ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1255, 4 June 1886, Page 2

ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary m mthly meeting < f the Ashburton Ooonty Gounod was held at the Council Chambers to day. Presort Tessrs G. J ' Harper, J. Jackson, D. McLean, B. S. Cos er, and B. Q. Wright. On the motion of Mr Wright, seconded by Mr Jackaon, Mr Harper was voted to the chair. ROUT.NE. The Minutes of the last ordinary meeting of the Council were read aad confirmed ; the Rangers’ reports and diaries, a statement of the business done by the vh.innan since last meeting, copies of Bills introduced to Parliann nt, and a circular from Mr Farr were laid on the table. chatbm.ik’s statement.

The Engineer's groport iwas read as follows ; Blackford Redoliffa road : , The contractor is making very slow progress, and at the present rate will take quite a month to finish nia contract. A further contract to Terrible Gully might be let next month if the Council should so decide, but winter work in that reigon will necessarily be slow and expensive, and I should advise that further tenders be deferred for two months.—The contractor is now resuming work on Rakaia Gorge road.— Ashburton Gorge road; Mr Carleton has not yet commenced work near Stour River, but will, I expect, be there next week.—Upper Rangitata Bridge: Tenders will be placed before you to-day for redecking a portion of this bridge. The actual work should not occupy longer than about three weeks after the timber is on the ground, and the specification provides that, during the period of redecking, the bridge .will be kept open for traffic one day a week at the option of the Council:—road channel at Morris’, near boundry of Mount Mntt and Upper Ashburton Road districts: As requested by the Council, I have arranged for fencing that portion of channel abutting on road in Mount Hutt district, and the work is now in band. The corresponding portion in Upper Ashburton district will, I think, do without fencing, as there is but little traffic. In any case it would not be necessary to than 10 chains on that length. Bat, in lieu of this, it would be advisable to protect the side with sheeting for a distance of 34 yards at the point where the channel leaves the road. Here very considerable encroachment is taking place, and if the channel should break out on to the road, it would be a semewhat expensive work getting it reinstated:—Plains water supply is being fairly maintained over this system. The E races and .branches have been recently shut for overhaul, and these races are now in a fairly satisfactory state. The new_ races in Village Settlement district are now in eperation, and I expect water will cross the railway next week.—The Mount Somers and Springburn races have been shut oft and are now also in good order.—Occupiers have not been able to do much as yet in the Wheatstone district on account of surface dranage_ water finding its may into the races in considerable quantities.—Ashburton-Rangitata Water Supply ;—The maintenance contractor has made considerable improvements in the clearing of several portions of the races in Upper district, though a fgood deal more is required in some parts, The races and fords are net in good order in the lower district, especially below line of road leading from Ashburton to Upper Rangitata Bridge. The contractor undertakes to get them all in good order by the end of this month, _at which time his extended contract period I expires. I shall therefore have an inspec- | tion of the whole made during the month ; meantime it will be for the Council to decide as to the question of future maintenance for this district. The proposed branch race from S has not yet been commenced. The owners interested have not provided the necessary funds. Mr Emerson applies for a deviation of Q race at its lower end, in accordance with accompanying sketch. He undertakes to do the work, and construct ford to the satisfaction of the Coldstream Road Board. As the race terminates in his property at present, and no other interest is involved, I should recommend that his application be [granted. In the Winslow-Willoby|water race, too much flood water is being thrown into the race at lower end of Mr Croskill’s section mid provi-

sion must be made for thowing off the surplus towards|the[fcrd on road, which was originally designed, I believe, for the flood water. Mr McCann and Mr Bennie have made a satisfactory finish of their new race but one of the fords is imperfect; this will be put right inthe course of two or three days.—Wakanui-SSfat Supply: Some of the fords hade repaired lately, and additional posts and rails at Culverts will be fixed next week. The

ordinary supply has been partly shut off, owing to the late increase on the races through ingress of Jsurfacewater. —Irrigation: As this subject is likely to be considered in Committee to-day I have nothing farther to report on it.

blackeord-bkdclifpe boad. It was resolved that tenders for farther contract be called for next meeting.

BANG IT AT A TRAFFIC BRIDGE. A letter was read from the Geraldine County Council, agreeing to the Council's

pcoposals with regard to this bridge. It was resolved that daring the work of re-

pairing the bridge be kept open after

3 o’clock each day.

FLOOD CHiNm It was decided that the Engineer’s suggestion with regard to flood channel be carried out. A IMPLICATION. Mr Emerson’s application for a deviation cf Q race, at the lower end was granted. WIXSIOW—WILLOWBY WAXES SACK It was resolved that the Engineer put in gauge to control the water that Is kilowed to flow into the water race. (LICENSING EXPENSES. With regard to the questicn of expenses in connection with the election of the South Rakala Licensing Committee, whiclF the Council considered excessive, it was resolved that the Sooth Bakala Road Board be informed that the expense of election of Licensing Committee could be reduced by the anoolntmsnt of the Conncl ’a Returning < ffiier. NEW BIDING Pursuant to notice, Mr Wright moved—- “ That this Council take proceedings to divide the Ashburton riding into two ridings, north and south of the Ashburton river; that such new ridings be named the Wakanui and Ashburton ridings respectively.” Mr Coster seconded the motion, wbicit was carried, '

