COUNTY COUNCILS.

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21111, 12 March 1934, Page 3

COUNTY COUNCILS.

♦ I RANGIORA i I The Rangiora County Council met yesterday. Present: Messrs W. Stalker ichairman), H. Tallott, G. K. Crysell, M. C. Ormandy, J. Brosnan, A. Mcintosh, and J. M. Young. The chairman reported having attended the conference convened by the Canterbury Roadside Beautifying Association and gave a report on the proceedings. In his report the traffic inspector) said that four new licenses were is- j sued during February. Fines had been 1 imposed in nine cases brought before the Magistrate's Court. A successful license raid was held on February 25. A number of unlicensed drivers were to come before the court. The owners of a traction engine and four header harvesters had been requested to register their machines. The financial statement showed the receipts for March to have been £lO7l 2s 9d, the principal items being: Rates £370 12s 9d, hospital rales £lB7 3s Id, river trust rates £73 Gs 3d, highways subsidies £222 Os Id, and refund of relief .workers' wages £69 2s lOd. Payments amounted to £387 12s 2d, leaving a debit balance of £2857 12s i 7d. A letter was received from the Walmakariri Harbour Board protesting against the weeds floating down the river during cleaning operations in the Cam. and asking that arrangements be made to have the weed drawn up on to the banks. A circular letter was received from the Tauranga County Council asking the council to give support to a resolution asking the Prime Minister to give early consideration to the granting of some easement to county ratepayers, as was done in the period 1931-32. to the extent of permitting county councils to make a rebate allowance of 20 per cent, on the 1933-34 rates. Accounts totalling £G33 3s Ud were passed for payment. It was decided to communicate with j the Kowai County Council about tak- ] ing steps to have the traffic bridge j over the Ashley river on the North I road replaced. : KAIKOI K.V The monthly meeting of the Kai- ; koura County Council was held on i't-iday. Present: Councillors F. J. Monk (chairman i, li. J. Mackle, G. E. Parsons, E. E. Weavers, T. Alexander, J. Boyd, D. Boyd, E. H. Ecclcs, and P. S. Hunnn. The Town School Committee asked permission to lay down a water pipe line through Takananga Domain to the school grounds. The matter was left to tlw engineer. The Main Highways Board advised that it was prepared to lix plant hire rates in respect of portable huts which may be provided to accommodate drivers or operators of graders used in ordinary Highways maintenance, and also for housing tool.;. Mr T. J. C Schroder wrote asking that the road be formed to his section north of Luke creek. The chairman stated that should the water propo.al i be carried a road would be necessary, ! and it was decided to defer the matter for the eiu.ii,eer to make enquiries. The district engineer (Mr F. Langbcini forwarded a tracing o' tin- Conway bi k.go to Claverky read. ,:s supplied by the Lands Department, Blenheim. He stated that the only point j \\ lu re he was certain that •iionej was) expended on the road off the reserve was for a lew chains to the north of Limestone creek. He was nut i*< rtain j that the formation was confined to the reserve for the remainder of the distance, and to ascertain this deiinitely a survey of the road reserve .eoukl be .iecessary. The sanitary inspector (Mr C. D. Cruickshank) advised that another in- i spection had been made at the dairy | factory. About 300 yards of the water I course was badly fouled between 'lie ! point of discharge of the drainage at the factory and Mount h 1 Ic load, and on the date of m.-pi r' ; there was a considerable accumulation of lat on the stirlace of the v.aiev at Mount Fyll'e road, as well as another accumulation 150 yards further down the stream. Proper steps should be taken to abate the nuisance. T:ie company advised that the work would be done in the otf season. Mr J. A. Chatlcy, Waiau-toa, wrote stating that he understood there was a grant of £IOO reinstated on the public works estimates for use on the road leading to his homestead. He asked if the money could be expended m the near future. The engineer stated that the amount appeared on the estimates, but nothing could be done until authority had been given by the Public Works Department. It was decided to make enquiries. I Mr Guy Boyd wrote in reference to protective work necessary on the old Hapuku road. The estimated cost would be £450, and he offered £7O towards the cost'. The ofier was accepted, the chairman remarking that the work was long overdue. The balance-sheet was returned from the Audit Department. It was decided to meet on a date to be arranged to confirm the balance-sheet. I The Tauranga County Council wrote stating that owing to adverse returns lor dairy farm produce, ratepayers were finding it ditlicult to pay their lates. It had therefore passed a resolution asking the Government's consideration to permitting county '.councils to make a 20 per cent, rebate on rales for 1933-34. It was decided to support the resolution. The engineer was requested to inspect the load near Quail Spur. It was stated that metal was needed on the road. The reorganising of the staff was left in the hands of the engineer. It was agreed that the engineer report on a dangerous piece of road at Ohau Point. The pay-sheet—general account £077 2s Id. electric light account £B6 Ids 4d, Domain Board £G Is sd—was passed for payment. The council then sat as a Domain Board. Permission was granted the trotting club to make a charge for admission to the racecourse on race d'iy. A tender for the lease of Monkey Face was received from Mr A. C. , Scott at £6 per annum, and accepted . for a term of 14 years. i-THINGS I The monthly meeting of the Springs County Council was attended by Councillors J. S. Simpson (.chairman), C. 11. Watson, J. Woods. J. W. Kime, P. V. Bailey, and J. IT. Williams. The council extended its sympathy to Cr. Watson in the death of his brotner-in-law, Mr John Gilmour, of i Tai Tapu. The financial statement gave the receipts lor the month as £2ot>o 18s lid. the bank balance £1351 (Springston riding £oB7 17s lid, Greenpark riding £387 14s 4d>, and accounts for payment £SC3 9s 2d. When the 10 per cent, penalty was imposed only nine ■ per cent, of the total amount of rates levied was outstanding, compared with 11 per cent, last year, and 13 per cent, the previous year. Only one case of notifiable infectiousdisease (scarlatina) has been reported from the county during the month, stated the health inspector's report. The St. John Ambulance Association thanked the council for a grant of . £5 towards the invalid transport ser- . vice, and asked that a representative , be appointed to attend a conference in . Christchurch on April 11 to consider the financial position of the service. ; The chairman was asked to attend the I conference. A letter from the Tauranga County Council, asking support for a proposal

that there should be a 20 per cent, rebate m the rates for 1933-34, on account of the serious position of dairy farmers, was received without comment. Notification was received of a proposal to take a check on unlicensed services and drivers over a period of 24 hours, and'the clerk was instructed to comunicate with the authorities about the arrangements. The tender of F. B. Clausen was accepted for the supply of dog collars for the year. The registration fees were fixed at the same rates as for the last year, and Mr E. F. Bennett was reappointed registrar. It was decided to defer until next month taking action to recover outstanding rates, and the calling of tenders for clearing the district drains. The clerk reported that the folk)*. - ing had been appointed to constitute the Coe's Ford Domain Board: Messrs 1.. B. Coe (Irwell). F. Rowell (Leeston i. P. V. Bailey (Springston), M. D. Ryan (Springston South). G. JL Hoskin ' (Springston South), J. Heslop (Irwell, representing the Ellesmere County Council). E. t H. Rowell (Springston South, representing the Springs County Council). F. W. Freeman (Canterbury Automobile Association), and E. J. Bradsliaw (Pioneer Spcrts Club).