ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2236, 2 June 1881, Page 3

ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of this Ooanoil was held on Wednesday. Present—Meaora W. O, Walker (chairman), E. G. Wright, Alf. Saunders, J. Jackson, E. 8. Doctor, B. , J Cameron, and Ihos. Bullock. A month's further leave of absence was granted to Mr i John Grigg, who is in Melbourne. The engineer's report stated that the earthwork of the 1 Methven. Ghertiey line of water-race was completed, the total length being 30 miles 25£ chains. The flaming required near the coarse of the dry creek and at other places along the line was in progress. The adoption of box culverts not less than 24in. by 18in. was recommended. The line of the Methven- Dromore race had been staked off, 29 miles, and some of the earthwork contracts were in hand. A small deviation near Methven had been made, in order to escape pollution from the slaughter-house. It was expected that in a few days owners interested in the proposed water-race outside the present rateable district on the Rakaia side of the plains will have signed the agreement asked for by the Council, which would put them on the same footing as those within the said district, when tenders might be called for one or more sections of the race, the length of whioh would be about thirty-nine miles. The absorption in the Methven channel had not differed from the previous report, and the protection of Chapman's Creek had had a benofioial effect in checking the absorption there. The engineer was authorised to proceed with the laying down of necessary box culverts for special crossings. Special crossings, line A, were approved: also, deviation of loop line, B 1, and the works loop lines B 1 and B 1, these to stand over until the main lines shall have been completed. Tenders will be invited for E channel so soon as settlers sign agreement, signatures to be scoured as socn as possible. Estimates will be furnished by the engineer for works to divert storm-water in connection with E channel. The UnderSecretary for Public Works telegraphed that the Bangitata traffic bridge would bs placed under control of Ashburton county. Besolved —" That the county engineer be instructed to proceed with the driving of the 6in wrought iron piles for the extension of Bangitata road bridge, four piles to be driven in each pier for 40ft spans, in accordance witn the design prepared by Mr Higgenson." Accounts amounting to £743 10s 4d were Sassed for payment. Mr T. W. Bruce and fessrs Grant and Stewart petitioned, as traders from Canterbury to Westland, that the Ashburton County Council would unite with the Selwyn and Grey County Councils in asking Government to restrain the Westland Council from collecting toll at the Otira, and on any part of the East and West Coast road from Arthur's Pass to the Bangiriri, as the Westland Council collecting toll on a road maintained by Government was irregular, and the toll excessive, being 6s per head on oattle, 2s 6d on horses, and 3d on sheep, and fell unjustly on consumers in the G-rey County, as stock travelling there from Canterbury do not require to pass over any road maintained by the Westland Council. Also, that the toll taxes scenery, tourists and travellers from Canterbury having to pay, although not travelling over any road maintained by the Westland Council. Besolved—" That the Westland Council be requested to supply Ashburton Council with any information bearing on the subject, the petitioners to be informed of this, and the matter to be considered next meeting." A request of the Ashburton Borough Council—- " That the Council pay the aooount of £l3 2s expended by the Eire Brigade at the reoent fire in Ashburton, as there is no doubt that the County Council's buildings were saved through the exertions of the Eire Brigade," was declined, the Borough Council and the Eire Brigade having been liberally treated in regard to votes for water supply and to grants in aid. In regard to a petition drawn up by Wallace County Council for Government to restore 20 per cent, land revenue to counties, it was resolved—" That the petition be signed by the chairman on behalf of the Council." A slaughtering license was granted to Mr John Brown, of Wakanui. Besolved that the Council's furniture and seal be insured for £3OO, and that the furniture of the hospital be insured for £SOO. It was stated that the Insurance Company had allowed £2O as compensation for damage to the Council's property by the late fire. The Under-Secretary for Bail ways wrote in respeot to expenditure inourred through replanking the Ashburton railway bridge, which was considered scarcely a legitimate charge against the working railway expenses, but was fairly chargeable to the County Council. It was desirable to ascertain the Counoil's intention in regard to recouping £he Department for tho cost of work already done ; also, what contribution the Counoil is prepared to make towards annual cost of maintaining deoking of Ashburton bridge. Mr Lowe, Engineer for Working Bailways, had estimated the cost of the work now in hand ia connection with xe-decking at about £3OOO. On Mr Wright's motion, seconded by Mr Saunders, it was resolved—" That the County Council is not disposed to contribute towards cost of re-planking, and would refer the General Manager to the letter of sth Maroh, 1879, addressed to the Minister for Public Works, in which the Counoil undertook to build a new bridge for road traffio, upon reoeipt of a grant from Government of half the amount originally paid by Canterbury Provincial Government towards the construction of the present combined bridge. This grant would relieve the Government from all further charges connected with deoking, would .do away with the necessity for gatekeepers, whose salaries, if capitalised, would represent about £4000; and the grant, being supplemented by a like sum from the County funds, would provide an independent bridge for road traffio, greatly to publio convenience." The plantation committee reported that they had resolved that the £IOOO, voted last year by the Council, be spent in planting 400 aores in blooks, where practicable, of twenty aores each, the blocks to be distributed throughout the Road Board distriots proportionately to aoreage of plain land. The reserves recommended for plantation were in the South Bakaiaßoad Board district: —Beserve 1466, 40 acres ; reserve 1113, 20 aores; reserve 1114, 20 aores. The committee further recommended that by a grant in aid to the Ashburton Domain Board, a nursery might be established, from whioh forest trees should be supplied to plantation reserves, and to ratepayers willing to plant, on suoh terms as might be arranged. The report was adopted, and the chairman was empowered to invite tenders for fencing the selected sites when procured. It was resolved that, where material for pitching crossings on roads oould not be procured, concrete fords be made in accordance with the engineer's estimate, and that for ordinary crossings box culverts be used, tops to be heart of black birch, and the remainder to be heart of totara. Tenders for bridges were withdrawn. Mr J. Quigley's tender for water-race, line A, was accepted. The Council rose at half-past 3 o'clock.