ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1757, 3 February 1888, Page 3

ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Ashburton County Council was he'd to-day. Present Messrs W. 0. Walker (Chairmai ), 0. J. Harper, H. Friedlander, ">&. G Wright, Jai- Brown, J. Jackson, aid J; Grlgg. An apology for the absence of Mr John Holmes was received. chairman's statement. The Chairman in a few well chosen words returned thanks for the honor the Council had done him by re-eleotlng him Chairman. The Chairmen said :— The Count il will have observed with regret that the proposed rabbit fence in South Canterbury htajnot yet proceed beyond the deliberat ve stage in spite of the urgency of the case, the' large interests both colonial and provincial at etake, and the expressed opinion of experts io favor of ttie fence. The Council, if of this op r nion, might help materially by passing a resolution assuring Government that it is most desirable that ihe work should proceed. All the rate notices for the general rata have been issued, and the sum of £160 14s 8d on account of this rate has been paid to the Council's credit — Tbe manager of the Union Bank informs the Council that the rate to be charged on the Council's overdraft will be 7 per cent for the ensuing half year. — The Tinwald Town Board asks permission »o bring a eupply of water from creek on Fraser's Road, to be used for fire prevention purposes for the township. •—The s-elwyn County Council writes enquiring if this Council is io fuyour of continuing tbe ford at Dobbins, tno period rfor whioh this Counoil apr < \ to pay ' towards this ford having teim:nated on the .Slat December last —Tho Mount Somers Road Board draws the Council's attention to the dangerous state of Booth's Cutting, oaust'd by the construction of the tramway*, also forwarding a letterf rorn Mr D. Pot's on this subject, and su.gests the erection of a fe oe in the dangerous parts of tbe cutting. — The Committee appointed by the Council to coneid<-r the byelawa of tbe Ashburton Traffic Bridge have met, and will piesent tneir report to day — 1 be Haropstead Town Board has app'ied for a water supply for fire pievention. This subject came before the late Conncil and the KSngioeer reported on it, the report being furnished to the Town Board. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The Engineer's report was read as follows . — Ashbarton-Bangitata Water Supply : Tnis service has been very well maintained during last month. The sources of supply at Hinds gorge and Limestone creek have been gradually decreasing and care has new to be exercised to distribute the supply evenly. Occupiers are now giving more attention to the question of maintenance and the only interruptions whioh have occurred recently have taken pleos through the blowing in of tussocks Which has more or less been the case annually at this Beason of the year. —For the Wheatstone distriot some minor repairs were •xeeuted recently, and a good service has been kept up in all the raoes except small branches H5 and H6 which will have little or no water till No 2 creek there is cleaned out. Some Of the settlers at Waterton have a short supply solely on account cf their not oleariog Out a portion of upper end of races which falls to be maintained by them jointly. The Jiortion referred to is in the vioinity of gorse ence drain. It would appear also that Wheeler's ereek whioh communicatee with this drain has been tampered with to some Client. Plains Water Supply: The repairs at Padding Hill have been executed with the exception of pitching at by-wash whioh will be pat in hand Boon. The boulder protection at Drayton has been completed and the sluice at Mount Harding will be erected in a few days. Several fords have undergone repairs during the month and the races have been kept well supplied. Threshiog machines are now at work in the distriot and these will have to be closely watched and owners proserated when waste or tampering occurs. The service in Wakanui flat has been fairly kept op. The inlets at creek and river require a good deal of attention on account of tbe foul condition of the former and shifting nature of the latter. There is now a good supply in the race near the river, but some of the occupiers, along the course are very dilatory in the matter of maintenance. Wakanui Creek : With reference to the improvements which I reported on as necessary In the vicinity of outlet for main for Wakanui Flat, and also from Smith's road upwards to the Canterbury Flour Mills, I understand the owner of the mills is prepared to defray half the cost of both these sections. In the interests of tbe water supply especially, the lower one should be undertaken first, and this of itself would give a certain amount of relief for tbe upper seotioc. You will observe •lso from the accompanying letter that the increasing accumulation of silt is assuming a serious aspeot so far as the mills are concerned. Traction Engines : Farther damages have ' been occasioned by these during ihe month OB Ashburton traffio bridge, bridge at Digby's and Upper Bangitata bridge. In the latter ease engines were prohibited from crossing altogether. Upper ßangitata Bridge: As requested, I have prepared an estimate of re-decking 800 lineal feet at south end of bridge. This, inoluding the necessary renewals of a proportion of tho longitudinal bearers, and the using up of 100 spare planks now on the ground, would amount to £850. That portion of tbe bridge will not be safe for engine traffio until this is done, and even for ordinary dray traffio thore is considerable risk in the present deoayed condition of that portion of the bridge. The extent of repairs or renewals would of course, depend on tbe amount which may be rendered available for effecting them. South Approach Bakaia Gorge Bridge : I have prepared specifications for retaining walls, etc., for the above, and tenders will be placed before you to-day. Wheatstone Main Drain : Materials have been supplied for the maintenance of bridges for publio road over the drain at Wheatsheaf, and the LoDgbeach Boad Board askß