SELWYN COUNTY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2136, 29 December 1880, Page 3

SELWYN COUNTY COUNCIL.

A meeting of the Selwyn County Council was held on Tuesday morning, at half-past 10 o'clock. Present—Mr Lee (chairman), the Hon. John Hall, Messrs Peryman, Wilson, McMillan, Mathias, and Dr. Turnbnll.

The Chairman.read the usual statement of business to come before the meeting. , The following report was then,read : " The committee appointed to consider the position of the county funds met on the 15th December. Present—DrTurnbnll.&f esara Peryman, Wilson, MoMillan and Lee (in the chair). They have the honor to report—l. That the funds now in the hands of the Council, not allocated to any district, should remain at the credit of the general account, and that no further allocation to individual districts be made for the present. 2. That any further funds accruing to the Council in the future shall, on the same principle, be placed to the general account, .and (3) that such general account be dealt with by further resolution of the Council."

On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr McMillan, the report was adopted. With regard ■to the Hororata water race, the Chairman was authorised to sign and seal the necessary agreement for land required for that work.

The Chairman was also authorised to sign and seal conveyances of land for Malvern water-race.

An application from the Avon Boad Board for a grant in aid of' £IOO towards clearing the Styx river was granted. A petition was recoived from the inhabitants of the Heathoote district] for a grant of £7OO towards constructing two bridges over the Heathoote river. The petition was supported by the Boad Board. The Council resolved—" That a sum of £7OO be granted- to the Heathoote Boad Board, out of- funds allocated to that district, in aid of erection of two bridges over the Heathcote—that is, £350 each—it being understood that in case only one bridge is built the vote for the other shall lapse. A report from the Bakaia Boad Board was received, as to the expenditure of £SO granted, to be expended in clearing the Hororata river bed of gorso.

A letter was read from the Ellenmero Boad Board on works in that district required to- be undertaken, and asking for a grant in aid. The Secretary stated that a sum of £663 stood to. the credit of the Ellesmere district.

On the motion of K. J. Lee, it was agreed, "That a sum of £350 be granted to the Ellesmere Boad Board for the purpose of improving the drainage of Boggy Greek, and that a sum of £l5O be granted to the same Board in aid of the drainage works upon the lagoon near Taumutu, the land acquired for the first mentioned purpose to be conveyed to the County Counoil." A deputation from Kirwee, consisting of Col. Brett, Capt. Tosawill, and Mr E. M. Templar, waited on the Council with suggestions as to the continuation of the Malvern water-race to Bollestou. Following is the petition:—

To the Chairman, &c, Sir, —We, the undersigned, anticipating the work in connection with the branch of the Malvern water-race as far as Kirweo boinj, finished within a few months, and hiving reason to believe that on the completion of the present contract the funds at your disposal for this work will be exhausted, and that a considerable time may elapse before a loan for the completion' of the Darfield and Kirwee branch races could be raieed, in accordance with a recent Act of Parliament passed to confer upon your Council special rating and borrowing powers in respect of the said water-race, would respectfully bring to your notice that in order to utilise the branch race when completed as far as Kirwee, an outlet for the water will have to be provided, and we would beg to offer the 'following suggestions for the disposal of the water at the termination of the work, viz. : That at a point about one mile above Kirweo a channel be made through section 727, to lead the water into a gully which rises in section 8894. The natural water-conrse which here takes its rise is capable of carrying off as large a quantity as a branch race could supply, and runs in a south-easterly direction to Aylesbury and Rolleston, where, at the former place, about three and a half miles from Kirwee, it joins the line surveyed for the permanent branch race to Bolleston.

In the event of your Council approving of the establishment of this natural water-course as a temporary means of continuing the race to Aylesbury, &c, until funds be at your disposal for the continuance of the work from Kirwee, we, the occupiers of the land through which this gully passes, would be prepared to carry out the work of leading the water into the same and maintaining it in its course to Aylesbury entirely at our own expense, subject to such direction and supervision from the engineer of the water race as your Council might think fit.

We may mention that your engineer is acquainted with the course of the gully referred to and its capabilities for the purpose we propose to apply it —as a temporary channel for the continuation of the branch beyond Aylesbury ; and we are assured by occupiers situated below Aylesbury that they would be prepared to continue the temporary channel to Bolleston at their own expense. We cannot but think that should your Council be disposed to favourably consider the suggestion we have ventured to offer, that it misht be the means of utilising the Kirwee branch race as soon as the present contract is completed, and would be a favourable way of removing any doubts that may exist among the ratepayers of the Malvern water race district as to the value of this most important work, and showing the facility and inexpensive manner in which the water may bo conveyed to Rolleston within a few months of this date.

A tracing plan of the district accompanied ! the petition. After considerable discussion, The Chairman moved, and it was carried—- " That the question of the conditions on which the water brought down by the water race so far as completed may ba used pending the oorapletion or the work, be referred to the water raco committee, with power to deal with applications already received, and with, others which niay be sent in." A special meeting of the Council was held at this stage, to consider the question of taking control of the pounds, and after some discussion the matter was postponed till next j meeting. On resuming the ordinary msating, The Eev. C. S'raser waited on tho Couccil

to represent the wishes q£ residents of West Melton, along tho Beale.y road, to be usßisted to a water race in correction with the present water works,

The Council replied • that they would bear the matter in mind when arranging for the continuation of the race.

A letter was read from the Cemetery Board, asking for a reconsideration of the question of altering the purposes of a reserve for cemetery purposes. The Council decided they could not agree to the request. At this stage the Counoil adjourned for luncheon. On resuming at two o'clock, a letter from the Ashburton County Council was read with reference to the railway tariff. It was resolved to acknowledge receipt of the letter, but not to pass any resolution at present in view of the probable immediate adjustment of the railway rates.

On the motion of Dr. Turnbull, the Council decided to set aside £IOO for the purpose of paying the expenses of the Chairman for the next twelve months.

A grant of £l5O out of the sum allocated to the Avon Boad Board for recreation grounds was made to the St. Albans recreation ground trustees. The report of the slaughter-house inspeotor was read. It recommended the Council to grant all applications sent in for licenses except three. The Council granted all those applications which were recommended, and the chairman was empowered to deal with any applications for renewals that might come in. A sum of £IOO out of the funds allocated to the Lincoln district was, on the motion of Mr Peryman, granted to the Lincoln Boad Board for the purpose of cleansing and improving the following drains—Townßend's, Blackley's, Davies', and others in the Lincoln district.

Mr Peryman moved—" That at the next meeting section 173 of the Public Works Act be considered with a view to discussing the advisability of complying with the Act in reference to providing a proper map of the oounty." The motion, not finding a seconder, was withdrawn. Mr Mathias moved—" That a sum' of £IOOO out of funds allocated to the Oourtenay road district be placed to the credit of the Malvern water race account."

The motion was seconded by Mr McMillan and carried.

Meßßrs E. Dobaon and Son, engineers, reported on the Rakaia and Selwyn water supply, showing that fair, progreae had been made with the work, making certain suggestions as to additional small works in connection with the general operations. The Council agreed to the suggestions contained in the report. Accounts accumulated since last meeting were passed for payment. The Council then (at four o'clock) • adjourned till the 25th January, 1881.