ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1297, 4 July 1884, Page 2

ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly meeting was held at the Council Chambers to-day. Present —Messrs W. 0. Walker (chairman), A. Macfarlane, T. Bullock, K. Q. Wright, J. Jackson, H. Friedlander, and J. Lambie.

MINUTES.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. ' chairman's statement.

The Chairman said that the Ashburton Borough Council had been good enough to remit this Co.uncil the half cost of protective works at Rawle’s Crossing, which is L 4 3s fid more than the original vote. The poll for the Wakanui protective works will take place on Monday, 28th instant, .as advertised, and should the' proposal be carried a special meeting ; of the. Council will have to be held In so* oordance'with Clause 65 of the Roads and Bridges.. Construction Act to. strike the special rate required. . The Government has intimated that the report of the Royal Commission: on the extension of the Mount Somers railway will be forwarded immediately after the meeting of the next Parliament. The Government having increased the amount to be paid for con : ditional licenses for the sale of liquor to LI Is, he had written to Wellington, pointing out the hardship of the case to those publicans who supply luncheons and liquors on sale days at the saleyards. The Government have replied that no alteration: in the charge can be trade at present. He had also written to Mr Ives* on this , matter, and his reply would'be placed before the Council to-day. The amount of rates paid to the Council’s credit is Llß7l 14s 2d.

| APOLOGY, j I The Chairman read a letter from Mr T. i Taylor,apologising for his non-attendance. ' <p, ENGISEEE’s REPOET. This irepert was read as follows: Main roads : Operations hare been' com* [ menced on the Ashburton Gorge and Kyle | roads, and work of formation on road leading I from Alford Forest to Rakaia Gorge wil be I commenced in a few days. Since last meeting - of the Council I have, as requested by you, taken the necessary levels au . prepared plans . and sections (in duplicate) for Parliamentary t purposes, far new grant for main roads under . the iSth clause of the Roads and Bridges j Construction Act. These documents have ■ I been deposited with the Minister of Public , Works at Wellington. The works include the 1 completion of the Alford Forest and Rakaia * Gorge road, also the Kyle road, and the- ' extension of Ashburton Gorge road towards : * the Upper Ashburton water shed. The total ■ amount applied for is 1.6,395 16s rod - Storm water courses, Caimbrae and Lauriston: 1 I have visited these districts in company with I the Assistant Railway Engineer, who isnow : r now arranging-to put in waterways across the- - railway on the iines of the natural water ' 1 courses, and so . obviate the damage hitherto caused to roads and property through 1 the diversion of floods at the’ points indicated. The proposed crossing to the ’ north of Lauriston is on the line of out* 1 fall of Dry Creek, and the waterways there • will be of considerable capac : ty. The other • crossing near Cairnbrae station, forms ihe ) natural outlet for stormwater c. eek now being 1 improved by Che Council, r below Methen, and r will also receive the several minor streams of [ surface water which converge to that paint. To suit this arrangement, the improvement of said creek will, as I reported before, have to I extend nearly a mile-beyond the present contract, and an expenditure by ibe Council of about L 35 would suffice to complete it. The location of that part of the water race will 1 have to be altered, but Mr Alington • and the ■ other owners there, are anxious for this in 1 any case, as they wish the race transferred from ; the roadside towards the’south of (heir hold; iogs, and the water could easily be returned (b the present race along the boundary be? tween Reserves 2379 and 2350. : The owners are prepared to defray the expense qf this der vlat'on, and I should recommend it being done. Inasmuch as the occupiers of Reserve 3iGoandß.S. *27399 are taking no further. aodon towards the extension of branch race formed for Messrs Adair and others, Messrs Alexander and Mr Helmore are prepared to defray the cost of their respective portions of the race, on the lines originsHy proposed, which would be simply the forming of Dz ,; race Dl, at a different point, and the extension- of Mr Adair’s branch, when made, could join the test channel again, above the Lauriston road. Messrs Alexander and Helmore are anxious * - that the Council should go on with the work through their properties now. The settlers on Mount Hutt Downs have finally agreed to the construction of the upper line of the three pro- ' posed, and will send in the necessary funds at the end of tins month.—Storm water. Springburn : With ref rence to the> request Jm/ff 1 the Mount Somers Road Board on IhiSNmJstioß, the scheme seems feasible but from thelocation of the channel in thf? bush, and a large poriiod of the work requiring to ‘.be ! dene 1 fay manual labor. lam inclined to' consider the work has been somewhat under-estimated at Ll2l 6s. It must be borne in mind, too, that the maintenance of the channel in that position, may prove somewhat troublesome. If the Council * undertake the work I propose, it should be let in three or four contracts. —Wheatstone Main Drain : The Clearing out of this drain' it 'n6{ being proceeded with rapidly, but the qo'ntrHii* tor is- doing the" work efficiently,—CirteA , Creek : The work in connection with the enlargement of this drain is progressing sdtisfec- ' - torily, and will be completed in abbot a fortnight.—Ashburton Forks protective works r ■ The works at Green’s crossing are in progress- V, • It ’iyilj be Uecessspy to put in gfoiajg: little above the line of new cut so as ‘nppe |no-, 1 roughly to divert the tlileaidbfthesfteainfrom theriverbankand presenteptrance inteth'eriveri ' ’", Water'Race-: Except* that the recent frosty - - have somewhat* impeded' the flow of wafer in 4 ’ ’ ' ihe races, the shpply has, on the whole, been fairly maintained during the month. Until the frost abates, it woukf not be advisable tq commence the animal cleaning but qf the races, but it should be safe to op&e at oomMencnueut

