LEVELS COUNTY COUNCIL

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19360, 8 December 1932, Page 4

LEVELS COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING. xne monthly meeting of the Levels County Council was held yesterday. Present—Messrs T. B. Garrick (chairman), R. G. Cleland. D. Grant, T. M. Brosnahan. and J E. P Cameron. Chairman's Statement. The chairman stated that the debit balance at November 2 was £7508 a id. Payments during the month, including unpresented cheques £5/11/10, amounted to £BI3B 9 9, principal In which was unemployment relief £796 15/-. Receipts. Including unpresented cheques £3B 11/2, amounted to £2371 o'4. the chief items being rates £lO7 13/8, subsidy on general rates £1275, and refund from the Unemployment Board £894. The total debit balance at December 7 was £6931/14/3, including accounts for payment totalling £864 4/10. The chairman explained that the Council had yet to receive a fair amount from the Highways Board, and the position was really better than it appeared. The Tengawai bridge had been opened, and the job ,as far as he could see, had been well done. There were two sets of piles in the water which required propping up. A traction engine had crossed the bridge recently. and quite a sway was apparent. The engineer would be authorised to remedy the matter. The Raincliff bridge, he thought, was going to cause the Council a good deal of trouble. The engineer should make a thorough inspection of the structure. The Waimate County Council had been met in regard to Brassell's bridge, and it had been decided that the Levels engineer should report on what he thought should be done on this side of the river, and submit his proposals for Waimate’s consideration. One of the Council's servants who had been employed for over forty years, seemed to think that he had been harshly treated in being dismissed, and it had been suggested that the work for surfacemen should be rationed. This the engineer could arrange. Claims of South Island. The South Island Motor Union wrote stating that notwithstanding the very large amounts expended in the past in the North Island, It was found that the total provided in the estimates this year for the North Island was £181.973, as against the South Island’s total of £58,952, a ratio of over three to one in favour of the North, although on the funds provided it was entitled to only two to one, disregarding altogether the amounts expended on construction in the past. The roading vote from the Public Works showed £534,293 in the North, and £108,636 in the South. It was hoped that the Council would use their best endeavours to see that the claims Qf, the South Island were not overlooked.—Agreed to support. Wash dyke Creek. A letter was received from the District Railways Engineer stating that there was no Departmental objection to the Council carrying out the scheme for straightening the course of the Washdyke Creek at the main roatj bridge. The chairman said it was no good the Council going ahead with the work until they knew where they stood with all concerned.

Geraldine Motion. The Geraldine County Council wrote advising that the matter of the Council’s contribution towards the Tengawai bridge was discussed at last meeting, when the following motion was approved:—“That in view of the Tengawai-Hanging Rock Road from R.S. 2655 Block Vffl. at Pleasant Point Road junction, and R.S. 9033 Block XIV., Pareora SX>., having been declared a secondary highway in the Levels County, application be made to the Main Highways Board to take the necessary proceedings to relieve this county from further liability for maintenance charges, provided for under a Commission s award prior to its being declared a main highway.” River Encroachment. The engineer (Mr T. Black) reported having inspected the encroachment of the Tengawai river on the southern bank above Vicker s creek. He found that the river was encroaching on the properties of Messrs Kerslake and Phillips, and there was a likelihood of it cutting into other properties. The Council’s agreement with Mr Jones was to divert the water of Vicker’s creek into the Tengawai river, but he did not consider it part of the agreement to divert the river and protect other properties. He was of opinion that the cost would be greater than the benefit received.—The report was adopted. The engineer submitted a detailed report on routine work in the county during the month. General. The Prime Minister, replying to the Council's representations, pointed out that the Government did not propose that the special Highways Account be abolished. It was decided to call applications ! for the position of dog tax collector. The county ranger (Mr G. Gliddon) reported having impounded 62 head of stock during the month, for which 25/in fees had been received. Arising out of a circular from the Otago Electric Power Board, it was decided to support representations to the Government to Introduce a compulsory conversion of local bodies’ loans. The Timaru Technical College, Timaru Plunket Society, and Pleasant Point Plunket Society were each granted £5. The chairman explained that the Plunket Society grants had to be reduced, owing to the position of the unauthorised expenditure account.