ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1834, 8 January 1880, Page 4

ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Tho usual monthly meeting of the Ashburton County Council was held yesterday, in the now County offices (particulars of which appeared in a late i(Bue) for the first time. Present—Messrs W. C. Walkof (chairman), Saunders, Grigg, E. G-. Wright, Cameron, Coster, and Jackson. The Chairman read the following statem3nt: —l beg to congratulate the Council on taking possession of their new offices. On taking over the chambers, I insured them in the Union Insurance Company for £7OO ; the residence has also been insured for £650. Mr Murrey-Aynsley has (signified his willingness to meet the Council in the matter of exchange of land for the road to form the soathern approach to the Bskaia Gorge bridge. On receipt oE this letter I instructed the engiseer to call for tendors for the work of forming the road. These will be before you to-day for your consideration. The hospital being so near completion, I obtained the services of a caretaker for that building bo long as he is required, until the matter of forming a staff for working purposes has been arranged for. I should ask you to-day to etate tho office in which you wish the above to be insured. A report on the building from the arohitaot will be laid before you. I have entered into an agreement with tho owner of the land on the Forks side of the Ashburton, for the purohase of the necessary land to form the approach to the bridge at Digby's. Cheque for the amount agreed on on the certificate of the solicitor will be placed before you to-day for your signature. The Government have gazetted eighty acres as ferry roservo, Lower Bangitata. This acreage contains the ferry house, which will, I presume, be now available for the use of the authorised ferryman. The county valuer has delivered duplicate copies of the valuation lists of the difforent Boad Boards in this county, and most of the Boad Boards have been supplied with their several copies. As thore is a difficulty in obtaining copies of the Canterbury Trespass if Cattle Ordinance, 1872, for the uso of the poundkeepers and others, I wrote to Selwyn, Akaroa, and Waimate County Councils, asking them if in conjunction with this Council they ■would share the expense of printing 500 copies of that ordinance. The Selwyn and Akaroa Councils have agreed to this arrangement, and I think the Waimate Council will «lso agree to it. Tenders for the erection of the bridge near Pudding Hill, and of the §ound at South Bakaia will be before you toay. Several renewal slaughterhouse lioenses will also be placed before you for your approval or otherwise. The inspector of slaughterhouses just before his serious illness verbally reported to the clerk that the holders of slaughterhouse licenses vrore conducting their business satisfactorily. The engineer's report was then read. BAfter lengthy discussion it was resolved—- " That the necessary means of payment for the protective workß on the Upper Ashburton he determined prior to the settlement of accounts with the Upper Ashburton Boad Board for the construction of the bridge at Digby's." COBBESPOHDBNOB. Letter was read from Mr J. Btanley Bruce as!follows: — The various worts entrusted to uaaby Council being nearly completed, I am desirous of making a few remarks relative to same. On the future extension of hospital, I beg to suggest that a ward, with the requisite accessories, is built, corresponding externally to the private and public wards at present erected, and capable of holo'ing twenty-four beds. That it 3bould have a temporary division in the centre, in _ order virtually to utilise it a 3 two wards, one being an accident ward. The additionssuggested would with the present accommodation, be sufficient for the county requirements for a considerable period, with perhaps the addition of another isolated fever ward. If the above extension is made, the present public ward would _be the best to utilise a 3 a w >men's ward. I believe the six private wards which I was instructed by the Council to provide will be a great boon to the public, and it would be well that the existence of the same should be made known throughout the county, and they to be a source of profit to "the institution. While speaking of the hospital, there is one other matter connected with same I wish to draw attention to. Perhaps there is no building in tho borough of Aahburton that so much requires to be lighted with gas as this one, but as the coat of laying the main will be about ,£3OO, tho Gas Company are unwilling to go to such an outlay simply for the supply of ths building. lam informed on good authority the usual course in such cases is for those interested to pay a fair proportion of the cost of the main. It will be a great benefit to the hospital if the Council can act on this suggestion, especially as, with a view to the future lighting of the building with gas, all the requisite supply pipes are in position. I have to compliment the builder of the hospital, Mr Wulter Carlton, for the satisfactory way in which he ha 3 completed the work. I trust the Council will approve of their new effices and their secretary's residence, and in conclusion beg to say I cannot ascribe too much praise to Mr D. Lush, tho contractor for Council chambers, and Mr Gordon, clerk of works. Mr Bruce's letter was considered, and it was resolved to write to the Gas Company asking them on what terms they would lay the main to tho Hospital, and at what rate they would supply gas for forty-two burners. Applications for appointments at new Hospital were deferred. A petition was read from tho committee of Urn Ashburton .Racing Club, stating that they were informed reserve 1318, 146 acres, had been vested in the Council; that, owing to a mistake in the Land Office, the land had been gazetted for recreation, not for racing, purposes ; that the club had expended £317 12s 3d in improving said reserve for racing purposes, and that they requested Council to lease them the land at a nominal rental for a term of yewrs, so that the club might make such further improvements as they may consider necessary. After diecussion it was resolved—" That the racecourse be leased to tho Ashburton Bacing Club for fourteen years, at a rental £lO per annum, that >nm to be expended annually in planting the reserve, the right being also reserved to the County Council to revise the charge for admission to the racocourse."

