ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1551, 6 May 1887, Page 2

ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL

i The ordinary monthly moating of the i Ashburton County Council was held at i Council Chnmhero to day Presout : — i Means C. J. Harp r, R. G Wright, D ; McLean, B. S. 0 ster, G. W. Loaclloy, J. : Jackson. Oa the motion of Mr Wright, Beonndod ! by Mr Cooter, Mr Harper was votnd to the chair. . . chaikman's statement. : The Chairman eaicJ: — The Rotnrning Officer reports the election of Mr E. G ; Wright as m3tnber for the Aehbnrton Riding and Mr Laadley for the Wakanul Riding. — Mr Tripp wrote to the Ohair. man since last ms&ting, drawing hia attention to the darasgo doi.e by the Rangltata river to the snath approach to the Rangitftta traffia bridge. The Engineor has visited the locality and will report upon the matter today - The Property Tax Department notifies the Oonooil that' the lum of £62 10 j, balance of sahaidy of 1885 6, Mount flntt Road Board District, haa beon placec to the credit of the Council. — The Amuri County Council Chairman writes to ask if the 0 mnoll would aUow the Engineer to visit the Amurl with a viow t > obtaining his opinion bb to the proposed Walau water oupp'y. — A ciroular from the Secretary and TreaBurer of the N.Z. Railway Reform League respecting the working of the railway will be placed before the Couuoil, also one from the Wairarapa South Coaoty Oounojl as to the Government being requested to simplify the present system of legalising roadB — Mr Walker has aeon the Mayor of Ashburton regarding the question of the celebration of the Queen's Jubilee la this county, and the result of this interview will be read to day. — A cirooJar from the OhrUtchuroh Jabilee Committee, forwarding a subscription list towards erection of a hemo for the aged and poor of both sexts, haa been received and will be placed before the Council. — The Minister .for Crown Lands asks the Oounoll if it is trilling to acoapt a delegation of power to appuint trustees for the Mount Somera Cemetery. — The Council's accounts hive been du'y audited by the Council's auditcr, andj a special meeting j will be held to-day to approve or otherwise of the yearly balaaca-alieet. — Tho amount of rates paid to date is £4422 193 31, leaving £50 1 6s li outstanding. The Clerk intends to take proceedings this month against defaulters. — The police have summoned two owners of threshing machines for crossing the Ashburton tr&ffio bridge without obtaining a permit from this Council, and being the first cases brought nnder tho Bridge By-laws they were fined lOi each and costs. — The Anama Road Board agree to clauses 13 of tho. Dog Registration Act, 1880, being brought into force m their district. — Tho Charitable Aid Board Ptates that £625 3i is this Council's share towards the maintenance of oharitable institutions for tho ysar onding 3Lat March, 1888. KOUTINE. Bangerß Nog. 1 and 2 reports and diaries, ajatatement of busicesa done by the Cbairrcai slcce last muetir.p, and a number of circulars were laid on the table. engineer's report. The Engineer reported as follows :— Auxiliary Water Supply from Stream Hinds Gorge : In accordance with Oounoil's instructions, I have marked off the route which eeema the most serviceable for tho projeoted supply. The channel would be ohains m lengtb, and would be on steep gradients for the most part, but as the supply is small the liability to scour will not be great, and I anticipate that very little protection of the channel would be necessary. It would disoharge into a gully a few chains m length, connecting direotly with the T water race. I i estimate the total expense, including headi works, at £90. The summer flow of this j stream is small (about 150 gallons por minute), but it is steady, and holde out well 1 all through the season. The loss by peroolaJ tion over tho new course would probably be ■ about 25 per cent. If the Council decides to r undertake tho work, it would be advisable to defer it till spring, as the concrete work at * intake could then be done' mote cheaply and * to better purpose. As previously explained, [ this small supply would benefit the T race to j only a very limited extent, and certainly not lower down than to Cracroft. For improvement from that point downwards, the most [ feasible plan at present would appear to be l the enlargement of some portions of the head I race from South Ashburton River, as also the . upper portion of It race near SI throughout, the expense of which m the aggregate would * be about £200. This is the only direction I m which the supplementary supply is available t for the races next the Bangitata River, short of initiating a raoe supply for that river itself, along the line projeoted at Cvacroft for r the Irrigation channel. Asnburton • Rangitata Water Supply : l During the month the supplies have been pretty well maintained m all the races, with the exception of lower ends of N and Nl, R 3 and 111, some of wbioh have been without 1 water all the month, 6olely through defective 3 maintenance. Several owners aro^at work . now with a view to having tho raoes m passable order by the 10th of this month as 5 advertised, but most of them represent that r they are unable to pet the slimy vegetable , growths m the bottom removed until water is shut off for a few days. I would recommend that this be done. It will not be found to be ' any drawback at this season of the year, and > it will also afford a better opportunity of ; clearing out some portions of the head races. — The mouth of inlet race m river bed has had to be restored and adjusted several times during the month, on acoount of the varying oondition of the river, and recurring freshets. Tho Wheatstone supply as fed from No 1 oreek, Lagmhor, has been well maintained during the month, but tho same oannot be said m regard to tho small races HI, H5, H6, for the Tinwald