ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1909, 3 August 1888, Page 3

ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL

The ordinary mouihly meeting of the Aihbarton County Oour.cH «rss held this morning. Present : Meters E. G. Wright (chairman), H. Friedlander, J. Grlge, J. Jacksnn, Jas. Brown, 0. J. Harper, E, S. Coster.

chairman's statement.

The Chairman aaid : — Tbe Commissioner of Grown Lands, m reply to the Council's application, has written intimating that it ■hould bring before the Government Its claim under Section 23 of the " Lind Act Amendment Acr, 1887," for a share of the prroseds received from lands deal' with under the deferred payments end perpetutl lease system towards payment of water races through Crown lands, bb n Hal of such lands tre submitted to tbe Government next month. This matter has been referred to Mr Walker m Wellington, who states that It is reoelvlng his attention. A-letter has been received from the Mount Hutt Road Board stating that at ft meeting of ratepayera the resolution of this Council respecting the division of the County and proposed abolition of the Road Boards has been approved of. Eton Road Board In this County his been furnished with a copy of the bye-lawt for regulating traction engine traffic on roads. The Commissioner of Crown lands states that he is preparing a list of the Plantation Reserves to be lent to Wellington for gazetting purposes and to be vested la this Oonnoll. Tbe ■mount of £3598 13s 7d baa been placed on tcoount of general rates', and £304 10a lOd for water charges. The Bank overdraft has been reduced to £1675 19a sd. The fUmpstead Town Board have written to say that they hive failed to come to an arrangement with the Borough 'Counoil respecting the proposed wtter supply for their district, and request this Council to take the matter up. The ohairmen of the Wtkanol and Longbenoh Road Boards forward copies of resolutions passed at the ratepayer*' meetings and by their Boards respecting the proposed division of the County and the abolition of tho Road Boards. engineer's report. The Engineer reported as follows: — Plains Water Supply : The severe flood of last week has resulted m no injury to the head works further than causing a considerable accumulation of silt m Pudding Hill dam, and at intake of auxiliary ohannel, and consequent temporary diversion of the water at these points. A clearance has baen so far effeoted as to allow of the supply being restored, though some further work is necesBary for the putting of the mains m order. The dam at Mount Harding, and Chapman's creek extension there got silted up considerably. The cost of clearing the latter will probably be from £12 to £15.— The races taken as a whole are m very fair order m this difltriot now. Such occupiers as were behind with the work of clearing their races and who recently reoeived notices, have, for the most part, responded by doing the work required. —The Wakanui creek has also been shut off for a few days, but the supply of the races fed from source is likaly to be restored tomorrow.

ABbburton Rangitata Water Supply : The floods have done no damage at the headworks m this district, and very little damage on the Rangitata Plain generally. Several occupiers have been at work recently improving their racefe, and the system generally is getting into fair order.

Floodwater Ohannel, Montalto. — This ohannel haß been damaged to some extent, but as the scour is not likely to extend as far as the road line it does not seem necessary to undertake any repairs at present.

Meant Somers Water Supply : Some minor repairs are being ezeouted m this district, necessitated by recent freshes, the aggregate coat of which will not exceed £5.

Plantations : The reserves recently ploughed near Chertßey, 130 aores, are now being diso harrowed and prepared for the sowing of the wattle seed which will be commenced on Monday .next. Tenders will be placed before you today for ploughing reserve 2673 Westerfield, 126 acres. The filling up of reserve 1782, would take 2000 trees, and that near Mayfield 4000 trees. Irrigation Farm : About 42 aores have been ploughed here as arranged and the contractor has made a commencement with the drilling of barley. The gorse on road adjoining this reierve is being grubbed. . Window Waterton Drainage Scheme : As requested I attended at Flemington on 9th and 27th July to supply preliminary information as to extent of proposed district, the nature of works, etc As a Committee was appointed to take the initial steps m this matter I presume they will make an early report to the Council on this subjeot. Upper Rangitata Bridge : Tenders will be plaoed before you to-day for redeoking 800 lineal feet at the southern end of the bridge. Hinds River Improvement Boundary Road : Tenders will be placed before you to-day for this work m one contract, or alternatively m two oontracts. THE WAKANUI CREEK; Mr Weight who had been appointed to oonfer with representatives of the Borough Ooanoll and mill proprietor, reported that at the meeting it had been resolved to ask the Borough and mill proprietor to each contribute £10 towards the cleaning of the oreek, the County Council to contribute the balance required over and above the contributions of the residents. The resolution referred to cleaning of oreek from north-west boundary of R.S. 18041, to south-east boundary of R.S. 16611, a dUtance of about three miles. It has been further resolved that the mill pro* prietor and Borough Engineer should be jointly requested to regulate the supply of water so that the quantity of water brought m at the intake should not exoaed the requirements of the mill turbines.

The report wa« adopted, and it was reiolved to ask the st tilers Interested to pay one-third of the coat of maintenances and the Council the other two-thirds, Inclusive of the contributions of the Borough and mill owner. BRIDOR MAINTENANCE, Mr Brown moved •• That the malntenar.ee of all bridges exceeding 30ft apin that have been constructed by the Council or by any Road Board m the county be charged to the general aocount." The motion was not seconded and lapsed. A DANGEROUB FGHD. Mr Harper drew the attention of the Council to a dangerous ford m the Tinwald town district. He said that a culvert had been taken up m the last few days and a ford, which was like a great dltob, substituted. After tome discussion, the Engineer was instructed to inspect the place. STOBM WAlfeß. A disonssion arose m regard to storm water near Tinwald. Mr Bar per said that the natnral outlet was a cretk, which, however, was too email to carry off all the fijod water which found Its way into it. The Chairman indicated a notloe of motion he intended to gjve for next meeting, dealing with the subject of stojm water m this district. Mr Harper said that the present matter had nothing to do with the question referred to by Mr Wright, the water whioti found its way into. the oreek he had mentioned, being storm water off the roads m the vicinity;

The matter dropped, it being nnderetood thatfe motion would be brought up at next meeting.

