ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1808, 6 April 1888, Page 2

ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

lhe ordinary monthly meeting of the Council wns held this morning Present : Mess bW.O Wulker (Chairman), 0. J. Harper, John Grigg, E G. Wright, Jas. Brown, H Fried lander.

oh airman's statement. TheOhrtirmansaid :— The sum rf £373 15s 9d, on account of subsidies, has been paid to the Council's credit as per parliculurs furnished by the Property-tax Department, which ar3 placed on the table. — There will bo alao paid the further sum of £351. 15a lOd on this account, particulars of! which have not aa yet been received. — The Government advises that £60 3s 8d will be placed to Lhe Council's credit for rates on Crown Lands. — The Council's solicitor has prepared a special order for regui'atipg traction engine traffic on roads from the minutes passed by the Committee appointod to consider thia subject, a>id tlna will be laid before the Council to day for its approval. — The Selwyn Oouocil writes to say that the Government has decided to retain the control of the Hakaia

Gorge bridge, and recover the cost of maintenance from the Selwyn and this Council, m equal proportions, and that Oouncil suggests that the balance of the apeoial grant be equally divided, to be placed to a separate account to meet any demands for maintenance, — The water raoe charges books are nearly completed, and will be advertised on view shortly for the information of ratepayers concerned. It has taken some time m preparing them, as this is the first time these charges have been made out m separate districts. — The six months and yearly balances are placed on the table for the members, information. —The amount of ratea paid to date is £1697 17a Id, leaving £3229 8a 3d outstanding. — Ihe exchanges with Mr Huwdon for Plantation Reserves, as agreed to by this Oouncil, have been duly gazetted. — Dog collars have been supplied to Mr J Tucker, South Rakaia, and the i Olerka of the Mount Somers and Mount Hutt Road Board districts, these gentlemen having been recommended by the various Road Boards to Bell collars. ABBENOE, Messrs Holmes and Jackson sent apologies for their absence. ' The notice of motion standing m Mr Holmes' name were postponed till next meeting. -*" engineer's repoet The Engineer reported as follows : — Aahburton-Eangztata Water Supply: Thia service haa been very fairly maintained during the month. The supplies from the souroes of Limestone Creek and Hinds Gorge are now improving a little, but as yet are not copious enough to serve all the races to the northwest of Mayfield-Rangitata road, and very little more can be done towards improving the oervioe for that district, during the dry season of the year, short of tapping the Rangitata river. The main ohannel is soouring a good deal where it descends from Hinds Gorge into the old gully, and some parts require to be sloped down and cleared to some extent to prevent darjger to stock, The work necessary will be done next week. Some stoppages have been occasioned by the accumulation of wire-weed, but not to any large extent. The supply m the Wheatstone district is being well kept up. lie the additional supply petitioned for by the Waterton settlers, I have, as requested by the Council, taken levels over the various routes suggested, with the following result:— A supply cannot be taken from Ford's Greek to Spioer'a Greek through Messrs Osborne's property without cutting up the paddocks m a most objectionable way. If taken along Mr Wm. Anderson's Upper Boundary on a gradient of 1 m 450, a large expenditure would have to be inourred m deepening and widening the present ditoh. The extra depth at Us junction with Spicer's Greek would be about 4 feet, and at Whepler's Greek 5 leet. I find, however, that little or nothing of the supply whioh the Gounoil opened up to Wheeler's Springs find* its way into the gorae fence drain because of the obstructed condition of the ohannel crossing lilr Anderson's paddock. When this is olearea and a little better fall given there, I am of opinion that the Bupply Will be quite bUlliuienb for tho raooa m that distriot. The channel, however, from whero it leaves Mr MoQuilkin's land, all the way up to the eouroe at Wheeler's, will have to be treated aa a main and maintained at tho oommon cost of the settlers who are supplied. If it should be thought advisable further to utilise the supply which oomas down alongside Ford's road from Ford's Greek, this could be done m a simple and inexpensive way by leading it aoross the road near Flemington and downwards by the pound and along Dawson'e road. The accompanying section was taken on route along Mr W. Anderson's upper boundary, whioh route for the reasons above given, I would not recommend.

