ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1282, 17 June 1884, Page 2

ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL

The ordinaty monthly meeting, adjourned from the 6<,h i.ist., was held at the County Council Chamber to day. Present—Messrs W. C. Walker (chairman), T. Taylor, H. Fnedlander, Julian Jackson, and J. Lambie. The minutes of the last ordinary and annual meeting were read„and confirmed. chairman's STATEMENT. The Chairman said that the special order of this Council referring lo the riding representations has been du'y gazetted and will come into force at the forthcoming general election of the Council. Since last meeting ho accepted the tender of Clifford for protective works at Rawle’s crossing at L 99145, and W. Sutherland’s .tender of L 55 17s for protective works at Green’s crossing. Sutherland, however, declined to take up his tender; consequently fresh tenders for that work have been invited. The Geraldine County Council have informed this Council that it will communicate with the Road Boards mentioned in the petition re the sheep traffic bridge proposed to be erected adjoining the Rangitata railway bridge, and as soon as replies from these Boards have been received, will write to this Council on this matter. Owing to the working of the Koad and Bridges Construction Act, a special order defining the district to be rated for the cost of protective works, Wakanui, which order will be before the Council to-day, has to be made. This necessitated the postponement of th® poll; but it will bo taken as early as possible after the gazetting of the special order. The Mount Somers Road Board baa

forwarded a copy of a resolution passed by the Board requesting the Council to write io the Government asking them to make the report of the Royal Commission re extension of the railway public. The amount of rates collected to date is U.,700 I6s. The Hospital and Charitable Aid Committee has notified to the Go* vernment its intention to discontinue the administration of charitable aid in borough and county after this month, in consequence of the unsatisfactory state of the question and the unfair position in which local bodies administrating their own aid are placed in comparison with those who hand it over to Government. He bad requested the Sergeant of Police to take proceedings against persons in the county having in their possession unregistered dogs. He had accepted tenders for main roads Ashburton Gorge, Kyle and Rakaia Gorge, viz , D. Forbes, Ashburton Gorge road ; J. Devery, Rakaia Gorge ; and H. J. Rogers, Kyle roads ; as the meeting of the Council which was to be held on the 6th inst lapsed. Also G. Smithel’s tender for protective works Green’s crossing. The overdraft at the Bank has been paid off, and there is now a credit balance of L. 30 17a 9d to the Council. ROAD BOARDS AND COUNTY COUNCILS. Tfie Chairman laid on the table the following comparative statement of ex* i expenditure and receipts by Road Boards and County Council for the past three years :

I 1 ENGINEER S REPORT. Sik,—l have the honor to report as follows: t —Main R»ids : I have prepared plans and i specifications for' portions of (i) Ashburton - Gorge Road; (2) Alford Forest to Raka<a 1 Gorge Road, and (1) road in Kyle district to I such an extent in each cast qs the funds available will admit of, and tenders for these j roads have been accepted, ' The total amount available is L 573, which will be ex- . pended in equal proportions over the three 3 roads referred to. As the Government grant 3 in aid last session under the Roads and J Bridges Construction Act, was only a small I moiety of the sum applied for to complete the t above roads, I presume fresh applications will "have to be made for them now, and the plans, detail sections and estimates, etc., for such j portions as the Council may decide to have made, must be forwarded to Wellington by the , end of this month. With a view to the com- , plction of the unformed portions of the 225 “ miles of main roads' in tliemounty already Gazetted, I would beg to suggest that levels * be taken over all the unfinished portions, and longitudinal .-ections prepared as soon as possible, for though the works would not be I heavy in any case, the mileages are considerable, and the Act stipulates i that longitudinal sections showing gra- . dients, etc., be taken ove- the entire . lengths. In this way he Council would Te mlly prepared from time t® ti ne to make application under the .-let f.r grants to complete Ihe various sections of the unfinished main roads.—Pfo'.cctive Works, Rawle’s Crossing : These w®tks have beeen completed. -The —damming, up ®f „ the, iivcr.,„_at the inlet to mi I race is a ,source_Qf injury to the adjoining portion of the river i ank, even when the water is low, but the B rough Council will ho doubt take steps Jto prevent damage from this cause. I have, s authorised by > ou, cal - d for fresh tenders for river work near Green’s crossing, and a tender •or th s has been accepted The candition o the river is very favorable at pres nt for netting about, the protective works in the Ashburton Forks district generally, acd the willow plmring also could be done to great advantage now both here.an in the W,.kanui district, if the Council Wjull author! cit to be one in advance of the other works proposed.- Chapman's Creek exension: This work is just about completed so far as it can be done till the railwa authorities fix the site of culvert for pass- ) ing the water across the line and constructing I the same. The Kailway Engineer says this mater will b settled short! , after wh ch bout other 60 chains 1T new channel should suffice to give the relief required. The enlargement of Carter’s Creek is in progress, as is also the clearing out of Wheatstone Main Drain.—South Approach Kakaia Gorge Bridge : The fencing is in hand, and will be completed during this month.— Water Supplies ; With reference to the question of water supply for settlers on Mount Hutt Downs, I have, as requested by the Council, sent tracings of the various routes to the owners interested in the scheme. I find they are almost unanimous for the upper line, but they wish to consider the matter .more in detail before asking the Council to put the works in hand. Mr Holmes will also be in favor of , the upper line, provided he obtained a branch , race on the line indicated on plan, the cost of which he would himself defray. The addi- j tional supply has now been let int® the D race at Methven, and is being distribuied j in the . district below the | railway. The recent frots have impeded the flow of | water in the races, but not to any very appre- J ciable extent. I would suggest thaljihe annual 1 cleaning out of races should be commenced j about the beginning of July, taking the various e races with their connections in order, and a f more thorough cleansing than to®k place last [ year must be enforced. Mr Allan has already ] started the overhaul of races on the Acton j Estate, and hopes To finish in about a month.— Wakanui Flat Water Supply : The new main race from Wakanui creek is now .available for c the supply of the district, but some cutting is still necessary in old gully in R. S. to a confine the water to the limits agreed upon I t there. As you are aware the race along river |

