ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1406, 13 November 1886, Page 2

ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly meetTig of the Ashburton County Council was held at the Council’* Chambers, Bering Square to day. Present—Me srs W. 0. Vvalker (Chairman) 0. J. Harper, D. McLean, K G Wright. K, S. Coster, ,T. Jackson and G. W. Lfudl-.y. chairman's statemsnt. The Chairman said :—The Wakanal, Longbeach and Mount Some s Hoad Hoards have agreed to clausa 13 of the Dog Registration Act, 1880. being brought Into force in their 'espective districts The amounts to be paid by the various ratepayers interes'ed in the improvements proposed to 0e carried out in connection withTay lot’sCr; ; ek havebeeo no'ifiedtothe ratepayers concerned, with a view to the same being pa>d to da? before tenders for the work are o nisidered. -A copy of the Committee's report on the storm water course at Lyndhurst has been sent to the S>donh»m Borough Council, and their rep y to *his report will be read at. this meeting —I have recalved a letter from Mosaio Wilding and Lewis, Solicitors for Messrs Mclntyre and Small, stating that they intend to take legal proceedings against the Council for the recovery of damages alleged io be sustained by them through the Council’s action with respect to storm water course at Lyndhurst. I have plaoad the matter in Mr Parnell’s hands for attention. The Premier notifies that the Borough Council, and this Council, are entitled to two members on the Char-table Aid Board for the combined districts, and has furnished regulations for the Election, which is to take piece cn Wednesday, 24th Inst, at 2 30 p.m , at this office, the Cou ity lerk acting as the presiding officer.— The Borough Council has written requesting this CoUt.cd to elect the Borough representative in the Board for reasons contained la their letter ihe Council will also have io meet on the 24th i-ist to elect a Chairman for the ensiona year, as provided by the Act, and the Council might consider whether it is advisable to hold their ordinary meeting on that day instead of on the first Friday in December. A copy of the Petition respecting the proposed Majfield Road Board district has been sent to the Council by the Oolcnial Secretary, and he asks why the prayer of the petition was not granted, when the petition was presented to the Council. The Council should to-day issue instructions for tenders to be received at the next ordinary meeting for the supply of dog collars for next year—The amount of rates paid to date is £2400 19s 10d, leaving the sum £3526 6a 6d outstanding.—l have applied to the Commissioner of Property Tax for the" rate due on Crown Lands in this County. The grants to the Road Boards for birds beads and eggs having been stopped since July last. I should like to know if the Council intends to enforce again tlrs grant. The Government has informed me that it is willing to grant a bonus of Is per beak for keas.— The Colonel Seoretaty has written to say that a warrant under the hind of His Excello? oy, declaring haras no longer game in this county, wa- duly published in the “ Gazette” of the 4th of November. —The balance sheets, duly audited bf the Council’s auditor, for the s’x months ending September 30 last, are laid on the tible. —Accompanied by the Engineer, I met Mr B. G. Wright at the haadworka of t-ie Ashbmtou-Kangitata water supply, and advantageous proposals as regirds acquirement of ad litional reserves in connection wi h the heidworks, wilt be placed before the Council. ROUTINE. A statement of business done by the Chairman since last meeting, Ranger i No. 1 and 2 reports and diaries, and the balance sheet for the six months ending September 30, 1886, audited by the Council's auditor, were placed on the tifb!e; t ’ engineer's report. < The Engineer’s report was read as follows : —Blackford RedoliSe road : The formation of the present contract adjoining Cascade Glen is now complete, and next week 1 will stake ont, and take levels, over the remaining sections at Terrible Gully, with a view to tenders being lodged at next meeting of the Council. I anticipate the balance of Government grant will complete the whole of the unfinished portion of Redoliffe, and will arrange the works accordingly. The contractor was to have finished the works at Black Mountain this week I shall inspect them next week. Plantations : The filling up of plantations at Mount Halt and Spread Eagle has been executed satisfactorily, and I have certified a payment for 60 per cent, of the contract price. The fencing repairs of plantations have been attended to. and a strip has been ploughed around plantation at Mount Hutt with a view to fire prevention. Tenders will be placed before you to-day for ploughing similar strips round plantations in the various districts in the county. With reference to the recent fire in county plantation of 20 acres at Westerfleld, which the Council asked me to report on, I beg to state that about 400 pines have been destroyed, and the same number of gums. The remainder of the gums have their leaves ecorehed to a small extent, bat these are likely to revive. 