COUNTY COUNCILS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19824, 16 December 1919, Page 8

COUNTY COUNCILS.

KOWAI. At tho annual meeting of tho Kowai County Council there wore present Messrs 4;, M’Lcan (chairman), W. H. Halo, T. Retnlliok, J, D. Wyllie, T. Hanna and W. Henderson. Owing to ill-hcalth Mr G. A. M’Loan, tho present chairman, who hr.a filled tho position lor the past five years, declined re-election as chairman. Mr 4V, H. Halo was unanimously appointed chairman. Mr Halo and tho councillors expressed regret that Mr M’Lean could not accept ro-nppointment as chairman of the council, and sympathised with nun m his illness, oil the members referring si. v’? od work done by Mr M’Loa.n, . M’Lcen thanked the councillors for ineir kind remarks, and said that groat credit was due to the county clerk and surveyor (Mr J. I'itzpr.lricki, who had placed the nuance of the council on a sound basis, there being now a substantial credit balance. On M,r M Lean’n motion o, vote of thanks v/as accorded the staff for tho loyal way in which they had carried out their dutie* during tho year. Mr Fitzpatrick returned thanks on behalf of the stuff.

Tho ordinary meeting of tho council was then held, tho above-named councillors bcinv present. °

'On behalf of tho council, Mr Hanna was instructed to inspect a second-hand traction engine, offered for sale.

Iho Amborley Town Board wrote enclosin'--a cheque for X' 6 11s 3d, being tho board's proportion of the cost of a report on the electrical distribution for the Kowai County and Amborley Town District, and stating that tho board was in favour of the formation o! a power board for the Amberlcy and Kowai districts.

It was resolved to hold a conference of representatives of Bangiora, Eyro and Oxford County Councils and the Amberlcy Town Board, at Bangiora ,to consider the 'formation of an electric power board; tho clerk to confer witii Alt F. Horroll, chairman of tho Rungiora County Council, as to a suitable dale for the conference Mr IV. Scoon wrote asking for tho removal of a gate across the road lending to his homestead, Broomfield. It was agreed that notice be given to remove the gate. It was agreed to purchase small birds' eggs and heads, at threepence per dozen for egga, sixpence per dozen for old heads, one shilling per dozen for blackbirds’ eggs and heads. The tender of Mr D. YV. Palmer, at 6s per chain, was accepted for tho maintenance of tho Leilhfiold outfall drain for d. term of two years.

Tho tender o: Mr Sklaark, at Is IJd each for tho supply of dog collars was accepted. Accounts amounting to £is6 Its 7d were passed for payment. On the surveyor's recommendation it was agreed to extend the pipe culvert at the junction of .Jack’s Road and Marshman’s Road. PAPABUA. At the annual meeting of the Papatua County Council, Mr James L-eslio was unanimously elected chairman. The ordinary mooting was attended by Messrs James Leslie, 11. Paterson, G. Shipley, T. 0. Morgan, A. E. Langdaie-Hunt, W. G. Sandrey, A. Frcomau and P. F. Ryan. The Waimairi County Council wrote with regard td drainage matters at Upper Riccarton. and, it was decided that Messrs Leslie, Freeman, Shipley and the clerk meet their representatives at the Church Corner on Tuesday morning at 9.30. Tho Under-Secretary of Internal Affairs wrote informing tho council of tho repeal of clause 9 of the Selwyu County Subdivision Act, 1910. Tho Canterbury Automobile Association wrote with reference to tho motor bridges over water races between Weodons and Burnham, asking that bridges in tho centre of tho road be substituted for those on the roadside. It was decided to reply that the council had a number of races at present unbridged, and until those wore attended to tho council could not see its way to consider alterations to existing bridges. The director of the Canterbury Agricultural College invited members to inspect the farm on December 16. The clerk was instructed to write thanking the director. The clerk reported that on the Friday night previous to tho meeting, four sets of the council’s harness had been stolen from one of their reserves. The matter had been placed in the hands of the police, but so far no traoo of tho harness had been found. Messrs Paterson, Ryan and Maginness were appointed a committee to view and purchase new harness.

