THE MACKENZIE COUNTY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXL, Issue 20285, 7 December 1935, Page 5

THE MACKENZIE COUNTY

MONTHLY MEETING OF COUNCIL CRUSHING PLANT PURCHASED The monthly meeting of the Mackenzie County Council was held* at Fairlie yesterday. Present: Messrs C. J. Talbot (chairman), P. E. Neilson, George Murray, J. Allan, P. Kidd, W. R. Davison, A. B. Mackenzie and A. F. Campbell. In his statement the chairman referred to the death of Lord Jellicoe and said he thought the Council should place its appreciation of his services on record. The motion was carried. Continuing the chairman said that though the Council was not a political body' he thought it was its duty and its privilege to offer congratulations to Mr Savage and his party in the recent elections. "Whatever our opinions,” he added, "I think we should inform the new Government that as far as possible we hope to co-operate with it." He thought also, that the Council should express congratulations to Mr D. Barnes on his great victory. He was sure that Mr Barnes would help the Council and that he would take a great interest in his work. Mr T. D. Burnett, especially because he was a Mackenzie County man, should also be congratulated on his victory. He moved that the Council should endorse the expressions of congratulation. The motion was seconded by Mr Campbell and carried unanimously. Mr Kidd: “I partly agree with the sentiments the chairman has expressed, but when we are congratulating the victors, we must not forget the vanguished.” He referred to the work the Hon. John Bitchener had done for the County. On his motion it was decided to forward a letter of appreciation to Mr Bitchener. The financial statement showed a debit balance at the bank of £3678/5/8, and the day’s paysheet amounted to £2995/5/7. Receipts for the month totalled £650/12/6. Engineer’s Report.

The engineer (Mr D. Jeune) reported that the wet weather had caused a few scours, but nothing of a serious nature. On the whole, the rain had improved conditions for road maintenance. Work of a temporary nature had been done at Raincliff to keep the road open to the public. On November 21, Mr Campbell and he had visited the proposed road deviation at Raincliff and met a deputation of ratepayers from Cattle Valley, Middle Valley and the Raincliff districts. It was understood that the object of the deputation had been to ask that temporary measures be taken to make the road passable for traffic. The bridge on the deviation would cost approximately £9OO, of which the Council’s share would be £3OO. The embankment and road would cost about £IOOO, the Council’s share being £250 and one owner of the properties concerned had stated that she would ask for £SOO compensation. In the Tekapo riding, the Glen Lyon road was expected to be off the hill sections and on to the flat country before Christmas. Tenders for dog collars had been received, and one from the at 53/6 a 100 delivered in Fairlie, had been accepted. A tender for heavy bridge timber had been accepted from Messrs Richardson and,,McCabe, Wellington, at 43/2, delivered in Fairlie. Final arrangements had been made for the purchase of a crusher, elevator, screens and bins from the Waitaki Council, for £3OO. The Highways Board had been approached and had agreed to purchase the plant for the Council on a hire purchase agreement. Railage to Fairlie would cost approximately £34. The crusher and gear had been dismantled and thoroughly overhauled. Two second-hand power units for the crusher were on offer. It was decided to purchase one of the power units at £295 landed in Fairlie, provided it passed the Highways Board’s mechanical engineer. A formal motion endorsing the purchase of the crusher was also passed. Correspondence. After a letter from the Lands and Survey Department had been discussed, it was decided to exchange a reserve the Council held at Edward’s Creek for a section at Tekapo. The Council wanted to plant trees to beautify Tekapo. The Hon. John Bitchener wrote advising that provision had been made on the Department of Agriculture’s estimates for the payment of a subsidy of 2/6 on kea beaks, with effect from December I.—lt was decided to thank Mr Bitchener for his interest in the matter. The Commissioner of Unemployment (Mr J. S. Hunter) wrote regarding the transport of workers from the Glen Lyon unemployed camp over the Christmas-New Year holidays. The Board would pay half the cost of return motor transport to the nearest rail centre. The Council decided to pay half the cost of transporting the men to Timaru in a bus. It was also decided to pay the men over the holidays, the pay to include a Christmas bonus. A letter received from the Fairlie Tennis Club stated that it had been decided to approach the Council for a loan of £6O for improving the courts.— The matter was put in the hands of a committee consisting of the chairman, 1 'r Neilson and the engineer.