ORDINARY MEETING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1725, 2 December 1887, Page 3

ORDINARY MEETING.

The business of tbe ordinary meeting was then proceeded witb, Mr Wright was appointed Chairman for tho meetlne. SOU-iDARY BOAD. Mr Co.tcr moved that the question of deciding the appointment of the proportion of cost of maintenance of the boundary road between the Wakanui and South Bakaia Boad districts be referred to a Committee consisting of Messrs Jackson, Harper and Grigg! Agreed to. DAM, LIMESTONE CREEK. The recommendation of the Engineer ln regard to this work was agreed to. FLOOD- WATER, The clause m the Engineer's report regard floodwater m Flemington, Winslow and Tinwald districts was read, In regard to the proposod storm-water or.anntl on iho Tim.ru track, the Tin wi. li Town Board wrote stating tbat lt was not m a position to contribute the sum asked of It, £35, towards the proposed wcrk. -jjji requested the Counoil to compel cccuplertj to clear out water courses — No meeting" of the Longbeach Road Board had been held slnco that body was written to asking If lt woald agree to contribute. After a discussion Mr Holmes moved that "the matter m question and alao the whole subject of dealing with etorm-water throughout the county be referred to a committee consisting of Messrs Wright, Harper, Coster, Brown and the moved to report. The Committee to consider the q.u.Qtlon of. water ohnnnola and also of dompelliog -occupiers to keep water oourses open," He said tbe matter wbb becoming aseclouß one as m one district one settler alone had some -time ago been a lafffl.er lto tfce^cDt o. £ J,QCQ 4 ' ' s - ..

Mr Grigg seoonded the motion, Hli opinion was that the only feasible way to meet tho difficulty would ..be te borrow money under the Loans to Looal Bodies Aot, and to r te the district, m whioh expenditure is Inourred, to pay the annual obarge. Mr Harper thought a great deal of the evil arose through water oouraes being blocked. Mr Brown did not think the Council had power to interfere with watercourses through private property. BANUBIt. The question of tho appointment of a second ranger for the distriot north of tbe ABhburton was considered. Mr Harper thought tho question of finance would bave to be seriously considered. Mr Coster thought a second ranger for the distriot In question wbb necessary ; a small Increase of the water rata wonld oover the oost. Mr Holmes said that one man was quite sufficient for the distriot, it was not necessary for him to go over the same grou; d ojioe a week ; once a month would be sufficient. Mr Brown considered another ranger was required No farmer wonld objeot to the payment of an extra water rate if he were only supplied with wate-t regularly Instead of intermittently, aa was the oase now. It was resolved on the mutlon of Mr Coster seoonded by Mr Jaokaon " that the Engineer be authorized to allow assistance to ranger Morrison during the summer months, If he consider, it necessary for the efficiency of the system of water races." » , WATEU RAOE, WAKANUI. After discussion a motion proposed by Mr Brown tbat tbe Engineer take the ! steps he may deem neoessary to restore the water raoe to the Wakanui fiat was lust. Consideration was on the motion cf Mr Friedlauder deferred till next meeting. MNANCB, When a question of repairing a couple of small groins was under consideration Mr Grigg moved *' that all [future applications for expenditure outside the , ordinary expenditure be scheduled and considered on their respective merits after the Oounoil has considered its financial position. " Mr Harper seconded the motion whloh was oarrled. BULWAaKS. It was resolved tbat two small at Wakanui, referred to by the Eaglneer, be repaired at a cost not exceeding £5 A DEMA-.8. ! It was deoided to laform Mr Weldon that. If he did not make good the damage whloh the Engineer reported that he had caused to a protective work, legal proceedings would be taken against him. PLANTATIONS. The Engineer waa authorised to have a strip around county plantations ploughed, as a safeguard agalnßt fire In caies where he may think tbe precaution requisite. WAKANUI CREEK, Consideration of the clause la the Engineer's report dealing with this matter was postponed, SLEErEBS. The Engineer's recommendation that the sleepers remaining over from the Mount Somers Railway contract be sold to Mr Peaohe, was adopted. IKBIOATION riBM. The matter of addition to caretakers' cottage was referred to the Irrigation Committee. SPECIAL MEETING. • Mr Harper moved that a special meeting of tbe Council be held on Friday. December 0, to consider the iiaanolal position of the Council. Agreed to. In reply to n remark made by Mr Grlpg In reference to the Council's overdraft Mr Ooßter said that during the late Council's three yeara of office only two rates had been raised. Had the whole three be levied there would have been no overdraft . The Chairman Baid Mr Coster could have gene further and said that the two rates which had been Imposed were eaoh very bad.

[Left Sitting.]