«. about the end of this month, and notice by advertisement of the sections to be operated On should be given two weeks beforehand. S .veral settlers last year attributed the mem- » dent clearance to the short notice they received. STORM WATER. „ The Engineer waited .upon the Council and further explained his proposals in respect to stormwater, of which the Council approved, and desired the work to be pro- 1 ceeded with as soon as possible. The latter part of ‘the Engineer’s report upoa this subject was referred to the Water . Supply Committee. gbxen’s crossing protective works. The recommendations made in the En- I gineer’s report was agreed to. I CLEARING WATER RACES. I It was resolved that the Engineer’s sug- I gestion be approved of, and that the £n- I gineer furnish the Council with an esti- I mate of the cost of clearing the water I races by contract. I STORMWATER, BUCCLEUCH BUSF. I A letter was read from the Mount | Somers Road Board, enclosing plans and I estimates for the diversion of stormwater j near McLeod’s, at Buccleuch Bush, and I stating that private subscriptions to the J amount of L2O were available for the pur-1 : pose, and asking the Council to execute I the work which was estimated to cost I LI 20.

Mr Macfarlane proposed, and the Chairman seconded— ‘‘ That the request of the Mount Somers Road Board be acceded to. Mr Wright would like to call the attention of the Council to the fact the Mount Sombre Roadfßoardhadalready beenexceptionaliy fortunate in the expenditure of county funds, and unless the Council was prepared to admit the principle involved in the proposal, and treat other Boards in the same way, he could not support it. As an amendment ho proposed—“ That . the Coo noil's contribution to the work - under consideration be limited to a grant-in-aid of one half the cost. j Mr BalMck seconded the amendment, which was supported by Messrs Lambie and Eriedlander, and carried. At Mr Friedlander’s suggestion it was resolved to call the Mount Somers Hoad Board’s attention to the Engineer’s opinion of cost, and recommending that before ' proceeding with the work the Board should obtain an indemnity from the owners affected against any claim for damage resulting from the work. 1 RANOITATA DIVISION COMMITTEE REPORT. On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr Wright, the report of the Committee was adopted. ; I 5 ! accounts. I : The usual monthly accounts were passed I for payment. ' j