From secretary of Education Board of Canterbury, informing Council they would shortly have to exercise their privilege of nominating two members for the Ashburton High School Board, in terms of section 3 of Ashburton High School Act, 1878. Messrs W. O. Walker and Saunders were unanimously re-appointed by the Council. Prom Mr W. Price, asking for reduction in amount of his tender for Ashburton pound, as other pounds were being erected. It was resolved to defer the application till the other pounds were opened. Prom Mr W. Sutherland, asking Council to consider the loss he has experienced in completing contract No. 1 of the river protection wordes at the north branch of Ashburton river, owing to the late floods ; also asking for extension of time for completion of No. 3 oontract.

The Council refused to consider Mr Sutherland's application for damage incurred by floods, but extended time for completion of No. 3 contract to three months from this date.

From the chaiiman of Mount Hutt Boad Board, asking Council to establish a pound in that district. The clerk was instructed to ask the Board whore they wished the pound to be erected, and the acreage required for site of same. FrDm Mr J. Ci:rbett, asking Council to take steps to divert the flood water from Wakacui creek, earao having damaged his property. The "Council decided this was a matter in which they could not interfere, as they had given no authority for the water being taken. From Mr W. Stoddart, re obstruction of creek on his estate. Beferred to Eoad Board for relief.

From Mr E. G. Wright, Btating he should oppose tho Plantation and Domains Board pc-rtiug with its endowment for any purpose, but would agree to let the Wakanui Boad Board have five acres at a low rental on lease.

It was resolved to enquire ol the Boad Board if they still wished to place an office on the reserve

From Mr Walsh, Bakaia, stating that seeing in newspapers his tender for dog collars had been accepted, he had commenced making Game without referring to Council, and had made 700 before ciiscovering that the collars -were wanted brown instead of black. He could not make the brown except at a higher price, and of course if the Oounoil would not ■consent to take the collars he had made they would be left on his hands. It was resolved to take 700 collars made, and to let the rest of the tender be executed by Mr J. Tait, of Aehburton, at a cost of 8d per collar, to bo ready in a fortnight. "WATBBTON FOT/ND. Mr Holland was appointed poundkeeper. Tho A3hburton and Mount Somers Bailway—Mr Wright read the following memo. re Mount Scmcra and Aehburton railway,

which had been forwarded to him by the Hon. Mr Oliver's direction :

[Memo for Hon. J. Macandrew.] An urgent Treasury qnestion haa to be answered, to do which please inform me on following point :—The Mount Somers and ABhburton railway was originally intended to be made by county, and .£12,000 worth of rails were ordered, of which amount Government had in hand say .£7OOO, and piojsoed to stop balance of co3t, amounting to abont £SOOO, out of subsidies. Last session, there was, however, a vote taken for the line, and the first sod of conttact was turned the other day. What I wish to know is, what arrangement was made by you verbally in the county, as there is nothing in writing ? Does Government take rails and pay liabilities thereon and make line, or is Government to stop cost of order for rails from subsidy as originally agreed ? J. Knowxes.

