ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1729, 4 September 1879, Page 3

ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Wednesday, Sbptbmbbb 3,

Present—Messrs W. 0. Walker (chairman), Reed, Grigg, Cameron, Saunders, Coster, and Jackson. -no. Mr Cameron apologised for Mr E. G. Wright's absence'. chaibman's statement.

The Chairman made the following statement :—I have nothing of great interest to report to you at tin's meeting. Tha applications for ferryman fyr Lower Rangitata will be one of tho subjects for your consideration, and tenders for erection of bridge over Taylor's stream, and for pound at Mount Somen, another. With regard t • tho proposed Lower Rangitata Ferry, I have written to the steward of reserves, asking him if the Government have instructed him to hand over to the Council the reserve and ferryhouse connected with the proposed ferry, as obviously the well working of the ferry requires that they should go along with' it. The lease of tho Ashburton pound and house expires in October next. I should feel obliged if you would inform mo what you wish done in the way of. providing a poundkeeper for this pound, anfl in the event of deciding to let. the pound, if you think it desirable that a longer lease than one year should be granted. The Borough Council have takeu steps to level Baring square, and intend planting same. This will be a great benefit when the chambers are erected and inhabited. Tho contractor has signed the contract for the chambers, and has commenced the erection of them. Messrs Garrick and Cowlishaw inform me that the County valuer has signed the agreement, and the same will be placed before you to-day for putting the Council's seal thereon. The return of acreage liabilities and expenditure' for the several'ridings has been prepared, and will be placed before you. EHGINBEIt'S BEPOET.

The engineer's report was then read. It ran as follows :

Ashburton, 3rd September, 1879. The Chairman Ashburton County Council. Sir, —As requested by tho Oouacil at their last meeting, I have prepared duplicate plans and. specifications for bridge over Taylor's stream, Alford Forest, and also for pound in the same, and have sent copies to Mount Somers Rood Board. Tenders for these works will be placed before you to-day. Bridge for South Ashburton River, Hood's Crossing —I now beg to submit estimate for three different designs for bridge on this site : Design No. I—Spans of 40ft., iron piles and timber superstructure, similar to that adopted for proposed extension of Rangitata road bridge, but with roadway reduced from 20 to 17ft. in width, and. assuming the ironwork now to hand for RaDgitata bridge to be used here. £ s. A. Cost of ironwork at Lyttelton ... 1972 7 0 Commission, Bank charges, insurances 217 0 0 Railway carriage, Lyttelton to Winslow 250 0 0 Road carriage, Winslow to Mount Somers, 160 tons at 25s 200 0 0 Driving pileß, No. 83 at .£3 ... 261 0 0 Erecting ironwork 228 0 0 Timber erected, 13,4081 cubic feet at 4b 2681 14 0 Painting 150 0 0

