ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1332, 3 September 1886, Page 2

ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL

The osaal monthly meeting of tbs Ashburton County Council was held at the Council Chambers to-day. Present— Messrs W. C. Walter (Chairman), Jackson, Cjftar, Harper, Leadiey, Wright and McLean,

ROUTINE. The minutes of the laat meeting were read »nd_ confirmed, and a statement ef the business done by the Chairman since last meeting, and the rangers’ reports and diaries were laid on the table. chairman's BTAXKIUWT. I The Chairman said -.—Nearly all the rate notices for the current rate have been issued and the sum of £360 12a 6d has been paid in to the account of this rite. The Rabbit Inspector has served the Council with a notice to destroy the rabbits in the plantation near Lagmhor. The two Water Banger’s have repotted as directed as to the question of rabbits being present in the County plantations. Certain farmers on the Wakanui road having Interviewed the Chairman complaining of. the loss sustained by them by their sheep being worried by dogs, I wrote to Sergeant Felton requesting him to take some steps towards abating this nuisance. The Council will see that Sergeant Felton suggests that Clausa 13 of the Dog Registration Act, 1880, should be brought into force as the beat means of getting rid lof this nnsiance. A good deal of the poisoned grain ordered at the last Connell meeting has been sent to the Boards

for distribution, and the balance will be sent as early aa possible. The grain this time hat been poisoned in the presenoe of the Engineer, and llfr Neate and Mr Kamnitzar have had 60 bushels each to prepare. Messrs Spalding, Bailie and Gourley hare applied to the Council to have their names insetted ion the Bangitata Riding roil. The re* [turn asked for by Mr Wright re water races ia placed on the table. A letter from the Wakannl Boad Board, forward* I lag » Utter from Mr Crisp for Mr Shacy, I claiming cost of repairs for damages I caused to bis trap erasing a water race, I will be read. Up to this date 1276 dogs ) have been registered in the county against I 1(54 for 1885. Mr Strachan has written I .0 the Council requesting that something I may be done towards relieving the lands I between Methven and Mitcham from I storm water, and the Longbeaoh Boad I Board apply for assistance from the I Council towards cleaning ont Taylor’s I creek aa asked for by the settlers ia the I neighborhood of that creek. I ENGINEER'S EEPOET.

The Engineer’s report was read as fallows: — Ashburton Gorge road—With the exception of a few chains of gravelling near the coal pit the contractor has completed work on section ot road near Stour river. Blaekford-BedoUffe road—The extremely wet weather has prevented the contractor making much progress, but he has finished the formation of hia first contract and is now putting in three additional fords on Little river section, after finishing which he starts the formation n< ar Cascade Glen with some additional force. North approach North Ashburton Bridge, Pudding HUl—Daring last month there was considerable overflow from the Pudding Mill stream on the fiat In riverbed near north end of approach, and some of the willows planted were washed away. To guard against more serious damage there, it would be advisable to scoop out a new channel 20 feet wide and five or six chains in length at a short distance from the bank, forming a flood bank with the excavation, and planting up the intervening space with willows. I estimate (hat the whole might be done at an expense of £l4. , County Plantations—All these plantations are thriving well with the exception of that on reserve No. 248 (20 acres) which would require to be planted np again and the fence made good. An area of five acres in the block north of Spread Eagle has never been planted, I mention this in case it should be decided to have pines or other trees pat in there now. The fencing of this and some of the other blocks requires a little, repair and! the gorse blanks made up and gorse cut. The fencing in block north of Winslow and also on that adjoining lot 51 Reserves 360, will he- repaired at once as these are broken to such an extent as to admit sheep. River Bridges—Tenders will be placed before you to-day for the tarring of North Ashburton river at Digby’s and Padding Hill, also for Taylor's Stream Bridge, and river bridge at Mount Somers. Upper Bangitota Bridge—The redecking of part of the old portion of the Bridge is now being proceeded with, and. weather permitting, toe work will be finished .before next meeting of Council. Flood Drain, Christie’s road—The contractor has now completed toe works hers including ford and ontfall to wafer course at foot of terrace. The improvements from Wakanni-homestead road downwards havenot yet been commenced. With reference to the disputed question of flood drain between Mr Meredith Wilson and Mr Samuel Wright, 1 have carefully examined into this matter on toe ground. There is no doubt whatever that toe position of toe natural watercourses is as shown on Ur Wright’s sketch, that is, one through his land and one through Mr Wilson’s. In lien of toe latter an artificial drain has been made on toe boundary line between the two properties, into which has been turned also toe drainage from that on Mr Wright’s land, by means ot a side drain constructed by the Road Board on upper side of road which contains only part of the flood water, toe remainder, on account of toe obstructions formed by road and fence at point A, flowing along toe road to npper end of said boundary drain at B. The Council has already contributed £6 towards the enlargement of this boundary drain, and Mr Wright states that he will contribnle a sum to its farther enlargement with a view to the settlement of ‘ toe question. In my opinion it wonld have . been better if a tord bad originally been placed across road at A> and each water course have been kept separate, though no doubt in Mr Wright’s case that wopld have involved some severance, and- some loss of land, as the course through that portion of his property is of considerable widto. Taken altogether, it seems to me that it is a matter in which the Council should hardly have been called upon to Interfere. Protective Works, near Woollen Factory— With reference to the petition from Ashburton Woollen Factory Company and others, the river is assnmingHa very threatening aspect in tbs vicinity of toe factory. Four groins placed in the positions indicated on tracing would, 1 believe, prove of permanent benefit to the property on top of terrace, but the river bed on sections 30327 and 20664 could not be secured at any reasonable cost. The cost of groin at npper end might be set down at £SO and the other three at £SQenid>, in all £llO. This is exclusive of willow jnih tection, which in any case would, I presame, have to be done by owners fronting toe river, same as is done by owners in other portions