A report of tho proceedings of tho Counties' Conference was laid on the table by the clerk, but discussion of it was held over until next meeting. The clerk was instructed to prepare a draft copy of by-laws relating to tho speed of motor traffic throughout tho county. Mr Priest. 0! Prcbbleion, was appointed cattle ranger for the county. Accounts amounting to £ls-10 17s ed were passed for payment. UALSIVELL, At the last mooting of tho Halswell County Council there were present—Councillors Mulcock (chairman), Morten, Eaglesomo, Paterson, Macartney and Stuart. The engineer reported that there were eight lighting consumers and six 3 h.p. motors connected on the Magdala-Cashmero lino and one consumer ready to connect; also that the Sparks Road lino was under construction and that the lino would be ready to connect at an early date,' when at least four additional consumers would be connected. On the Halswell lino there were connected twentyone lighting consumers and .three 0 h.p. motors, and four consumers wore ready to connect; tho line in Canal Reserve had been completed and connected. The line on the Halswell Junction Road was being erected, when at least three additional consumers would bo connected. Tho report stated thi-t there were no connections on the Glover’s Road line between the Main Road and Quarry Hoad, It was resolved that this line be taken down if ratepayers did not intend to taka electrical current at an early date, as 'he material could be made use of on other roads.

Tho clerk reported that the Quarry Company veto supplying metal lot tl,o repairs to Quarry Hoad.

Tho Halswoll Quarry Company offered to supply 150 yards of metal for Hoon Hay Hoad to repair damage caused by thoir engines hauling metal. It was resolved that tho offer he accepted. Mr liprry Newton wrote offering to contribute £lO towards tho cost of shingling tho road opposite his property. His offer was accepted, the work to bo done at nn early date.

Tbo Automobile Association wrote thanking the council for widening tho At®in rioad at Tai Tapu. luiown as Herrick's Corner. Mr H. G. Ell, ALP., wrote nuking for assistance for the Summit Hoad. It was resolved that tho council had no funds available to contribute towards tho road. It was decided to write to the Pioneer Motor Club asking the chib to assist the council to prevent motorists from leaving boulders on tho roads after making repairs to machines. It was resolved' that a motorist who collided with the main bridge at Tai Tapu be notified that the side oi the bridge would bo replaced at his expense, Tbo council resolved that by-laws be drawn up regulating the speed of motors through tho country. At tho annual meeting, Mr George T. Millcock was unanimously re-elected chairman for tho ensuing year.

KAXGIORA. Tho Ilangiora- County Council met on Thursday; present— Councillors F. Hcrrcll, VT. Stalker, H. Garrett, M, H. Stokea, A. MTntosh and E, \V. Cooper. Councillor F. lliorrell was to-elecled chairman. Tho hali-yoariy balance-sheet- was read, showing a total indebtedness of £1453 2b lid. Tho Government District Electrical Engineer wrote asking the council to appoint a competent electrician to take charge of the county insiuUat-ion. Tho letter was referred to the Electrical Committee. The resignation of Mr J. T. Free, cattle ranger, was accepted, and Mr J. H. Clist, of (Just, was appointed to tho position. '.Dio Minister of Marino, in reply to tho council's resolution regarding the protection of fishing boats at Kaikoura, wrote stating that £IOOO had been placed on the Estimates for tho purpose. A grant of £2 10s wan made to the Southbrook Firo Brigade. It was decided to leave it to tho Minister of Labour to fix the statutory half-holiday. An application from Mr Robert Boyd to rent tho riberbed opposite Ins land was l«ft to tho chairman, Mr Garrett and tho clerk to attend to; and an application from Mr Poachey for a. bridge was referred to tho Gust- representative and tho dork. hi r J. C. Banfidd wrote complaining of tho road on the Ashley Kivor bank bounding his property being overgrown with broom, and it was resolved to request tho Kangiora Borough Council to clear it. Tenders for the right of cutting cocksfoot grass on the roads wore accepted, C. Morris being the successful tenderer in the Gust riding, and J. Doggott and C. Morris for the Rangiora riding Messrs J. Cooper's and J. Clist’s tenders for a portion of tho Oust riding were held over. The receipts for tho month were £126 9s 6d, and tho hank debit balance £2297 8s 4d. Accounts for £-159 19s Id were passed {or payment.