COUNTY COUNCILS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19177, 7 December 1927, Page 9

COUNTY COUNCILS.

ellesmere. The monthly meeting of the Ellesmere County Council was held at Leeston on Monday, when there were present:—Crs. J. Cunningham (chairman), John Heslop, A. Quigley, A. Anderson, and J. P. McEvedy. Replying to an application lor a subsidy on the maintenance of the Rakaia bridge, the Main Highways Board stated that there was no prospect of its being able to pay a subsidy this year, as no provision had been made in the estimates, but advised that application be made again next year. Mr H. Bilbrough, of Dunsandel, informed the Council that a water-race had been leaking into his paddock for two years, and had formed a miniature lake. He asked that either the race should be repaired or the water stopped. The waterworks caretaker undertook to remedy the trouble. Mr J. Penny requested the Council to give a supply of water to one of his paddocks. The engineer was directed to look into the matter and ascertain whether the races were cleaned satisfactorily. An extension of two months was given in which to clear gorse from the Oakleigh-Ka-kaia road. Permission was granted the Ellesmere Aquatic Club to make a charge lor admission to the, fishing reserve at Taumutu on New Year's Day, the occasion of the annual regatta. The club was also authorised to procure clay, under the supervision of the engineer, for the road leading to the land at Taumutu on which the club s pavilion is situated. . . The .question of arranging for nn ofhcial opening of the new Selwyn ferro-concrete traffic bridge was discusfled. It was decided to communicate with the Canterbury Automobile Association, stating that the Council was willing to co-operate with the Association, and with other County Councils interested, in anv gathering arranged, and would bear a share of the expense incurred. The waterworks caretaker reported that the supply of water from the Rakaia headworks had been satisfactory. Gale s race, which came into Ellesmere county from Selwyn county, had been irregular for some time, and he had brought under the notice of the Selwyn caretaker what, required to be done in the matter of cleaning. _ Mr W. E. Candy waited upon the Council to enquire if it intended to do anything with regard to the drain on Hanmer road from Chapman's to his boundary with Mr Bowis. It required a thorough cleaning. The chairman Baid that if . the Council cleaned the portion of the dram ref «" e ,^ k it would have to continue on to the ake. The Council had not paid towards the cleanin? of that side of Hanmer road. Mr Candv suggested that the Council should put the drain into first-class order now and allow the property owners to keep " The° r Council could not see its way clear to undertake the cleaning, on tke founds that it would be expected to clean the drain in future years, and other drams where the circumstances were similar. Thl Vender of Mr W. L. Sutton, ot £36. was accepted for the purchase for removal --.d,« «>». the accounts were met there would be a debit ba Cr nC Andefso'n mentioned a water-race at La as requiring some improvement instructed* to 6 have the' race attended to at the first °PP° rtunlt J; ( „j t h a t the Council Cr. Quigley suggested that tn. should procure a hop Ji h deposits the loading of flne sh ngle rom u e £ at Taumutu, to avoid loss oi t>me made Until better Xe the fullest it would bo impossible t . e j evs tor possible use of the » e ' osll fb he or convevor would be more cosuj, thought the outlay would be justi e - The other Councillors agreed, and U,s cided that the engineer should go , ding question of the cost of suitable «»«» * Pl Cr: Quigley called attention the^«; noyance to traffic caused by There apiary on the old li-well creamey _ ears had been trouble from these bees for ye Pa it was agreed that enquiries should be madt from the Counties' Association

whether the Council could order the owner to shift the bees further back from the road. Cr. Anderson reported that arrangements had been made by a of farmers to have the road from the Rakaia r * ve * Baxter's plantation, across Oakleigh to Kendall's comer, ploughed as a fire*break. A contract had been let to plough at 7s 6d an hour. The River Board was to find half the money. When the work was completed the Council would probably be waited upon by the people interested with a request for a contribution. The chairman indicated that such a request would be favourably considered. The chairman called attention to the danger of damage being causedto the new office should a fire commence in the old buildings at the rear of the new chambers. It was agreed that the engineer should ascertain the cost of moving the old garage and stables back, and also the cost of erecting a new garag« and sheds, and report to the next meeting.