ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1423, 3 December 1886, Page 2

ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

The nrd n-iry monthly meeting r> f the A.ahbuit 'n County Council >■ d at Domic 1 < iffice, Bating Pqtsre, bll morning. Present :Me srs VV. t , VV < ’chairmsn), At. J. t'srpnr, D McLean, E. O. Wright, B. S. Cosier, J. Jackson and G. W. L-> d ev. chaiuman’s statement. Tie ( hiirumu *;ud. - A letter from Mr B'rgisi respecting the closing ofj>(he road in the (.«ng>t; ta riding, which matter was postponed for coi.sider.nio for this me tiim at the lust Counci' sitting,

will be root, also a resolution passed bv the Hangltata Koad Board rut the tame subject.— Tha Waken ui Road Boir ■ states that it is not in favor of c’au j a 13 of the Dug Registration Act, 1830. being enforced in the road oigi.rlct -The collector of the special rate for C o Ashburton Forks Protective Works d strict sends in a return of the amounts collected and recommends that the bdance bo sued for immediately.—The Hak Uere t own Board has written asking the Council to appoint a poll ng booth in the district, to be used at the election of Licensing Committee.— At the reque tof the Chairman of the Mount Somers Road Board, I forwarded an application for ■» loan to construct a tramway to er nneot the Mount Somers o :al pit lime B."d stonn quarries with the branch line at Mount Mtm-Ts. This had lo ha in Wellington by December 1 in ord<T to r ufiivo c'u.yi; e-arion tliia year iha at to n wh-cb I have u-.-n m the mat'er was of suffi I# it u ge l oy. Me»utvLite the Council au I lha atopayers will have every opportunity of considering *h & matter while the pr ;poaal is subjected to the terms of approval prescribed ny law. -The So wyn County Council has written to say that the period f>r which this Council agreed to continue to pay a share of the snnsidy towards Dobbin’s Ford will shortly expire, and ‘he Council would like to know this Council’s views ns to the desirabiluy r otherwise of contl ulng the fo d —The Ch ef Surveyor wrote to me tinea last meeting e q tiring if the Council intended planting a certain portion Of th i 3-fhaiu r-serve in the Sou h Rakaia riding. I informed him that the Council would tube the land for planting purposes if it was veited in the 0.. U oil.—As I was the only member present of th : s Council at the meeting held on the 24’h of last month to elect two representatives for the combine.! district of this comity and the borough r f Ashburton on the Charitable Aid Board, 1 tc notify that the Mayor and the Chairman of this Council were duly elected. —The annual meeting to elect a Chairman for the ensuing year having lapsed for wnn l of a quorum on the 24th •rlt., and again on the Ist insr., the meeting has f can adjourned to lake place o-dey at nr.on.-The Rangitata Road Board has apt liei through the Council for an exchange of a gravel reserve, and also for certain other gravel reserves to Le madeBOUTIN E, The Bangers’ (No. 1 and 2) repents and diaries and a copy of a,atifitics relating to counti s in Plow 15maraud were placed on the table.