road is sti ' discor>oec<cd on account of rive ertcroac’imeh, and now thrt .he supply is ava V-'’e Tor ihe o. her laces it would be salisfac ory to liave ibi>t one in operation also and under a 'angemeot with Messrs E'Onn Bos th’s m : gbt sti l ! be done without much expense though the risk will always be great until <,uch time as the protective wo>-ks (here are put in hand. I have gone over the gound to fix the route for race asked for by Mr Brankiu and others, afid have shown the connections on plans. The route is along the lines of existing ditches for ihe most part, but at present they are in a most inefficient siaie. When properly deaned out (he supply which has now been let in at upper end wHI be available over the entire length—and the different owners have commenced to cut the gorse hedges and otherwise to provide water way.—Upper Rdhgltata Bridge ; I have had some planks of the old bridge rep l seed recently, but the decking generally" is now so decayed that more frequent repairs w :, l be necessary. The protective works on the Geraldine side of the river is also becom<ning insecure.

UNFORMED ROADS. It was resolved that the Engineer’s suggestion to take levels over unformed toads within the county be adopted. chapman's okhee. It was resolved to write to the Railway Engineer urging that official to immediately fix the site for culvert across the railway for the Chapman creek extension. WAKANUI FiOODWATKR. The Engineer was directed to see Messrs Brown Bros, and others re race along river road, and mate arrangements in respect to this work. UPPER RANG 1 TATA BRIDGE. Mr James Watkins wrote offering to supply planks for repairs to bridge. The Engineer was instructed to inspect protective works on south side of the bridge,

and the Chairman to make the necessary arrangements. WINGHMORE DRAINAGE. The Engineer was directed to report on accamnlai io-i of shingle at Winchmore. RANOITATA DIVISION PETITION. The Committee appointed to examine and consider this petition praying for a division o f the BangUaia riding, reported that they found it contained the requisite number of signatures, and recommended the granting of its prayer, to come into force at the general election in November next.—On the motion of the Chairman, the consideration of the report was postponed until next meeting. ASHBURTON FORKS RIVER PROTECTION. The Committee reported their recommendation to apply to the Colonial Treasurer for a loan of LI,OOO oat of Trust. Funds for river protection works in the Ashburton Forks district as constituted un ; er the Counties Amendment Act, 1883, with a statement showing rateable value of the Rivet district, and its ability to pay interest on sinking fund required. On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr Friedlander, the report as read was adopted. LOCAL GOVERNMENT. Mr Julian Jackson proposed—“ That a Committee of the following members — Messrs Walker, Taylor, Lambie, Friedlander, and the mover be appointed to take evidence, consider, and report to the Council as to the best means of securing economy ir local government. In moving this resolution, Mr Jackson said that the motion indicated by his first notice, the taking of a plebiscite on this question, was no longer necessary as the agitation on the subject bad led to a wide expression of public opinion. He thought'(bat the Committee he proposed to appoint was well' qualified to devise some means to attain the economy now demanded. Mr Lambie seconded the proposal. He was of opinion that they would have to retain both their present local bodies. Main roads, bridges, and later on storm water, were matters which could only be effectively dealt with by the Council, and he thought the Council might do all the engineering and office work of the system, and thus save much of the present, official expenditure. The appointment of the Committee proposed would at least show ai desire on the part of the Council not to stand in the way of any economical movement. Mr Friedlander would have preferred if it had been possible to add the names of the Chairmen of the Road Boards within the County to the Committee. PAYMENTS. The monthly accounts were passed for payment. CORRESFON DENO E. The following correspondence was read: (1) From Mr Gerard, of Snowden) pointing out the amount of rates paid by him, and that he had hitherto derived no advantage from the Council’s expenditure, and asking for repairs to the Black Mountain track.—The Engineer was directed to report.

