COUNTY COUNCILS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2059, 29 September 1880, Page 4

COUNTY COUNCILS.

SELWYN.

The usual, monthly mooting or this body was hold yesterday in the Council Chambers, Hereford street, at 10 30. Present—Mr E. J. Lee {in the chair), Hon, John Hull, Messrs Mathias, McMillan, J. D. Enys, H, W. Peryman, J. L. Wilson, and Dr. Turnbull. The Chairman . called attention to the dounties Ant. Amendment Act 1880 and the Malvern Water-race Transfer Act 1878, Amendment Act 1880, copies of which were laid on the table. In the first of these it is pointed out that when a river or stream is the boundary between two counties the dividing line is in the middle of the bed. All public pounds erected prior to the passing of the Counties Act .may, by order, bo brought under the Council.

It was resolved that the secretary should obtain a list of all old pounds before the next meeting of the Council. The Chairman drew attention to the fact that Ferry Reserves, when vested in the 'Council, may be leased with ferry without tender for a term of fourteen years, it being ■provided that two months’ notice of the terms and conditions of lease to be granted must be published previous to issue. it was decided to publish the terms and conditions of lease of the Beoloy Perry reserve.

The chairman was instructed to write to the secretary of the proposed Sumner Railway 'Company for plans, &j., of the railway, also -to forward the necessary contraola for the Hororata Water Race, us agreed at the last ■meeting of the Council. The question of jurisdiction of the Hagley iPark roads was next considered, and after considerable discussion, and correspondence ud legal opinions on the matter having been lead, it was moved by the Hon. John Hull, shod seconded by Mr J. L. Wilson, and owned—“ That the City Council be informed that the letter of June 27ih, 1879, was, so far as Lincoln road is concerned, written under a misapprehension, as it is now found that such road is in the Riccarton road district. That the County Counoil will be prepared to pay its reasonable share of any expenses incurred up to the present time, but will not be responsible for any further expenditure. That the chairman be requested to communicate with the City Council with a view too -conference of the several bodies interested in the Hagley Park roads.” A letter was read from the Rikaia Road Hoard, asking the Council to make a grant of £IOO to clear the river Hororata of gorse and other obstructions. Mr J. D. Bays moved, and the Hon. J ohn Hall seconded—“ That the sum of £SO from the sum allocated to the Rikaia road district be handed over to the Road Board, to be expended as economically as possible in clearing the Hororata river bed of gorse and broom. That the Board be requested to report general result of the work when completed.” Carried unanimously. The Chairman detailed the terms arranged by him with the Council’s bankers for the future conduct of their account, which were deemed satisfactory. It was resolved—“ That £IO,OOO be invested for a period of one year, and a further sum of £SOOO be deposited for six months.” The Chairman stated that no communication had bean received from the Avon Road Hoard respecting the Kapitona Creek. Mr J. L. Wilson explained that the matter had not been lost sight of by the Board, bnt that the spring tides prevented the work of clearing being done. It was estimated to cost £2OO, and the Board thought it only right -that the parties to be benefitted should pay the major portion of the ccst. Application was made by the Halswell Hoad Board for the sum of £IOO for drainage purposes. After Mr Peryman had explained the proposed work. It was resolved—“ That £SO be paid to the Halswell R iad Board for that purpose out of the funds allocated to that district.”

The Malvern Road Board applied for permission to Mr Bitso to prepare plans, &c., of the crossing over the river Kowai, as promised by the Oouncil in February last. It was decided to inform the Board that the engineer’s time was fully occupied at pre--sent, and permission could not be granted. On the application of Mr E. J. Leo, the warn of £IOO was granted to the Ellesmere Oametery Board out of funds allocated to the BUesmere Boad Board.

Applications from the chairman of the Bakaia Riad Board were received for a grant of £SO each to the Hororata and Dansandel Cemetery Boards, and also a sum of £SO for the Hororata Domain Board. The Council agreed to grant these sums out of tha funds allocated to the districts. Mr J. h. Wilson moved the resolution standing in bis name for the amount allocated to the Avon Brad Board for the purchase of recreation grounds to be increased from £7OO to £I2OO. Atter considerable discussion the motion was agreed to, it being decided that the money should be forthcoming as each of the recreation grounds were required to be purchased. It was resolved—“ That the chairman be authorised to pay the sum of £650 for a section of land to be purchased at Papanui for recreation purposes as soon as tha con--TCyanoe is obtained, such sum to be charged to the amount in tha hands of the Council for the purchase of recreation grounds in the Avon district.” The. Chairman asked that the sum of £IOOO ha granted to the North Rakaia Board of Conservators out of the sum allocated to the Blleemere Road Board district.

After some discussion on the present status of the Board, and as the chairman urged that the money was required for protective purposes, the sum was granted. Interim reports from Mr Ritso, engineer Malvern .Water-race, and Messrs E. Dobson and Sons, were read and approved. Tie report of the inspector of slaughter houses was considered very satisfactory. A letter was read from the Malvern Road Board respecting the overflow of water from the race.