December 6th, 1879. The letter was forwarded to Mr Wright by the Hon. Mr Oliver's direction on November 20th, 1879. It bore a memo, by Mr Macandrew, to tho effect that the understanding was that all material ordered on behalf of the county should be paid for by them and handed over to Government towards construction of the line. This memo, bore the date of 16 th June. Mr Wright wrote to Government as follows : Ashburton, 27th November, 1879. The Hon. Colonial Treasurer, —

I am instructed to call your attention to the unwarranted action of late Government in withholding from Ashburton CouDty the moneys due to it in shape of subsidies and 20 per|cent. of land fund, for nine months ending 39th September last, amounting to .£4078 93, over and above county's share of £IOO,OOO surplus Canterbury land fund, so long overdue, amounting to £14,938, or a total of £19,016. lam aware it is intended to pay the latter sum of £14,938 out of the first instalment of the new loan, and tnly introduce item so long overdue to show the greater injustice of withholding subsidies, &C-, ; justly due to Ashburton, while it i*. notorious I that large sums have been spent illegally in ! other districts. The sole cause for these monies being withheld appears (from enquiries made at Wellington) to be the arbitrary and totally unjustified order given by the late Minister of Public Works on 9th June last to impound these monies in payment for rails ordered for Ashburton and Mount Somers branch railway, a procedure for which ho had no warrant either in law or equity. In order to place you in possession of fact 3 leading to purchase of these rails, I will briefly recapitulate them. In 1871 tho Canterbury Provincial Govern, ment vot r.d £IO,OOO as a first instalment towards construclion cf a railway from Ashburton to Mount Somers, and rails for full amount were pnrchased and delivered at Bolleston on main south line. No further action was taken till early in 1878, when the County Council resolved tbe line should be made, and applied for rails delivered three years previously at Rolleston, when it turned out that they had been appropriated by the Public Works Department, and used on colonial railways througheut Canterbury. The County Council, as the custodians of county property, were clearly entitled to demand cost price of these rails and interest, which would have amounted to upwards of £II,OOO. However, the Public Works Department asserted that owing to the then low price of iron they could replace them for about £6IOO, and offered to purchase rails to that valne on behalf of the county, or pay over that sum in cash, and to avoid litigation the Council decided to accept this offer, and requested the Government to purchase rails to tho value agreed. At a later date the Council requested Government also to purchase sufficient additional rails to enable the Council to construct in all twenty miles of this branch line with sidings, and guaranteed the payment, estimated ut £5600. The Council nlso negotiated the acquisition of land required for the line free of cost, either for land or fencing. So much had been done towards making the said railway, when theMinister of Public Works in 1878 decided that this line should form part of the Colonial railway system, it being marie evident from Mr Blair's estimate of £ 10,400 for the whole twenty miles that the I'ne would be the most inexpensive in the whole colony, while the prospective traffic was great, and in anticipation of its construction from 1874 to 1878 the district had already contributed to the Colonial Exchequer more than sufficient to pay for the work twice over. There were good and sufficient reasons to justify the determination of the Minister for Public Works to adopt the line, but now comes the most extraordinary proceeding on the part of the Minister for Public WorEs, in attempting to confiscate all the rails which the County Council had obtained for the work as a County railway. It will bo manifest that while the Council would have been justified in buying rails and acquiring land for a work which would h*ve been county property, and as such could have been let, or otherwise dealt with in the intere-ts of the district, they would clearly not have been justified in defraying at least onethird the cost of constructing a railway to become the property of the colony. Nor, in point of fact, were they ever consulted in the matter. Under these circumstances, and for the reafons assigned above, I have the honour to request that you will direct that the monies now due to the county be paid at once, and that it may receive full value for all the materials taken over for the construction of the Mount Somers line. —I have, &c, B. G. Weight, Treasurer Ashburton County Council. Mr Wright further explained to the Council the action he had taken, and said he was happy to be able to state that, though no official communication had been received, the money would be forthcoming for the übo of the Council.

Mr Wright's aci ion was endorsed by the Council and his report adopted. He water supply for Bikaia Plains—Mr Wright explained that the Bill which had been passed would authorise the Council to commence the work and expend tho £IO,OOO voted, but did not empower them to impose tho proposed rate. A new Bill would be necessary for that purpose next session, to which Sir Dillon Bell, who had been a chief opponent, had promised support. The objection had been that tho County Council should have no-increased borrowing power, as there were no less than forty of these bodies, and it was argued if they were all allowed to tap the barrel it would soon be empty. He proposed that a committee, consisting of the chairman, Messrs Grigg, Saunders, Coster, and the mover bo appointed to prepare an amended Bill. He should prefer its being a public Bill, in consequence of the cost. Dromore Goods-shed —Mr Wright explained that tho erection of this shed had been sanctioned, and that it was possible the work would be finished in time for the present season.

County Valuation—Tho valuation'lists were laid on tho (ablo. After consideration, it was rosolved—"That the ' valuator, Mr Leach, should bo informed that he must fill up all blanks in roll, and complete by 15th inst., in accordance with Act."

Accounts —Sundry accounts were passed for payment.