ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1346, 7 June 1878, Page 3

ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Wednesday, June 5. The usual monthly meeting of the Council was held at Ashburton, at 11 a.m. Present —Messrs W. 0. Walker (chapman), B. G. Wright, 0. Wason, A. Saunders, 0. Reid, and Bullock. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The Chairman said that the position the Q-overnment had taken up with regard to the Council’s financial position remained unchanged since their last meeting. The matter was becoming a serious one, and it was very likely that this Council would be asked to join the other County Councils in endeavoring to place themselves on a more satisfactoiy footing. The position of the Ashburton Council, was different to others as regarded the amount at stake; but it was clearly advisable to assist the other Councils in obtaining from the Government an account of the land fund accruing to them, and also the amount of the surplus land fund lying over, according to the Act. The letter alluding to the land fund would be read in the course of the meeting. A letter had also been received from the police authorities, stating that for the future the collection of dog tax would be handed over to the County Council, and it would be necessary to appoint an officer to collect the tax ip the several ridings. With regard to the establishment of pounds, he did not know on what footing—by agreement or enactment —they wore to be established. A pound was being put up at the cost of the County Council, but it was by no means clear that the expense should not be borne by the Road Board. The question of the slaughter house licenses and other fees would have to be considered from a preliminary point of view. The Council would see by the letter received from the Government that there was no immediate prospect of assistance in the erection of the County Council offices, and the consideration of the matter would have to be undertaken by tfio Council without loss of time, as it was highly necessary that the Council should have offices of their own. The seat in the Council rendered vacant by the unfortunate absence of Mr Mackay, of the South Rakaia Siding, would have to be filled up and a returning officer appointed to conduct the election forthwith. Referring to the sale of plantation reserves, as contemplated by the Government, he was strongly of opinion that the Council should have a voice in the matter. As a matter of revenue the Council might feel disposed to join with the Government in the sale of such reserves as were not wanted, At afl events he thought that the Council would be preferable as an adviser to the Government than the Waste Lands Board in Christchurch. A discussion would arise relative to the proposed, conference of the County Councils in Wellington to consider the several Acts Under which the 0 >uncils worked, and also to appoint a representative at the Conference. It would also be necessary to appoint a committee to report on the Sheep and Fencing Bills before the sitting of the conference. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was received from Wellington, stating i he appointment of Mr John Ollivier as auditor for the county of Ashburton. PLANTATION RESERVES. The following letter was read from the Under Secret,ary of Crown Lands with reference to the sal« of plantation reserves : General Crown Lands Office, Wellington, May 3rd, !878. Sir, —I have the honor by direction of the Hon. Minister of Lands to inform you in reply to your letter of the 16th ult. that it is not propos'd to vest the whole of the plantation reserves in the County Council as that body desires. Enquiry is, however, being made with a vi«w to the sale of the greater portion of the plantation as well as the railway reserves, and the question of dealing with such portions of these reserves as it may not be considered desirable to sell will be considered when the time for dealing with them arrives. I have the honor, &c., H. J, H. Elliott, Undersecretary for Crown Lands. MJf Qauhdera moved, and Mr Wason ' seconded —“ That in the opinion of this Council the proposal of the Secretary of Crown Lands to dispose of the plantation and other reserves in this county is clearly antagonistic to the welfare of the countyas such reserves are very desirable for plantation purposes in a large plain Jo devoid of trees, upd should at once bo placed under the control of the County Conned.” The motion wan agreed to. , COUNTY COUNCILS CONFERENCE. With reference to the proposed County Councils conference, to be held in Wellington on the Ist July for the discussion of important questions, in which all the Councils were concerned, it was resolved, on the motion of Mr Bullock, seconded by Mr Wright —“ That the Council be represented at the conference by the Chairman and Mr Sounders.” A letter was read from the Tuapeka County Council, requesting the consideration and cooperation of the Ashburton bounty Council with regard to the following resolutions which they had passed : 1, That in the opinion of this Council a 1! S?6 ; erves within any county district should ho vested in the County Council; and if necessary t < legislate upon the matter, that the Government be requested to take action during the next

session of Parliament to enable them to give effect to the same.

2. Contingent to the above being carried, that a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to the various County Councils, and the contemplated conference, advising their consideration and cooperation in the matter.