£5963 1 0 Design No. 2—Bridge entirely of timber, 40ft. spans 5765 0 0 Design No. 3—Bridge entirely of timber. 20ft spans 5325 0 0 Ton will therefore observe that design No. 1 is the most costly of the three, but the difference in price, I think, should not preclude its adoption, when it is considered that the_ more important portions of the structure, being of iron, would be of a durable character, and also that it is extremely unlikely that timber piles could be driven satisfactorily, or to the requisite depth, on that part of the river. Indeed I am informed that an attempt to drive wooden pile 3 for a footbridge there, about fifteen months ago, resulted in failure ; and in view of the difficulty of pile driving, it would not be advisable to have smaller spans than 40ft. The forming and fencing of approaches to suit design No. 1, on gradients of one in twenty, I estimate at £483; and for designs No. £ or 3, £7O. This difference arises from the former finishing at a considerably higher level than either of the others, in order to suit the dimensions of materials which are now available. At the same time I may stite that this very circumstance of increased height, at that spot, would be the means of rendering the bridge suitable for the purposes of a combined bridge, in the event of the railway taking that route, while ! the lower levels of the other two designs would not answer in this respect. On the whole I should be inclined, for the reasons given above to resommend the adoption of No. 1 design, at a cost, including approaches, of £6146. There would of course be a large refund by Government of that sum, in the event of their coming to use the bridge for railway purposes. There would be thin further advantage, that as the iron piles referred to are already provided, operations conld be commenced almost immediately, while if timber piles are attempted on this site, they will require to be of the very best description of iron bark, and there would be considerable delay in getting them from Australia. The material for North Ashburton river bridge at Digby'a has not yet arrived, but is expected shortly. Mr Butt, the contractor for Hinds bridge, has a large quantity of timber at the Hinds station, bnt he is unable to remove it in the meantime, until operations on the surveyor's road are sufficiently advanced to render it passable. The pound at the Hinds will be finished in a few days, and there is now a further payment due to the contractor of £l2O. Flood Water, liakaia Plains.—As requested at last meeting of Council, I put myself in communication with the Chairman of Bakaia Boad Board, with a view to his arranging a day for my meeting with Government Engineer, and one appointed by Boad Boards. I received his reply yesterday, from which you will observe that an early day is likely to be fixed for this purpose. . The questions of approach to Bakaia Gorge bridge and the petition for water supply Mount Somers district, I hope to report on at next meeting of Council. With reference to your request to_ report on }he threatened outbreak on that portion of the north branch of the Ashburton Biver, referred to in accompanying letter from the chairman of the Upper Ashburton Boad Board, I have now, in company with the overseer of that Board, carefully inspected the damage referred to, and beg to say that it is «, case which calls for immediate action. The encroachment extends from Mr Joseph Gosde's property for a distance of upwards of a mile lower down the river, and the banks along the greater portion of this length are in imminent danger of being swept away in the event of further £ooding taking place. The river bed is rapidly extending landwards, and already several portions of the hedges and fences which, till recently, were several chains distant from the river, have now -been undermined and carried away. The river is still working that way, and there is such a rapid fall outwards in that direction that very soon, even under an ordinary flood, there would be nothing left there in the Bhape of river ibant; the water would inevitably flow ont on to the surface, and the consequence would be tfcat it would form a permanent channel, leading into the south bianchof the Ashburton Biver, aud obliterate not only the roads, but the property at present situated in that vicinity, between ttc two branches of the river. The primary cause of this damage is the set which the river has gradually obtained by continuing to flow in a direction at a great angle to the general course of the channel, near Mr Goode's. It thus forces itself .against the gravel banks, at-d finds its way along tho .course of some old dry creeks, which are so narrow that the water attains great velocity, and is so much the more liable to endanger tho property near tho river banks. In the present circumstances of the flow of the river, the deposit of silt on the lower side of the bend referred to is accumulating more and more, which tendt to aggravate the evil; and it seesna to wo that relief should at once be given to the channel there, by scooping out a sufficient quantity of this deposit near where the divergence takes place, so thtt the channel would again be formed near the contce of the river bed. This would be the means of straightening the course, and so deepening it, in a position which would tend to render both sides of the river comparatively safe. This done, the protective works , required over the damaged portions wonld bo comparatively inexpensive. An embankment | .filled in with gorae and atones would be required

noar the commencement of a groin of about thirty yards in length on Mr Church's land, and two largo crates filled with stones at two points at Messrs Weldon's, with an embankment and fascines between these points. I believo the Messrs Weldon are prepared to execute the embankment and protection required between these two crates if the other portions of the protection are proceeded with. At the latter point the greater part of the damage might easily have been averted by the timely scooping oat of a very small grip nearer the centre ot the river. Indeed, Taken altogether, this is a case which clearly illustrates the principle which might be followed advantageously in the prevention of many portions of the bank of the rivers flowing through these plains. The judicious and timeons employment by a board ot conservator* of a small gang of men in simple wo'ks such as I huve indicated would tend much to the guiding of the conrse of these rivers, and to preventing encroachments, which would otherwise necessitate the construction of works of a much more expensive kind. With reference to the expense of protective works requred for the portion of the river above alluded to, I estimate it at .£l5O, if the work is carried out as suggested. The Upper Ashburton Road Board are, I believe, prepared to carry out the work, and to contribute the greater portion of the amount required for repairing th : s damage, but they expect the residents who are mainly interested to aid also in the matter, as well as a grant in aid from the County Council. And taking all the circumstances into account, this seems to me to he really a case for the favorable consideration of the Council. I have the honor to be, sir, Your most obedient servant, "William Baxter, County Engineer. It was resolved that No. 1 design for South Ashburton bridge be adopted, and tenders be called for, subject to the approval of Mount Somera Road Board.

