COUNTY COUNCIL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 626, 3 May 1882, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the above was held to-day. Present—Messrs W. C. Walker (Chairman), and Messrs Friedlandor, Bullock, Lambie, Winter, Cameron and Jackson. chairman's statement.

The Chairman’s statement was as follows :—“ Since the last meeting the appointment of ranger for South Rakaia plains water supply was left in my hands to decide. I carefully went over the letters of the various applicants, and appointed Mr Haslett to the post, at a salary of Ll 5 per month. I have also accepted the following tenders for auxiliary water supply South Rakaia plains, viz:—A. McFarlane, L 122 17s, for water race ; J. Black, flumes, 30s per 100 superficial feet ; J. Devery. water race, L 37 15s, and L 29 15s ; Tucker and Co., cement, LI 5s per cask, and for shingling ; culverts, South Rakaia plains water supply, J. Griffin, 10s per culvert. You will notice a letter from the auditor, stating he cannot certify to the accounts until the vote for the Industrial Exhibition has been refunded to the Council. A letter from the Geraldine County Council, enclosing report from Shiers and Irvine as to the state of the present Rangitata traffic bridge, will be a matter for your consideration. The County Engineer has also touched upon this matter in his report. I have instructed Mr Fooks to attend to the matter of putting the office and Clerk’s residence in repair, and this is now being attended to. Mr Grigg has paid the sum of L 453 8s 4d, being two-thirds of the amount for the Hinds river improvement. The balance of the amount 1 am now in correspondence with Mr Grigg about. The solicitor to the Council has drafted a short Bill re bye-laws for water races, and has taken the necessary steps to comply with the Standing Orders of Parliament.” The report was approved. engineer’s report.

This report was read as follows :

Ashburton and Kakaia Plains Water Supply : With the exception of two or three miles at the seaward end of some of the branch races and tha small subsidiary lines, the service is now tolerably complete over the whole of the district. The supply in Pudding Hill stream is now increasing, and by the end of this month it may be expected lo be sufficient to meet all the requirements of the races until the dry season comes round again. Before lhat lime the auxiliary supply from the north Ashburton river will have been completed. I have taken levels and set out the works of this scheme in detail over the entire leu,th from the river lo Methven. I h-.-se works have been let in four sections, and No I contract is already in hand. The general route of this auxiliary channel is shown on plan. It docs not enter on the Springfield property, but the service of one-tenth of the new supply which the Council authorised for this property could he given at the points marked A R C on plan, or at such other points between A and C as might be mutually agreed on by the Council and Messis Gould and Cameron. As the line asked for by Messrs Power and others would also be fed from this auxiliary channel, I will feel obliged by receiving the Council’s instruction regarding it. The Water Ranger commenced ins duties on the l6th April, and has since been devoting his time to the various points requiring attention. Up to this time he has not had occasion lo report any fresh cases of tampering, which is, so fai, satisfactory. .Several of the owners are now putting in the required gateways in connection with watei-raccs, so that there is now better access than formerly, but others have not yet attended to this very important requirement. The contractor is now at work shingling the culverts in the Rakaia district, and a little improvement still requires to be effected in .some places in two of the branch races before the water can he led quite down to the lower end. Ashburton-Rangitala Water Supply : 'flic excavations for head works in Gorge South Hinds are nearly finished, and a length of upwards of 20 chains of the head race has been completed. Ihe cement for concrete dam, etc., is now at the terminal station of the Mount Somers railway, and the works will be pushed forward to completion before winter weather sets in. The headwurks at Limestone creek are also in progress, Mr Wright having agreed to give the supply from the creek, on terms which will practically involve the Council in no charge at lea-t for the present, the stipulation being that in the event of his ever adopting a water power, then the Council would be liabie only for the difference of cost between the expense of dam on best site available after the Council’s works have been executed and the expense independent of such works. There are several good sites in the vicinity which might be chosen for a mill dam, where probably no extra cost would be incurred, but of course the exact cost could not be ascertained till some definite scheme weie determined on, and this contingency seems so remote, and the difference, in any case, would be so small, that the Council are undoubtedly obtaining favorable conditions for acquiring the water, and constructing their headworks there.