(2) From the Papanui Sparrow Club, asking for particulars of expenditure in* curred by the Council in suppressing the small birds nuisance, and asking the Council to be represented at a Conference to be held on this subject in Christchurch on Saturday, 21st inat.—The Clerk was ordered to forward the information and state that a.member of the Council would, if possible, attend the Conference. (3) From the Mount Somers Licensing Committee, recommending a reduction of the hotel fees in that district from L 25 to L2o.>; —The recommendation was not adopted. (4) From the Wakanul Road Board.—

R esolved that the Engineer be instructed in future to inform Road Boards when he is crossing roads with water-races. (5) From the Mount Somers Road Board requesting the Council to write to the Minister of Public Works urging the publication of the Commissioner’s report in reference to the extension of the Mount Somers railway.—Received. (6) From the same, requesting the Council to instruct (hair Engineer to make an extended surrey of the main road up the Ashburton Gorge, and also to make application under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act for a sum sufficient to complete the road.—lt was resolved to inform the Mount Somers Road Board that best possible arrangements would be made for the survey, and that application for funds would be made as suggested by the letter.

(7) From the same, enclosing a reaolu-

tion in reference to local government adopted by a ratepayers.’ meeting.—Referred to the Committee appointed to consider this question. (8) From the same re stormwater at Alford Forest.—The Engineer directed to report.

(8) From the Geraldine County Council, asking for more definite information in respect to the proposed stuck bridge across the Rangitata at the site of the present railway bridge.—Copy of the letter was ordered to be sent to the persons who had petitioned the Council on the subject.

(9) From the same enclosing the following resolution adopted by that Council, and asking the Ashburton Council’s cooperation:—“That in order t to give County Councils greater facilities to carry out water supply and irrigation works it is desirable that the Government should advance money on similar conditions to those that advances are now made under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act, 1883, for district road and river works, viz., the whole of the advance to be repayable by yearly instalments secured by special rates on the district' to be benefited, and that the Government be respectfully asked to amend the Roads and Bridges Construction Act in the direction indicated by the resolution. Council agreed to support the Geraldine Council's application. (10) From Messrs Hislop and Oreagh and Messrs MoCailum and Co. —Left iu the hands at the Chairman to deal with. (11) From the Mount Hurt Road

Board, adviatne the appointment of the ; Clerk to' the Council &8 Returning Officer for the district.—Approvedcf. (12) From Mr Crisp, enolosii g a claim for balance due Mr F. Lowe on contracts. —Referred to the Engineer. (13) From the Acclimatisation Society, asking for the Council’s water rangers to act as rangers for the Society, they to receive one-half the penalties inflicted, as remuneration.-r—Agreed to. (14) From the Longbeacb Road Board, recommending the appointment of Ur W. T. Norrish as poundkeeper at Hinds, and Mr S. Holland as poundkeeper at Waterton ;also, from Ur Crisp, enclosings recommendation from residents at Hinds, that Mr R. Montgomery be appointed v pound- leeper there.—The petition was referred 'to the Longbeach Road Board asking if they wished to make any alteration in their recommendation. (16) From Mr Cookson, asking payment of an acconnt 'as Returning officer in connection with the Mount Hntt Licensing Committee election.—Resolved that the acconnt be paid, less L 3 3s. (16) From Mrs Hooper, asking that a collar which she had purchased for a large dog, which died the following day, should be exchanged far one for a small dog.—Agreed to. (11) From the Dog Registrar reporting the sale of 594 collars from commencement of year up to May Ist. WAKAKDI PROTECTIVE WORKS. A resolution was adopted defining by special order the boundaries of districts declared to be specially benefited by the proposed works. TENDERS. Tenders for works having been eon- . side red, the Council adjourned till (ha first Friday in July

Road Board expenditure for three years ending March 31, 1884. Per cent Kxpenoed. Expense. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. ♦ Mount Somers ... 20 17 $ 4.S39 9 10 i,oio 13 10 % *Mount Hull 12 7 $ 5:739 H 1 710 6 11 o *South Rakaia ... 15 10 0 7.949 5 7 1,234 11 7 p Wakatmi ... 23 11 2 6,033 6 3 1,422 11 11 fn Longbeach 21 12 6 S-638 4 5 1,219 13 0 sr Upper Ashburton... 26 18 8 6,679 9 2 1.799- 13 3 & £36,879 9 4 |£/»397 i° 6 -§• Average for three years of all the Road Boards &21 is id per cent r* CT* County Council. p March 31, 1882 ... 842 15.993 «2 10 1,313 i° 7 March 31, 1883 ... 10 I 0 14,761 8 4 i,55i 1 3 > 463 2 0 March 31, 18T4 ... 16 4 5 9,°T9 13 2 £39774 H 4 £4,327 13 10 Average for three yeais £\o 17s 6d, 1