of the Forks district and at Wakanni. I think it likely that as the river continues to encroach near the factory, Jfartherffwcfka would have to be undertaken, butfthosa proposed should prove serviceable at those points more immediately threatened now. The amount already expended by the Council at Rawle’s coping at the upper end of this strip of land is about £IOO. There is no sum now available for the protective works loan, which was exhausted some time ago. Plains Water Supply—The recent frequent freshets have been causing some little disarrangements, but the regulation of the supplies has been well attended to. During the Hoods the head races were shut off, so that the distributing races took a quota of flood water, but complaints re storm water have nevertheless been numerous, as might have been expected with a rainfall of inches fof the month. Ashburton-Rangitafa Water Supply—Tenders will be placed before you to-day for race at Westerfield. Winslow Branch Baee—Most of the petitioners now decline to pay the amount required for the construction of the race, and the work has bad to be abandoned. The sontractor for race in Shepherd’s Bosh district s prepared to start work as soon as the veather becomes faverable.J Re Maintenance Contract—l have again nspected considerable sections of the work, ind can only reiterate my former statements is to the general condition of the races, iota* minor impxo Yemenis have certain;

hsen effected, but I bad expected that the fiv months’ extension of time and increased pric would have given considerably better results WILLOW PLANTING The Engineer’s suggestions with regarc to willow planting at Padding Hill bridgi were adopted. PLANTATIONS. It was resolved that tenders should be called for repairing fences and replanting reserve No. 2482 with two-year- dd trees, and for planting reserve23B. RABBIT NUISANCE A notice to destroy rabbits on reserve north of Winslow was read from the Inspector, The rangers reported that they bad seen no rabbits in the county, but had found some slight traces of the nuisance In different parts of the district. It was resolved to request Mr Herring to take steps at the expense of the. Council, to destroy rabbit* on a reserve at Alford. Mr D, MoLesn undertook to facilitate the destruction of rabbits In the river bed near Laghmor. INSUEFICFNT DRAINAGE.

A letter was read from Mr S Wright offering to contribute any sum less than £5 towards the cost of deepening the drain between blocks 22 and 23 Wakanui district. It was resolved that the Council wcu'd undertake to deepen the drain providedMr S. Wright and Mr M. Wilson each contributed £5 towards the cost.

PROTECTIVE WORKS A request was received from ratepayers In (be neighborhood of the Woollen Factory to the effect that the Council should provide river protective works near the Factory, It was resolved that if the necessary petition wore received by the Council, steps would be take! to raise a ’o»n and give effect to the views of the ratepayers. WATER RACE MAINTENANCE. A special report by the Engineer upon the maintenance of water races In the Bangitata district was read. The repo t commented unfavorably upon toe work done by the contractor. After some discussion it wa* resolved, on the motion of Mr Leadley, that -ho contract system of maintenance should be discontinued for the present. WATER SUPPLY COMMITTEE. The report of the Water Supply Committee was read and confirmed.

