COUNTY COUNCIL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17759, 1 February 1926, Page 7

COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Springs County Council whs held at Springston on Thursday last; present—Messrs A. Thompson (chairman). C. H. Watson, E. Yarr, E. H. Rowell and J. 11. Williams. ATr Cl. S. Peryman drew the council’s attention to the dangerous comlitioxw.f the Lincoln College corner. Owing to a high fence blocking the view, there had been a number of accidents at that corner. It was decided to communicate with the direc tor ol’ the college, asking that the fences at the corner should be cut down. The council passed for payments its contribution towards the Canterbury court at the Dunedin and South Seas Exhibition. The chairman of the Springs County is to be host at the Kxbition during the week beginning Alarch Air E. G. Alutton wrote advising that tin- dirty condition of Aloffatt’s drain, Lincoln, was causing the water to back up. The council decided to have the drain attended to. The chairman reported that, in company with the clerk, he bad attended the conference in Christchurch with members of the Alain Highways Board and representatives of local bodies and the Automobile Association. Most of the time had been taken up in dealing grievances, and it. seemed to him that that body was regarded as more important than the local authorities. The County Councils were inclined to resent the continual butting in of the association, and because of this interference local bodies were disinclined to attend these conferences. He bad taken the opportunity, after the automobile people had had their say. of mentioning •tin- matter of tin- upkeep of the Main feouth Road, and the Highways Board had given him an assurance that the road was in the same position as the bridge with regard to maintenance, and that the matter would he settled to the satisfaction of the council when the bridge over the Selwyn was built. Ho had also mentioned the desire of the council to have Day’s Road, leading to the Selwyn huts, declared a highway. A formal application for this should he lodged by May next, when the matter would be fully considered by the board. .Mr Rowell remarked that it was taking a long time to reach finality regarding Day’s Road. The matter seemed to have been hanging fire for nearly . two years. The chairman said that the council would see that a formal application was lodged in plenty of time. The chairman and the clerk were thanked for their attendance at the conference. ATr T. Quayle wrote with reference to the cleaning of a drain for a length of this drain were not cleaned each year, his property would be flooded, and the overflow' would affect the road. The council agreed to Air Quayle’s request that the engineer should see him to discuss the drainage position. The town clerk. Christchurch, forwarded a. copy of a U tter received from the resident engineer of the Public Works Department, in which it was stated that the Highways Board would consider instituting legal proceedings in case of neglect on the part of local bodies to see that all motor lorries in their district were licensed. He suggested that backward local bodies should be requested to collect fees due and report the name of any vehicleowner who persistently neglected to apply for a license, with a view to legal action being taken against him. The matter was left in the 'clerk’s hands. An application for an auctioneer’s license from Pyne, Gould. Guinness, Ltd., was granted. Mr C. Xicholl, Burnham, complained of the annoyance caused by four cows belonging to a neighbour which were continually being put on tlie roads for grazing. The clerk was instructed to write to the owner requesting him to discontinue the practice of allowing stock to graze on the roads, or the council, would prosecute him. The chairman reported that the lender of Air AI. Sklaark, Rangiora, had again been accepted for the supply of dog collars for 1926, the price being Is per collar. The secretary of the Ellesmere Lands Drainage Board brought under notice the manner in which the ford at the <anal traffic bridge at Alotukarara was obstructing the flow of water and causing the banks to scour. The board rlostom s from the centre for the purpose, of improving the drainage, and asked if the council would, consider the closing of the ford. I« appeared that the. only use made of the crossing was as a drinking place for stock and that witl the bridge alongside no great hardship would be caused by closing. The request was granted, on condition that the bridge was left safe ror traffic- after the removal of the paving Air I J , Tod was reappointed dog registrar for the ensuing year, the fees to be the same as last year, 2s bd for dogs used solely for herding or driving sheep or eattle, and 10s for all others. Air Watson asked that shingle repairs should be effected to Alnhnke’s Road. This is to receive attention at the first opportunity. The finances showed a credit balance of £2124 3s 7d (Springston Riding £lß7l Ss 3d, Grecnpurk Riding £l3B Is Bd. Waimakariri rate £ll4 13s Bd>. Accounts for payment totalled i!64U J 0a 7d.