ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1064, 3 October 1883, Page 2

ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

The usual monthly meeting of this Council was held to-day, when the following members were present ;—Messrs W. 0. Walker, T. Taylor, J. Jackson, T. Bullock, A, Macfarlane, H. T. Winter and J. Lambie. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

chairman’s statement,

The Chairman stated that the Chairman of the Selwyn County Council had imformed this Council that the fordsman at Dobbin’s ford had been instructed to employ hia spare time in, improving the roadway and cutting at the ford as suggested. Ho (Mr Walker) had written to the Minister for' Public Works asking if the L7OO promise I to. Mr Tvess for protective works at Wakanui was available. Arrangements had been m|ide Tor different petitions re protective works being taken round for signature.. The amount of rates paid up to date was L 2,768 10a lid, leaving a balance of L 195 11a 9d. mr wrighx’s resignation.

The Chairman said that Mr Wright had placed the resignation of his seat on the Council in his hands, and the Returning Officer had been' revested; to , make'arrangements for ah extraordinary election to fill the vacancy. . , ' Mr’Bullbck suggested that Mr Wright be asked to reconsider' his decision. He felt quite sure that he' was expressing the views of a large number of the,ratepayers, as everybody" the county‘khew what useful work Mr Wright had done. If in order he would like, to move in the direction he had indicated. The Chairman said that, be; was afraid that such a proceeding would be contrary to the Act He was very sorry that. Mr Wright had taken'the step he had, hut as that gentleman had place; his written resignation in the Chairman’s hands, this Council was not able to do anything in the thattertbut i td.aoCept the resignation.

Mr Bullock said that if the case was as the Chairman had stated, he would move the following resolution That , this. Council regrets very much Mr Wright's resignation, and wish to place on record their sense of his services to the Council during the time he has served as £ Councillor. ' Mr Lambie secondedThe Chairman wished to express his entire concurrence with the motion. No one knew more than he did how extremely valuable Mr Wright’s services were to the county!, especially since he.- had. beau in the Assembly. He could only hope that although he no longer sat in the Council, Mr Wright would continue to act in their behalf as he had done in the past. ’ engineers’ report.

The following was read : I have the honor to report as follows: Wheatstone Water Supply : The head and main race near. Wesierfield have been completed, and the Laghmor creek is in process of being opened out, so as to convey the supply into the branch races which: lead oft near Tinwald. When the work is a little further advanced I will arrange with the settlers above the railway line for the branch they petitioned the Council for some time ago. The works on No 2 contract below the railway are making fair progress, upwards of 6 miles of the. race being already finished, and further progress would have been made had it not been for the present saturated condition of several portions of that district.-—Floodwater Wheatstone and Ashton districts: As requested by the Council I have gone over the ground and examined the j various: creeks and sources ‘of damage in periods of high floods, and I find that through the action of repeated floods, Ford’s creek now, actually connects with: the main Wheatstone drain, not only on the line of the artificial cut, but also about 2 chains above it by means of an old gully forming the original course of creek, both together discharging into the main drain about half the volume of floodwater which should be confined to Ford’s creek. I would therefore recommend that these, breaches be made good, and that the initial portion of the main drain be available only for the reception of the surface water from the land as was intended. The.main drain itself is .very much blocked up with debris along its course, and if properly, cleaned out will carry abput a third more water than at present; In addition to this I find that! the creek fenowh as Taylor’s creek is 16r the most part in a-very inefficient slate. For upwards of a mile from the maindrain it is so tortuous and overgrown that for permanent improvement a near cut will be indispensable. A new cut has been already made through the greater part of Mr ground, but it should have an additional width of 4ft, to render it available as a flood channel- The creek through Mr Bishop’s and Mr Cmsnall’s land also requires straightening and widening over nearly half its length. I calculate that between the main drain and the sea it would take fully L2OO to make this course serviceable.—lt will be .necessary .to have the two accommodation bridges near lowpr. end of main drain supported on short wooden piles, and one of them shifted a little way so as to be clear of the encroachment at end of dram. A small expenditure will suffice for this.—Headworks, Pudding Hill : In order to secure the right to deal with any encroachments of Pudding Hill stream. 1 would recommend the purchase of that small strip of R.S. 30916 between the river and concrete channel near the headworks.—Water-race extensions, Cpldstream , and Lowcliffe.; .1 have fixed the lines pf these races so as to suit the parties interested, and tenders for the work will be placed before you to-day. The contributions from the owners are expected in a few days.—Alford Station water supply : The head work for this supply has been finished, and the races, etc., are in progress, The general route for the Ashaurton Forks supply is fixed, but it appears the settlers there expect the Council to contribute towards the scheme. Tenders could be invited for next meeting of the Council, provided the question of funds is settled, —Drayton race : I have invited tenders for this race, but it appears it would be inconvenient for Mr Chapman, on account of cropping arrangements, to have it done at the present time, in that case the tenders would have to be cancelled, and the work taken up immediately after harvest.—l am in communication wifh Messrs Gould and Cameron in regard to the better utilising of the supply from the auxiliary channel in the interests of the settlers in and