It was determined r 3 Hinds bridgo, that a copy of the paragraph referring to it in engineer's report be forwarded to Lower Ashburton Road Board. lie protective works, Ashburton, consideration deferred till after committoe's report. COBBESPONDENCB. Correspondence was read— From Hogg and Co., Mr Passmore, tho Chief Surveyor, the Lower Ashburton Road Board, Mr Holland, and the Chairman of the Upper Ashburton Road Board. PETITION. A petition was presented by Mr Charles Reed, asking that tho site of the bridge near Digby's bo altered, from near Digby's to present coach road. It was signed by sixty ratepayers. The Chairman opposed reconsidering the matter, but at the same time regretted there had been any misunderstanding. It would be unsatisfactory to the public, the contractors, and everyone, if the question of site, after being definitely settled, were re-opened. The bridge at the site asked for would cost three times the money, and besides that the engineer reported the site unsuitable, and they had put the bridge as near the crossing as possible. ' Mr Grigg said that probably those signing tho petition were not aware the site they asked for was unsuitable for the erection of the bridge. The Chairman said the banks at the site asked for wore unsuitable. Mr Coster and Mr Jackson the petition should be granted if possible, as the present proposed bridge made the road to the township more than a mile longer. After some further discussion, in which it was stated the present crossing could be used eleven months out of the year,_ It was resolved that the petition be acknowledged and engineer's reports relating to proposed sites be forwarded. The Council regretted the memorial had not been handed in before the second contract was let. ACCOUNTS. Payments for August were passed. BY-LAWS. Resolved—" That the time when the bylaws for Hinds and Mount Somers come into force, be deferred till next ordinary meeting." LICENSES. The question of deciding as to amount to be paid for pedlars' and hawkers' licenses was deferred till next ordinary meeting. It was resolved to ascertain from H. M. Customs if pedlars and hawkers in the county pay license?; if so, how much and how many have been issued. HINDS POUND AND COUNTY HOSPITAL. It was decided to pay balance of account for Hinds pound and any progress payment on hospital before next ordinary meeting, if certified to by engineer and architect. ABHBUBTON POUND. It was resolved to invite applications for poundkeeper for one or more years. Applicants to state what sum they would pay for privilege of collecting pound fees. BUILDINO COMMITTBB. The building committee reported they recommended the acceptance of Mr Parkin's tender for the erection of a residence for the County Council clerk at £675. . Mr Walker said he had much pleasure in proposing an allowance of £1 per week for rent of house be made to the clerk from July Ist. That gentleman had discharged his duties most efficiently, and he was happy of this opportunity of complimenting Mr F. Mainwaring on the admirable way in which he had fulfilled his duties. The report was unanimously adopted. TENDERS 808 MOUNT SOMBBS POUND. Tenders for the erection of Mount Somers pound were opened, and that of Messrs Teppett and Co., at £240, was accepted. taylob's bbidsb. Tenders for this bridge were opened, and that of James Butt, at £1419 lis, was accepted, subject to the approval of the Mount Somers Road Board. DEPUTATION. A deputation, consisting of the Mayor and Councillor Friedlander, waited on the Council to ask them to odvonce £2OOO on the security of the loan, at interest. They had sent to England for plant, which had to be paid for, and they would have to discharge their labourers unless the Council granted the sum. The labourers he spoke of could be employed economically now, at 6s 6d per day, at the water works, and it would be a bad thing if they had to discharge them. The £15,000 loan was, they were aware, being negotiated, and the authority of the Government had been given. The" Council were prepared to lodge debentures with the Council to tho amount borrowed, and, of oourse, the £2OOO would be a first charge on the loan. There was great depression in the county, and the Borough were anxious to keep the labor gang employed for the benefit not only of the Council, but also of the laborers and their wives and children. After discussion, it was resolved that the sum of £2OOO be lent to the Borough Council at seven per cent., provided the solicitor's opinion is favorable. PEBBYMAN FOB LOWBB BANSITATA.

Mr Jackson was appointed to this position. SL&.UOHTBBIN& UOENBB. A slaughtering license was granted to Mr Buttorick. BETUBN. A return of the expenditure in the various ridings of the county was plaoed on the table, and after a lengthy discussion it was move cl—« That the return of distribution of county funds called for by Mr Jackson do not include the payment of accrued land fund to the Boad Boards, but that a separate sheet be attached thereto showing the total amount distributed to each Boad Board on account of accrued land fund." The Council then adjourned.