SELWYN COUNTY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1743, 20 September 1879, Page 3

SELWYN COUNTY COUNCIL.

An adjourned meeting of the Selwyn County Council was held in the offices, Hereford street, on Friday, at ten o’clock. There were present —The Hon. John Hall, chairman; and Messrs Lee, Enys, McMillan, Peryman, Mathias, and J. L. Wilson. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Chairman delivered his usual statement, as follows :—“ A reply has been received from the Minister of Public Works to the letter written by your directions on the 19th June last, on the subject of the bridge at the Bakaia Gorge. From this you will be glad to learn that this important work, for which a sum of money was provided by the late Provincial Government, is at length to be proceeded with. With reference to the bank account, a letter from the manager of the Hational Bank has been received, consenting to the continuance of the present agreement for our banking business, subject to determination by three months’ notice on either side. The manager raises the question of a fixed deposit for twelve months. I am afraid that our circumstances will not enable us to entertain this suggestion. The tenders for the Glentunnel bridge have been received, and can be opened at this meeting. Eeoreation Grounds in Avon district—The question of the allocation of funds for this purpose was postponed at our last meeting. A letter from the Kiccarton Eoad Board forwards a report from the surveyor to that Board on the state of these roads, and also a statement of the expenditure incurred during the three months ended the 30th August, amounting to £llß 5s 7d. I believe you will agree that the condition in which the portion of the Hagley Park road, under the charge of the Board has been maintained, shows the arrangement we have made with the Board to be a satisfactory one. I have not received any account from the Christchurch City Council on account of the Carlton bridge and the Lincoln road. An application has been received from the Spreydon Eoad Board for a grant in aid of the Lincoln road within the Spreydon district. The balance available for special works in the district is very limited, and a claim has already been made upon it for a bridge across the Heathcote; there will also bo a small charge against it on account of the Hagley Park roads. The Eicoarton Eoad Board recommends that a yard, to be erected by the Canterbury Sale Yards Company, be proclaimed as a public pound, and that Mr W. H. Nighting be appointed pound-keeper. The weekly reports from the foreman of works report no alteration in the state of the Malvern water-race. It seems desirable that no time should be lost in commencing the repairs rendered necessary by the Juno Hoods. I trust therefore you will be able to arrive at your present sitting at some definite arrangement with regard to the future engineering superintendence of the works. A circular has been received from the Westland Eailway League, inviting our co-operation towards securing the construction of this railway. I feel sure you will agree in the great necessity for this work, which would develop very largely the natural resources of both sides of this island, and that any assistance you can give towards pressing the subject on the attention of Government and Parliament will be very willingly rendered. With reference to the proposed Bakaia Gorge bridge, a letter was received from the the Secretary of the Public Works Depart-

ment, to the effect that the Minister of Public Works had instructed the engineer in charge of the Middle Island to take the necessary steps for its erection. Correspondence was read between the clerk of the Council and the manager of the Bank of New Zealand in reference to the banking account, as to the amount of interest on deposits, &c. After some discussion, Ih was resolved that the manager of the Bank of New Zealand bo informed that the Council does not desire to place any of its funds at a fixed deposit at present. The Inspector of Slaughter Houses presented his usual report on the various premises under his supervision. In reference to an application by that officer for travelling expenses, it was resolved that the inspector be allowed his actual railway fares when inspecting slaughter houses, the amount not to exceed £ls.

On the motion of Mr Mathias, seconded by Mr Peryman, it was resolved—“ That notice be given to Mr S. W. Palmer that his slaughtering license will not be renewed unless the yards be removed to a much greater distance from the centre of population at Hororata than they now are, and also that if any further cause for complaint arise on account of his present slaughter house, an information will bo laid against him. Tenders were opened for the erection of the Glentunnol Bridge, and that of Mr T. H. Parsons, for £1542 17s, was_ accepted. In reference to the maintenance of the Hagley Park road, which was the next question taken into consideration, a letter was received from the Bicoarton Eoad Board, stating that £llß had been expended by that body. The account was passed for payment. With reference to another letter on the subject of subsidy, it was resolved that the Chairman be requested to communicate with the Chairman of the Kiocarton Eoad Board as to the amount paid for the supervision of roads in Hagley Park. A letter was received from the Spreydon Bead Board, asking for a grant in aid of that Board for the maintenance of the Lincoln road, in consequence of the heavy traffic which had taken place during the last winter, the roads having been out up by the carting of metal for Christchurch and Sydenham. On the motion of Mr Peryman, it was resolved that the secretary be instructed to write to the Spreydon Boad Board, informing them that as only half the subsidy payable to the county during the last financial year has been received from the Government, the Council are not in a position at present to grant the application. At this stage a reply was sent in to the Council to a letter sent by the secretary, askthe Town Clerk of Christchurch whether the subsidy promised by the Premier had been received by the City Council, the answer being that the money had been received. On the motion of Mr Mathias, it was resolved—“ That a letter be written to the Colonial Treasurer requesting him to he good enough to inform the Council why the subsidies, which in the case of the City Council have already been paid, have not also been paid to this Council and the road boards of the county.” In reference to the recommendation of the Boad Board re a pound at Eiccarton, the Council resolved to proclaim the yards of the Canterbury Saleyards Company a public pound, Mr Nighting to be poundkeeper. The Malvern water-race was the next subject taken into consideration. The Chairman reported that ho had discussed the position of affairs with Mr Dobson, of the firm of Dobson and Son, Civil Engineers, and that gentleman had promised a plan by which he could serve the Council on commission. He was willing to undertake the supervision of plans and specifications to be made by some one appointed by the Council, and this the firm would do at the rate of one and a quarter per cent, on the cost of the works, making separate charges according to professional scale for special visits. A further proposal was that if the drawings and specifications were taken over entirely by the firm a chorge of 2i per cent, would be charged. Some discussion took place as to the appointment of a resident engineer, after it had been agreed upon to accept the first terms offered by Messrs Dobson and Son. Ultimately, it was decided to appoint a resident engineer, who should also take the place of clerk of the works, at a salary of £4OO. Mr Mathias moved —“ That Mr Eitso be appointed resident engineer and clerk of works to the Malvern water race at a salary of £4OO per annum, to include all expenses, his whole time to be given to the Council, the Council to be at liberty to require him, if his engagement on the race will allow, to undertake other engineering work in the county without further remuneration; Mr Eitso’s plans and specifications for the water race to be subject to the supervision and approval of Messrs Dobson and Son, for which the Council pay those gentlemen per cent.; Mr Ritso's engagement to be terminable by three months’ notice on either side.” Seconded by Mr Wilson, and carried. A report on the water race by Mr Jacobsen was laid on the table. It was referred to the standing committee, with the request that they would report thereon to the Council. It was resolved to give Mr Hickman notice of the termination of his engagement on the Bth of next month, and to appoint a caretaker for the head water works. With regard to a petition from residents on the north bank of the Selwyn river, for protection of the river banks, it was resolved that the application be taken into consideration, when the subsidy for the second half of the last financial year shall have been obtained. A circular letter in reference to the East and West Coast railway was received from the Westland Railway League, asking the co-operation of the Council in the matter. Mr Enys moved, Dr. Turnbull seconded, and it was carried—“ That the chairman be instructed to address a letter to the Minister of Public Works, urging the proceeding with the Canterbury and West Coast Railway with as little delay as possible, and that the Westland Railway League be informed thereof. Several accounts were passed for payment, and the Council then rose.