COEEESPOUDBNCB. The fdllowing correspondence was read : ~(1) From the Public Works Department, stating that the report of the Royal Commission upon the Mount Somers Railway would be presented to Ra-lia-ment st its next meeting. (2) From the Department of Justice and Mr Ivess, M.H. R., in respsct to conditional licenses to publicans at the Tinwald,and Ashburton Saleyards. (3) From the Hospital and Oharitable Aid Committee in reference to the Contagious Diseases Act — Consideration deferred. (4) From the Upper Ashburton Road Board, in reference to proteotireworks at Winchmore— Consideration deferred. ELAUGHTBBINO LICENSE. * A license to slaughter small and large Cattle was granted to J. Richards. GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL. On the motion of Mr Wright, it was resolved that application be made to the ‘Geraldine County Council for immediate payment of interest due, and failing a satisfactory settlement, legal proceedings be taken to recover the amount. EXTENSION SALE IAKDS. ; Mr Bullock proposed, Mr Jdroson se-conded,-and it was carried—“ That the Council make application to Government forportion of Reserve No. 1261, for the purpose of extension of the Saleyards. r; SPECIAL MEE3ING. It was determined to call a special ; meeting of the Council on August Ist _to j strike a rate, if required, in connection with the Wakanni protection works ; the usbal- monthly meeting to 'be held the same day. MAINBOADB. It was resolved that the Clerk communicate ‘with the Road Boards within whose'boundaries application had been made for grants .under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act, pointing out that the Council must request that each Road Board shall undertake the liability of'maintaining all such roads, otherwise the Council Will be obliged to reconsider the applications. W. ■‘‘ ‘ PLANTATIONS. Mr Bullock proposed, and Mr Lambie seconded, pod it was carried—That application be made to the Government for portion of township reserves - in Ohertsay, DrOmore, Winslow, Hinds, and Ealing for planting purposes, to be vested in the Plantation Board; also half reserve 1466 near Rakaia, and Crown lands adjoining R.B. 27466, and abandoned tramway lines on Alford Forest, Buccleuch, and Mount Somers runs, for same purpose. • v DEPUTATION. A. deputation consisting of Messrs Wil- ■ liamson (2), Bond, Ball and Croy waited upon .the Council and called attention to the overflow of the Wheatstone drain, by which .their properties were prejudicially affected. It was repretented that the drain was overtaxed by this drainage from the Lotfgbeaoh swamp, and the overflow had been sufficient to wash away ploughed land and do other considerable damage. Mr Williamson suggested that the natural creeks should be opened to relieve the drain. - Gsher members of the deputation having addressed- the Council they withdrew, and it was resolfed that the Engineer impact the drain and report to next ' meeting of the Council. " LOCAL GOTSBNMEKT. The Committee appointed tp report upon local government presented the fob lovring report;— Your Committee met on the 24th proximo, and again on the Ist ultimo, and have the ' honor to report as follows; 1. That the Committee agrees os to the necessity for Road Boards and County Council to study strict) economy, especially in the direction of office expenditure. 2. That it is expedient that the County ' Council as well as Road Boards continue to ■t. exist, j, 3. It therefore becomes [a question for the County Council to decide whether the present staff can.be retained or what economy can be effected in reducing the staff. 4. Possibly the time has come when the County no longer requires the services of a highly paidengmeer. ' 5. Of in oonsidemtion of the advisability of retaining, the present engineer in case ofac* cid«)t to water race, etc., apd the initjation.cf Several protective work schemes, -it might bedesirable to consider whether the present cngineercan be retained on a different footing. *’ f V ‘ £. The Gosnmitteetherefore recommend the *•' of the present engagement with the ; engineer, that -he be invited to accept the i ! ' ; - imm retainer of bis services whet tMdRd- --nJitu ; ■ - That the County Council should onli sufficient■ to pay for neces W‘w^'ndltaH&--over and above the receipt othrtr license fecs-^-sucl the’County Council staff shout aU; derical worfc for the variou Boards ; the clerk from the Count rtttrying ~ each Rokd - Boar Coancibw'll on the a; mm • JlTlljhliiiOfiaMir'llinßii- Pm— 1 • jJ “~T"- wl <»*>« stz: jTyh Board whatever rat may?trike for theyeai System the Mom tfe, informed that tf , to ■ can' proceed j '‘'flown ip Np. 3 teSbiutic ■''o’

I forwarded by the Mount' Somers Road Board. n. That if the above recommendations are | carried into effect—which can only be done gradually, as changes in the Road Board staff are made, —your Committee is of opinion that an annual saving to the amount of L9OO can be effected in the general County and Road Beard administration. Julian Jackson, Chairman of Committee. On the motion of Mr Wright, the consideration of the report was postponed until next meeting of the Council. The Council then adjourned te August Ist.