around their district. —Ea Extension, "Acton. : I have taken the necessary levels, etc., and have fixed the lines of this extension. It will be fully S miles in length, and will benefit ten settlers.—-Branch Race Chertsey District ; As requesting by the Council, I have examined into the feasibility of a branch race (between D and D'i races below the railway. ' It would be injudicious to divide the supply of Di race in that district, as When in ordinaxy flow, its supply is barely more than sufficient to rtach the end of the race. The Dor Chertsey race however, yields a good supply, and .sufficient

to allow of a bianch being led off at Mr Gills, serving on the way Messrs ;Strachan, I£ingJ Rule, Winter, and Williams, and discharging into the present race near Mr Hampton’s as shown on plan. This race would water a large number of paddocks with no supply at present } and so far as I-can learn,; the owners would readily combine to have the scheme carried but; ■! have taken all the levels etc; necessaryto determine the precise route, —The water races in the county generally have been ‘ run* ning freely during'the nionth,'and are for the most part in fair working order at present. The Rangers report only two bad cases of neglect leading to waste —the one in Mr Cham-

bars R.S. 29939, in Mount Kutt district, though continued inattention to cl ar out gone cuttings, and the other in Mr William Saunders E.S. 27182, Dundas, where the maintenance has been totally neglected, and the race is almost obliterated and smothered with gone, etc. —Wakanui Flat Water Supply ; As you are' aware, the service for this district has ceased for some times pending the permanent arrangements for river protective works. The small inlet works were cut off by the river encroachments, and these of the races on road sides were, as might have been expected, considerably damaged. I understand, however, that the various owners would be. prepared to re-instate the portions opposite their respective properties, provided the CoundP ,! I®e steps to let on the supply temporarily from the river—and this, with the Council’s consent, I would arrange to do.—Road Deviation part of South Approach to Rakaia Gorge Bridge 5 X met Mr Aynsley on the ground with: "reference to this matter, and have now marked off!’the division on line approved by him. The cost will not exceed my previous estimate of 1.250, —Chapman’s Creek Extension: In accordance with the tenor of previous reports, 1 should recommend the improvement of this natural water-course from the point to which it has already been improved to the south , side qf railway at Cairabrae, and that the rail way" authorities be asked to make suitable prot&on for crossing the water there. It must be borne in mind, however, that this district is exposed to the influence of mountain torrents from the various gorges in the vicinity,'’and complete immunity from damage can never be expected there.

