COUNTY COUNCILS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12288, 10 April 1918, Page 3

COUNTY COUNCILS.

Heathcote.

The Heathcote County Council met last night; present—Messrs C. Flavoll (chairman), J. M. Hall, tV. tV. Scarff, A. H. Adams, G. K. Burton and E. E. Batten. The Minister of Finance (Sir J. G. Ward) wrote asking tho council’s assistance in connection with tho war loan. It war, decided i to invest £2OO, the amount to the credit ot tho Valley sewage loan. A letter was received from the City Council, explaining the reason for the additional cost of tho Colombo Street bridge. The actual coat was £439 17a 9d, but as Sproydon paid only £75 the balance would have to be equally divided between the Heathcote Council, the Tramway Board/and the City Council, each paying £l2l 12s 7d. It was resolved to reply that tho arrangement with Mr Scarff was that the total charge to the Heathcote Council would bo £lO6 10s, and that any additional cost would be borne by tho city. Tho Works Committee recommended that tho Opawn, Road from Rocky Point to the eld Hillsborough yard should be scarified and metalled immediately, and that the City Council should bo asked to lend its roller and scarifier to assist in tho work. It was decided that £IOO ahould bo spent on the work, and all details left in the hands oi the chairman and tho member for the riding. Tho Electrical Committee in its report stated that several complaints had been received lately with regard to tho fluctuation of the lights in the Cashmere electrical system. It was decided that a remedy suggested by Mr F. Tucker should be tried. Mr Burton drew attention to the fact that in a discussion which took place at the meeting of the City Council on Monday evening, Councillor .1. W. Beanland had been reported as having said that Heathcote desired to gel rid of the Hillsborough area, and that tho Heathcote county was not spending a due proportion on that area. This was not correct. Ho moved that tho City Council should be. written to. drawing attention to the report, and pointing out that tho facta stated were incorrect. The motion was carried. The sum of £lO 10s was donated to tho Salvation Army War Fund. Accounts amounting to £275 9s lOd were passed for payment.

Malvern.

. Tha Malvern County Council met on Thursday; present—Messrs Knight (chairman), M'Millan, Shand, Judd and Wright. The lender of John Walker for stone-break-ing on tho Tramway Road was accepted. It was decided to order a supply of phosphorus poisoned wheat, as this had been found tho most effective method of dealing with tho small birds nuisance It was resolved that a limited quantity, according to area, should be supplied gratis to ratepayers, any further quantity to bo paid for at cost price. Instructions were given to take steps to prevent further damage on two of tho Hawkins River crossings, by placing a groin near (he ford and scooping out a. direct channel. It was decided 1o got the. contractors to use the horse grader to remove the ridges oft curtain roads in tho Sheffield and Ccnrtenay Ridings, and to patch the Telegraph Road at once. Instructions were given to take action with regard to water-races which had not been cleaned in accordance with notices.

Ashburton.

The Ashburton County Council met on Friday; present—Messrs ,T. Cairns (chairman), C. Reid, J. Loehhead, A. Drummond, W. G. Gallagher, H. J. Harrison, A. Horsey, W. W. Goodwin, H. Magiuness and W. T. Lill. Tho chairman stated that tl. ? overdraft at tho bank on March 31, 1917, was £l7Bl 18s 7d, and for tho year ended March 31 last was £-1031 Is Id. The omount of rents received from the leases of the various reserves in the. county was £2228 3s lid per annum. Ot this sum £9175 IGs lOd had been paid to the council's credit on March 91 last, leaving £156 Os 10d, a portion ot which amount Into since been received. He r-taied further that the rates for water charges were; —Raknin, collected £1469 Us, outstanding £444 Is; Rangitatn, collected £IOB9 Gs Id, outstanding £290 19s; Ashburton Forks, collected £129 4s Gd, outstanding £22 4s Cd. A committee was appointed to visit the Wcsterfiold and Lngmhor districts with reference to increasing the supply of water in these localities by constructing about fifteen miles of new races. It was decided to request the Ashburton Snlcyards Company to put the fences round tho reserve in good order prior to the cud of fho present lease in Juno, and that tenders should be called for leasing tho saleyards for a term of seven or fourteen years. Mr Reid, m iw-nirdanoo with notice previously given, moved—‘ That tho council undertake! fhe bridging of natural creeks crossing roads in the county, and pay a certain proportion of the coal of the same to Road Boards on condition that the council reserves to itself tho right to say what creeks should be bridged, and that the Road Boards maintain the said bridges." Tho motion was seconded by Mr Horsey. After discussion the council decided to contribute onethird the cost of bridges over natural creeks, all such bridges to be made of concrete where possible Account? amounting to £958 11s 9d were passed for payment. A letter was read from th“ Minister of Finance, asking the council’s assistance in raising the present War Loan of nine and a half millions. It was decided to leave the matter in abeyance till next meeting, the council in the meantime to ascertain whether it could legally raise a loan for the purpose <f contributing to the War Loan.

Akaroa.

