COUNTY COUNCILS.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17117, 12 April 1921, Page 5

COUNTY COUNCILS.

OXFORD. At the last meeting of the Oxford County Council there were present—Crs. E.. F. Henderson (chairman), T. Powell, E. W.' Meyer, H. F. Luers, D. Hawke, and. J. McGreth. The monthly report, which was 'adopted,, stated that sufficient root had 'been carted off Starvation Hill to repair the two dams in the main drain. It was stated that 38,400 feet of timber had been cut and 83,000 feet sold. Mrs W'. Taylor was granted permission, under the usual conditions, to plough the adjoining her property. It Was decided to~-have the footpath on Hospital xoad ploughed and re-formed. < It was agreed that the Council should join with F. Gorton and F. Ffitoh in putting in a bolster above Ingram road. - v The rain reports for the month of March were:—At Mr T. J. Frame's, 2.46 in; at Messrs Croy Bros;, .65in. decided to .grant the.Hospital permission to erect horse ties between the Hospital gate, and Harewood road. A letter was received from the Erogresa League asking for the Council's support in. urging the Government to reconsider its decision to abandon 1 for the present the permanent diversion of the Harper river into Lake Coleridge. It was decided to support the League. A letter was received from the Domain Board asking for one of the German machineguns allotted to the Council. It was decid- ! Ed to givo the Domain Board ,one gun, and to lend the Board the other until the new Council Chambers ore erected. It was decided to prosecute all owners of unregistered dogs after April 30th. KAIKOTJEA, The monthly meeting of the Kaikoura County Council was 'held on Friday. PreS. Andrew (chairman), G. Eaton, G. Smith, J. Boyd, D. Boyd, C. Nilsen, E. .Workman, and H, Stanbury. An apology | was received for the absence of Cr. Pannoil. i It was decided to make application to the , Department for permission to distribute elee- ' tricity. The National Electrical and Engineering Company advised that the poles for the electric lighting installation . had been overcarried to Dunediu. but that they would be transhipped to Kaikoura at an early date. The engine for generating power was also reported to be on the water. Tho Lands Department wrote regretting that no further grant could be- madcy for TrOlo've's road. It wasdecided to carry out work to the amount'.granted (£400). The Waipara County Council wrote in reference to improvements on the South road, pointing out that within the past three years the work of bridging the Greta had cost £4500, the Cheviot County Council being the only body contributing (£SSO) to the cost of the work. As the proposed improvements were of immense importance to the travelling public of Kaikoura, Awatere, and Cheviot, the Waipara Council considered that it wan impossible to carry out the work unless substantial financial assistance was given by these bodies. The estimated cost of the work was £1350, of which sum it was expected the Government would find a portion. The chairman said the Kaikoura County Council was in full sympathy with the proposed improvements, but considered that it-.was a matter for the Government to undertake, seeing that it was an arterial road. D. G. Macfarlane applied for permission to erect a motor ehed on the rood near, the Conway. To be informed that the building; could be erected at the writer's own risk. J. E. Todhunter and other Clarence Valley settlers petitioned for improvements to the Puhi roac(, It was decided that tho engineer should report on the matter. The Public Trustee notified that the Council's application for a loan of £5500 for electric installation would i receive consideration on June 30th. In reply to the Council's letter suggesting that tree planting should be carried out on waste lands in the county, the Minister stated that tho Department of Agriculture was willing to co-operate with the Council. The following tenders were accepted: Forming and metalling Greenburn road, W. Chapman, £6O; cleaning suburban ditches, 1 E. Tombs, 3s per chain. J. Johnston's tender of £651 4s 3d wes accepted for improvements to the boat harbour at Fyffe Cove. Complaints were received regarding wandering stock,, and it was decided to instruct the police, to take action directly the new by-laws coins into operation. Cr. Andrew reported on the matter of -raising funds for the purchase of land for 1 the. hospital. He had deposited £2OO at the bank for the purchase of the land." He asked tho ,Mr W. Gregory was appointed assistant to collect rands. A wis oi thanks was jj-assod

