COUNTY COUNCILS.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20179, 6 March 1931, Page 3

COUNTY COUNCILS.

EYRE. .• The monthly' meeting ofthe &yre County Council was attended by Messrs H. B. Evans (in tha chair), J. Cowens, B. O. Dixon, 3. W. frizzell. J 0 * 9 sympathy and condolence was passed to Mrs James Pester in regard to the aeatn of her husband in the Ghristchurch Hospital. A vote of sympathy was passed to the Kaiapoi Borough Council in regard to the death of the late Town, Clerk, Mr J. Bosomworth. M. Daniel, the-traffic inspector for tha .Kaiapoi Borough Council, having asked for permission to control traffic on that portion of the Main North road passing through tue county, it was decided to ask the terms ana conditions under which he suggested acting. It was decided not to appoint a represen.37® the Council on the Citizens 1 Committee formed in Christchurch to deal with unemployment, but to make a first grant of £SO towards the Belief Fund, and to consider at a later meeting the amount of • further grant in the next financial year. Wright, Stephenson, Ltd., having quoted for tar-sealing'a_ portion of the ■ Council's road, it was decided to await a comprehensive report from the Council's engineer givi?® u j ma " on * n re B alf d to tar-sealing, which he had gathered during his attendance at the conference of civil engineers in Auckland, from , which he had just returned. m 1 w ?, B decided to support) the resolution of the waitaki County Council asking that a conference of county representatives should be called to consider derating, maximum speed on roads, hospital sating, and cost of education.

It was decided to hold ove? for further consideration a resolution from the Rangitikei County Council asking the Government to subsidise' county roads (not highways) £1 for £1 out of petrol - tax or other motor revenue. Councillors were Inclined to think that a sixpenny petrol tax was sufficient. Notice being received that" a counties' conference was probably to be held in April, it was decided to forward a remit that the Government fee for audit bo charged on the bare cost, and not at £3 3s per day, as at present.

It was decided to suggest to the Transport Department that the engineer be appointed as the officer to give motor-driven' licenses in the county. Information being received from the.Main Highways Board that the Board would grant a subsidy of £2 for £1 for a new short concrete bridge in place of the present lengthy wooden girder bridge 'near Kaiapoi, the engineer was instructed to get out an estimate as soon as the Waimakariri River Trust had decided what length of span was. required . by that body. The Main Highways Board's charge of £445 for/the Council's share of the new concrete Skew bridge being much in excess of t'he Council's guarantee to-find £875, consideration was postponed until a later meeting, when the full Council would be.present. Xti was decided to advertise that the 10 per cent, penalty would be imposed on au rates not paid on or before March 27th. ■ The olerk reported that the, overdraft was £1230, and with the month's pay-sheet and other sums to be found immediately, would amount to £1950. . The amount to come in rates £2170, rent £BOO, main highways, and other refunds £405, would total £2930; but after March accounts were paia,. »na:.Jx payments for the Skew bridge and. Cittren creek were made, only a very small credit balance would remain at the end of the_year. Information' being received that the Coutts Island bridge was unsafe for traction-engine traffic, the enginer was instructed to make a thorough examination, and if ho thought it advisable to close-the bridge to such traf- > ' ' '■ * The engineer - reported ■ all main roads to be in good order. -