SELWYN COUNTY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1493, 28 November 1878, Page 3

SELWYN COUNTY COUNCIL.

Wednesday, November 27th. The first meeting of the richly-elected Solwyn County Council w .s held at noon at the Provincial Council Chambers. Present— The Hon. John Hall (chairman), and Messrs I). Knys, Matthias, K. J. Lee, J. L. Wilson, McMillan and H. W. Pevyman. APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN. The Chairman stated by the 55th section of the Act he held office as chairman until the i lection of hi successor. Mr Matthias proposed that Mr Hall be reelected for t e ensuing term, for he had proved a most efficient chairman. Bis own opinion was that the chairman should receive an honorarium, but Mr Hall had declined to accept it. Mr Lee seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Mr Hall briefly returned thanks for the honor done him, and said he should continue to do his best for the interests of the county. Mr Jameson read the lint of newly-elected members as sent in by the returning officers. the chairman's remarks. The Chairman made the following opening remarks:— . . Malvern "Water Race.—Of the business arising out of the proceedings of the late Council the most important is that relating to the Malvern water race. In compliance with the directions of the Council tenders have been invited for the continuation of this work for a distance of 2$ miles : these tenders are now ready for your decision. At a late period of the last session my attention was called to the necessity for legislation conferring on the Council power to manage and protect this race. I was enabled to get an Act pas-ed for this purpose. To render this Act operative the race must be vested in the Council by the Governor, and I would suggest that the Council should at once apply to the Government for this to be done. Petition from part of Upper Waimakanri Road District.—This petition for the transfer from the Ashley County to the Selwyn County of a part of the above district, was postponed at the list meeting of the Council. Before you decide upon agreeing or otherwise with the prayer of this petition, I would suggest that the merits of the case be enquired into by a Select Committee. Lower Rakaia Ford.—l have prepared for your consideration a scale of the foes which appear to me reasonable for the services to be rendered at this ford. If you approve of these fees, I will forward the list for the approval of the Ashburton county, and invite applications for the office of fordsmaa on the terms already decided upon. Plan iug Keserves I rust.—The letter from the Government requesting the S lwyn county to nominate two members of a trust to be constituted for the management of planting reserves in the Canterbury provincial district h is not yet been answered. I shall be glad if yon w 11 decide u:>on the names to be recommended for this purpose. Standing Committee on Koad Diversions.—The committee appointed by the late Council for the consideration of all applications on this subject has of course lapsed. Its operation was found to be satisfactory, and I trust you will re-appoint it. ' Christchurch Public Cemetery.—The trustees of this cemetery ha-e applied for any balance of , thrt grant in our hands, to us-ist them in enclosing and laying out the cemetery. 'Hie Conference on this subject thought it desirable that so soon as an eligible opportunity presented ! itself, a piece of land should be eooured to the ' westward of the city as a cemetery for the - western suburbs, from which the one already > purchased is inconveniently distant. Subject to 3 provision being made for the above purpose, I t think that any balance in our li mds may be paid 3 over to the trustees as requested. The vendor of the land already purchased chums inter st or: j the purchase money for the time for which the completion of the purcha-o has stood over through no fault of his own. Und r all thi 3 circumstances of the eve, the claim seems t( e nje a reasonable ope, Rakaia Ferry.3 In accordanca with arrangements made with tin t Government and the, Ashburton County, tin o management of this ferry now rests with tin o Council. A renew 1 of the lease to the Is e February next was prom sud to the preseu i lessee, but has never b;en executed. in r public accommodation house attached tothe fcrr. n ha 3 been accidentally burnt down, and as there i ( another house of the kind within a very bhor distance of the ferry, I can see no occasion lo 0 its bein" rebuilt. You will perhaps think i n advisable that applications should be at quo d invited from persons willing to undertake tin '• ferry after the Ist February next. ttoad i >«• Kakaia Gorge Ferry.-There U at present but le very circuitous ivad, almost impracticable io le wheeled veluslea, \>y whi h the Lukaia Gorj. to Ferry can be reached from the north side o. tb !t Rakaia. A reco t survey by Mrd/obs-m In u i shown that a very fair road can be made .vt lv reasonable cost. A sum of money applicable t y this purpose stand: to the credit of the Selwy l ' e and Ashburton counties in the Hank of Nts je Zealand I would propose that, with the coneu retice of the Ashburton county, tenders for tfl