to the'Fishermen's.Association for ftheir contribution, of iBO.- ' '• ,', ~ ... Mr W. Gregory, was appointed assistant to tho county clerk. •; ■ • ". It was decided to adopt a "go-fllow", policy regarding-expenditure; : as;.the bank overdraft had reached £4600. TAWERA. The monthly meeting of the e s!' County Council was attended by.Cis. W, K. McAlpine (chairman), W. J. A. Millar, J Milliiken, S. MiUdken, A. Rutledgo, and G. R. Watson. .. Tho Canterbury Progress League wrote asking the Council's support, in urging upon the Government the necessity for proceeding with the permanent diversion of the Harper river i*to Lake Coleridge. It was decided to leave tlhe matter in the hands of the chairman, who would attend themeerting of the League on the following day. • • ' The tender of Mr, James Hay ward was accepted for the erection, of the Kowni bridge, the contract price being £314 lis. 'mal^en. The monthly meeting was held ,on Tuesday." Present—Ctb. ; Knight (chairman), ■Wright, Reid, ;Ciifien,; Adams, 'Hkwke,. - and' Judd. "'..V: •• , ... The .special order fixing Water charges for the current year-was confirmed. , The Selwyn Plantation Board wrote inviting county representatives to discuss the question of rond metal from the plantation reserves. . . . ; The Tawera County Council wrote enclosing a copy of a hawkers' 'and pedlars' by-law. It was resolved. that. the small amount of revenue to; be obtained, from hawkeina amLpedlars' licenses would not compensate for the large cost of making a by-law. ■ A petition Was received from South Malvern ratepayers objecting to .the proposed closing of Haarle'sroad. '.lt was decidi-d to go no further in; this matter. The Cemetery Committee reported thai nine cords of firewood had been cut since last meeting. Instructions were given to open the drains on the Valiey road before, the, Winter I 'on - account of-'the large volume of "storm water draining frohv the hffll;..country during a wet'period/ / . It was reported thalt the new roller ban. been tried with conspicuous success on the Kirwce-Aylesbury road, and wa« now at work on the newly metalled portion of the Telegraph road. The purchase of tho roller was looked on as a good investment ,as being a caving of metal, and also permitting the road to bo used as soon as the r-jpair gang bad Cnifhed work. , J The great aniount of damage done to tho j West Coast road through motorists driving sv ! . an excessive speed, waa commented upon, and it''was resolved Ho go into the question of spaed by-laws. ',.,,'. . ' The email' amount of rainfall during March, it was stated, had caused the rivers to ho unusually low for.this time of the year, and great care would l-equiro to be oxercised by users of.water to prevent a. shortage alt the lower end of the county. JPAPABUA. The ordinary meeting of the Councilt was held on Thursday last, Mr James Leslie being in the chair. Mr A. Jones, of Weedonß. forwarded on ecnount for £1 10s, being a cfadm for replacing a grass mower pole, broken while crossing a defective culvert, into a farmer's paddock. It was decided to- reply that the Council recognised no liability, as the culvert in question did not belong to the Council. The South Island Motors, Ltd., forwarded a quotation for the Thornycroft motor truck, consideration of which was held over. Ur. Telford, District Health Officer, waited on the Council to explain matters relative to •the Public Health Act, 1920, and a sub-com-mittee wis' appointed # to go further into the matter. - . The Canterbury Progress League wrote with reference to the Harper river diversion. It was decided'to write to the Minister emphasising the importance of continuing the permanent diversion works. Tho clerk reported that the stone-crusher had worked sixteen days during tihe month, and had crushed 1278 cubic yards of aetal, mosSi cf which Itad been put on the Factory road. The overseer at the rjyer reported that there had been two small floods at the river during tha month, necessitating the help of teams to repair Rhe* damage to headworks. The main dam had also been damaged, and would require immediata attention. The Director of Lincoln Agricultural College wrote complaining of the lack of water on the College form. . As this letter arrived the day following the previous meeting of the Council, the chairmen reported that he had arranged for an inspection to be made on March 17th last There were present Momre Leslie, Ryan, and Msginness, representing Pap arua County, and Messrs Simpson and Neale, cf the Springs County, • A. , thorough inspection of all the College races was made, and all except one race were found to be in a, very dirty st*te. Jt msj

surprising that any waiter at .allrtadwd torn* of the College paddock '-to which followed, it wa?statef £hAt;tha races in-itheor present state; w«nUd'be. a disgrace to'a struggling farmer, and; not at eil what thembeo* would expect to: find «n->the ££ of an institution which was expected to lead in ail matters of farm management. It was decided to write to the chairman of .ho Board of Governors, enclosing copies of the Director's letter with tho Oounoil'e overseer a report. . The cterk /i wa9 n al S ojhrecfad > stete that the Council would , _gg complaints coming from the doctor until such time as the Collie land were put into a satisfactory oondjfaon to to <*•**>> *. »g way Department rektive to gettinri supply o'beaohshingte from Blrdling'a Flat. Criew of tie approaching planting «?*m, the. clerk wa» instructed to mate application +,,* hj« Selwvn Plantations Board for wiffi- , iUttrees to ptoWht acres all Tempfeten. for Sie year just ended amounted to £lB U. water charges (to £203 Is 6d. almost all of which ■was due by the. South Board, with whom Itihe Council was » •negotiation. .. - w . ■;., tk« Wnimsiri County Council., met last irSw?»- WSWgJ man), F. ■J. Seymour, C. E. Cross, B. W. .hawks, d. Cleland, and S. X Staples. •■ 1 deputation of Shirley ratepayer* representing th* Burwood Burgesses'. &%%& waited upon the Council to ask it .to taw oTtion w«view. t to stopping &e dumping c'-nightebil and other refuse .on to W Council's reserve at Shirley It. was^ stated that tine, a dead horse,.. and nighteoil had. ■ been deposited on the reserve, fusing great annoyance, to the residents, being a rrenace to the health of the community. The Health Officer had inspected the reserve, and had said tho practice ought."J» be ftoPP~The deputation.had not waited upon the City Counoif, aa it believed the Waimeirr Council was quite capable of dealing with the matter. The deputation also' asked the Counou to light the tramway Shelter at Burwood Church; also that it Bhould carry out ite promise to light Queensbury., street, Bnr- ■ ' After the deputation, had withdrawn, -Cr. Walter moved' that the Council should takeaction under its . by-laws against the City Council. v Cr. Staples moved as an amendment that the City Council should be written to and warned that action would be taken if;the nuisances were not abated. The amendment •was carried, by five votes to four. .The Pound Committee recommended that a. -ranger should be appointed at » weekly wage of £5. •> After a lengthy discussion the motion was carried. It was stated that 80 applications had been received for the position, and the chairman and Cra. Sisson, Staples, and Walter Were appointed a committee to make an appointment. Upon the motion of Cr. Siesott, it was decided to discontinue granting advances to ratepayers to instal electric light.