COUNTY COUNCILS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16253, 2 July 1918, Page 7

COUNTY COUNCILS.

SPRINGS. The Springs County Council met at Spring ston on Thursday. Present—Councillors I. Andrew (chairman), J. W. Kime, Aki. Thompson, C. Wolfe, J. Stalker, and W. J. McMillan. ,The engineer reported that on the whole tho roads were not in ns good order &a during the previous month owing to the continued showery weather. Yarr's road had been repair-id and various other roads had received attention. The Ll and L 3 rivers had been cleaned as far as tho weed cutting launch would »jo. So far labour JS en f° UIJ d to (Ji.an some of the drains at Ellesmere. Tho engineer was authorised to make the best arrangements possible for the cleaning of drams at Ellesmere. A considerable amount of discussion took place regarding the small birds question. Members _ stated that they were very numerous in. the district and were doing a considerable -amount of damage to autumn and winter 6own crops, Cf. ffojfo expressed the. view that the price fixed for heads at a conferenoo of local bodies held in Christchurch two or three years ago was too low. Cr. Stalker contended that the trouble wi»h tho Email birds was largely the farmers own fault, for many would not take the trouble to lay poisoned wheat even though the Council distributed it free of cost. Cr. Kime said ho did not eee why tho Council should buy heads when it was distributing poisoned wheat free. It was decided to communicate with several other Councils before deciding whetlier heads should bo purchased thiß win tel. Pursuant, to notice, Cr. Kime moved that a general rato of Jd in tho £ should be levied in Greenpark riding and Jd in the m? Springston riding, which was carried. Tno engineer Was direoted to writ© the Malvern County Council regarding the dangerous condition of three water-race crossings, to which attention had previously been drawn. An application, from several farmers at Sjiringston and Ellesmere, made through Cr. lume, fp r a lease of tho Council's five acre reserve at Gallagher's corner, for the purpose of having a sheep dip constructed, was held over.

The Council having decided at a special meeting purchase a stone crusher placed under oft:v. subject to the machine being found suitable,. it was decided to ho'd t trial at the pit adjoining the Council's offic in about a fortnight's time.

AKAROA. The monthly the Akaroa County Council was held at Lhmuchelle on Saturday, when there were present—fja.- J. B. Thackcr (in tho chair), J. D. Bruce, E. Hjiy, F. Williams, J. Stewart, and C. B. Th acker. A deputation _ from the Akaroa-Wainui Road Board waited on the Council to dipcuss the conditions under which the Board c.quld have (ho use of the Council's grader. After gome discission tit wae decided that Meaars J. R Thapier and J. D. Bruce should hold a conference' with the Board arid arrange the terms. Mr J. D. Bruce submitted a report upon •the recent conference of local ' bodies to discuss the_ Hospital and Charitable Aid Board's leviee. The speaker. said tJjat he ha 4 diacused tho matter of the Akaroa Hospital with the Hospital Board, which had signified its wUUngncss to be satisfied with the payment "by patients of ordipary charges and the usual'medical fee for attendance. As an alternative) Mr' Bruce proposed that maternity wards should b$ established, with a competent' nurse in "charge,"'leaving some accommodation available for other cases; The Council warmly approved of tho euggegticrji, and it was resolved to' write to the Hospital Board asking for full "particulars. Respecting poles' for the proposed extension of the Lake _ Coleridge power 6chomo to the Peninsula, it was decidcd to hold a conference with the Wairewa County Council, to discuss the whole matter.

A eum of £5 wes voted to the Akaroa Technical School classes.

Permission was graiitefi the Public Works Department to carry a water supply to the Du'vauchellc post office, thf charge to be 10s per annum.

With regard to the roads in tho County and their condition during the wjnter months it wa3 resolved that the ehairfnari' and Mr Bruce ipspect them and submit a hill report at nest moating as {o tjie repairs and metalling required. A long discussion 'on tlia condjtion of the roads ended in a decision to provide finer metal for 'top-dre'ssirig. It was a'groid to mate "the necessary alterations in the crushing plant. '

WAIPARA. The monthly meeting of the Waipai* County Council was hcjd on Saturday last. Present—Mr R. Evans (chairman), Crs W. W. licKae, O. T. Evans, D. J. Doak, D. D. McFarlape, and N/ D. Campbell. The clerk's report stated that tho work at the ilid-Grota was practically' finished. The last Greta bridge had bscri completed, and thero remained now only the cutting and roadway to finish to enable traffic to get- through to Cheviot under' p.ny weather conditions.' Tho repairing of the Cheviot road was still being carried out.' The telephone contractors were making good progress. The lines down the Waikari Valley and Mr Newton's party lino had been connected up, jind the Wpodgrove lines would now be gone on with. The Minister of Public Works wrote that li? would havo an inspection made of the Glcnmark roads. It was resolved that the Council should bo represented when the inspection was made. The District Trsifio Manager N.Z. Railways wrote, stating that the north train could not bo altered on sale days as it was part' of tho cnrtailcd war" time-table.

Sir George Clifford wrote that ho could no longer give attention to the Limestono road, and asking that the Stonyhurst .gateway on the Cheviot road be removed as the present entrance was a very dangerous one. It was resolved that Crs. Campbell and Doak make aii inspection and report. ' A- deputation asked for a bridge to be built over, the Waikati river op tho Fosdown road. The chairman pointed out that when building bridges over this iivor the interested persons had assisted, and if th* present deputation was prepared to do likewise the matter would bo conside?e<L It was ngreed that an estimate of the cost bo prepared, and the amount forwarded to the members of the deputation.

'•A faithful friend is the medicine of life." Proverb. Baxter's Lung Preserver is n friend indeed, when troubled with cold, sore and painful throat. When cough keeps you nwake, Baxter's gives relief. Large bottles 2s. 4

NOTES AND MEMQKANDA. 9 _ A meeting of residents will be hold in tho Glenroy cchoolronm on Thursday, at 8 p.m., to elect a patriotic committee for the ensuing year. A social and dance will bo held in the Public Hall, Prebbleton, on Thursday, to farewell Private Jlajk Gallagher, and to welcome home private Leslie Prestidge.