work be invited, to be submitted next meeting. | Appointment of members to countersign cheques —lt will be necessary that you should, in pursuance of section 105 of the Counties Act, nominate two members to countersign cheque. , Giavel and Pound R serves— he .. inister for ( Lands having intimated his readiness to transfer ( to the county gravel and pound reserves, 1 have j caused a hM of such reserves to be prepared, > and now request yinr authority for making a formal application' for having them vested in the ] Council. Oflice accommodation—The temporary ! < arrangements now existing for the transaction of j the business of the Council are felt to be very | i inconvenient and unsatisfactory. The meetings of the Council also have up to the present time j been held, by permission of the Government, in , the Council' Chamber; but although no inti- j matiou of a withdrawal of this permission has reached me, the Chamber has been fitted for the sittings of the District Court. For the above reasons, I would suggest that enquiry should be ' made by a committee as to the amount of ac- 1 commodation which is really necessary, and as to i the best arrangements which can be made lor 1 that purpose. Their report to be submitted to 1 your monthly meeting In December. ,D°g 1 collars-1 request your authority for obtaining j the necessary supply of dog collars for the ensu- , ing year. Finances—The sum standing to the ( credit of the general account of the county . amounts to .£10,107 18s 7d. Before taking any steps with rciard to its distribution, you will probably wish to have before you a statement of J the proportions in which it has arisen from sub- ' sidies, and from laud revenues accruing in the c several districts of the county. Should this be t the case, I will cause a statement to be prepared 1 in readiness for your ordinary meeting next E month. i TENDERS. I Throe tenders were opened for the continua- ( tion of the Malvern water race. That of Mr J. Fraser and Co. was accepted for £2456 Is. A resolution was carried that the chairman bo c requested to apply to the Government for the c Malvern water race to be vested iu the Selwyn County Council, in accordance with the Act. I INSPECTOR OF SLAUGHTER HOUSES. ] The monthly report of the inspector of j slaughter house-) was read and approved of. [ Several slaughtering licenses were granted. c UPPER WAIMAKAItIKI. A petition was read from a number of the , residents of the upper part of the vVaimakariri . district, asking that they might be severed from the Ashley County, for the purpose of being in- l eluded in the Selwyn County. !1 Mr Enya moved—" That the petition here- c ferred to a select committee, to bring up a report i at the next meeting in December; the committee v to consist of Messrs Matthias, lee, and the v mover." r The Chairman said the district spoken of had earned for the Ashley County Council some v thousands of pounds. j, Mr Enys said it embraced an area of 100,000 acres. , The motion of Mr Enys waj seconded by Mr c McMillan and agreed to. e THE LOWER RAKAIA FORD. V The Chairman said the work to be done at 6 this ford was the guidance of horsemen aero s. p iljjThe Council proceeded to fix ascale of fees. f, It was resolved to invite applications for the s position of fordsman, and to submit the scale of fees for the approval of the Ashbr.rton Council. PLANTATION RESERVES. The letter from the Government on the sub- ° ject of the appointment of two members of the b plantation trust for the Cou ty of Selwyn was f read. It has «lready been published. Mr Matthias proposed—''That the Ministry be requested to appoint Messrs Lee and MMillan " Seconded by Mr Wilson and agreed to. . STANDING COMMITTEE ON ROAD DIVERSIONS *' The following gentlemen were appointed on P this committee—Messrs Hall, Wilson, Pery- u man, and Dr Turnbidl. v PUBLIC CEMETERY BOARD. _ L A letter Wiis read from this boly, askin? the fo Board to h>nd over any funds which th-y might r hdd to their credit. '1 he balance now in hand v was rath'r le>s than £OOO. j The Chairman said they ought to reserve a t portion of this money for a cemetery on the west side of Christehurch. . Mr Pcryman moved—" That the balmco of » the cemetery grant be p id over to the Cemetery I B >ard on condition of their undertaking to es- r tablish a cemetery in the western suburbs of I Christchureh." 1 Seconded by Mr Wilson, and agreed to. n RAKAIA GOUGE. | ; It was resolved to advertise for a man to act c as ferryman at this gorge for twelve months, beginning on Feb. Ist. _ It was resolved that, subject to the approval of the Ashburton County Council, tenders * be advertised for the construction of the northern ' approach to the Bakaia Gorge bridge. ' CHEQUES. C The following members were authorised to ri countersign cheques—The Hon. John Hall and t Dr. iurnbull. c " GRAVEL RESERVES._ , It was resolved to make application to tho Government for gravel and pound iciervcs, as j shown by a list produced. ■, OFFICE ACCOMMODATION. IJ The chair.nan pointed out the necessity that l existed for better accommodation for the Coun- * oil. There was a large room at the Union In- c surance Company's building that might be s obtained. A committtc was appointee, to in- t quire into the matter, consisting of Dr. Turn- E bull, ihe chairman, and Mr Wilson to report at ; the monthly nice'.ins in December. , DOG COLLARS ( Some discussion took place on the suniuenoss of the police on the subject of registering dogs, and prosecuting the owners of non-registered animals. Ihe chairman was requested to write to Mr Inspector Broham, urging the police to > strictly enforce the law in this respect. FINANCE. < In answer to a question from Mr Wilson, the j chairman stated that the suburban Koad Boards j received a very large proportion of the sub- , sidies. ~,.,, I Mr Wilson thought the distribution last year was very unfair, the Road Board to which he belonged only receiving 3 per cent. , COURTENAY. ( An application was made by the Courtenay Boad Buard, asking the Council to represent to Governmen- the necessity of a road being made on the railway reserve from Courtenay to Kir wee without the Board being obliged to fence it. LINCOLN. An application was made by the Lincoln Road Board, asking the Council to recommend the Government to gr nt them fifteen acres of land for the purpose of a cemetery, and appoint trustees as nominated by the Boad Board. The Council passed a resolution accordingly. ACCOUNTS. I A number of accounts were passed, and ordered to be paid. HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID. The Chairman s'tid with regard to the Hospital and Charitable Aid, he had received no fur her communication from the Government. After some notices of motion had been given, the Council adjourned until Friday week at half-past ten o'clock.