for materials for re-decking corresponding bridge at end of Terrace Boad. Irrigation Farm : The oat crop3 are now all stacked, and the caretaker awaits instructions as to threshing. The cow grass which was irrigated is growing luxuriantly, and sheWi a marked contrast to the other. WATER RACES. It was resolved that ihe Engineer be glrtpttd'to fake prompt action iu all cases of negleot of oleaning raoes after du,s feetlca has been given. W>RANDI CRBfK, Mr C. W. Tomer wrote stating that la ft short time the mill would be unable tc work if the silt went on lucreas'ng in the ereek. Tbe Engineer had previously reporter! that relief would be given by straightening the oreek for about 17 chains below Smith's road and from Smith's road t' Sooth road deepening and widening th< creek. The coat of these "t orks would b< £24 and £17 respectively, Mr Brown asked if it would hi necessary to shut cfl the water when'th< works were undertaken ; if so, grrat hard •hips would be caused to the settlers win were dependent on the creek for the! •npDly. The Engineer said that it would not b necessary to shot eff tbe water to doth work mentioned in bis report. This wouh give relief, and tbe other work could atam Over till later in the season. •• It was resolved that the Eoglneer hav Instructions to remove tbe silt ab'ov Smith's road, as pointed out In his repot §jte> that Mr Turner's offer to pay half th 6oitbe aooepted. ■ "«• • • RANGITATA TRAFFIC BRIDGE, - Consideration of the report of tb Engineer was deferred till next meeting V " ASHBURTON TRAIFIC BBIDQB. The Committee appointed to cooslde the* regulation of traffic on the brldgi submitted a report containing a nambt 0* luggestlors to be embodied in by-law Concerning the crossing of traction engini s'nd machinery of various sorts. Thei Were several, alterations to the' exist ic by-laws. T.he proposed' amendments wei footed, by tbO <7Q\jqo|l || follows. |-

i That a responsible person ahoind Or j appointed who is to ba notified of the I ; intention to cross and to accompany trac.ion et g'ues over the bridge, and without whose permit and attendance no ergine shall crossEngines and mrcMnery exceeding 12 tons to bave a special permit from the Engineer. Each tractior. engine to pay a fee of 10s. Times of oro3sing for traotion engines— daylight to 8 a.m, 12 to 1 p v m. and 6 p. re. to dark. All precautious against Gre to be takeu to the satisfac ion of the official. A man with danger flig to cross the bridge ahead of the engine so as to stop wheel trtffio while engine is crossing. Rite of speed of engine to be uniform and not more than one mile an hour. Portable engine* reapers and binders (>xoept thoße on ihelr own carriage) and o her machines exceeding lift in width shall be subject to tbe saran restrictions as to notice of crossing attendees of officer and man with danger fhg but the fee shall be 2s 61 and they shall give! way by stopping for other traffic. It was decided to take tha necessary steps towards bringing the new by-laws into operation. The Committee were instruoted to make arrangements to engage the official to superintend traotion engine traffio. IRRIGATION FARM. Mr Harper, for the Irrigation Committee, reported ss fol'owa : — On Thursday the IQ'h, I visied the farm ia company with the Chairman and Mr Fritdlander, and found that the portion irrigated had derived much benefit. The cutting of tho oats on the porti <n not it righted wan proceeding, 1 instructed the oare taker to give tho oats and tbe green crops another watering, which was done tie fo'lowng day ihe irrigated portion of the oat crops has been cut and will shortly be iu stuck, when the benefits of the irrigation of this crop will be seen. The irrigated clover, potatoes and root cr ps show a most maiked d.ff renoe as compared with the nun- rrigatoi porion. Mr Harper asked what the Council would au horisethe Committee to do, now that tbe outs had been cut After a lengthy conversational discussion it was resolved that the Committee hive power to hkim plough what land they deem "dvs»b'e, and th.t they briiig up a report as to what work they tuiuk necessary for next year. Mr Brown's name wee added to the Irrigation Committee. TBACTION ENGINES AGAIN. The Wakaoui R»ad Board pointed oat t v e danger to ordinary wheel traffic, aud i the pn bible damage to bridges through there being do restraint to truotion engines travelling the distriot. They asked the Council to make certain bylaws, an outline of which -hey append, appl cable to the Road l-istrict, if it was not deemed desirable to make them apply to the whole County. The letter was referred to tho Committee who were appointed to cods der the regulation of traffic on tbe bridge. RETURN Pursuant to notice vlr Brown mov.d, "That a return be Drepared, showing up to the 31st March, 1888, the who o of the moneys pa : d away as grants, and the who'e of the moneys expended on wor^s within tho boundaries of each of the eeven ridings as they are nov define^, and showing the acrengo of the freehold land in each riding, and the rateable value of each riding ; also the total cost of the waterworks in each of the three districts, and the mi'eage on which water rates have been levied in each of the districts, and the number of mi'ex of water races which have been made wholly by private individuals at their own expense, distinguishing those which are euppl ed with water free of charge from the County waterworks." Mr Wright seconded the motion, which was carried, POSTPONED. Consideration of the notices of motion standing in Mr Holmes' name was pootponed till next meeting because of tbe unavoidable absence of Mr Holmes. PAVMBSTS. Accounts were pissed for piyrcent. THK METHVKN SLAUGHTERHOUSE. With reftrjnee to the application for the renewal of tholicdnßn for thes'aughterhouse at Methven, consideration < f which had been deferred from last o.eetiog, Sergeant Feltoo, the loppactor, reported very favorab'y, stating that the y<trd and house were very clean, aud that he oould offar no objection to a renewal being granted, Tbe renewal of the license to John Baker was grvited. f. f' -'Hinß.l