BOROUGH RESERVES. Mr E, G. Wright, a msmber of the Committee appointed to report upon the Sydenham and Rangiora Borough reserves In the county, obtained an extension of time for the presentation of the Committee’s report. IRRIGATION. Mr Harper asked that conaidc ration of his motion with regard to the sub-division of the district for irrigation purposes might be postponed until next meeting— Application granted. FLOODWATER, Mr T. Taylor waited upon the Cornell and presented a petition from ratepayers *n the Waterton district praying for the oorstrnction of a flood water channel. Mr Taylor spoke at some length in support of the praver of the petition, thanked tie Council for its attention and withdrew. On the motion of Mr Wright a committee was appointed, with power to act. to enquire into the merits of the matter referred to by the petitioners and Mr Taylor. - At 1 p.m. the Council adjourned for luncheon. The Coansll resumed ot 2 30 p.m. PROPOSED NEW BOA 5 BOARD The Committee appointed to consider the petition for the constitution of a new Boad Board to include the D omore district reported that the petition did not beat the required number of signatures, PAYMENT. The usual monthly accounts were passed for payment. FINANCE. It was resolved that the Chairman should communicate with the Engineer with regard to the Finance Committee’s report. POISONED GRAIN. Professor Bickerton reported upon the poisoned grain supplied to the Council by Mr Neate to the effect that strychnine was easily detected in every grain and that the sample appeared well poisoned. It was resolved that Mr Neat’s account for poison shonld be paid. CORRESPONDENCE. , The following correspondence was read :—(1) From Mr J. O. 801 l complaining that ford accross the Ashburton river had not been opened for traffic.—The Chairmen was authorised to attend to the matter. (2) From Mr George McMillan asking that certain rates might be reduced. —lt was resolved to inform Mr McMillan that the Council is nahle not grant the relief applied for. (3) From Mr M. Friedlander, asking for the refund of £2 18s 6d, expended upon the purchase of poisoned grain.—The application was not entertnined. (4) From the Sergeant of Police, with regard to recent sheepworrying. The matter was left in the hands of the Chairman to deal with. (5) From Messrs Spalding, Baillie, and Gourtay asking that their names might be placed on tbs Bangitata rate roll.—Application granted. (6) From the Wakanni Road Board refus ing a maim made by Mr A. H. Shnry for damages snstalned by a vehicle to the Council. It wis resolved that the Council could not recognue any liability In connection wth the matter. (7) From Messrs Friedlander Bros, on behalf of Mr Bucholz, asking for a remission of river protection rates. Application not entertained. (8) From Mr Bnlger applying for a remission of rates; —Granted. (9) From Mr Turner applying for payment for extra work executed on contract. Consideration deferred nntil next meeting LICENSE. A slaughtering license was granted to Mr G. Silcock for section 35 block 3 Bakaia Village settlement. TENDERS The following tenders were accepted : —Tarring Pudding Hill bridge, Vincent, £63 ; tarring Lflghy’s bridge, Warns and Co., £33 ; tarring Taylor’s Stream bridge, Vincent and Co., £2O 10s ; tarring Mount Somers bridge, £44; house at Ealing for retpoval, Jackson, £lO 15s; water race Somerville, J. Devery, £46 10s. SPECIAL MEETING. On the motion of Mr Leadley it was resolved to hold a special meeting of the Council on Friday, September 17, to consider the question of water supply and other business. NOTICE OF MOTION. Mr Wright gave notice that at next of the Council he would move (1) That the Engineer be authorised to proceed immediately with the construction of the auxiliary water channel from the Bakaia for the service of the seawara portion of the county between the Bakaia river and the Wakanni creek. That the cost of the work be debited to the district to be benefited thereby, under the provisions of the Counties Act, 1885. (2) That the Council at its next meeting re.-cind the jtsolutlon passed on July 2 in reference to the Mayfield petition, and that such petition be reconsidered. ACIJOTJBHMENT. The Council then adjourned until Frdsy, September 17 (special meeting)