1 estimate the total damage done will not exceed a money value of £2O, though the growth of the plantation will necessarily be retarded for a time. Had the same care been exercised in first burning a strip round the plantation, as was done to prevent the fire spreading to Mr MoCairn’s land adjoining, 1 should say the fire would not have occurred. Bridges : The tarring of river bridges has just been completed. I omitted previously the necessity for repainting the handrails of Taylor’s stream and Digby’s bridges. I presume these had better be done also. Such portions of the decking of old Eangitata bridge as were unsuitable to retain for purposes of repairs I have sold in lots by tender. Taylor’s Creek Improvements:—l have staked out the lines over the entire course to be operated on which is 307 chains in length, and have prepared specifications Tor the work which be tendered for to-day in eight contracts, each contract being co-terminous with the various leasehold and freehold properties along the route. With reference to the work already done by Mr Taylor, and to a small extent by Mr Croy, I have measured it so far as it will form part of the new course, and will value the 50 per cent to be allowed at the sohedulejrates of the tenders which may be acoep'ed for the respective sections. Plains Water Supply : The freshets of last month caused a good deal of disarrangement at the inlet works, both at Pudding Hill and the auxiliary channel, the former having been blocked with floating timber, and the stream leading to the latter having vot silted up, a new out had to be opened at a higher level. It will be necessary to shut oS the water from the concrete obaqnel fop the purpose of repair. It was indented to a considerable extent Ijefore the shingle trap was put ini and the continued action of the water on tne steep grade is rendering the indents rather deeper. The work can easily be done in two days, but it will require other two, or probably three, days for the new work to set sufficiently to resist the action of the water. During that time several sections which still want cleaning could be overhauled by occupiers to better purpose than with the water in them. Most of the occupiers, however, in that district of the county, are attending very fairly to the matter of maintenance. The new race through Eakaia Village Settlement was rather intermittent last month, partly through absorption in new channel and partly through repeated tampering at junction at upper end. The supply is better now than it has been but is still meagre. The fords at the upper end of E2 race, L iwer Wakanui, made by the owners are not yet in a satisfactory condition, and the race is consequently not yet supplied. Some steps must be taken to obviate the silting up of 14 chains of race E2 at Sandhills on R.S. 7132. Drainage, Lower Wakanui: The contractor is how making fair progress with the enlarging : and deepening of main drain near Seaview fully ha,*! of the work specified having been completed. | Ashburton-Rangitata Water Supply: The i works on face at \Vesterfield have beep completed Efuce last meeting of the CopnpU as has also the branch race near Staple Mayfield. The bead races have been cleared oat, and

most of the defective fords repaired. Daring j the time the water was shut ofl, several ot the occupiers overhauled the dia'ributing races to some extent but tbe time would not allow the work to be done as fully as it ought, though the additional work required can be mostly done with the water in the races. Many of the settlers, however, demur to clear the races to their original eapaci’y until they ascertain definitely whether the proposed special charge for last year’s maintenance is to be remitted. So many branches have been formed of O race that it will now be necessary to enlarge 04 throughout its entire lengtn of four miles in order to keep all the other branches supplied. Guaging of water courses between Ashburton and Bangitata : I have completed the record for the two mouths ending 81st of October last, which shows a very considerable diminution on the previous record. Unemployed: Since last meeting of the Connell the men have been engaged at work in connection with plantations, protective works ard filling shingle for Main South road. Protective Works, Wakanui: A considerable