The Chairman said :—The Geraldine County Council has written to say that it agrees to bear its shar of re-decking onethird part of that portion of the Bangitata bridge requiring it, and prefers to postpone the whole expenditure for some fme. Tenders for re-decking that portion of the bridge, therefore, have been invited, and will be placed before the Council to-day. The Council will no doubt have noticed that the police were successful in discovering the person who had tampered with the sluices at Pudding Hiil, and who proved to be a boy named Waste, a son of a small farmer in the district; also that the boy has been sent to Burnham for two years. The rolls of the various ridings in this county having come to hand since last meeting, av d I now place before theC’ouncil a statement showing thaCthe rateable value of the county amounts to £3,021,878, which is £338,070 less than the valuation in 1884. The Council can now decide what rate will be required to pay off the Bank overdraft and provide funds for future county works. The Council should also decide ns to the striking of the water rate. A circular from the Clutha County Council, suggesting alterations in Sheep and Rabbit Acts will be read. Wakanui Koad Board has forwarded copy of resolutions passed by it with reference to Leadley’ and Butterick’s drain. A petition from certain ratepayers on the same subject accompanies this letter Mr John Corbett has also written concerning damage received from this source, also from the Wakanui Mill supply. Two copies of the proposed Counties Act, 1886, forwarded by Mr Walker, are placed on the table for the Council’s information. Mr I>. Cameron, of dunes, enquires if the Council intend supplying poisoned grain this winter. engineer’s rkpokt.

mit was resolved to a’low a petition to be left at the Council’s ofiv e for signatures. NOTICE OF MOTION. Permission was granted to Mr M right to postpone the following mtica of motion until next meeting :—“ That the Council at its tiext meeting shall apportion "the gross income of the year from all sources in the manner indicated by section 19 of the Counties Act Amendment Act, 1885.” FINE. Mr Ferriman waited on the Council, and again applied for the remission of the fine of £lO, which had been imposed on him for a breach of the water race bylaws It was resolved that Mr Ferriman’s application could not be entertained. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Leave of absence was granted to Mr

alker daring the session of Parliament. TREASURER. Mr Harper was appointed as Treasurer during the absence of Mr Walker in Wellington PAYMENTS. Accounts amounting to £293 were passed for payment. MAIN ROADS A letter was received from Mr W. C. Walker, M.H.R., stating with reference to the Tinwald main road question that he believed the new Counties Bill would make a satisfactory definition of ‘ main road,” and also that either in the Bill or in the new Municipal Corporations Bill, it would be specially provided that Town Districts shall have sole charge over all roads within their bounds, and that they be independent bodies outside the County altogether. Mr Walker asked to be informed if those provisions were

agreeable to the Council. The Council agreed that the provisions in question were of a ■’a'.isfsctory nature THE BABBIT NUISANCE

The Clutha County Council wrote, asking Council’s support with regard to two resolutions, which are as follows : —“ This Council is of} opinion that! the Sheep and Babbit Acts require amendment, and would respectfully urge the House of Representatives to take such steps as in its wisdom it may see fit to effect this object. To cop-j with the rabbit pest more effectually than at present it would, in the opinion of this Council, be desirable to dispense with the services of of the present officers of the department, and that the m.mey so saved should be expended in the payment of bonuses for rabbit skins.” “In connection with sheep inspection, this Council is of opinion that Inspectors are only necessary in distric t where scab exists.” A letter was also read from the joint Committee of the House of Represents tives on the rabbit nuisance, asking for replies from the Council to a series of questions forwarded. The Ciutha County Council’s letter was received- The Council dissented from the proposal with regard to dispensing with Sheep Inspectors The drool *r of the Joint Committee of the House of Representatives was laid on the table. LEADLEY AND BUTTERICK'S DRAIN.

The Wakanui Bead Board wrote, forwarding a petition from residents in the Wakanni district, with reference to Leadey and Butterick’s drain, and a’so a c'py of resolutions passed by the Board on the matter.

The Engineer was instructed to report or the question. WATER KATES. Mr John Smith made application for a remission of bis water rates, be having an Independent snpply. The application was granted. THE SMALL BIRD NUISANCE. This question was considered at some length. It was resolved that the Is 6d payable for heads and eggs of small birds should be stopped for three months Mr Wright moved, Mr Jackson seconded, and it was carried —“ That the Council vote the sum of £2OO for the purpose of supplying poisoned wheat.” The matter was left in the hands e{ the Acting-Chairman, with a request that it be attended to promptly.

SHEEP KATE. Mi Jackson moved Council is of opinion that tho sheep rate charged by Governmentt at present presses unfairly on this district, inasmuch as the expenditure for sheep inspection is far less than in infected districts, and that the tax should he differentiated ih proportion to the cost of administration by the department in the several districts.” Mr Wright seconded the motion, which was carried. It was resolved that copies of the foregoing resolution be sent to the Government and to the members for the district.

The Council then adjourned till 2 p.m. On resuming the following business was dealt with.— WATER HACKS. A petition was received from five ratepayers in the Winslow district, asking for a supply of water by means of a loopline from the race running through the property of Mr J. Mullins. —Granted. An application by Mr Moses forj a deviation of a water race was also granted

IMPOUNDING OF STOCK. Mr Compton, the Borough Ponndkeeper, brought under the Council's notice the fact that sheep were camped in the plantations of the Council. It was resolved that all poundkeepers be ordered to impound stock found trespassing on the plantations. [Left sitting.]