engineer's report

The Eng ueer’s report was read as fo! lows r

Plains Water Supply : With a view to augment the existing water supply in the lower Rakaia district I have, as requested by the Council, prepared a scheme which provides for the enlarging, io a greater or less extent. 42 miles of the races which have a connection with the auxiliary water supply leading Tom the Ashburton liiver. I have prepared specifications for the works in 9 contracts, tenders for which will be placed before you to day. There will, besides, be some minor works, such as the enlarging of two or three small flumes which can be best arranged as the works advance. There will also be a short connection required from El race in Mr Lyttelton’s K.B. 5821, at the point originally proposed to give the necessary supply for the recently formed races near the Rakaia river. Those improvements should prove beneficial in ordinary seasons to a large tract of land east of the main line of railway, but in a very dry season, such as the last, when a sufficiency of water was not available even from the North Ashburton river the benefit will not be so appreciable and no auxiliary supply for that district can be held to be permanent except such as would connect with the Rakaia "proposed Auxiliary Supply from Wakanui Creek for Lower Wakanui and. Seafield district, I have gone carefully into this question and have levelled and staked off the route in accordance with line indicated on map. The offtake would be at the footbridge over" creek at Mr Bullock’s house and the course would be through rural sections 18120, 18151, 18011 and a small corner of 20018* joining the existing race F in R.S. 23172, from the lower and of which it would pass through lower end ol Fairfield property to supplement. A race, thtnee along a line parallel with race to B 1 with an extension to B race near Charing Cross. From (he offtake to F race the fall would »e only 6 t per mile, the f Tinatipn width over that length would be 6ft ind average depth a little over 2ft. From junction with F race the channel w uld gradually cout.act to a formation width of at lower cud. The total cost of works, includ.ng sluice and sheeting at inlet, would not exceed £l5O assuming that there would be no claims for laud compensation or severance, and I do not anticipate any difficulty on that score This service would benefit the lower Wakanui and Be field districts, precisely in a similar manu r as the lower Bakaia district would he benfited by the service already reported on, but it. would have thif advantage that the supply wou’d be drawn from a source quite ad (a cut to the district though it must not be ovcrlo.ikod that no benefit will accrue from it durine a very dry s ason like the utst, when the N Tth AshbUiton river fails towards its lower end. I might also state that for any experimental irriga’ion purpose this channel enlarged to some extent would be a convenient and cheap medium for conveying nearly all the surplus water from the creek to the adjoining dry land and, perhaps,in nine years' out of ten, would bo available all the year over. —x have examined the creek at points higher up than the proposed offtake, but there the ground northwards rises more rapidly and is much broken up with gullies, etc. so that whiio the expense would be greatly increased little or no advantage would be gained by placing the inlet at a higher level. Repairs; The repairs to Pudding Hill concrete channel are in progress and with suitable weather will bo finished in two or three days.

Sandhills, Acton ; With reference to the stoppages of E2 race from sand drifts, I have, as requested by the Council, carefully inspected the position there, along with the manager of the estate. I find he has taken vigorous measures to abate the evil by covering the affected portions with straw and bags and sowing with broom etc., besides fencing off these entirely from stock. The positions of these are sketched on the plan, and would, in extent, be about 80 acres and 20 acres respectively. When Mr Allan finishes the work he has in progress, Ido not think the water supply will be much affected. In about a fortnight he hopes to have all fairly secure ; and meantime he ii prepared to defray half the cost of clearing the drift out of the race if Council will defray other half. I would have no hesitation in recommending this arrangement especially as the question of a deviation here would be expensive and ineflu ient and such deviation would involve the whbarawut ot ihe race c.uire y from the Acton property or the adjoining property of Mr White.

Ashburton Rangitata Water Supply: This supply has been fairly kept up during ast month. Some of the settlers are doing a little towards the improvement of the races but more effort will be neces-ary in this direction before efficiency is attained. Several fords are alto being put in order. Tenders for enlarging O I race will be placed before you to-day. Woods creek: As requested I have inspected the course of tais creek and cannot And that any injury to the Wheatstone district arises from it, except where the artificial eat from it was made from lower end of Mr Wood’s farm to the giflly. Here the channel would require to be deepened (5 to 8 inches generally and well scoured and relief given at the ford, on which is a good

al of back-water at present. The cost culd not exce- rl £3, including sm-dl Heviaons where creek enters road Hue. Mr Wood is gradually cleaning out the creek through his land so far as is necessary, so also are Messrs ( row and Lysaght. (>n the latter section there were indications of recent overflow about, ton chains ii|> from Graham's road but this place is now securely embanked and gorae, etc, is in dug cleared out, higher up the C'cck, I should not j-commend any work except the clearing of the outlet. Painting; Tenth rs will be placed before you to-day for repa'nting hand rails, Taylor’s stream and Digby’s and also r painting parts of Council’s buildings.

