ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2166, 3 February 1881, Page 3

ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

The usual monthly meeting of the above Council was held on Thursday. Present— Messrs Walker (chairman), Wright, Coster, Bullock, Jackson, and D. Cameron. The Chairman read a statement of the business to come before the Council, and in reference to the railway tariff, said ho hoped the Council would not rest satisfied with the reduction made as regarded agricultural matters, but agitate until there remained no favored class or district, and until the agricultural interest was pissed upon a satisfactory footing, as it was the mainstay of the country.

The engineer’s report was readjas follows: In accoidance with instructions received from the Council at their last meeting, I made the necessary arrangements for extending the test channel from the point of its crossing the railway near Dromore to the junction of roads near the south-east corner of rural section 26131—a distance of 3J miles, and the contractor has lost no time in completing that portion of the race on the lines sketched out. Other sections of the race, near Methven, have, as you are already aware, been finished since last meeting of Council, and the new cuts which were necessary at Mount Harding and Drayton, and the open race connecting the concrete channel with Chapman’s Creek, as well as the regulating and improving the latter creek over the greater part of its length. These different sections of the work having been completed, and the official opening having taken place cn Monday last, 1 beg to say that the water has already found its way to the end of the channel, having travelled the distance of thirty-three miles within forty-eight hoars, and in sufficient volume to give an adequate supply in the channel throughout, as well as te provide some surplus to be expended below its lower terminal point. Some portions oft be channel require yet to be regnlated before the work is taken off the contractor’s hands, tjofar there does not appear to be a large amount i: absorption, though this will no doubt increase if the water should cut down into the gravelly subsoil. I will take an early opportunity o ganging the absorption which is taking place. The initial concrete main is large enough to supply at least other four channels of a similar capacity to the present test channel, but I would suggest that the effects of a continued flow on the stability of the channel now executed bo fully ascertained before either the number or directions of the other channels are determined. There will, no doubt, be considerable liability to sconr, especially in period of flood (and the water on this line will consequently be always more or less turbid though probably not objectionably so, at least for stock purposes), but if it is found that the addition of a few small falls at different points would be likely to render the channel secure, it would be well to adhere to the present line, so as to make it permanently serviceable as one of the mains at a reasonable cost. At Methven a number of public roads meet, and a culvert for the race will be required there. In only one or two instances have timber crossings for fields been requested, and in connection with the present scheme at all events, if owners cannot sea their way to provide such accessories for themselves, in consideration of the benefit they may derive from the water supply, it is apparent that the service cannot be extended as it otherwise would It will be necessary to make provisions for turning off the water at several points during periods of rain, more especially at the head works, and near Methven, where sluice gates have already been provided. Along the Methven line of railway there are several large ballast pits, which would be snitable as filter basins forgiving the relief proposed in times of flood. Regarding the proposed ontfall from Chapman’s creek, extending from the old boundary fence below the in-cut,connecting paid creek with Mount Harding creek to the West Coast road, I have staked out the line on the coarse shown on the accompanying tracing, which is precisely tho course the flood water from the creek was taken at the time I made the survey, and on this line Mr D. G. Holmes agrees to give the land necessary for the storm channel. The deed of conveyance will be in coarse of preparation in a few days. As there is now running in Chapman’s creek the new supply fro • Pudding Hill, in addition to the nsnal supply in the creek, it would be advisable to make this storm channel as early as possible, as, in the event of much water coming down there without any defined course, it would injure the roads and property in the district, whilst part might also find its way again to Methven township. It would be quite sufficient for the purpose to cut a channel about 7ft. wide and 9in. deep, disposing of the earthwork on the lower side of the drain. The total length is 148 chains. The engineer was instructed to carry out the suggestions contained in his report. On the motion of Mr Wright it was regolved—“ That the engineer be instructed to place 400 gallon tanks across the water-race at road crossings as a dipping-box, and to take tho necessary measures to provide against the destruction of the channel by excessive scour.”

Mr Wright also moved, Mr Jackson seconded, and it was carried—“ That the outer dope of the dam at Pudding hill be grouted with concrete to prevent the pitch* ing being disturbed by timber carried over it in times of heavy flood.” A memorial, signed by the ratepayers in the Tinwald- Winslow district, was read. It requested the petition for separation from the Longbeach Road Board district to be withdrawn, and asked for an independent audit of the accounts of the Longbeach Road Board, to be made under the auspices of the County Council, as the statement of accounts rendered by the Board was inaccurate. They were anxious this should be done, as they were rated 70 per cent, higher in the TinwaldWinslow district than in the most valuable part of the road district. They felt it a hardship to be told that the roads in their district had been made by the money belonging to the rest of the district, when the opposite was the fact. Objection having been taken to the language used in the memorial, it was rejected on the ground that it was disrespectfully worded. A petition was read from residents in the Hinds district, asking for a water supply for the plains between the Hinds and Ashburton. The Chairman suggested that the engineer should be instructed to report on the work, and he would also like to see included in it a similar request, some time ago made by the residents in the Mount Somers district.

Mr Wright supported this suggestion, and moved—“ That the engineer be requested to report on the matter as soon as possible, also on the petition from Mount Somers re water supply, and on the matter of supplying water to the plains between the Hinds and Rangitata.”

An application from the Upper Ashburton Road Board re protective works, was postponed for one month. Mr Mainwaring was appointed dog registrar for the Wakanui Road district, vice Mr J. Wilkie, resigned. In compliance with a request from the South Rakaia Road Board, it was resolved — "That the well at South Rakaia pound be properly timbered to preserve the shaft.” A letter was read from Mr Ruddenklau complaining that some land had been taken away from him to make the drain for the plains water supply. It was resolved—“ That the Council consider there is no real cause for complaint, in consideration of|the benefit conferred on the land, more especially as Mr Ruddenklau is treated like all other land owners.”

The Chairman gave notice that at next meeting ho would move—“ That in the opinion of this Council tho Now Zealand railways should bo managed by a non* political Board."

A special meeting was then held, at which the rules and regulations respecting the saleyards were confirmed. The resolution—“ That all ponndkeepers be instructed to advertise all animals impounded, whatever be their number,” was also confirmed.