ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2066, 7 October 1880, Page 3

ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

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

The engineer’s report was read and tho following carried thereanent :—“ That the engineer be instructed to call for tenders for protective works at Hood’s Crossing bridge.” “ That engineer take the steps suggested by him with regard to the boulders at Pudding Hill bridge.” “ That the banks of the Tinwald drain bo harrowed down and sown with white clover.” “ That no further action be taken regarding the drainage of Chapman’s dry creek, except to proclaim it as a distinctly defined water-course, and instruct the engineer to have all obstructions in it removed, and give notice to the owners of the land.” Messrs Fooks and Sons reported that the alterations to the hospital had been completed. The work of dressing the wall with silicate paint, painting the stonework, would now be proceeded with. Dr. Trevor had suggested to sink a concrete tank to receive the liquid refuse, so that it could be utilised for gardening purposes, the cost of which would be about £ls. Tho windmill apparatus would requite protection by erecting a wooden framework over the lower portion of it. Tho grounds were completely enclosed with a post and rail fence, at a cost of 3s 6d per chain. The report was adopted and the suggestions ordered to be carried out.

Tho Council declined to pay the Wakanui Road Board the sum of £Bl 8s 2d for drainage purposes. A letter was read from Mr Butt, contractor, stating that the tariff on timber had been raised after he had taken his contract, and asking the Council to consider the question of allowing him for the extra expenses he was consequently put to. The matter was referred to the Council’s solicitor.

In reply to a letter from Mr Chapman, re a Cemetery site, it was resolved—“ That as soon as a Cemetery Board had been formed the Council would favorably consider the application.”

Another application of the same nature from Long Beach was similarly dealt with. In reply to a letter from the Upper Ashburton Road Board, it was resolved—“ That as soon as the Board has ascertained the cost of acquiring the land for forming the road referred to the Council will consider tho application.”

After soma discussion on the advisability of supplying tho hospital with gas, it was resolved —“That tho Gas Company not having agreed to the former offer, the Council de- j dine to further consider the matter at present.” A letter was read from tho Cemetery Board, asking for a grant in aid of erecting a mortuary chapel and other works in the Cemetery. The clerk was instructed to reply that the Council had no funds available for that purpose. A deputation, consisting of Messrs Graham, Carter, Begg, Scott, Davison, Jephson and Houston, waited on tho Council with regard to the division of the Long Beaoh road in two Road Board districts. The Chairman read, for the information of the deputation, a letter from the Colonial

Secretary, enclosing a letter from the chairman of the Longbeach Hoad Board, in which the amount expended on roads in each part of the Longbeach road district was shown, that of the Tinwald —Winslow district, which sought separation, being the largest. Mr Graham, who acted as spokesman for the deputation, said they were not then ready to answer the statements made in the letter which had been read. He, however, thought that a great many of them were erroneous. Mr Qrigg, chairman of the Longbeach Boad Board, explained the letter at considerable length. Mr Wright argued that the figures in the letter were erroneous and misleading, and suggested that a copy of it should be supplied to the deputation, so that they might ascertain the accuracy of the statements made in that letter. It was necessary to ascertain the accuracy of the statements made in that letter. It was necessary to ascertain the actual cash expenditure on each district, and consequently he would move that the subject be deferred until a future meeting. Mr Grigg asked the deputation whether they had taken steps to ascertain whether the statements contained in their memorial were correct, or whether they had ascertained the assessment on their district was not so large ns on the swamp land. Mr Graham—Yes; I have examined the rate roll, and found that my land was valued at 12s, whilst your swamp land. was valued at Bs, The Chairman stated that a copy of the letter of the Longbeach Boad Board would be supplied to the deputation, who then withdrew. On the motion of Mr Saunders, seconded by Mr Wright, it was resolved—“ That the application for the separation of the Tinwald district from tne Longbeach Boad Board be considered at a future meeting of the Council, and that the petitioners in tbo meantime be requested to inquire into the accuracy of the statistics furnished to the Colonial Secretary by the Longbeach Boad Board.” A deputation, consisting of his Worship the Mayor, waited upon the Council to urge the claims of the Borough to a share of the impounded land fund. The Borough Council was the only public body which had not received its fair share of the funds. A long discussion took place on the subject, in the course of which the Chairman said the Borough had not the slightest claim, morally or legally, to the money which the deputation bad applied for. Messrs Wright and Saunders urged that the claim of the Borough Council was equitable and just. They had a moral claim against the County Council, and a legal claim against Government, for the loss they had sustained in wrongly detaining the land fund. However, it would be absurd to go to law with Government, so the only way out of the difficulty was for the Council to pay the Borough and recover it from the Boad Boards to whom it had been paid. The deputation, after a long interview, retired and Mr Wright gave notice of the following motion :—“ That for the purposes connected with the distribution of the impounded land fund, the borough of Ashburton should be deemed a part of the old Road Board district, it having formed part of that district during the period in which the said fund accrued, and that the proportion thereof payable on this basis to each Boad Board in the county be ascertained prior to the distribution of the balance of the said fund, with the view to the final adjustment of the account.” It was also resolved—“ To let the new cattle yards be offered to tbo Agricultural and Pastoral Association at an annual rent of £IOO, payable half-yearly, Messrs Grigg, Cameron, and Bullock to be a sub-committee to decide on the scale of fees.” The appointment of Mr D. Kellar as pound keeper at Mount Homers was confirmed. Accounts having been passed for payment the meeting adjourned.