THE MACKENZIE COUNTY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20639, 30 January 1937, Page 9

THE MACKENZIE COUNTY

MONTHLY MEETING OF COUNCIL THE DOWNLAND SCHEME At the monthly meeting of the Mackenzie County Council held in Fairlie yesterday, there were 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. Reference was made by the chairman to the various meetings held in connection with the Downlands water supply scheme. The most notable one, he said, had been at Albury, and it was fully reported in the newspapers. Several residents in the district had claimed that the source to be used was unreliable. As an alternative source they had suggested Three Springs. Mr Beck, however, had made an investigation into Three Springs and had turned it down. If anything abnormal should happen to the Tengawal river, he claimed that he could establish a pumping station at the cost of less than £lOOO. As far as Three Springs was concerned, Mr Beck considered that it would cost £30,000 more. He had estimated, however, that 12,000 additional arcres could be taken in from that source, apart from reticulating Fairlie. Nevertheless, if Fairlie wanted water, he maintained that a pumping plant could be established at less cost. General. Mr P. E. Neilson, with the approval of the engineer, was granted premission to plant trees on the roadside fronting his property. A donation of £2O was made to the Falrlle and Cave Plunket Societies. It was decided to celebrate the Coronation with a ball similar to that held for the jubilee of King George V. A sub-committee consisting of the chairman, Mr Neilson and the engineer was appointed to make the necessary arrangements. The engineer was autl.orised to attend the engineers’ conference. A formal resolution imposing a 10 per cent penalty on rates after February 14 was passed. The chairman intimated that members of the Main Highways Board would visit Fairlie on March 6. It was agreed to hold the next meeting of the Council on the same day. On the chairman’s motion, the Council’s contribution towards the cost of canvassers for the Downland scheme, which he estimated at between £lO and £l2, was passed for payment. Mr George Murray considered that the Coronation offered a good opportunity to plant further trees on the roadside. The chairman replied that some permanent recognition of the Coronation could be considered later. In reference to his statement in his monthly report (published yesterday) about pioneers on the Braemar-Mount Cook road, the engineer said he Intended to add his recognition of the way the son of an early pioneer was using a road which had had so few improvements since it was first made. A further typing error in the tabled report was that the total amount spent on the No. 5 unemployment scheme should have read £1298/11/6, instead of £12.098/11/6. He also recommended that the Council organisation should be "reviewed" and now “renewed.” Mr T. D. Burnett, M.P., wrote stating that he wished to draw attention to the Braemar-Mount Cook road over the Fork river, “Without doubt.” he stated, “it is the worst road In the whole county, and anyone and everyone served by it should in common white man equity, be only charged quarter rates. To motor over it is like travelling over a raw riverbed.” Mr Campbell: It is an unusual thing to hear a man asking for a reduction in rates when he wants increased expenditure on a road. The letter was received, the chairman stating that he and the engineer had visited th? road and met Mr Burnett. Acting on the recommendation made by the engineer, it was decided to discontinue unemployment work. In reply to a question, the chairman said there were only four men concerned; if they did not get work they i would have to get sustenance, which would not be a cost on the Council.