WHEATSTONE DRAIN. ~ Mr J. Shearer wrote calling the lotion of the Council to the damage done to his land by the scour of the Wheatstone drain, and asking that it be repaired.—lt was resolved that Mr Shearer’s letter be left in tllC hinds of ■ i.ha TCrigfonyland that the other part of the paragraph in the Engineer’s rbportr teferring. tOL.tho same subject be postponed/ , > f ? PUDDING HTT.T., - - ■&> f V It!was resolved that the purohaseoLland suggested by the Enginwcr.tellefllnDttite hands of the Chairman td/toeitoi?! A ASHBURTON FORKS WATER SOFTLY. Mr Ballock moved, and Mr Tbylbi SObonded—That this Council contribute I£o towards the Ashburton: Forks’-Trite* supply, r;t; ’■ ‘ ... A Mr Lamhin strongly objectod-toivotiiijf a specific sum in this manner. ‘Em should say v.hether the, Couneil wtibld contribute a certain share of the ooetfoi such works, aay one-half. iH Mr Jackson moved as an “ That'half the {post be found by tho Odunoil after harvest was over. f>.:;

This amendment was seconded by Mr Lambie, and onibatng put-to! the vote was carried. , •• raaTTON BAcißt ; 7 , r OK L Mr 'Ghkpmain wrote re theaboyo^ t an| the Engineer Vis instru'ctdd to ' abbdt the matter complained of. ' Viw nvo ’ oABETdBT AACB.'

The Engineer’s, vemark| -qn | hia nutter were referred to the Walter' Supply Committee. : - "WATEK-RACB BTiiiAWa. It was rasolved that:Mr Ohambersited Mr Wtoi Saunders’ attention be oalled io the paragraph in the Engineer’s' repoft,and unless the complaints menUon#d therein be attended to within one Wwk, action will be taken under the;"Water* race By-laws, the Cbairman being in* structed to enforce the sanae if necessary. WAK.ANOI FLAT WATER BCWPIt".

A petition. was received from"Mr-Prt*-gerald and others, askiqjthdt atamporary race constructed .round the eaorbachtheiat of the-river on ; Wakanui Flat; f sb u to enable the settlers in the district to obtain a water supply. J ;; { r.; It was resolved, on the motion.:'of Mir Lambie, seconded by Mr Jackson---“ That the Engineer’s recommendation be coin* plied with, subject to the cbndUibh'feliit the occupiers clear out their respective races. .

BAEAIA GORGE ROAD. 1 It was decided that anapplicatiou ’be made to the Selwyn County Council and the Government officer for the money oat of the special fund for the above road, the Chairman to call for "tenders "as soon aa possible. ' ROADS to StEtaVBN. 1 ‘ : ;i 's • The Chsirman of the Mount Halt Road Board wrote stating: that owinff tg. the delay in the promised: Visit' of tire J Co9noil’s Engineer to examine Ihe -roads near Methveh, the Board bad appointed a committee to assess the damagc dbne by the' storm-water Resolved that a copy of thoEngitreer’s re* portba.referred to the MountHtitt Road Board for their consideration. : SIT ’. . ■' ■ wiLwma; ! ' ' : It was resolved-that the extra"’amount required for planting Willows be granted. WATER SUPPLY boManTTßk;'" The report of this Committee - L ivas read and adopted;

‘ • ACCOUNTS.* ' The usual accounts were passed for pay* meat, witli the exception of that of the Clerk to the 5 Mount Somers’ Committee,- which was referred:to the hit? ter bodv for consideration. ’ ::: *

IiIBABJ&T VOTE. The Secretary to the Library wrote asking' lor the balaiute- of /the? -Obauciftr grant", viz-, wSsrequired to complete the payment ofthe’ contractors. It was decided chat -the ice* quest cannot be acceded tp4 .- .' r " 1 * NtirhVßN ÜBBkWr// * Mr Allihgton waited o.i the Council for the purpose of submitting the plane. the new" Library building fur apptpVi£ The* tenders first sent in were too high irad consequently new ones had been prepared. —The plans were approved by the Thvrmi.oil. r eivee PROTKcnoNcormnrrEß. The Committee appointed to consider river protection reported that "patitfoas had been circulated in . the affected by fleoda, and had been. by the necessary majority in’- the castes of * Wkk’aUul and AshbaftoiT settlers in the Hinds and Wheatstone districts apparently are not yet agreed" as""tar the urgency of the case; -.Notice would be inserted stating that the two first petitions are on view-in accordance with the Act.—The report was adopted.: : ".-Git-. (Left sitting.]