COUNTY COUNCILS

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20491, 9 March 1932, Page 8

COUNTY COUNCILS

SELWYN. At the monthly meeting of the Selwyn County Council, held on Monday, there were present—Crg. P. J. Andrews (chairman), N. Brown, W. Gilmour, G. Hight, T. D. Jarman, T. E. Pearson, and W. Stone. The engineer reported that several corners had been taken off and the dangerous one at Dunsandel and Ardlui roads had been taken back. Permission was granted from the Seiwyn Plantation Board .to complete this work. Maintenance gravel had been delivered throughout, and generally speaking the riding was in good order. Gravelling to the Point road was completed in the Lake Coleridge riding. Two lorries were now engaged in carting gravel the Blow Hole. One case of poliomyelitis was reported by the Health Officer. A deputation, headed' by Mr D. W. Westenra, of Dunsandel, together with Messrs Climie, Langbein, Acland, Craigie, Grigg, Harris, Redicliffe. and Syme, waited on the Council urging the necessity of introducing s more permanent water supply scheme, suggesting that advantage could be taken of the unemployment relief • scheme No. _5. All members of. thp deputation spoke in support of Mr Westerira's request. The chairman said, while he was in sympathy with the scheme, he must inform them thßt his Council could not come to any definite decision until such ti&e as a report was brought down. Mr Langbein, District Engineer, Public Works Department, said he felt sur» his Department would be pleased to help in this respect. Jlr--CBmie; ,|eprssejifativ|B : 'st£ k the '■ Unemployment Board, Board would,, also be prepared to assist the Council in every possible Wayl "" *• A deputation from ratepayers in Hororata river cleaning area, headed by Mr H. Oliver, waited on the Council pointing out that much" important works in the river required to be dealt with, and urged that the Council undertake this work immediately ' under the No. 5 Scheme. The chairman said he could promise the deputation that the engineer would confer with the ratepayers interested, and proceed 'with the work suggested. The Wairiri Valley drainage contract would be commenced during the month under the No. 5 Scheme. A greater portion of the.men employed would-be brought in from Whitecliffs and Glentunnel. Receipts for - the month of February were £3194, expenditure £1796 8s Bd. The chairman reported that the financial position was under the circumstances satisfactory, and he could inform the Council that they would show a small credit at the end of the financial year. t It was resolved that applications be called for the position of ranger to the Council.

ELLESMERE. The monthly meeting of the Ellesmere County Council, held at Leeston on Mond&v, was attended by Councillors John Heslop (chairman), A. Anderson, R. T. McMillan, A. Quigley, and John Nixon. The Now Zealand Counties' Association forwarded amendments to the 1930 model bylaws. These concerned tractors and traction engines. A cheque for £525 was received from the Treasury; being the subsidy on rates. The Highways Board wrote regarding the rates payable to local" bodies for the hire of their plant used on main highways construction and maintenance. The Board also forwarded a cheque for £6Ol 14a 5d covering tho subsidy oil highways works. Advice was received from the Selwyn Plantations Board that it had purchased part oi Oakley's estate for planting. A contribution was solicited from the Council towards the making of fire-breaks. The Council decided to consider the • request when the estimates were being dealt with. The Council expressed its thanks to two auctioneering firms, which had requested that their license fees should bp paid to tho Ellesmere Council. ' Mr D. E. Grigg, Bankside, complained of a shortage of race water. The engineer stated that the matter had been rectified. After considering water-race matters in committee, the Council decided to call for a •fal' report from its caretaker. The ranger reported that few cattle were being allowed to stray or graze on tho road 3 at present. It was decided to take action against anyone allowing stock to stray. The engineer reported that several road 3 had teen repaired and that some person had set fire to the marram grass at. Taumutu culvert, leaving the sand bare. Reference was made to the provision in the Counties Act empowering the Council to I'ass a special order abolishing the ridings. The Council decided that it would not make tho change at present. The clerk reported that rates outstanding were: 1930-31, £277; 1931-32, £Bl3. The 10 per cent, penalty had been imposed. It was decided to hand a list of last year's rato defaulters to the -courity solicitors after 14 days. WAIPARA. I The following were present at the monthly meeting of the Waipara County Council: Crs. N. D. Campbell (chairman), W. K. McAlpine, J. Quigley, H. E. Finchain, J. G. Vhyte, and A. T. Allan. The works overseer reported that good progress had been made on the reformation of the Picton-BluflE main highway, the recent rains having considerably assisted in the consolidating of the earthwork. Some sections of tho tea led road had been damaged by traction engines. The clerk was instructed to have an estimate prepared of the cost of repair. It was decided to instruct the works overseer to complete the repairs of the sealing work oh Flanagan's section at an early date. The Health Inspector wrote that the sanitary conditions of, the Omihi Hall were not in accordance with the regulations. The clerk was instructed to take proceedings :f the matter was not remedied. • The District Engineer, Public Works Department, wrote that the Awatere County Council had made application to be transferred to Highways Group No. 11 instead of No. 13. The clerk was instructed t(* reply that the Council had no. objection to the alteration. It was agreed that the clerk notify the local cartage contractors that under the classification of roads the maximum weight of any lorry with its load must not exceed six and a half tons.

The treasurer reported that th« -fjumal i would finish up its work ift thsVyesr a credit balance of £SOO. An estimate for the coming year wip pa. Eented showing that it was possible for fk Council to make a further reduction, in fa general rate for 1932-33. A reduction of 1 per cent, had been made on the pierioß year's rates, and the present ptojjosal wild mean a total reduction of 80 per. cut « the rate struck for 1930-31. i A telegram was received from the IfiauUr for Public Works etating Ihnt paffit works grants would have to he rt&miiikrei, and that no works could he undeitiba w less permission was given by his Bejartmeet. ■ • ,vf v GERALDINE. 1 The monthly meeting of the i Genldiii County Council was held on Hon&frVr £ • Mackenzie (chairman) presiding. also present —Councillors J.- H. C. Ley, Ross Brodie, Alex. Baii,« JT O. Sontl, and T. Lyons. *. Referring to the. Rangilata ljiipk JT( Mackenzie said that as the prwiws iifl speed of vehicles had caused the speed limit had been rednelH 1» 11 miles an hour. '..£| .■ On behalf of the Finance W. Ley reported that the totijpJWPil liofl# last meeting were £4345 principally general rates highways subsidy £312 12a Island water loin £3OO, refund wages "J&S4"T«, water rates" i£2o* i» »■ Therm $3? » debitjutope of Sim lifc W ."fT'li the final payment of £451 5s 54 to tto maru Harbour Board, and £326 l«l 14 fa unemployment relief The»OomnfiMion«r of advising that the State Forest S«n« » informed the Unemployment considerable surplus ot available after the winter pUntto gramme of the Department was proTideMg., and thst supplies from be made available to : local bodies U employment Board directed. I, The engineer was instructed to P"jg%" estimate of the number of trees require!* replace failures du6 to «jd inM" destroyed by fires in the pUntatwas. In connexion with a 1 5&S gard to the drainage of the n»er TOW, School, the Inspector of Health (MrJ.JWlies) wrote stating that in "«po»Mt«M representations the Cantertmry Board had put m a new drainage km» during the school holidays, and «>»<*«» no waste water had heen discharged t». , th SatUfadtibn*was expressed by the Ow*B- - the matter had been The Health Inspector (Mr J. MenneM » ported that during January one »■«««■,- cephalitis had occurred. FiwJiwijwg had been made, and one nuisance Wd located and two requisitions infectious disease cases had been report*#® February. Six inspections had Men and one nuisance located. ================= 'TtV-