lots, which the No. 3 creek supplied. All that oreek for miles along the upper portion of its course is so obstructed and overgrown now that the supply towards the lower end must be very preoarious till some improvements ate effected m this reBpeofc, Wakanui Flat Water Supply : There has been a good supply during the month with tho exception of a few days when the mill race was shut off. As the Committee presents its report to-day on tho question of Counoil's contribution to maintenance of mill lake supply it would bo well to arrange m the interests of the districts now supplied from the oreek that tho supply be shut off only at stated times and as seldom as possible. Auxiliary Water Supply for Lower Wakanui : Both oontracts for this work have now been completed and the water led through the entire length and into connections m j Seafield district. — Now that the Council has fixed upon Reserve 1767 as an Irrigation Farm that portion of F raoe from its junction with auxiliary channel downwards to said reserve will have to be enlarged m order to convoy tho supply necessary for irrigation purposes. Tho length will be about three miles and cost £25. I will thank tho Council to say whether 1 tenders are to bo called for this. Ashburton llakaia Water Supply : Almost all the raoes within this district have had a fair supply during the month. A good many occupiers are engaged olearing out the races, but muoh still requires to be done m this matter. The mains will require to be shut off this month for a thorough overhaul, and opportunity would enable ocoupicrs to deal more effeotivoly with tho work of olearing, as although they are getting tho races formed to their original width, they complain that they oannot clear the great accumulation of slimy vegetablo matter from the bottom of the races with the Water m them. Though it would not bo prudent to shut off the raoes for the half yearly cleaning m summer, it would not prove to be any disadvantage at present. — As instruotod by the Council, I met the member for the Mt Hutt Riding at Chapman's Creek for the purpose of examining into the question of bridge aßked for by Mr Chapman. It weuld appear that there are some good reasons for his request being granted, and I understand that the materials of a disused bridge ovor same creek would be available as far as they would go. This would roduoe tho cost by about one half and the ooat to the Oounoil would be m all about £10. Blaokford-Redoliffe Road : The contractors are now making fair progress, and are prefleotly engaged at the heaviest portion of tho earthwork. Taylor's Creok Improvements : The works on the vasious oontra.Qta. have now been sa,tis»

factory finished and payment of balance m- 1 I eluded m to-days pay bill. There ia still a < sum due to Mr Taylor for half cest of work , originally executed. I shall determine that i amount and certify for samo at next meoting ( of Council— lt should be pointdd out that the effeot of these improvements will be nullified ' m a great measure unless owners place the ' necessary flood awing gates m dividing fences 1 same as was done m a similar instance when ' improvements of Ford's creek was oarried out. ' Plantations : Tho contractor is making fair 1 progress with the grubbing of gorse m planta- ' tion near Tinwald and Winalow— Some willow planting on the south side of the Ashburton river between the traffio bridge and railway bridge would bo of service. The ourrent is setting m pretty strongly to that side at the present time. Tenders for renewals and repairs of planking for various river bridges will bo plaoed before you to-day. Storm Water Courses, Lower Wakanui : With reference to Counoil'B instructions again to report on flood channels through lots 22 and 23 B.S. 4844. I find that both thesa courses are now available for the natural flow of s<orm water, a ford having reoently been made aorosa the road, and fenoe removed at the latter place for the passage of flood water. It appears to me the matter is now m its proper position as I consider the one ohannel should not be used to the exolusion of the other, and so far as county interests are oonoerned I should not recommend the Council to acquire ground over any part of either line. There are soores of similar cases and the natural drainage should be laf t unimpaired there as m other plaoes. Mount Somera Tramway: The works on various earthwork contracts are progressing m a fairly satisfactory manner, though the recent wet weather did not conduce to rapid work. About one-third of the earthwork m each of the oontracts has been completed. All the piles and part of the super-structure of Deep Creek Bridge are m position, and most of the materials for Woolshed Greek Bridge are on the ground. The contractors for sleepers are at work m Alford Forest, and a good many have been prepared. Some of them, however, are too unshapely to be accepted, but an improvement is being made m this respeot. I have been m communication with the Assistant-Bailway Engineer m regard to junotion of Hues at Mount Somers Station, and I anticipate that a plan will be arranged, whioh will suit the views expressed by the Committee on this matter. With referenoe to the conditions of lease whioh the Oounoil requested me to prepare, I have drawn out an outline of what I conceive to be the more important points, so that these may be amended or amplified m any way the Counoil might desire. The Chairman is still m communication with tha Minister of Public Works on the question of fastenings, and he desii'ed me to pootpone the calling of tenders for the rail laying and ballasting till he had settled the matter ; hence the absence of tenders to-day, which otherwise would have been received. Upper Kangitata Bridge : The oid orate on the upper side of the Bridge on Geraldiue, si<?e has been considerably damaged by receDt floods, the current having worked m behind it, and inpinged