ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1548, 5 June 1885, Page 3

ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Ashburton County Oouucil was teld today. Present —Messrs W. O. Walker fciuiirman), Harper, Coster, Mcl-ean, Jackson and Megsan. APOLOGY. An apology from Mr Taylor for his ahaenoe was received.

CHARITABLE AID. A letter received from the Charitable

Aid Board, Christchurch, forwarding statement of accounts in connection with ■/. tile institutions under the control of the Board, for the .year ending March 31, 3.885, was received and laid on the table. BAIRS

A. list of oatstanding rates was also sab' mittsd.

chairman's statement. The Chairman stated the Government baa put under the control of the Ooumdl the old buildings now in the way of the approach of the proposed traffic bridge over the Ash barton river. I have also authorised the Engineer to call for tenders for that approach which will be considered by the Council te-day. I have placed the Donnell's aeal on the agreement with the Government respectiug the grant towards the bridge, as requested by ,the Minister lor Public Works. The Government has been {applied to for a refund _of the amount of contract for the Redcliff road, and also for their share of the sums to be ; paid in connection with the contract let for main roads. I should like the Council to consider at this meeting the question of additional planting, and also whether poisoned wheat is to be distributed this season or not as heretofore. The Selwyu * County Council has asked for this Council's opinion as to whether it considers the rabbit nuisance so great In this part of the country to make it necessary or desirable to liberate the atoata and weasels recently imported. A letter from the Government will be read, enclosing copy. of a letter sent to the Selwyn County Council, stating that the maintenance of the Bakaia Gorge Bridge should bq retained in the hands of the Government for a time at le-st. The Tinwald Town Board has drawn the Council's attention to the sanitary condition of the shingle reserve adjoining the County Stock and tialeyards Company’s property at Tinwald, which is vested in the Council, and the dangerous state of the road adjoining the reserve and state the Board would be glad to take control of this reserve. The Longbeach Bead Board has written about this Main South road

through the TLnwald Town Board district Bad asked for opinion as to what body has control of it. The solicitor’* opinion in this matter will be placed before you. Amount of rates for 1884 paid to date is L 4 692 IQs lOd. Since March last Ll«2 13e 4d has been paid, leaving outstanding L3BL Energetic measures will be continued to get this amount in. The •mount of L6418s fid, Wakanui protective works, has been paid ; the sum of X 62 15s 3d Is still ontstandiog, and «»«an» vriU be token to obtain the balance. The Water Supply Committee has met wltma last meeting, and will present their report as to the matter of size of gates required along water-races at this meeting. The Wakanui Protective Works Oommittee his else met and considered Mr Patterson’s request for remission of rates. Their report will be put before the Council to-day. bboihbxb’s bbfobx.

The Engineer’s report was read as follows :

