ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1962, 5 October 1888, Page 2

ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the AshbuTton County Council was held to Jay. Presmt: Mobbis VV 0 Walker (Chairman) 0. -T. Harp r, H. Friedlander W MoMilliin, Jao- B own, B. S. Coater, Julian Ju-kson.

An apology f^r'absenoo vrai re eived from Mr <Mi»g.

CHAIRMAN'S 6TAXBMENT.

The (Jhnirmtn said : — '['he Returning Officer r-poita 'ho doo'ion of Mr Wm McM lln i UH a mombitr for tho Mount Hutt Hiding, v\ the place of Mr John Holmeß, resigned, — Mr Goodwin bas noceptod tho reduction of rent for the plantation l\'o3t>rvcß leasad by him, and the necosßary re^plutio.i r -latiog theroto har" b r en prepared by the Oouucll'fl aolioito". The Glirifctohurch 0 oiit»ble Aid Board bab app iod for tho baliuoj of tbo amount due by this Coanoil, viz., £761 Os 10J. — The '> urine D partmont forward* a copy of the iftfjherios Bil , whioti it is proposed to introduce again to Parliauieut next session and aeks the Counoil U make any BUggestionß or remarks it may vvi&h tho con — Litton from Messrs ffolaieß and Loughrey, rea|.eoiing allege.) d image dene by the storm ohannel at Mathven, to the propertied of Messrs John and Gordon Holmes respectively) will be re*d to dby — Mr Bowyer h b aJao wriitan oomplainintt of the Railway Djpartmem wide: iog the storm channel between Mativen an I Oairn^raa aid points out the damage that will take place m oon eeqnence of the aotion of that Depart* mont. — Tho Committoa appointed by the Council to consider the aooount for pro paring lease of Mount b'otnora Tramway, and the matter of providing auxiliary water supply, - South Rikuia plains, have met, and will present their reports to -day — The Provioolaj Planting BoardLhas xc mitted the sum of £150 12s Bd, whioh sum has been placed to the cred t of the

Plantat on Reserves Fuod»— Mr (ieorge Jameson has refunded 5 per cent on the cost of the seeds obtained from him for the irrigation farm — The amount of rates collected to date is £4068 12a od, leaving £858 12a lid outstanding. The sum of £502 0a 10J hau boon paid for water oharges, out of a total of £071 10a.— A letter from the Oonimmioner Grown Lands, stating the amount accrued from the sale of deferred payment and perpetual lease lauds, and stating what steps the Council has to take before any money on thiß aocount oan be paid to i' f will be read to-day. engineer's bepobi. The Engineer reported as follows :— Upper Baogitata Traffio Bridge : The contractors report that a considerable 1 quantity of timber for redeoking is now cut, but that owing to some ot the bush roads at Oxford being washed away they do not expeot the timber forward for about a fortnight. | X South Asbburton River Bridge, Hood's 1 Grossing : The willows have been planted m river bed at south approach as requested, and these will be fenced m shortly. The fencing of the road forming the south approaoh is now. very much broken down, and partially decayed, and several rails removed. There would be required about I 60 top rails and 25 posts to restore the ; fanoing at both ends of the bridge. North Aabburton Bridge at Forks : Some minor repaitß of deoking are being eieouted from time to time pending the arrival of deok timber for this and other bridges m upper dietriot which will arrive shortly. Aehburton-Rangitata Water Supply: The willow planting at the headworkß has haen ' completed m the South Ashburton river bed. All the races m the district have a copious supply at present. With reference to the question of road alteration near the head* works m rural seotions 25144 and 21105, the accompanying plan shows the deviation required whioh would cover the line of the present track at the base of the cliff.— Ro proposed new raoo for Messrs Ballantyne and others.- Two-thirds of tho requisite amount for construction has been paid m. When the remaining third is paid tenders will be called and the work put m hand. Mount Somera Water Supply : The races m tnie district aro not yet m good repair, but I will take stops to have the necessary improvements oompleted during tha month. Taylor's Stream Bridge : The groin is not yet repaired, as old rails from the Railway Department are not at present available for the purpose. Plainß Water Supply : The various minor repairs at the headworks, auxiliary channel, dam Mount Harding, and intake of E8 water raoo have been oompleted, and tho willow planting at the in'et of auxiliary ohannel will be commenced at onoe. The distribution of water throughout the distriot is satisfactory. The deolivity of flume over Dry Greek has been increased, whioh will lessen the lodgment of water, complained of by Mr Baker, i Wakanui Flat : The river is now nearly aoroßS the road m several places, and a connection of the race there would be somewhat risky, and might only last for a short time. PStormwatsr Channel, Mount Alto: This! he« been scoured with boulders at a cost of about £7, and there ib now lens danger of the head raoo there being intercepted. jRc the matters m Mount Hut( roa,d distriot on wbiob a deputation from that Board interviewed the Counail. The bridge for storm water channel at Gairnbrae baa now been re* ereoted and I have arranged for a clearance of the ohannel being made near Morris. As to the storm water m R.S. 25617, this matter was previously referred to Messrs Gould and Gameron, and 1 beg to annex their reply of Maroh 14 last; So far as regards cost an expnndituro of £7 or £8 would take the water through the fence after adjjustraept of race, but the course of the river is by no means