—Mr John Devery, contractor, has been mak- a ing good p'-ogre--s with the water-races irom j MontaUo to Ealing, and in about three weeks his contract foi those lines will be compleied. j With the exception of the Limestone C.eek , branch (which cannot be utilised till the headworks a.e completed), and about two miles of small race south of Mayfield, Mxso.s Silcoci: and Quigley have cut all the o.her races 01 their contracts between Lite Ashoti ton and 1 Rangitala rivers, but some matters of finishing 1

requite still io be attended to. I have flaked i off the Mayfield branch line to suit the various owners. Tuey have all now, except one or two, sent in their contributions for ibe work, and when the full amount is received I shall put the work in hand. —I have not had lime since la>t meeting io go into the details of the T/smore branch race, but have arranged io do so on an early day. The fluming over south Hinds is now in a forward state. The piles arc aU in position, the braces and walhlgs, and nearly all ibe cap nils and corbels arc fixed, the faming pieces are all ..ionised and ibe boxes ready for pit.ling together, so that about the

end of this month the whole should be in a fit state for conveying the supply to that district of the plains si'uated between the Hinds and Tin perilptn rive s. Between the Ashburton and Hinds livers tfie water in ’ace nearest the Hinds affer a few days detention through imperfectly finished fords, a.nd subsequently from percolation in porous soil, between fir T.ainc’s and Maronan road, has

at length found its way to a point about a mile from the lower end of race. Here a few chains of new race must be cut, after wiii.lithe water will find its way into the old gully at

lower end of Boiough Endowment Reserve, from wnich a new race must be cut to the railway if the absorption in old water course should piove such as to prevent the water reaching that point in a given time —say a month lienee. The porous nature of the channel referred to above Maronan road is daily becoming less porous, and will, no doubt, like the Fairfield line continue to iin piove in this respect as the water continue, to flow in it. But if it does

not I shall have to ask the Council’s authority for a deviation nearer the Hinds. The progress of the water a'ong the race to the Wester-

field district is, as might have been expected, very slow, but it has advanced fully ten miles during the month, and is still going at the rate of about 30 chains a day. This race, which is 30 miles in length, is undoubtedly the most pervious of any in the whole system of water-

races conslruc.ed by ibe Council. The ground on this line being so porous, the race has had to be charged to such an extent as to render necessary the enlarging and si lengthening of several portions of the racein orderlo its containing an adequate supply to beep the lower parts full and provide for the excessive percolation which takes place on first contact with the water, but which will gradually les-en after the entire length is fully charged. The contractor for the extensions towards Willowby

will start work there in about a week, so that the water may be rendered available for that

district' after it reaches Winslow.—Wakanni Flat: Water Supply : The head-work in rive'.bed is now pretty well advanced, but will not be finished for about a fortnight yet. Mr Black is making good progress with the headrace and various branch races, and, at the pre-

sent rate, will also finish in about a fortnight. —Fa agitata Traffic Bridge : I have got a few of the iron caps cast, on which the timber cap-

sills are to rest, and shall have them fixed at once. I will order the remainder as soon as the Council authorises me to do so. With reference to the reports from the Surveyors of the Mount Peel and Geraldine Road Boards, I quite endorse their statements as to the necessity for immediate action as to repairs or renewal of decking on present bridge. I referred to this question in my report of 15 th

February last. SOUTH RAKAIA WATER SUPPLY. It was resolved that the Engineer should arrange with Mr Cameron where he wishes his tenth of the above taken

out. It will be remembered that Mr Cameron was promised, a tenth part of the above water supply in consideration of bis allowing the race to run through his property. power’s and otheus water supply. It was resolved—-“ That the Engineer be instructed to proceed with Mr Power’s

and others water supply referred to in the foregoing report.” extension of time. The Reserves and Laud Fund Committee were granted an extension of time until next meeting to bring up their report. notices of motion tabled last meeting

The three resolutions tabled by Mr Friedlander at the last meeting were brought up. Nos. 1 and 2 were postponed for consideration after the Council’s adjournment. No. 3, which was follows—“ For the more reliable informa-

tion of all those interested in the grain statistics of the colony, it bo a recommendation to the Government to take such steps as will make it compulsory for the owners of threshing machines to send to the Government a correct return of all

grain threshed by their respective machines during the season, such returns to be sent in as soon as they have finished threshing ” —was seconded by Mr Lambie and carried.