quantity gorge has been out for fascines which will be used next week for making up the hollows in bulwark, but the Surveyors of the Wakanui Boad Board inform me that the Board is desicous of having the bulwark extended 200 ft with a view to allow the original road line to be made safe and opened up for traffic, and they are prepared to make a substantial contribution towards the work. The total eost would probably be about £175. They have asked me to lay the matter before the Council. BLACKFORD—REDCLIWE BOAD It was resolved that tenders be called for the work on the road proposed by the Engineer. PLANTATION WEES Soma difeuasu n arose on the clause in the Engineer’s report with regard to'the recent fire in one of theOouncil plantations. —lt was ultimately resolved to send a c pv of the clause to Mr Hawdon, with a requevt thu he should pay the amount of damage done. RIVER BRIDGES The suggestion of the Engineer with regard to the painting of the handrail'* of Dighy’s and Taylor’s stream bridges, was agreed to and it was decided that tenders sbou'd be called. tavlor’s ceebk impeotembnts. Mr James Croy wrote with reference to this subject that he understood the Council had decided to pay Mr Taylor for work done to the creek. He (Mr Croy) had done work there to the v»lue of £tt acd be asked the Connell to also make him a refund. The Engineer referred to the matter in his report. The Council had decided to pay Mr Taylor 50 per cent value of work dona and on the same basis, Mr Croy would receive half value of work done by him. It was resolved that Me Croy thould be furnished with a copy of the Engineers report HEAD WORKS. It was resolved that the work at the headworks, Pudding Hill, as suggested by the Engineer, be carried out. Ic was resolved that the water be shut off in race E, but that the Engineer arrange for a partial sapply from D raos. TAMPERING With reference to thecise of tampering with the race running through Rakaia Village Settlement, reported by the Engineer, it was res jived that a reward of £5 be offered for informati m leadiug to the conviction of the offender. WAXANUI WATER SUPPLY. It’’was resolved that the Fngineer should be instructed to put fords in repair at expense of owners. SAND. After a discussion as to the best means of bind ng the drifting sand, which his silted up portion of El race, it was resolved that the Engineer confer with the manager of the estate on which the sandhills Kre, with a view to dealing with the question. A LEGAL POINT. It being reported that a number of ratepayers on the south side of the river objected to pay a rate proposed to be levied by the Council for the repayment of money expended under the contract system of maintaining water races, it was resolved that the Council should take legal advice as to the power of the Council to enforce payment of the rate In case it could not enforce such payment, it seemed to be the intention of the Council to debit the amount to the district in which the contract system had been in force. ENLARGEMENT. The enlargement of 04 race reoc rnmended by the Engineer was agreed to. PROTECTIVE WOBKS, WAKANUI. The paragraph in the Engineer’s report with regard to this matter was referred to the Protective Works Committee, to report at next meeting Mr Leadley was added to the Protective Works Committee. WATBHTON O»M TEBY. Mr T*ylor waited on the Council and asked for a small grant towards the Waterton Cemetery Board. He thought the sum of £lO would be sufficient to raise the Board out of its difficulties. The Council decided It had no funds at its dispo al for snob a purpose. The Connell adjourned for an boar. On resuming the following business was transacted RIVER ENCROACHMENT. Mr Davidson waited on the Council and asked if it would do something towards protecting his and adjacent properties from river encroachment. It was resolved that the C >uncil could expend no more money in the protection of land unless the ratepayers sanctioned a further loan. CONTRACT MONETS Mr A. Turner waited on the Council and asked that an allowance be made him for work done in excess of that specified on a contract undertaken by him. The Engineer said Mr Turner had made an error in his measurements. The work done was not in excess of the specifications. The Council cmld not see its way to make hny allowance la fie case, FINANCE. The Finance Committee’s report was read and adopted, WATER SUPPLY, SEAFIELP DISTRICT. Mr Harper wi hdrew his notice of motion on this subject, Mr Coster rnov.d the motion of which he had given notice,-to the effect that the water races in the Rakaia district be enlarged in order that the water might be conveyed to the district towards the sea. Mr Leadley seconded the motion. [Left Sitting.]