Blackford-Redcliffe road ; As the interval between last meeting and this was shorter than usual, I was unable to complete the survey and section work for remaining section of road at Terrible Gully. This is nn intricate point and will require >o be ■nrffully laid off, I hope o go there next U, and will have tenders ready for the Chairman’s acceptance about ‘lie 20th instant.

Taylor’s creek ; The contractors are now just starting the work on the various lengths.

Main Drain Level, Wakmui: The contractor is making fair progress, and should finish the earthwork and concrete by the end of this month. Load Deviation, B.S. 29819: The accompanying tracing shows the proposed deviation from present site. The alteration would be a decided benefit to the Council if they can obtain control of the ground which would intervene between the road as proposed and the river line, as it would give a desirable length and area of land in the vicinity of the headworks of the water supply, to secure an abundant supply under alt the varying conditions of (he rivir ed in that locality.

Unemployed : The Minister for Pnblicj; Works having extended (he time till the 4th instant, the men have been employed a Wakanui Protective Work and South Road Tinwald, as before. With the exception of ballasting part of the bulwark, these repairs will be about completed to-morrow. The question of additional protecive work below the bulwark is one which seems to demand attention, but the lengthening and additional works at present, say about 15 and 30 chains lower down, would cost not less than £3OO. Tha settlers more immediately interested offer to find gorse and cartage at their own cost.

SDPPL-MENTARY WATER SUPPLY. Th* d'SUii!-« an on the in the Engineer's ropert with reference to the auopleaientury water sapp y f * the lower Wakanui and field districts was p st poned till a liter stage in the mee’ing, when a notice of m >tlon with reference to ways and m-'ana would he considered. SANDHILLS ACTION It was resolve ! on the motion of Mr Wright, seconded by Mr Coster, that the clause In the Engineer’s report with reference to checking the encroachment of sand on water race in Ae on district be given effect to. wool s OREPK. A petition was rec-ived from a number of ratepayers, asking :h ' Council to take into const eration ’he widening and deepening of Wood’s creek and not to div. rt the witer from the artifinal c t The Engineer said the matter was dealt with in his repoit It was not contemplated to use the o! 1 o urae, 4 n expenditure of about £3 was necessary in improving the present outlet. The Eiiiiueer’s recomendation was adopted hy ths Council. BLACKFORD KBDCLIFFB ROAD

The Etiuirmer’s proposn w th reference to this work was approved of r ad deviation. It was reso ved Mia >ho deviation alluded to in the Fncn-er’s report bagreed to, a 1 d he mc*sur,- sups be taken to hav effect given t.i the proposal. AS.vU lb M iEIIdG. chairman. The adj >U' ned arm-.al meeting was th n n held, the bi-sinees at wni th was the elecof Chairman f 'o- the en.Mi'ng year. On the m ion of Mr Weigh-, seconded Hy Mr J ck . i, Mr Walker was re elected Chairman of he Council Both pentlem-n paid a high mm ■•timeut ro Mr WaL er’s zeal and ahi ty. Mr Waite cx >o a d bis thanks in a brief and iff-ct-ve speech. ORDINARY MAE TING. The Com- hi resumed. WATER

M- John liol wv civi on tht Council and asked thatso nothing mightbedone towards furnishing him and neighbors with a water supply, of which some time ago they had been deprived. Ha intimated that the cost would he tome by the persona benefited.