Tbo Akaroa County Council mot nt Duvuuchcllo on Saturday; present—Messrs J. E. Thacker (chairman!", E. Hay, T. Stewart, F. Williams and C. B. Thayer. A communication was received enclosing the amended regulations for motor-cars requiring numbers ol curs to Ur placed on the front us well ns nt the back. A letter from the Kitchener Memorial Scholarships Association, nppcaiingfor fund.-', was handed to the Peninsula Patriotic Fund. The chairman reported on the interview try (lie deputation from the Peninsula wi'h the Minister of Public Work- in JSgWtL .10 hrissiug Uw Luke C'slertdec ciccUk

system to the. Peninsula. The Minister was very sympathetic, and said hs might bo ablo to do the work before the end of the war. A committee had been set up to inqniro about obtaining the polos. It was decided to confer with tho IVaircwa County Council as io engaging an engineer to .-uporvise the work. Mr Hay reported having attended a meeting of local bodies to consider the motor traffic through, from Akaroa to Christchurch, when it was decided to send a remit to tha Counties Association advocating a tyro tax, the money thus collected to be allocated to the different hoards haying charge of the main read. It wad decided that (he speed limit in all counties should be twenty-five miles an hour. It was decided to support the resolution of the Auckland City Council regarding the retention of Samoa after tho war. Ten motor licenses were applied for and granted. An application from the Chain's Bay Road Board for assistance in repairing damage done to road and whan shed by the recent gu;e was held over until members had inspected the damage. Accounts amounting to £32G 19s were passed for payment.

Sclwyn.

The Selwyu County Council met on Mou ; dav; present—Messrs 11. Wilson (chairman), J. Hockridgc, 11. F. Hiatt, G. Hal], W. Stone, K. Murchison, G. Hight and F. J. Andrew. The Minister of Labour forwarded a copy of a “ Gazette " notice appointing Thursday the statutory closing day for shops in the county. Tho Commissioner of Crown Lands wrote, approving of the scheme for tho expenditure of fourths Tho Malvern County Council wrote, con firming tho arrangements made at' a meeting of representatives of both counties tiiat the Sehvyn fords bo maintained by this council, and agreeing to pay half cost, Mr Flctt was granted permission to alter a water-race on Fyvie settlement. It was decided that the large stones bo raked eti the Two Chain Road, and that grading be done on the Woiriri Valley Road as soon ns possible. Mr S. Breading's tender wap accepted for forming part ct Mitchell's road. The matter of improving tho Terraco Road was left in the hands of tho chairman and Mr Andrews. Consideration of the matter of altering tho boundaries of the Hororata riding by including the northern portion in the Lake Coleridge ridir.g was hold over until next meeting.

Paoarua.

At ft mooing of fhe Paparua. County Council there were present:—Messrs Leslie (chairman), Freeman, Henley. Morgan, Paterson, Ryan, Sandroy and Shipley. A vote of sympathy was passed with Mrs C. James, widow of the coundl’s late water-race caretaker who was accidentally killed duriv.tr the month. The Lincoln Agricultural College wrote asking tor a simply of water for R.S- tIUJG, which it had lately purchased. The matter was referred to Messrs Henley and Maginness to deal with, as also was a request from Mr S. C. Kesteven. Mr A. Freeman was appoin'ert to represent the. council on the Upper Tliccartou Domain Beard, in plat » of Mr Carr. The District Health Officer wrote regarding drainage on a property at Upper Riccarton. The dork was instructed to give the owner notice in accordance with the directions of {lie Health Office. It was decided to advertise for a water-race caretaker, the drawing up of conditions being left in the hands ut a committee. The county clerk reported that all rates, water charges and reins had been collected before tho close of the financial year, leaving nothing outstanding but some small water-race cleaning accounts only lately rendered. A statement of accounts rhowed a credit balance for the year of T2O.G 5s 2d, giving satisfactory riding balances. Votes of thanks were passed to the staff.

Tawera.

At a meeting of the Tawcra County Council all the members were present. Messrs Gillett and Lines applied tor permission to put a water-race through the Kowai Pass Cemetery. It was decided that, the Malvern County Council being the controlling authority over the water-races in this district, the application should come through that body. According to notice given last meeting, the chairman moved —"That the resolution passed cm January F, 1012, to the effect that in cases where it was proved that gerse had spread from the opposite side of the read, the council would assist lo the extent or paying half the cost of clearing, but after that the occupiers would be os pec led to lice)) it clear,’’ should bo rescinded. It was stated that during the time the resolution had been in force it had not been taken advantage of. The motion was carried unanimously. It was decided that the members, with the clerk, should inspect the roads in their respective districts with respect to noxious weeds, and also any corners where the height of the f-nce rendered traffic dangerous, and report to a future meeting. It was decided lo write to the Mount Tcrlesse Coni Company and ask by what authority buildings and timber were on the road and a trestle bridge erected across it. Tho clerk was instructed to write lo the Post-master-General, drawing his attention to tho postal names of Whafarama (Avoca) mm Hanpapa. (Craigiobnrn). The places had been known by their British names over fifty years, and were still in evidence cn tho signboards of the respective railway stations. The Maori names now used by the Post and Telegraph Department caused considerable ~elay with letters and telegrams, as very few people know the Maori names. The council asked that Avoca and Craigiebnrn should bo used in all cases. The clerk’s report was read, and instructions were given to have repairs done in several places.