Road, Blackford to Redcliffe; The contractor is malting good progress with the first section of this road. 'Hie formation between Blackford and Little Hirer being now aim ‘St complete.—Main roads • The work in the Ashburton Gorge is proceed! g satisfactorily, ami the shingling on the Alford Forest-Rakaia Gorge sec-ion is also in progress That section of the road in the terraces forming the sooth approach to Gorge bridge is blocked up te a considerable extent witoearth -and stones , from the precipitous slopes of road, and I would suggest that some portion of the ImianCe remaining from to' bridge and ap- ■ proacbcs fund be made available for these rejarrs amt for the maintenance of this section of anam road.—Sooth road; As requested by Council, I have&keh levels over the section of this road, situated between Winslow and a distance of 13# miles, and will daring the month, prepare the necessary plans and sections in duplicate with estimates, to forward to Wellington with application for gr mt under the Roads and Bridges Construction Ar+ For a similar purpose I have also prepared r lanc for the restoration of that portion of the Beach road, Wakanui, which K-*c destroyed through river encroachment. Traffic Bridge, Ashburton; The contractor has ' now come forward with a quantity of material, stud will be prepared to start the work next .—As authorised by yon I have invited tenders for die north approach to this br dge, and these will be placed before vou to-day.— Taylor's Stream Bridge : The south approach to this bridge is threatened through the wearing a wsre of the brinks of channel dm ing floods, and the strong groan will be necessary to • prevent further encroachment there, one on upper side and one on lower side of bridge. The total coat would be about 145. —Weir Pudding Hill : All the iron piles for supporting this weir have now been driven, and the materials for making it up are in course of preparation. The small groin for diversion of water towards the inlet is also in progress. — Water Supply: This supply has been fairly maintained durinr last inoath. The contractor has made good the most defective places, and after this month he ' would he prepared to undertake the maintenance of that portion of the district situated to the east of the railway line, in terms of the provisional danse fin contract as to this sections. Tenders will be laid before yen to-day for the proposed branch for Maronan road to Ashburton Borough endowment, the expense of which will he Wholly defrayed hy occupiers.—Plantations: The contractor is now engaged filling up the gaps In plots planted last season, and the * whole of them will be filled in a»fiw«r the month. Stormwater Channel, Mount Alto; The Council having agreed to dehay half I|b cost of proposed work, on coodnioo that Rsngitata Road Board defray other half, I shall invite tenders for the work as soon as the Utter body gives consent.—Level Crossing and Bridge over Main Drain, 'I inwald:—The Railway Engineer is prepared to have this crossing put in on the conditions ’ mentioned in his letter of 10th June last, copy i of which is attached. —Ford’s Creek ; Having an' interview with toe surveyors of toe Longbeach Road Board, 1 find that while toe y»*tw« from Remington downwards would not contribute towards the huger scheme prepared by a Committee of the Council for relief from storm water, they are nevertheless prepared to contribute in the proportion stipulated for by the Council, if only that part of the scheme r presented by toe widening and improving of rood’s creek is carried out, that Is to say that they will bear two-sevenths of the cost of that section of the work which was estimated at Ll6O, This at any rate would * givfc relief over that portion of the district which mast requires it—Plains Water Supply: The annual clearing out of races has been undertaken in several sections during toe month, ' and'has on the Whole been carried out satisfactorily. Several occupiers have preferred & thevbrk to be done by the Council’s 1 -Omi. but at their cost, and 1 have preShE ogredA Statement showing toe refund due toe fconodl from those liable. The races in Wakanui and Wheatstone districts, and also Ifcose iri Mount Somers district, will be closed ife . c. -dffmirir in about ten days.—Wakanui iff L Protective Works; As requested by the CounIfc cilthat portion of the bulwark which recently Ife scour is being made up, and ffiKr.Wi rife. W fll be driven there, same as toe j I find the depth of scour at the ; and other sections of the riverj decided now. I should feel Connal , » iagfr act * w in th,s woam> thftl application be m th* Selwyn fjor thf amount ««u»red ■■nplf

and that the Engineer bo instructed to prepare an exhaustive report on this matter for their information. TAYLOR’s STREAM BRIDGE.

The Chairman stated that the means f< r the protection of this bridge, suggested by the Engineer, were absolutely nece-s»ry, and several residents ia the v cinity had interviewed him in the m»tter If

nothing were d->ne the Council would have to face the expenditure of another span.—lt was res- ived—“ That the work, as suggested by the Engineer, be carried out. ” ASHBURTON-RANGIT\TA WATER SUPPLY. A letter from Mr P. Fawcett requesiing an alteration in his payments was read, and it was resolved that his application be granted; also on the motion of Mr Megson, seconded by .Mr Harper, it was carried that Mr Fawcett be allowed to undertake the supervision of races to the east of railway, and south of Ashburton, in terms of provisional clause of his contract. LEVEL CROSSING AT TIN WALD.

It was resolved that the matter be left in the hands of the Chairman to arrange with the Chairman of the Tinwald Town Board. WAKA'UI PROTECTIVE WO«KS.