Plains Water Supply : The recent freahets have caused some enoroaohment of the North Ashburton River near the intake of auxiliary water supply, and the willow planting there should be supplemented at as early a date as possible. Some slight irregularities of flow have taken plaoe through the blockage of some of the junctions with straw and weeds during squally weather, but these were attended to as soon as possible, and the rangers report the races now as m full flow. Farmers will be busy greater part of th,is, month with threshing operations, but early next month the half-yearly overhaul of raoes should be commenced, as tho mains will also require to be cleared more or less by that time. This will apply to all the races m the County, the races to be taken by rotation a,s formerly. The servioe m the Wakanui district is being well kept up, and the repair of culverts requiring it has been attended to. The portion of new race along river road is on the point of completion.

Mount Somers Water Supply : The raoes m this district are still amply supplied. Wakanui Creek Improvement : The oontraot for this work near Smith's road has just been completed.

North Aahburton River Bridge at Digby's : Some minor repairs have been exeoqted reoently.

Guaging Streams : I have again completed the two-monthly record of streams and rivers between Ashburton and Rangitata. South Approach Rukaia Qorge Bridge ; The work authorized is m progress. The contractor has cleared and is keeping dear the outting, but has been unable to do anything towards the building of retaining walla on aooount of rough weather. Irrigation Farm : Specimens of produce, irrigated and non-irrigated will be plaoed before you to-day for inspeolion. WATKK SUPPLY, la regard to the petition of Watorton settlers the firat portion of the Engineer's report was adapted. The eeoond part it was deoided to postpone. CLEANING* OF WATER RACES, Councillors wore of opinion that it vrould be inadviaable to shut off the water m the raoes till ths beginning uf June., as it wts Improbable threshing would be over till about the end of May, The matter was postponed till next meeting. HEADWOBK3. The matter of willow-planting was left m the hands of the Eugineer. OCTIYBRTB. * Some diaousaion took plaoe In regard to delegating the control of culverts to Road Boards, arising oat of a motion proposed by Mr Browa that the control of certain culverts m that district should be handed over to the Wakanui lfoad' Board. Messrs Harper and Grlgg favored Mr Brown's motion provided it vyaa made to apply to the whole County; sAt Wright suggestod (that the mutter be deferred. Thoro wero threo members of the Oouncll absent and the question was one that might be beat left uudeolded till Mr Holmes' notice of motion regard-* ing the dlvfsion of the County were decided. Mj Gi'lgg did not ace the objaot of deferring the motion, The 0 aim oil had already given the control of fords to the Road 3>ard, and it was evidently an oversight that the control of oulvarta had not been handed over at the same time. Mr Harper pointed out that no harm ponld result from carrying the motion as the Oounoll had already deoided that the Road Board should not have power to take op culverts, Tho motion would only give ( poire* fa repair, 1

Mr Wright would have no o>j ction to the motion being passed if it were d!etlnotly understood that Road Bo»rds Bhouid only have power to repair culverts, and not to remove them.