It, was further resolved that a copy of the last resolution bo sent to the various County Councils of the Middle Island, and that they be asked for their co-opera-tion, and, if approved, to forward their recommendations to tho Government.

PAY-SHEET. The ordinary accounts were passed for

payment. THE NEW LICENSING ACT. It was resolved —“ That a circular bo

sent lo all the Licensing Benches within the county, pointing out the great expense incurred under the New Licensing Act, also the different cost of election in several districts (stating amounts), and that the said committees be asked to exercise as great an economy as possible. It was further resolved that the attention of Go-

vernment bo called to the great expense of the present Licensing Act. and that it be pointed out that annual elections of Committees are unnecessary, and suggest-

ing that they be triennial, and taken at the same time as the triennial polls are taken. HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID. It was resolved that LCO be passed to the Hosiptal Committee. MOUNT SOMERS GORGE ROAD. A petition from the landowners and residents of the Gorge was read asking

the Council for a grant of money for forming and metalling the Gorge Road. It was resolved to forward the letter to the Mount Somers Road Board, with a

request that they will forward an estimate of the work they would recommend.

ASUBURTON FIRE BRIG \DE. On the motion of Mr Fried ! ander, seconded by Mr Bullock, it was resolved that the sum of L 25 be granted to the Ashburton Fire Brigade as the annual grant.

THE CONDITIONS. It was resolved that unless all owners sign an agreement as required by the Council the water will not be supplied. TINWALD CREEKS. A letter was read from Mr Graham respecting the fair division of water in the Tinwald creeks. It was resolved that

the Engineer attend to Mr Graham's letter, and tho water be divided equitably. EXTENSION OF TIME TO CONTRACTORS. Mr John Black, contractor for waterraces, Wakanui Flat, was granted an exten-

sion of two weeks, ou account of his having to finish an exceptionally heavy piece of earth-work in connection with the Hinds river improvement. The extension

was granted at the' recommendation of

the Engineer. Messrs T. Keilly and Co. wore granted an extension of three weeks, on the recommendation of the Engineer. Keilly and Co. are contractors for flaming and culverts, Wakanui races, and asked

for the extension in consequence of one of tho firm having broken his leg, and being laid up. ASHBURTON BRIDGE. With regard to the proposed widening and shortening of tho Ashburton bridge, approaches, a letter was read from the Railway Department suggesting that tho Council’s Engineer should design such improvements as the Council might di s'tv,

and forward same for approval to the Department. It was resolved —“ That the Engineer be instructed to prepare the necessary designs and estimates.” THE EANCITATA TRAFFIC BRIDGE. A letter from the Geraldine County Council, Timaru, was read, enclosing copy of a report on the decking of the bridge, made by Messrs Shires and Irvine, overseers of the Geraldine and Mount Peel Road Boards. The letter added that, as Messrs Shires and Irvine are both intimately connected with the bridge, their services may be of some value. The report was to the effect that the decking of the bridge was in many places very rotten, and there were several holes in the planking large enough to admit of a horses hoof going through. The bridge was therefore in a very dangerous state, and ought to be looked to at once, as a serious accident might occur at any time. It was resolved—“ That repairs to the bridge be put in hand at once,” and that the Geraldine Council shbuld be apprised of the fact. DEPUTATION. Messrs C. P. Cox, George Jameson, and D. Oliver waited upon the Council as a deputaiion from the Ashburon A. and P. Association .to urge upon the Council t m necessity of enlarging the County

