ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1862, 11 February 1880, Page 3

ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Tuesday, Fbbbuaby 10.

Present Messrs Walker (chairman), Wright, Saunders, Q-rigg, Coster, Cameron. Mr W. O. Walker, who entered just after the minutes had been confirmed made his customary statement of the business done by him during the month, and gave a resume of that to come before the present meeting. He said that he had received a letter from the Engineer in charge of the Middle Island to the effect that Mr Higginson had been entrusted with the Bangitata bridge extension, and tenders wonld be called for as soon as the plans were ready. Particulars of the iron work obtained by the Council had been supplied by Mr Higginson. On the management of the County Hospital, he had obtained the written ideas of the medical gentlemen in Ashburton. Mr Pridgeon, of Christchurch, had kindly consented to visit the Hospital, and would supply a list of the furniture, &c, required. The Colonial Secretary had sent three copies of a Bill introduced into Parliament last session to provide for the management of hospitals and charitable aid, and for the distribution of charitable aid, and invited suggestions and remarks from them thereon. Mr Walker went on —As you will see by a letter placed before you to-day, the Mount Somers Boad Board approves of the acceptance of the tender for the construction of the bridge on the North Ashburton, the contract for the same will be now placed before the contractors for their signature. The secretary to the Treasury has advised you that he hopes to remit to your credit this week the £4764 18s 4d refund on account of the Mount Somers Bailway, and £13,464 3s 6d spare surplus land revenue. The supply of dog collars for this year has been received, and will be distributed to the Begistrars within the county as soon as possible. Gazette No. 10, 29th January, contains a number of reserves which are brought under the control of the Council. It is with feelings of pain I have to announce the death of Mr Charles Beed, one of the members of the Upper Ashburton Biding. Prom our intimate knowledge of the late gentleman, you will agree with mo that such a calamity is one deeply to be regretted. During the time Mr Beed occupied his seat on the Council, although in infirm health, he was seldom absent from a meeting, and by the interest he took in the Council’s affairs, and from his business capabilities, his assistance at the Council will be greatly missed. Mr Wright desired to point out that a sum of £13,000 odd, purporting to be the county’s share of the land fund, was less by £ISOO than it ought to be. If members would make the calculation—it was a simple rule of three sum —they would find that the allocation on this occasion ought to be just double that of what was the ratio in the division of the last sum of £50,000. He pointed this out so that the matter might not be lost sight of. The engineer’s report, which was exceedingly lengthy, was read. It reported on the Waterton pound, approach to Bakaia Gorge bridge, Taylor’s Stream bridge, and the new bridge at Mount Somers, the North Ashburton bridge at Digby’s, Ashburton Porks protective works, and flood water drainage. It was decided to appoint Mr Clark poundkeeper at Mount Somers, in consonance with the recommendations of the local Boad Board. A month’s extension of time for the completion of the Digby’s crossing bridge was granted to the contractor, Mr Benham. The Chief Surveyor wrote saying that the district maps ordered by the Council to be lithographed were in the hands of the printer. The Mount Somers Boad Board wrote advising the acceptance of the tender of Messrs Thomas and Hill for the .North Ashburton bridge. Mr B. G. Wright called the attention of the Council to the sum of £4OO, cost to the Council for advertising for one year. The Clerk explained that an extra amount of advertising expense had been incurred owing to the Water Supply Bill. The Chairman said much of the advertising was compulsory under statute. Mr Wright said he had obtained a return from the clerk, but had neglected to bring it with him.