dear, and einoe the d>te referred to a field

drain hae been oat alongside ths road. Tbjs of oourae would beoomo inoperative if it were to be oonvertodjinto a flood drain. The raising of tho bridge and approaches at slaughterhouse, Methven, would oont about £12, and, as I previously explained, the water- way there was always deficient, irrespective of any of the Council's work. I would, however, re* commend, that the Council defray half the oost of the work. As to repairs of Chapman's oreek, near West's I should explain that before any water supply was introduced, the road bridge there became undermined through exoeseivo soour, and the Hoad Board had to remove it, after whioh they made a orosalng by filling up the bridge pit wjth atones, the drop from whioh caused considerable soour from time to time, whioh they made up with boulders. The Counoil, after water' supply was slurted, added somewhat to the work the Road Board bad ezoouted, and so the matter remains. If any further proteotion is authorized here, I am oi opinion that the Board should be asked to contribute half tho oost.

Plantations : The sowing of blue gum and atringy bark, At Ohortsoy, will be flaishoa In a day or two. The ploughing at A.rjama ii m progress. The annual outtisg and grubbing of gorse m the county plantations should be undertaken now. Too gorse ia spreading a good deal on some of them. PDDDI'O HILL BRIDGtH It was resolved to draw the attention of the Engineer to the state of approaches of this bridge. ROA» EXCHANGE. The qnostion d road oxohango near head works, Raogltala District, referred to In tho Engineer's report, was loft In the hands of the Chairman of Council «nd Ohtirman of Rangttata Road Board. Taylor's stream bridqb. The Chairman having reported that the late fresh had favorably affootod the stream for that purpose, It was deoldod to Instruct tho Engineer (o have the willows planted for the protection of groins at Taylor's stream bridge. WATRR BACK, WAKANUI FLAT Mr Brown urged the necessity of restoring tho water race on River Board. For an eipetd tare of about £3 the race oonld again bo utilized. The Engineer snid that the coarse pointed oat by Mr Brown was the only one by whioh the settlers affaoted could have a water supply ; at the same time a certain amount of risk would be Incurred. Mr Brown did not think there would bo any risk, He had no doubt arrange* mania could bo made with the River Board to take obarge of the race. Members generally thought . the views of the River Board should be aioffftalned before pvootedlpg with tfat work, >

Mr Brown d-precated any delay. Ultimately I. .van decided on the motion of Mr liar per that a Committee oonsltking, of the Chairman, Messrs Brown, Filedlnnder, and Harper should Inspect the spot and havo the work oarrled ont at once if they thought advisable.

BTOBM WATBR, M00»T HUM MBTRIOI.

The EDglneor'a report on the matters brought before the Council at Iti last mncting by a deputation from the Mount Butt, Road Board, was considered. The various mnters referred to wert considered seriatim,

It wan resolved that the race through R.S. 25617 should be lowered so at not to obstruot ntorm water.

MrE. W. Bowyer wrote stating that the railway department was widening the storm channel ft Oairnbrae, and as la result he would suffer great damage In times of fl>od. —It was resolved to refer Mr Bowyer to the railway department The paragraph m the Engineer'! report In respect to bridge at Methvon slaughter house it was decided to refer to the Mount Hutt Road Board.

The paragraph In the Englnear'i report In regard to Chapman's Greek was alto referred to tha Mount Hutt Road Board, Mr Jaokson presented copies of reso* lutlons passed at a pnblio meeting held at Metbven to consider the question of storm water, and also a oopy of a report by Mr Dobion.

Mr Jaokson moved that the neouiaff steps be taken to define the dratntge district as asked by the meeting of ratepayers.