Mr Brown referred to the groat dela? hat sometimes occurred m gutting oul-

verts repaired when these were under the control of the Council. Ha moved " that, the Road Boards ba aakid to take ohargc of the water raoo culvert b m their respective di3ttiote." The motion wa3 dniy' seconded and carried, and a motion wag also carried that a reaolu'ion on the Council's nslnata book m regard to. culvorts m the Wakanni district ho rescinded at next meeting. ' STORM WATER Mr Grlgg moved " That the attention of Mr Holmes, the mover for the Committee to consider the question of storm water drainage, be called to the importanoo of the aufcjeot and that he ba requested to call a meeting of that Committee as Bo<m a? possible." Mr Friedlander seconded the motion whloh was carried. ENCROACHMENT, Mr Grlgg Bald that he had the report of Mr Baxter on the enoroaohment of the River Binds at Boundary road. He asked the Oounoil to authorise the carrying out of the protection work, Thte work would not be any charge on the Council, it would be carried oat at the cost of the persons interested, but private individuals had no power to undertake the work without the consent of the Counoll. He moved m this direction. Mr Wright said that he knew the facts of the case and he felt it hia doty to oppose Mr Grlgg'a application. Toe work had really been oommanoed. Mi Grigs : No, no. Me Wright : Excuse me, the Lon^beaoh Road Board oc Mr Grlgg m his private capacity, or some parties had soooped oat a channel to divert the stream from the north bank to the southern. So long as the Counoll did not sanction this coarse, it would not be responsible for any damage that might be caused, bat if it sanctioned any interference with the river it might become responsible to property owners on the south side for work done on the north side, and so get into trouble. He knew that the owners of the Lowoliffe and Ooldatream estate held adverse views on the question of river protection to the property owners on the north bank of the Hinds and they had been at loggerheads over thla matter j for years past. [ Mr Grlgg wished to Bay a few words m f reply to Mr Wright. He did not desire

the Ooanoll to take any action without having the fullest information before it. It was true some temporary work had been done, but the work now proposed had no reference to that. He had the

report of Mr Baxter m his hand and it would oonoldßlvely show the proposed work had nothing to do with what

had been previously done. The Oounoll could not In jcißtice make apy exception In dealing with the Hinds to its aotlon m regard to other rivers. Mr Wright himself had pointed out that some protective work was necessary In the Interests of the Council, the Road Boards and property holders. He did not wish the OounoU to give its consent without having the fullest information and he would be satisfied if a Committee were appointed to consider the matter. As Mr Wright had objeoted ho would withdraw the motion he had already tabled. Mr Wright said that if a committee were appointed and all the parties interested informed of what waa proposed to be done, and their consent obtained, be would havo no objection, but it would be impolitio for the Oounoll to give its sanction to an application auoh as was first made Mr Grigg then moved ♦' That a oommittee ba appointed to conaldar whether the work recommended m the report of rha Engineer with roferdnoa to protective worka nor,r Boundary road, Hinds river, be oarried out with the oouatnt of the Counoll, but at tha expense of the persons interested, the Committee to oonaist of the Chairman, Messrs WrJghfc, Harper, and the mover, ' The motion wbb carried(Mr Coster took his Beat.)' IRKN3ITION.

Mr Harper read the report of the I Irrigation Committee as follows ;— Messrs Harper and Ooster, the only members of the Committee who attended, visited the farm and found the clover on the irrigated portion growing luxuriantly, affording a great contrast to the weakly plant on the non-Irrigated portion. The potßtoea also exhibited jast as marked a contrast aa the clover. The oat stacks have been thatched to await ohoffontting, when bags are procurable aud ohaff more saleable. The caretaker was instructed to bring samples of produce grown on the farm from the Irrigated and non-irrigated portions, for the Inspection of members. We recommend that the land now In the Btabble, and which has been skim ploughed, be laid down to grass, with barley and oats, half of which to be irrigated as before, and further tests made with rootß, with a view of ascertaining to what extent root oropa can be benefited on land of similar quality. Some discussion arose ia reference to the last clause of the report. Mr Grigg Baid that it waa a question whether the expense of an experiment that was more particularly for the benefit of property holders who had land of the Barne quality as that of the farm should n,ofc be oharged to those benefited. However, ho would not object to the continuation of the experiment on that ground. Mr Harper said that the Committee had parefully considered the question of qontinuing the experiment, and they had poino to the conclusion that it was desirable to do so. They had not taken qyer the farm m time to properly experiment with grain crops, but with regard to the other things grown there could bo no doubt that irrigation wa.B a grand succesß. Councillors would see by the exhibits m the room that the clover and grass that had been irrigated were a hundred times better than those which had not. Of course it was a question for the Council to consider whether it was right to go on conducting experiments for the education of those people who had bo much land, the production of which would be increased by means of irrigation. Me had no hopes that the experimental farm would pay the Council ; its small size, and the oircumstanceß under which it »vas conducted precluded thatv Mr Harper then referred to tho benefits that would follow a general Bcheme of irrigation, and eaid that if we had such here he believed the Council would get enough revenue from the water to carry out all its works and would not require to raise other rates or taxes. Mr Coster said that although £3QO, odd, had been spent this year, the cost would be nothing like that next year. Mr Qrigg asked if the caretaker would be kept on Mr Coster said that it- would bo a question for tho Ootnmitteo to consider whether it would be bettor to continue the carotaker or to get tho work done by oontrnct. Mr Harper Bald they oould not dispense I with tho caretaker, whose spare time oould bo employed In attending to the Oounoil'a plantation adjoining the farm. Mr Brown said they might do without the caretaker for two or three of the wlutor months, but at no other time. Mr Friedlauder said that the question was whether the experiment should bo continued or not. All the matters of detail oould be deoided. when that had been settled He moved that the matter be deferred till next meeting, and that the Committee should bring up a farther report aa to the oost of the proposed further work qr th? farm for the ensuing