It was agreed.on the moticnof Mr Mathias, oeoonded by Mr McMillan—“ That tenders be called for and the following works let on the race : (X) Road bridges and private bridges on the twelve miles now being scooped ; (2) gates at the heads of the branch races ; (3) ploughing and scooping five miles to Kirwee and one mile to Darfield ; (4) putting in falls from present falls to Atkinson’s road ; also, that Mr Ritso prepare a plan of a culvert to take water under the railway opposite the reserve, submitting same to the railway authorities.” After sundry accounts had been passed for payment, the Board adjourned. AKAEOA. This Council met in their offices, Duvau©belle's Bay, on Saturday, September 25th. The members present were —Messrs J. Dalglish (chairman), J. Hay, J. Gebbie, 8. S. Fleming, J. Barker, F. W., Williams, W. . Coop, and Rev. R. Bradley. The Chairman stated that the moat .important part of the business before them that day was the closing of certain roads in the Port Victoria road diatr : ct, about which there seemed to be a considerable amount of local feeling. A circular was read from the Treasury, under date 9th September, stating that the •mount of Dnd fund for the four months ending 30;h July, was £341 4s Id, and after deducting hospital charges to 30th June, £lls Ss lOd, and less 20 per cent, overpaid last D-cember, £BS 15s sd, leaving a balance of £lB4 Is lOd, which had heon placed to the Council's credit at the Bank of New .Zealand, Akaroa. A certificate was received from Messrs Renton and Wilkin, stating that the contract for the Balguerie road, held by Messrs Fnnnell and Curragb, was satisfactorily completed. Mr Robert Forbes, Tai Tapu, wrote, stating that he was willing to act as registrar of dogs for the district. .

The Chairman informed the Council that the usual steps bad been taken to gazette tho Appointment. The plane of the proposed stoppage of a road running through rural section 5097, Port Victoria road district, known as tho npper road over Manson’s Hill, were laid oa the table. The plans were accompanied by n letter from the Road Board, stating that all the necessary steps had been taken by tho Board as required by the Public Works Act, 1876.

A protest was read from seven ratepayers in the district against the road in question being closed, on various grounds, chiefly that a, better line had not been obtained.

On the motion of Mr Gebbie, seconded by TSIr Hay, it was resolved that V e road known as tho npper n«d over Manson’s Hill, through rural section £OO7, be closed, in accordance

with the Public Works Act, 1876, clause 93, sub-section 10. The consideration of the closing of the road running through rural section 1337 was adjourned till next meeting. ■ It was agreed to allow the appointment of Dog Ranger to stand oyer. Mosses Fenton and Wilkin reported that they had finished the grading ef the Summit road from the diversion line to a junction with the Waterfall road leading to Little Akaloa saddle, at a grade generally of 1 in 10, with the exception of a small piece which they had run at 1 in 8 to avoid rook cuttings. The benching could be done at a moderate cost, and they suggested its adoption. Mr Barker moved, and Mr Bradley seconded —“ That the line of the Summit road as now laid off by Mr Wilkin be adopted by the Council, and that the Chief Surveyor be requested to have the same placed on the public maps.” The motion was put and carried. Messrs Fenton and Wilkin in reporting on the Balguerie road, noticed that Mr Lelievre had at the northern end of B.S. 1044 fenced in a small piece of the benching of the road which much contracts the roadway, and stating that an alteration in the benching to improve this would cost from £5 to £5 10s.

It was resolved that Mr Lelievre be written to, asking for an explanation of his fencing across a portion of the Balguerie road. A letter was read from Mr A. J. McGregor offering to prepare a valuation roll for the Council. The Council thought the preparation of a valuation roll premature, and a resolution was passed deferring the matter till greater cause should he shown for its necessity. Accounts to the amount of £l4l 13s 9i and £4O 19a members’ travelling expenses were passed for payment. The chairman reported that he had waited on Mr George Armstrong in reference to putting the new Balguerie road through a section belonging to that gentleman, and asked him to carry out his arrangement with the Council as to compensation. He had found Mr Armstrong quite impracticable, and he suggested that a reasonable time be given to Mr Armstrong to produce his title. Mr Williams proposed that Mr George Armstrong be written, asking him to give the necessary title to the Council for the diversion of the Balguerie road, and that if he does not do so within two months from date, the Council put the road through in accordance with the Public Works Act.” The motion was seconded, put and carried. Mr Barker moved—“ That application be mode to the Minister for Public Works for the employment of one hundred of the unemployed, to be paid out of the £75,000 voted last session for the giving of employment to the necessitous, and that they be employed in forming the Summit road from Pigeon Bay road to Le Son’s saddle, 20 feet wide ; and further, that the Council point out the necessity of this road being formed, as one of the principal feeders of the railway at Little River.” .

The motion was seconded by Mr Coop and carried. Mr Barker asked leave to withdraw the motion standing in his name in reference to dividing £SOO of the Council’s funds amongst the Road Boards. Leave was granted. Mr Barker asked the chairman when it was likely that the pound in Le Son’s Bay would be open for the use of the public. In reply, Mr Darker was informed that the initiatory steps in the matter must be taken by the local Road Board.

The Council then adjourned till Saturday, October 23rd.