COUNTY COUNCILS.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16854, 7 June 1920, Page 4

COUNTY COUNCILS.

ASHLEY.

The Ashley County Council met at Lcburn on 1 nur=aay. Present -Mess r» i;i"!+ (cnairiuan), Barwell, Lav.j.-,., £ n=or Hrtchison. ar.,! Parish. Leave to Mr O'llallorar. for !];„ .cmairdcr -f tl• ■ ter "' as , r }, .°. % ; as visiiin- tht, Old Caautrv. The Minister oi i'uV'c '.Vo.ks i^oleStating that he had r«-.-e:v«i fr.-.-u Sir Wiiliavi Fraser trie Council's 'otter with Te<^r ( i - 0 the urgency of the Carry brid?.% and" h-was making enquiries about it. Ihe stated that there was great need of r"iorison fcr bringing Australian hardv,-cK-.l over V er our bridges, but that apparemlv i ; .j timbeecows v.-c-re engaging m this work. It was decided to write further to the MJni-.to r and to consult the District Engineer r,5 to the possibility of getting on vrxth the approaches and protective works.

Tito Hospital Board'' lew. an-ounting to nearly a third of the Council's rcvoL'ut. "was fully disciiis-jd, and it was agreed that an increase of rate.? would be neces&nrv to meet requirements. Hearty support v.-aa given to th« resolution of the Tttapeka County Council, advocating that the cost of hospitals and charitable institutions sbouH be "a charsre on the Consolidate I-Stcd ond not on local bodies.

With respect in tbo conference on tho Port question, called for tho 15th inst. by the Progress League, it wa* decided thai the chairman and llr Hntcbison should be tho representatives cf the- Council. The Council's ro-sohifions giving preference to Port Lyttelton and to the Hiley scheme of railway improvement were confirmed. Approval was given to the resolution of tho Ha-.vcrn. Borough Council asking for the removal of Customs duties cn children's footwear.

With regard to county works, it was -decided to. repair thoroughly tho Ashley riverbed road, to tar and grit the Makorikeri bridge, and to split into posts for approaches, if labour offered, the old bearers at the. ea'.t end of tl>o Okukii bridge, the remnants "to bo ottered ::s firewood. It was ;i!?o decided to draw the attention of tlie Oxford Council to tlio need of further clearing at the Ashley Gorge bridge, en the east "cutting.

The financial -position was carefully considered, and it was deemed imperative to secure addition*] revenue by an increase of rates. Tho chairman, therefore' gave notico that lie would move at the rest ordinary mooting of the Council on July Ist to etrike ar.d levy a. rate- of one icnny in the pound over both ridings. Some kea. beaks having been brought in for -payment, the clerk was authorised, to E.Teertain tho nmount given by adjacent counties having high country. Permits for traction haulage wero authorised to be given during tho winter mon+h3 if the roads wero in hard condition. KAIKOUKA. Tho monthly meeting of the Kailrtmr.i County Council was' lisid on Friday. Present: Councillors S. Andrew (chairman), A. Evans, G. D. Smith, James Boyd, I'. Harle, C. Panneil, I\ Curran, and E. it. "Workman. The chairman "reported that *,ho Memorial Committee had recommended that an obelisk be erected in memory of those who had fallen in the war. It was decided to pay the money out of rates, and give those who were not ratepayers an opportunity oi making voluntary contributions. The chairman congratulated Mr A. C. Rennor (county clerk) on the fact that tlie Council's accounts tad been audited and passed without any exception. The Electric Light Committee recommended that an entirely new electric plant bo procured at a.n estimated cost of £GOQ above the second-band plant. Tho total cost would bo £3000. for which they would secure n. plant of double the capacity. The matter was left in the hands of the committee. A motion was unanimously carried protesting against-any further delay or extension of time to the licensee of the Ad&lphi Hotel for the re-erection of the building to rcplacc tho ono destroyd by fire two years ogo.Tho Public Trust Office notified that tlie Council's loan for £2100 had been granted at El per cent., plus 1 per cent, sinking fund, for a (term of 25 year®. The following will bo appointed as a Library Committer-:—Mosdames Mcrria and Fleming, Miss Reynolds, Messrs S. C. Winterburn, A. Gooch, and the engineer and county clerk.