twelve' months,

Mr Wright seooaded trc motion. He dil not think th*t \he O>nnoll were disposed to take a rs&rrow viaw of this quosMon. The exhibits that were m the room ahnwed conclusively the great benefits of Irrigation, and he was pleased t-i ace ouch good results. He thought that whan the Committee were considering the raatt9r they migh^ see if some economy might not be effected m regard to the caretaker.

Mr Fflrdlander moved that the fipeolmona from the farm be exhibited In some central place. He was willing to allow his auction mart to be used for the purpoee. Me Harper second the motion, and sagseated that after the exhibits had been shown m Ashburton. Bay a week, they shuuid bo sent to the A, and P. Association at Ohdatoharoh. FINANOEi, Mr Brown pursuant to notice, moved, ' That bhis Council i 3 of opinion that la balancing the accounts, the whole of the liabilities of the Council, Ino'ading all oontrac'-a m hand, on the first day of April, 1885, should be divided pr» rata according to the present valuation, and from that date till the 31st of Mar oh, 1888, a statement of accounts should be prepared strictly m oonformity with sections 146 and 146 of the Counties Act, In order that the financial position of eaih Riding may be oorreotly arrived at." The motion was aeoonded by Me Grlgg and oarrled, PROSPECTING. Mr Wright's notloe of motion to the effeot that the Obnnoll oonaider the expedlenoy of granting a aum of £250 for the purpose of opening up the Alford Forest and Mount Somera mineral distrlote for prospecting pnrpoaei, wai postponed till next meeting. WAKANUI WATEB OOTJBSBS. In accordance with notice given at the last meeting of the Council, Mr Brown moved : —«• That the Oounoil's solloltor be instructed to stop any prosecution be may have Instituted against the settlers on the Wakanui Flat, for not removing certain fenoeß at the request of the Oounoll, aa the matter m dliipute Is now under the control of the Wakanui River Board." He explained that he moved m this direo* tlon baoausa the Oounoil's solicitor had already written two letters to each of several parties and nothing had transpired that would lead to the supposition that the matter would not be brought Into Court. A River Board was now m existence which had the matter of dealing with the overflow of the river under Its sole control, and the Oounoil had no right to Interfere In that dlstrlot now

Mr Wright and other Councillors mainsained that as yet the Council was not m a position to knuw what the toope of the Wakanui River Board's fucotlons were, and that notices might have been aervad on persons outside the River District, and further that the Council did not contemplate handing over the control of the water courses to the River Board, PAYMENTS. Tha monthly accounts were passed for payment. [Left Sitting.]