COUNTY COUNCILS

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16150, 2 March 1918, Page 3

COUNTY COUNCILS

ASHBURTON

The montbJy meeting of the Ashburton Comity Council was held yesterday. Present —iteswa J. Cairns (cliairtniui), C. Kcid, J. Lochead, A. iiorsay, A. lJrummond, '• H." ■M.cG iuness, W. \V. ■ Goodwin* and \V, G. Gallagher.

The Engineer reported, that very little progress wm being made with' the approaches to tho Ashburton traffic bridge, tho southern portion of which had been shortened, and the contractor was now a month behind hie contract time.

The matter was left in tho hands of the chairman and Engineer to. deal with.. Tiie Engineer reported that a traffic bridge at .Blowing- Point, up tho Ashburtou Gorge, would cost approximately £2250 for a hardwood structure or £4250 lor a. concrete bridge. He, however, was not- in favour of tho site which had been chosen by the petitioners for the bridge. Ho was of opinion that the most suitable site was at a point nearly opposite the Mount I'ojseefiion homestead. Air liochead and Mr Horsey were of opinion that a bridge was urgently needed, over tho rivor in tiiis locality, but before anything further was done the Council a'G a whole should visit tho locality and inspect the proposed sites. It was decided, to send a copy of. the Engineer's report to the petitioners, and to ask tJiern how much they were prepared to contribute towards tho co3t of thp proposed bridge, and that the Mount Somers Road Board pay the Council the sum agreed to. It was further decided that tho member? of the Council visit the locality and invite the petitioners and the members of the Road Boards interested to discuss the matter on the 6pot.

Mr Reid, in accordance with notice previously given, moved "That the Council undertakes the bridging of natural necks crossing roads in the county, and pay a proportion of tho cost of the same to liowd Boards on condition that the Council reserves itself the right to say what crecks should bo bridged, and that the Road Boards maintain the said bridges.

The motion-was seconded bv Mr Goodwin, I>ut it was decided to hold the matter in abeyance till the next meeting of the Council. A letter was Tead from the Mour.t Hutt Road Board, asking- for an annual grant towards the upkeep of the Methven Dpmain. Mr Ma-ginness and Mr Goodwin expressed the opinion that the Methven district had been treated very niggardly in the past in regard to grants, and it was time an annual grant was made towards the improvement and upkeep of the domain, and a motion, was put that the Council make a grant of £50 for five years. , As there was a resolution on the books providing a subsidy up to £30 • on the annual expenditure, the motion was allowed to lapse. It was decided to make a contribution of £000 to the Y.M.C.A. A letter was received from the RailwayDepartment, enclosing an account for £111 7s lid, for storage of Mount Someis tramway line material at Mount Soiners for five years.

The matter was left in the handa of the Engineer.

The- Engineer was requested to report on the enlarging of a water race running: through the Laghmor and Wesiorfield districts. so as to provide for watering a- large additional area of land.

I; was decided .o t;ike the necessary sicps to givo the Kangitata an extra member.