yards. Mr 0. P. Cux was spokesman, and pointed out the urgent necessity for increased accommodation at the yards. Mr Bullock remarked that ho thought it would be well if a short Bill were passed transferring the yards to the Association. The Association were directly interested in the yauls to a larger extent than the Council. Were this done, the Association would be enabled to pay off its indebtedness to the Council by the raising of money on the yards, and also to erect a large shed at the yards, which was bully wanted. After some further discussion, the Chairman promised that the matter should have the Council’s consideration, and the deputation withdrew. Mr Friedlander moved, Mr Jackson seconded, and it was carried, “ That a committee be appointed, consisting of the chairman, Mr Jackson, and the mover, to confer with the deputation of the A. and P. Association in re increased accommotion at the County sale yards, with power to act.” THE PUBLIC LIBRART. Messrs J. Ward and W. H. Zouch waited upon the Council as a deputation from the Library Committee to ask that the Council would aid the funds of that institution by a grant. . The deputation having withdrawn, the Chairman remarked that he was in favor of reserving Baring square, and did not approve of the Library being erected thereon.

Mr Bullock proposed and Mr Winter seconded —“ That the sum of LIOO be voted towards the erection of the Library. ” Mr Fricdlander proposed as an amendment—“ That the sum be increased to L 150.” Seconded by Mr Lambie. The Council afterwards allowed Mr Friedlander to amend his resolution to read —“ That the sum of LISO be set aside and be handed to the Library Committee. if the site chosen by them is approved by the Council.” —This was lost.

Mr Walker then moved, and Mr Jackson seconded, as a second amendment —“ That the matter of Library vote be postponed for one month.”—This was also lost.

Mr Friedlander then moved, and Mr Winter seconded —“That the sum of L 145 be banded to the Library Committee by the Council if the site chosen by them is approved.”—This was also lost. Mr Lambie then moved—“ That this Council recognises the claim of the Library Committee, and will assist at the rate of £ for £ with any sum not exceeding L2OO locally raided, providing the site chosen by the Committee meet with the approval of the Council.”—This was carried, the original resolution being negatived. In the course of the discussion the Chairman remarked that he thought that it was rather hard that the County should be called upon to assist in contributing towards the cost of the Library. The Borough should be able to raise sufficient funds itself, seeing that there was a population of 1,500 persons in the town, and as many more in the immediate neighborhood. They ought to have had a better Library than the last one.

DR TREVOR IN REPLY. Dr Trevor wrote : u A letter was read at your last Council meeting signed ‘ Alfred Harrison,’ in which the writer stated that a man named McGregor had been refused admission into the Hospital, and sent from one place to another because he was a stranger and penniless. The facts of the case are these : McGregor mot with the accident on March 10th, but did not apply for admission until the 13th, although in the town. When he went to the Hospital the matron, seeing that he was under the influence of drink, sent him to me. I saw him in the town very shortly after, and directly told him to go to the Hospital, telling him the usual terms. He told me he could not pay, when I informed him that he might go all the same. But on my expressing to him the opinion that it was not to the credit of a young and able-bodied man to have to resort to public charity directly he is out of employment, he went away saying he would not go to the Hospital at all, but went in the next day. If the case, as stated by myself, is correct, it has, I think a very different aspect to the picture drawn by Mr Harrison, and further, that the term “ cruel” reported by the papers as having been used in reference to the case, and I presume in special reference to myself, was altogether uncalled for and unjust. The man is still in the Hosbital, and I court any enquiry into the subject.— l am, Ac. Jas. E. Trevor. The Chairman remarked that he was sorry there should have been any misunderstanding with Dr Trevor. This was the first complaint that had ever been received about the Hospital, and he thought the Council had every reason to be satisfied with the way in which that institution was managed.

MOKE WATER WASTED. Messrs E. Lovett and others, wrote for an additional race in connection with the Bangitata water supply.—Granted conditionally on there being sufficient water. PLANTATION COMMITTEE. Messrs Winter, Bullock, and the Chairman were appointed a Plantation Committee. This concluded the business of the ordinary meeting, and the Council adjourned to the first Wednesday in June. SPECIAL MEETING. A special meeting was then held foi the purpose of signing the yearly balancesheet. The sheet was duly signed by the Chairman, as provided by the Counties Act, 1876.