on the bank m the vicinity of the bridge. This has always been a very temporary and fragile structure without any foundation, and the timber work of the crate is now quite rotten. It might probably aßßist a little longer m protecting that portion of the river-bank adjoining the wingwnll of the bridge if some strong rails were driven aoross to the bank on upper Bide of crate, m such direction as to stem the current, and have the voids made good with fascines and willows. An expenditure of about £25 will be required for this, but the river banks all along there are being enoroaohed on to suoh extent that the whole question, I think, is one for the Geraldine Council to deal with, so far as this matter of river protection is concerned. Gauging Streams : Tho wet weather of the last ten days prevented me finishing the record for two months just onded, but I will complete that work next week. supplementary water supply, hinds gorge. The recommendation of tho Engineer m regard to this matter was, on the molten of Mr Wright, agreed to, the work to bo let m tho sprirfg, WATER RACE CLEANING. 5 Mr L9adley said, ia regard to the ' Engineer's statement concerning the clear- ' ing of wator races, that he considered the [ present system of ehulting off the whole of tbe races at one time a b*d one as tho [ rangers were unable to properly euporin; t tend the work of cleaning. Mr Wright agreed with Mr Leailey'a t remarks, and moved " That the water be » ahut off from tho water raoeß within ths 1 county to enable the owne*s to clean the ' raoap, and that such shutting off be made * m aections including one or two raoea, no ' that the loapeotorß may ba able to boo that the work ia efficiently done." Mr Leadley seconded the motion, which was carried. WAKANFI FLAT WATER SUPPLY. Mr Leadloy referred to the condition of the races on tha Wakanui flat as being far from oatiafactory, and moved that the attention of the Engineer be called to the matter. bridge. Ia regard to a bridge whioh had been aaked for by Mr Ohapman, of Methven, at the last meeting of the Oounoil, the Engineer's report on the subject was read, and Mr Jackson, the member for the riding, made a statement m referenoe to a visit ho had m company with the Engineer made to the spot. He moved tha 1 ; tho Council take m hand the erection of the bridge as asked for by Mr Chapman, and that the Road Board bo aaked for the materials^ m tho present disuse 1 bridge. Mr Coster seconded tho motion^whioh was carried. IRRIGATION FAIM. It was rosolvod that tenders be called for enlarging tho race for the Irrigation Farm reserve. WILLOW PLANTING. The leDommendAtion of the Engineer In regard to planting willows on iho eou'h side of tho river between the railway and traffic bridges, wai acceded to. taylor's orebk, It was reaolved, as recommended by the Engineer, to request the peisons interested to orec^. fl )od gatoa. STORM OHANNEL, LOWER WAKANUI, The Council expressed its concarrenca with tho paragraph m the Engineer's report on this subject. RANGITiTA TRAFFIO BRIDGE Mr 0. G THpp, Chart Gorge, wrot?, drawing tho Oounoil'd attention to the 'necessity for maintaining protective worko at tho sonth npproaoh to the Rangltati bridge. The Engineer's report on the subject; wis read, and it was decided to ooinmunleaie with the Gera'.dine County Council before taking any aotion. MILL RACE. Mr Wright, one of the Committee appointed at last meeting to oonfer with a Committee from tho Borough Counoil and the representative of the mill owner m regard to the maintenance of tbe wator sapply, roported tho result of the conference. He Baid after the matter had been gone into m all it* bearings the following resolution had been unanimously agreed to: — "Tint the exiting arrangements whereby the Borough Counoil with tho consent of tho Canterbury Mill proprietors, keepj clear the intake to the Canterbury Miil and Borough Bupply Bhould not be disturbed, and that In consideration of the races supplied by water from the Wakanui Creek balow tho Mill, the County Council Bhould contribute a sum of £25 per annum." Bo moved that the resolution pj&aod at the conference should bo given eff.ct to. This was duly seconded and carried. In view, of the po*siolo Inconvonienoa which might reeult from tho watac lv the race be'ng shut off at an inopportuue titna it was resolved to ask tha mill proprietor and the Bcrough Council to Inform the bounty Engineer when it was contemplated to shut off the water In the Wakanui Creek, and alao to retiae3t that tho water be phut off as seldom as possible WATER It AK OB R. Purfluant to nufcioo Mr Wright nuved. " That tho present arrangement, \y.th the water rangors be terminated and that In ){tm thereof one ranker be appointed for

the distrfot north of the Ashburton and one ranger for tho district south of the A.shburton ; each ranger to hive charge from the heaciworks to the sea m his own district, and that a locjl ranger be appointed to Inspect the simll races m the Forka district," He raair.tjlned that the present eys< cm was far from an efficient one, it btiug utterly inpusiible for all the races to receive proper attention, bat by a system each an he propoiod no ranger would h^va too much work to atteud to and each would be responsible for the condition of tho races under his control from the heidwroka to the sea, instead of as at present one ranger having oharge of the headworka and another of the whole of the rases. . . Mr LBadler aeconded the motion. After Borne discussion the Oounoil went into Committee on the subject, and after a long consideration rasumud when the motion was oarried. ' MAINTENANCE. It was resolved, on tbe motion of Mr Leadley " that an opinion be obtained frtfm the Council's legal adviser as to whother the monies disbursed by this Ooußoil m the maintenance of water raoes southward of the Ashborton river prior to Daoember, 1886, are legally reoorerable." [Lsft Sitting.]