PAYMIKIfI Accounts were passed for payment. OFFICE- HOURS.

Mr Frledlander suggested that the office hours should be extended on Saturday; 4 great many oountry paople were unable to transact their business on woount of the office being closed »t one o'olock on the only day they oould conveniently visit the town.

It was resolved that In future the office ■hould be open till three o'clock on Saturday afternoons, and be closed on Wednesday! from one o'clock

HAMPSTEAD AVAXEE SDrPLY.

A lengthy letter wai received from the Hampttecd Town Board, asking the Gondbtl to furnish * water' supply for \he town dtitiiot, the Board undertaking to peg* » proportion of the ooit,

Mr Brown said there was no doubt thr diatr'ot was mnoh m need of the wat r supply, The Engineer had reported on a scheme, which would only coat £30, t! c water to be taken, for a sm*ll portion cf the way only, through the borough He moved that the Englneet'd suggestion be adopted, and th? mnt'er left In the hands of the Chairman to arrange with the borough. The Chairman poin'ed oat that the Borough Works OoranJttde hid indicated certain difficulties which they said were m the way of providing a wator anpp'y for town district. He thought it would be better to refer the m\tter asjain to the Engineer, who c;uld consider "if thpae dlfihaltiea oou'd ba overootne. The Engineer's report would bo reidy for next tnefct:ng, and the loss of time would not be grea^. Tho Chairman's suggestion was agreed to, and the matter referred to the Engioeor to teport on the beat meanß of meeting the wishes of the inhabitants of the town district. FLOOD CHANNEL. Mr Wright gave notice to move at next meeting— "That the Council invite tenders for the construction of the fbod ohannel from No. 2 creek to the Ashburton river, along the line of road known as the old Timaru track " BAKU A GORGE BRIDGE. , Mr W. 0. Walker wrote m regard to the special vote for Rikaia Gorge Bridge. The Minister would consent to the balanoe being divided and. placed to special account for each coucty. The Minister, however, will still retain the power to be consulted as to expenditure. THK BINKING ARRANGEMENT. Mr Grigg brought up the question of the banking arrangement. Some of the accounts were m oredit and some overdrawn, but m charging interest on the overdrafts the bank made no allowance for the accouota which were m credit This, In considered, was not at all fair to the Council. Mr Friedlander endorsed Mr Grigg'e remarks, and, after some discussion, it was resolved that the matter be left m the hands of the Chairman and Air Grigg, with power to act. DEPUTATION. Mr Protheroe waited on the Oonnoll and asked that a drain near Waterton should be widened. It was now too small to carry iII storm water. During the last flood there was water on tho road for three days, doing great damage to property In the vicinity. It cat off all means of getting into his housa, and threatened to wabh the mill away. The cost of improving the drain would not bo more than about £14. In reply to the Chairman, Me Protheroe aald he would himself give £2 towards the work. He did not know if he coald c >lleo' half the amount. Mr Gtigg said the work referred to was very important, lie would bring the matter before the Longbeach Road Board and he had no doubt that between the Road Board and the persons interested half the cost would be subscribed. The matter was deferred to next meeting. BRIDGE. The Longbeach Road Board drew tbs Ooanoll's attention to tbe bad state of the decking on a bridge over the Wheatstone drain, at the junction of the Terrace Road with the Wheatetone Road. The Engineer roportod that the plankIng should be serviceable enough for some time ye^, and it was decided to forward a copy of his report to the Board. APPLICATION, The Tinwald Town Board asked the Council to veßt In tha Board the gravel reserve on Fraeer's road adjoining tbe Domain, so that if any nuioaoco arose from the manufaoiure on the reserve the Board would deal with^the matter. It wai decided to give the Board permission to occupy the reserve. BACE ON WAKANCI FLAT, Mr Brown brought up the question of water race on the River road. Last May tbe Engineer reported that to p-event the race being blocked it would b& neceeaary to pnt m tutf walls, This report was not acted on, bb the matter web referred to the Road Board to arrange with Mr S Brown to take the raoe through his property. No amicable arrangement had been come to with Mr 8. Srown, and it was now for the Council to see if they could take the race through that gentleman's property. In any ceeo turf walls would have to be put m, and he would therefore move — " That the turf side walls to the water race on the river road, which were recommended by the Engineer, m his report on May 4th, be erected, bo as to prevent their sides from continually slipping and stopping the water supply " The motion was seconded by Mr Coster land carried. NOTICES OF MOTION. The following notices of motion for ext meeting were given : — Mr Coster to move ; •' That a vote of the ratepayera be taken bb to the advla«blenesß of raising a loan for the purpose of sopplemvnting the water race system by taking a supply of water from the Rftkeh." Mr Brown to move : " That the Chairman nnder the advice of the Oonnolls's solicitor be authorised to have the River Road race continued through Mr S. Brown's property so as to connect the severance caused by flood." TENDERS. The tender of Barnes and Smith for decking portion of the Rangitata bridge, the material to be used to be heart of black birch was accepted. BTOBM WATER COMMITTEE It was resolved that a meeting of tbe Storm Water Committee should be hold at Methven as soon as practicable. SPECIAL MEETING. A. special order levyiog a rate m the Ashburton Forks river district, to pay the interest on the loan was adopted. The Council then adjourned.