ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2036, 2 September 1880, Page 3

ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

The usual monthly meeting of the above Council was held on Wednesday. Present— Messrs J. Grigg (in the chair), Saunders, Wright, Jackson, Cameron, Bullock, and Coster.

The Chairman read a statement of the business to be brought before the Council. Ho announced that he had accepted tenders for the erection of cattle yards, and that the work was now well advanced ; that Mr T. Soland's tender of £72 10s for fencing the Bakaia Gorge bridge had been accepted ; and that alterations and fencing at the Hospital would be completed by next meeting. A letter from Mr W. O. Walker, chairman, apologising for being absent, was read. The engineer's report was read, and the following resolutions carried in connection therewith :—" That the protective worke at the Budding Hill bridge be carried out, provided that the Mount Hutt Boad Board pay one-half the cost of the work." "That Mr Thompson's offer of one-quarter acre of land for the Winchmore drainage at a cost of £lO be accepted, provided he agrees So accept £3 for the fencing." "That tenders be called for protective works at Harding's creek, Methven." " That the consideration of the protective works on the Forks be postponed nntil next meeting." " That the engineer's estimate of the Waterton drainage be approved, viz., £4OO, and that tenders be called for the work."

Mr B. G. Wright said he had consented to withdraw the clause in the Waterworks Loan Bill for fixiug an acreage rate, and put 23 in the £ rate instead, as otherwise the measure would not have passed. The power for borrowing had also been reduced from £IO,OOO to £SOOO. Aa the engineer's estimate amounted to about £5300 for the work, which was proposed to be carried out immediately, ho thought it would be unwise to proceed with the concrete works near Methven until the vote of the ratepayers had been taken. He would, therefore, move—" That no works, except those under oontraot, be proceeded with until the vote of the ratepayors be taken on tho main question." The motion, on being seconded by Mr Bullock, was agreed to. On the motion of Mr Coster, seconded by Mr Cameron, it was resolved—" That the Council proceed to tako the vote of the ratepayers on the question of the loan being raised for the purpose of completing the soheme at tho earliest possible date." A letter was lead from Mr O. W. Ireland, solicitor, claiming, on behalf of §Mr Thompson, compensation for a stream of water diverted by the Council from the land of the latter.

It was decided to removo the obstruction which had caused the diversion.

A letter from the Wakanui Boad Board requested to be relieved from payment of its share of the cost of the valuation of the county, as the roll was an informal one under which they could not levy rates. Mr E. G. Wright Btaied that he had consulted the Solicitor-General, and had obtained an opinion from him that the Board was in a position to levy rates. The idea that the Board could not levy rates was all a mistake, caused by an opinion given by tho SolioitorGnnernl's assistant.

The Board's application was not consequently entertained. On the motion of Mr Coster, it wag reBolvod to distribute the sum of £602 11a 7d amongst the various Road Boards in the same proportions that tho sum of £13,404 had previously been distributed. A letter from Mr T. Chapman was read, asking for a grant towards fencing and laying out a burial ground near Alford Forest. It was resolved to defer tha question until further particulars had been supplied. Mr Bullock suggested that a sum of £IOO be set aside for planting tho shinglo reserves at Upper ABhburton and Mount Somers, but after a lengthened discussion the mattor wus negatived. Accounts to tho amount of £2859 were passed for payment. A letter was read from the Secretary to the Treasury, Wellington, stating that a sum of £695 63 9d had been paid to the County Council as 20 per cent, on £3476 14a realised from the sale of land sold within the borough of Ashburton. This sum had been paid in error to the Council, as the borough of Ashburton was not part of the county, and he would request to have it refunded immediately. The matter was referred to the county solicitor.

Some minor business having boon transacted, the Council adjourned.