A oommlttee consisting of the Chairman, Messrs Coster, Brown, Wright, McMillan, Frle dlandar, and Jaokson was appointed to define the boundaries fISH irrigation. Mr Harper moved " i bat ft. oOmmlttae consisting of the Chairman, Messri Fried* lander and the mover be appointed to define No 4 Irrigation District to enable the ratepayers to proceed to petition th« Oounotl to form that dlitrlot into Ml irrigation dlfttt lot PAYMENTS. . , Acoounts were pasted for payment. HAMPdTEAD WAXBB SUPPLY . A letter waa received from the Borough Council In reference to the water 1 apply from Hampitead, stating that the Council was willing to afford any reasonable faollltles to the Town Board. The lettar pointed ont what the Opunoll had done la the matter la* the past and forwarded copies of reports by the Works Committee, A Oommlttee, oonslstlng of the Ohatf man and Mr Brown, was appointed to confer with the Borough Ooonoll and Hampstead Town Board on this matter. CHAPMAN'S OBBBK, Mr E. Ohapmnn watted on the GoaneN In reference to Chapman's oiaek, whera some work t > prevent dsmage to proptxty was nrgontly needed. Messrs McMillan and Jaokson with the Engineer were requested to Inspect lha oreek, and report at next meeting. WATBRTON DRAIN.

Mr Protberoe waited on the Oonnoll la referenoa to drain ta the Watertori dlitriot. This In times of flood overflowed, doing great damage. Tbo Longboaoh Road Board agreed to pay ooe-thl.d of the ooitofoirrplngout the naoeiikrp work, and Mr Protheroa aib*d the Coandl to ooatrlbate a like amount m whioh ease ha would undertake that the remaining third ■hnuld be paid* '

The oost of the work wm estimated *t £14.

It was resolved, on the motion 'of Mr Brown, that tbeGounoil should contribute one-third of tho estimated ooit of tho work.

AUXILIAEY TTATiK BDPPLT. "• . t The Committee appointed to oonitdet the matter of an auxiliary water supply from the Rakala river, and the amount to be borrowed for the time and ottjer matters Id oonneofclon therewith reper'ted, that a at meeting of Ooroinl tee, tl c following resolutions bad been oarrled :—Re■vWud tb»i tho money shall bn borrowed for the purpose of lrlga'.loa »nd supplementary water supply aider the Ooautlei Act, 1886 and the Ghgernment Loam to Looal Bodloa Aot, 1886 Resolved that ths boundaries of the proposed district be u» followo ; — Boundaries set forfh : Roughly speaking the proposed district includes the land between the Wakanuj Greek and Btikala River on the east aide of the railway Hoe ; on the westward of the Una the district extends nearly up to Methven; —Resolved that £4000 It the amount necessary to be borrowed for the parpOM of making snpplementary water supply and Increasing the present raoea; by 100 mllea In the dlstrlot described heretofore. — Resolved that the solicitor be Instructed to prepare the uooessary ipeolal order to bring the Loana to Looal Bodlei Aot. 1886, Into force foi the said dlstrlot, and the Engineer be asked to ealoulate tho aoreage and asoertaln the amount of rat« to be paid to meet Interest and linking fand, to be paid under the Government Loans to Looal Badlei Aot, 188«.— • Resolved that four aoples of petition be> prepared to comply with the Counties Act, and for obtaining signatures, and that f onr plana of proposed diitrlot be on view as provided by the Aot— Resolved that Mr Ooatei be authorised to engage fourteen eanvassert to take round the petition.

MrOoiter, the Chairman of the Com* mittee, moved tho adoption of the report; The oommlttee after length y oomiderttlon had deolded upon the boundaries ihown In the map. . Mr Jtokion seoonded the adoption of the report. . ■ ■ -I The motion wai oerrled. , WATER BiOB,

Mr Wenton watted on the Council And complained of hta neighbor Intercepting' the water mo?! thm oanilng him mnoh inoonvenlenoA The Qnglneer laid that the rtoe referred to wm not under the control of the Conn* oil. , Mj Weiton B«ld he nndentood permit•lon to take the water had been granted by theOoandl, , .., , It »ai decided that the matter ihooldl be looked Into. * , ' PLANTATION OOMinTTKK. The Plantation Committee reported that It hnij deplded to oill for tenderi for outtljjg foncei, stubbing and trimming gotto. ; (Left ilttlng.) , ■ ,