It was moved by Mr Wright, seconded by Mr Bullock, and carried—“ That this Council cordially agrees with the resolutions of the Tuapeka County Counci', to the effect that all the reserves within the counties (education excepted) bo placed under the control of their respective Councils.” ELECTION OF MEMBER. The Chairman stated that, owing to the unavoidable absence on several occasions of Mr Mackie, the member for the South Rakaia Riding, as explained by him in a letter to the Council, his scat had hecome vacant, and that it would be necessary to take steps to fill the vacancy forthwith, for which purpose a returning officer would have to be appointed. After some desultory conversation on the point, it was resolved that the clerk to the Council should be appointed as returning officer for the election of a member to succeed Mr Mackie. COUNTY COUNCIL LOANS. A letter was read from the clerk of the Wairarapa County Council, enclosing a resolution re loans for county purposes, which affirmed that they were of opinion that the Government should be strongly urged during the next session to make provisions for raising loans for county purposes by a Central Board of Works, with authority to distribute such amounts among the counties requiring loans on a definite basis, taking security on local rates; as such a body would undoubtedly be able to raise loans on more favourable terms than could he done by isolated local bodies. It was decided that the letter should be acknowledged, and the Council expressed their opinion that it was a matter demanding the consideration of the conference. COUNTY COUNCIL OFFICES. A letter was read from the Under-Secretary of Crown Lands re site of County Council offices at Ashburton, and enclosing copy of a “ Gazette” containing a warrant for the alteration of a site that had been set aside for municipal purposes to be “ a site for the Ashburton County Council offices,” but the Government could take no immediate steps towards erecting the buildings. A discussion took place with regard to the advisableness of hiring temporary offices for the use of the Council, and the suggestion was thrown out that perhaps the Road Board offices might be procured for the purpose. It was ultimately resolved that the Road Board should be communicated with on the subject. COUNTY FUND ACCOUNT. A letter was received from the Treasury at Wellington, stating that the sum of £2 2s 3d had been placed to the credit of the county fund account, and that the amount at the credit of the separate account of the county was £43,002 Os 4d, less £42,999 18s Id, the amount divisible amongst the Road Boards within the county. It was moved by Mr Bullock, seconded by Mr Wason, and carried —“That a finance committee be requested to prepare a petition to be presented to Parliament praying them to legalise the payment to the County Council of the whole of the surplus land fund accrued from 20th June to the 31st December last.” EANGITATA BRIDGE. A letter was read from the Mount Peel Road Board relative to the protective works of the Rangitata rad way bridge, and forwarding plan for the consideration of the Council. Mr Reid detailed the steps he had taken in the matter, and after some discussion it was resolved that the plans should be returned to the Road Board, with the recommendation that they shov'd forward them to the district engineer. LAND FUND. The following letter from the Secretary to the Treasury at Wellington was read : Treasury, Wellington, May 10th, 1878. Sir, -- Replying to your telegram of the 4th inst , in which you state that the sum of .£11,438 16s 9d, quoted by you as £11,427 16s Bd, remitted as the sum payable under section 6 of the Financial Arrangements Act, 1876, Amendment Act, 1877, appears to be erroneous, I have the honor, by direction of the Hon. the Colonial Treasurer, to inclose for your information a statement showing how the sum paid over was computed. I may explain tnat the land revenue receipts of any quarter are determined for Treasury purposes, not by the sum actually collected by the Receiving Officer, but by the amount brought to charge in the Treasury books during the period. Thus the sum of £4289, referred to in the statement, was not brought to account in this office until the acoounto of the March quarter were closed. It will now appear in the Treasury books as revenue of the June quaiter, and the county will receive its 20 per cent, in respect thereof in due course. It was resolved that the matter should be allowed to stand over.

A letter was read from the Under-Secretary for Crown Lands, stating that in reply to a communication from the Council transmitting copy of resolution re unsold sections in Ashburton township, that the survey w ; ll be undertaken as soon as possible if recommended by the Land Board. REPAYMENT OF SUBSIDY. A letter was read from the Hon. John Hall referring to the repayment of half the subsidy for the quarter ending 31st March, advanced by the Ashburton County Council to the Rakaia Gorge ferry, admitting that such half subsidy was a fair charge against the revenue of the county, but referring the Council for payment to the Colonial Treasury, by whom those revenues are disposed of until the Ist of July. The eeoyetai j was directed to acknowledge receipt of the letter. RAILWAY RESERVES. A letter was read from the Under-Secretary for Public Works, in reply to a communicatiou from the Council, conveying their opinion that it is not desirable to construct the railway on the one chain reserves made for the public roads, but that, where necessary, a special reserve of one chain should be taken from the adjoining sections. The Council were informed that, after enquiry, it was found practically the arrangements suggested by the Council are now being carried out. The letter was ordered to be acknowledged. ASHBURTON ROAD BOARD. Application was made by Mr John Grigg, on behalf of the Ashburton Road Board, for a share of the money now at the disposal of the Council, as the works already under contract would absorb nearly all their available funds.

The secretary was directed to reply that the Council were not in possession of the necessary funds, but when they were so the Road Board’s claim would be favourably entertained. SHEEP AND FENCING BILLS. A letter was read from the chairman of the Selwyn County Council, forwarding copy of a circular which had been addressed to the chairmen of the several County Councils on the subject. ft was moved by Mr Wright, and seconded i by Mr Bullock, and carried-- 1 ' That the chairman be appointed to attend the conference relative to the Sheep and Fencing Bills.” PUBLIC CEMETEBY. A discussion arose on the subject of cemetery requirements, and a resolution was passed appointing a committee, consisting of Messrs Bullock and Wright, to report at the next meeting of the Council on the general cemetery requirements of the county, and to , suggest the distribution of the land fund at ' the disposal of the county for that purpose. MUNICIPAL BESEBYES. The question of reserves being set aside for municipal purposes occupied the attention of the Council, and a resolution was passed, moved by Mr Bullock, and seconded by Mr Wright—" That the Government be requested to reserve all lots marked in pink on tho map of tho town of Ashburton for municipal purposes in accordance with the Municipal Act.” NOTICE Of MOTION. Mr Bullock gave notice that at the next meeting of he would apply for a an re of'’money to fence the Agricultural Show Grounds at Tinwald. WATER SUPPLY. A committee, consisting of the Chairman, and Messrs Wright and Saunders, was appointed to inspect and decide on the tenders for a survey for a water supply for the plains between the Rakaia and Ashburton rivers. Sundry accounts having boon passed for payment, the Council adjourned.