The matter was deferred till next meeting. The Wakanui Road Board wrote bringing the following matters under notice of the Council; —That works are now being carried out by the Wakanui Board for the drainage of that part of the district lying to the northeast of the Wakanui creek, and extending from Mr Butterick’s farm to the sea. That the work had been brought before your Council some considerable time ago by the old Ashburton Road Board, and reported on by your engineer, and we believe that owing to the question of drainage not having been dealt with by the Council, nothing could be done in the matter. The Wakanui Road Board, at the request of a numerous body of ratepayers, urging that if the drainage was not carried out very considerable damage would ensue, especially to those farmers who bought that land forming part of the Wakanui Homestead block—undertook to have the necessary drain cut, believing that a work like this properly comes under the functions of the County Council, and that as soon as that body had dealt with the question they would supplement the Board with a grant in aid. The Board seeing the destruction that was done last season by reason of the work not being carried out—they being led to believe that something would be done after the report of your engineer had been received—and the failure of the crops this season on some of the best land in the district, owing to the water having no outlet, thought it expedient, not only in the interest of the numerous ratepayers whom it benefitted, but also to save a large expenditure yearly through damage done to the roads, to have an outfall drain made at once. We are requested to inform yon that tenders have been let for this work, and when completed would cost about £BOO, that £250 has already been advanced on work executed. The Board now find that unless assisted by your Council it will take the greater portion of this year’s rates to pay for the works, and

therefore trusts that your Council will place a sum at the credit of this Board for drainage purposes. The question of flood water drainage was disposed of for the time being by the following resolution :—“ That the engineer be instructed to invite tenders for enlarging the drain at Wheatstone road, to be placed before the Council’s next meeting, and also opening up the creek near Dawson’s, and that estimates be furnished at next meeting of the cost of drainage in general throughout the county.” It was decided to consider the letter of the Wakanui Bead Board at next meeting, when the whole drainage question would be opened up. The engineer was instructed to call for tenders for the approaches to the North Ashburton bridge, the shingle to be taken out under the bridge to clear the waterway as much ns possible for the south approach. The Union Bank wrote giving notice that the Council’s arrangements with the Bank terminated in six months. The clerk was ordered to instruct the Keturning Officer to hold an election for a member in place of Mr Beed deceased. After a lengthened discussion, It was resolved, on the motion of Mr Grigg;—“ That as the valuation lists have not been made up according to the Bating Act, which is provided in Mr Leach’s agreement, the Council refuses payment on account of Mr Leach’s contract, pending the decision of the Assessment Courts, as provided for in clauses 27 and 28 of the Bating Act, 1876.” It was resolved that the by-laws for the Mount Somers pound should come into force in March.

A letter was read from the Gas Company undertaking to lay down mains to the hospital if the county paid half the cost of putting down mains, and paid the current rate for the gas used. Mr Wright said that one-third was the usual sum to pay. He was willing to give this, amounting to £l5O. The clerk was instructed to write to this effect to the Gas Company. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr Saunders, seconded by Mr Wright : —“ That the consideration of the arrangements necessary for making the hospital habitable be bo referred to a committee, such committee to be composed of Messrs Walker, Wright, Grieg, and the mover.” Mr E. G. Wright moved—“ That the Lyttelton Harbor Board bo requested to reduce the wharf charges upon grain for export from 2s to Is per ton.” This would place them on the same footing as |the Dunedin farmers. This district was quite as much entitled to bo represented on the Lyttelton Harbor Board as Ashley, Selwyn, and other districts. He thought the Council should take into their consideration the expediency of having the Act amended so as to get Ashburton represented on the Harbor Board. Mr Cameron seconded the resolution, which was carried.

It wag further moved by Mr Wright, seconded by Mr Q-rigg, and carried —"That, inasmuch as the Lyttelton harbor is the only harbor available for the import and export of produce and merchandise for the County of Ashburton, this Council is of opinion that it is entitled to be represented on the Lyttelton Harbor Board, and requests the Board to cooperate in obtaining the necessary amendment of the Harbor Board Act.”

The Chairman stated that he hoped the Council would pay a share of the expense incurred in entertaining the Lincolnshire delegates. Agreed to. Notice of motion by Mr Grigg—“ That the Council proceed to allocate to the several Boad Boards within the county the proportion of the sum of £13,464 13s 6d, being the share of the sum of £IOO,OOO due to the Boad Boards from the land fund.”

It was decided to hold meetings of both the waterworks and Hospital committees on Thursday next at 11 a.m., the one to follow the other.

The Council then adjourned.