The Engh-eer said that in consequence of an object:on by an owner < f land it was not possible to convey water by the natural course ao ns so bertfit Mr Bell and his neighb ura The water, however, C'n'd bo eas't'y taken from another point. It wis resolved that the water be turned on as rnq wed by Mr Ball. fR FOSKD MOUNT S'MBKS TRAMWAY. The fol owing petition was received : Mount “ Some-e, To the Chairman and members of the Ashhirton County Council. “ Gentleman : We tre undersigned proprietors and ratepayers in the Mount Somers Seal District being strongly of opinion tha this disc ict and the county generally would he greatly benefited by the development of its mineral resources, and farther that a t/mnnoy from the Mount Somers Railway to the coal measures and the stones would enable the coal, lime, and budding stone to bs Worked to a very large extent ami to be supplied to the district at very cheep rates, hereby reapec'fudy rt quest that you will take t* e J.ecsssary steps t > obtai a loan of £5500 from the Colonial Treasurer under the Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, IHB6 The length of tramway would bo 8 miles, and the cost has huon estimated by a reliable am ho it »■ at £3120, which, with at: allowance of 10 per c ■ 't for contingencies, w ul ' am- unto £3432 The annu 1 charge- on £3SCO would be at 5 per C ut £175 Actor.li..g o the above Act not Lss than half the annual charge must be st-cur d by a rate not ex ce ling | I in the £ We theref .re proposed to define a d'sl -ict benefi ed by 'he tram »y. th« capi’al vabte of which shall ha ab 'ot £3O, 00. Ou this amount, a rate of r* be- less than |i in th < £ would bo snffitio-.t to pro-nice half the annual charge ; ihe other half would be irovidod f r out ot reve >ua p du.-sd ty the ft-ujvmy. T .o prop ;sed rati g db trict would 'omprise 'he fresh Id lane on the south hr i.-ch of the Ash urton -Ivor, above the j u tion of the proposed tram way and the Mount ,'om«r« rail war and the land f otn thence up the A-'h hu ton Gorge adj .cent to and benrfi ed by the nropoa*-.! t'am way, containing about 15 000 acres, capital value, say £3l 0 0 ot'h ugh we are o tligod by the Act to provide a rating district a* security for Mt.lt the annual charge we are allow, d t . pay t ie whole amount out of revenue derive ' fn-m the tramway nod cm s ow tt at tnero would be no re esaitv to strike a rate An annual traffic of 5000 tons to b-gin with would b . a verv moderate estimate, and this at an average rve of Is per t in would produce £2 0 Even a tr flic of £350 t to. s, at an averaie r te i f Is fid, w nld produce £lB7 10s per annu n, r«- -to 'h*n the teal annual charge. T .ese charges would not include h-uuge for which those using the L noway might male hejr own arrangerm-nis Mr A. E. Peaohe will be in attendance to support his memorial and to give any further information that may be requeued. [Here follow fourteen signatures ] Mr A. E. Peache waited on the Council with reference to the matter. A number of questiouE weto put to him on the subject. Ho »aid th. re was a tramway reserve for the greater part of the distance, and hodid notanticipateto theslight A-.tdifiioifliy with reference to obtaining land for the remainder cf the way, It was contemplated t j establish a lime kiln, which It

was thought would furnish considerable traffic. kbout2o cons of iirno were m-d in Ohristohurh alone every week, aud it had beer, est m .ted tv*t 'he JT.t *vjm j rs Ims could delivered he-'e at lows- rate than that from elaewhor-', whll ■ the quality w> s quite as good. Tnera was tvtry appuarance of coal covering on exteniiv-. s xtendve a r ea and the tramway weald b> «. jac ui. to a pr-c ic liy (inexhaustible supnly i f building utme bet«f fhtnanv « rai ,-r sto e yet exp'-■'ed in Vow Z »Uod Wr Wi g"i*. tjw be bad u*-d oo'b Malvern and Me Som rs coil, and he wa> of opinion that the latter was decidedly the best.

In aruwer to furiherques'uons. Mr l*eahc“ s« ; d tha 1 Mt Smo s e >al c u d be delivered in Wibac.on at a mu- h i >wer rate bau coal fr-m other pi-ecs. The fig ires qu d d within the taeir.'rl il were quite w thin the mark and there was iu hiopini m no likeliho id of the ratcyayers wuhin the district pr ‘poied to be formed being cal ed ajott to coatri ute.

It was resolved on the motion of Mr Jackson, seconded by Mr Wright, “ That this Council endorse the Chairman’s action In making application to the Government for the loan.”

At this stage the Council adjourned for an hour.

(Left silting.)