. while receipts during the month totalled £647 6s Bd. The report was adopted. Engineer’s Report. The county engineer (Mr D. Jeune), reported in detail on work carried out in the county during i.he month. Delivery had been taken of the new lor\y and metalling would be carried out at £ greater distance than hitherto. All county plant was at present in good working condition, and had been in full time operation during the month. The new patrol on the Burkes Pass, Tekapo section cf the main highway had made remarkable difference to this length of the road, j Several "finor matters brought forward by riding members v'ere referred tc the engineer for attention and the report was adopted. General. The hon. secretary of the South Canterbury committee of the New Zealand Obstetrical Society (Mrs D. S. Kemshed), wrote expressing gratiflj cation at the success of the recent appeal throughout South Canterbury, and thanking the Council and residents for their co-operation and valuable assistance. Mr F. G. Saville, Horwell Downs, wrote stating that he had no objection to people using the track across his v-ri docks, if they had legitimate business there at any time. Advice was received from several northern counties in regard to stock accommodation paddocks, to the effect that these were provided at distances, usually a day’s driving apart. It was decided that all stock paddocks in the county be put in order, and that Mr Murray inquire if additional paddocks were required in the Tekapo Riding. \ Election of Chairman. In vacating the chair, Mr Talbot said that it was appropriate that a resume of the year’s work should be put forward. The ridings started the year with a credit balance of £3028, and finished with a credit balance of £3272. The total expenditure in the various ridings, apart from the Government grants, was £6243, as against £5385 in the previous year, and the total standing to the credit of the County was £7!62.

There had been a considerablf amount of minor bridge work, the rr suit of the damage of last winter. Ii addition, the main Ohau bridge war redecked, and the bridge painted, while both the Pukaki and Tekapo bridgewere fitted with running boards. Th Claycliffe bridge also was rebuilt. Per haps the greatest progress had bee: made in the provision made for metalling the county roads, and already some extensive stretches of road had been treated, notably the Rollesby Valley road, 7£ miles; the main Pukaki road, 5 miles; Clayton road, 7 miles, and several stretches of a few miles each. Considerable work had been done on the Braemar road and the main Pukaki road, of a reconstruction nature. The plant of the county had been thoroughly overhauled and reorganised. It might be interesting to give a list of the main items of plant at present owned by the county. These were:—2 tractors, 1 4-ton lorry, 1 6-wheel lorry, 1 9-speed lorry, 1 light lorry, 1 heavy power grader, 1 crusher, 1 conveyor, 25 horses and 5 highway patrols. The reorganisation has been outlined in a special report on county maintenance and though the report was extensive, it was not considered the limit of requirements and as time went on there will be still further items required. Mr Talbot said that they had a large construction programme before them, in which the provision of new bridges played a prominent part. In the reconstruction of the plant (he Council aimed at an increased metal output, which he considered was the best means of keeping the roads in a high state of efficiency. He thanked the engineer (Mr D. Jeune) for his enthusiasm and the staff generally, whom he said were a loyal oody of workers in the interests of the county. Mr Talbot, in conclusion, paid a tribute to the co-operation of Councillors and for their ready assistance at all times. (Applause.) In moving that Mr Talbot be re-elect-ed chairman, Mr Campbell said that the Council could not select a better man. Mr Talbot was fair minded and at all times worked in the best interests of the district. The motion was seconded by Mi Scott, who paid tribute to Mr Talnot’s past services. Other members spoke in similar vein. Mr Murray said that the retiring chairman was a very fine man, whose father had also been a credit to Si uth Canterbury. There was no doubt that Mr Talbot had quite a lot to do. and he intended to propose that Mr Stay be appointed to the position. The chairmanship had been oeld for the past 30 years by representatives of the Fairlie and Opuha ridings and in his opinion it was only fair 'o ha\e a change. Mr Seay: “I thank you, i Ir Murray, but I can’t see how we can improve on Mr Talbot.” The motion was then carried by acclamation. Committee’s Appointed. The following committees were apponited: Fairlie cemetery—Messrs W. Gallen, J. Bray, J. Caskey and W. Scott; Albury cemetery, Messrs T. E. Besley, C. Clark, W. Fraser and W. T.

Smtih; Burke’s Pass, Messrs R. Green, A dallantyne, G. Ross and E. Clark, Athletic Ground managers, Messrs H. A. LeCren, J. Caskey, J. C. McKellar, W. Scott and D. Jeune. Mr Scott was reappointed the Council’s representative on the Timaru High Schools Board, and Mr Smith was again appointed in a similar capacity on the District Highways Council.