There was a large amount of discussion touching these works, and it was arrangeo that the matter be deferred until the termination of all other business before the meeting, and if required a special meeting be called for the purpose of discussing this question. ford’s creek. It was resolved that as soon as promised contributions are paid in the work be advertised for. CLEARING WATER-RACES. A petition was presented by Mr Megson, signed by a number of ratepayers on the north side of the Ashburton river, praying that the resolution of the Council to let the clearing of their water-races by contract be rescinded.

Mr Jackson also presented a petition, signed by a number of ratepayers of the South Rakaia and Wakanui Road District, complaining of the irregularity of the supply, and expressing their belief that a large quantity of water was wasted, suggesting an improvement by appointing additional rangers and by a strict enforcement of by-laws, and praying that some improvement be effected ait bout delay. It was resolved that the prayer of the petitioners be granted so far as postponing for six months the letting of contract for keeping races in repair. HINDS soon BOARD. The Committee appointed to consider petition from ratepayers re formation of Hinds Road Board; recommended that the prayer of the petition be granted, and suggest the name of the Coldstream Road Board for the Road District, and that there be five members and no subdivision. Mr Jackson moved, Mr Harper seconded —* That the report of the Committee be adopted. ’’ —Carried. WAIBR SUPPLY. The Committee appointed to consider petition presented by Mr Megsen handea in their report, recom'i ending the Council to inform petitioners that strict instructions have been given to the Engineer and Bangers to enforce by-laws, and to request any ratepayers, having reason to complain, to communicate at once with the Council's officers.—Resolved that report as read be adopted. LEASE OF BBSEBVB3.

Resolved—“ That separate tenders be invited for lease of reserves in bed of Ashburton river for next meeting. . POSTPONEMENT. Mr Megson's notice of motion t*e balance of money for the Ashburton bridge was postponed to next meeting. WAK4.NUI PROTECTIVE WORKS. The Committee appointed recommended that the Engineer estimate how much land Mr Paterson has lost on* of the original area from the action of the river, and that a rate be charged only on what acreage at present exists. Alsohat thi a Engineer take steps to protect the present works.—Report adopted. accounts. The usual monthly accounts were passed far payment. ASHBURTON TRAFFIC BRIDGE It was resolved —«hai Messrs Harper, Taylor, and McLean and the Chairman be appointed a Standing Bridge Committee. It was resolved—That the Clerk be paid an additional L 25, to be charged to the bridge. OBJECTION.

A letter was received from Mr D. Fitzgerald, objecting to pay Wakanui protective works rate, as the river was encroadbing on his land worse than ever, and urging that something should be done to stop the encroachment. —Consideration postponed for the present. RIVER ENCROACHMENT. A letter was received from Mr Dudley, drawing attention to the dangerous state of the river on south bank on the HonJ. McLean’s property, and suggesting remedy.—Resolved that the letter be reported upon by the Engineer at the next meeting. CLOSING HOAD. The Mocnt Hutt Road Board wrote informing the Council that the ratepayers in the district wished certain roads closed. —lt was resolved that the roads be dosed. MAIN SOUTH HOAD. It was resolved That the County Council consider that the road in question is under the jurisdiction of the Tinwald Town Board. HIDINGS. It was resolved that the Mount Hutt Riding consist of Mount Hutt Road Board; Mount Somers Riding to consist of Mount Somers and Anama Road Board. WILLOW PLANTING. It was resolved that willow planting be done in connection with present protective works, and that the Engineer report at next meeting as to what he recommends.

ASHBURTON BRIDGE. It was resolved that Messrs McLean and Walker bo appointed to sign the acceptance of tender for Ashburon bridge.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE. The Chairman was granted leave of absence during the meeting of Parliament. PLANTING, It was resolved that no planting be done this year. POISONED WHEAT. It was resolved that no poisoned wheat be obtained this year. TRAFFIC BRIDGE. \ number of tenders (eleven) were received for the northern approach to the traffic bridge.—The Engineer was ampowered to accept one of the three lowest tenders. WATEB-BaOE, mabonan. Mr Siloook’s tender of Js 2d per chain, and L 3 17s 6d fords, was accepted. ADJOURNMENT. The Council then adjourned till the first Frinay in July.