SELWYN COUNTY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2335, 27 September 1881, Page 3

SELWYN COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Selwyn County Council was held at 10 30 a.m. Present —Messrs E. J. Lee, D. McMillan, J. D. Enye, H. J. Mathias, W. H. Peryman, J. L. Wilson. The chairman said —A letter has been received from the Bicoarton Road Board, declining to join in the application to the Government for a settlement of the question of the responsibility of keeping the Park roads in repair. A deputation from the City Council will wait upon the Council to-day in reference to the same matter. A copy of a petition from ratepayers of the Avon district, asking the Governor to create a portion of the district into a municipality, has been forwarded to me. In accordance with authority given to me at last meeting, I have exeouted the assignment of the lease of the Bealey Ferry and accommodation house from Keting to O'Malley. I have received an application from the Ashburton County Council for a portion of the speoial grant for the Bakaia gorge bridge approaches. At my request the EUesmere Boad Board have had an examination made of the Lower Selwyn bridge, and the report, which has been forwarded to me, shows that the piles are in a very unsatisfactory state. Some of the flooring also requires to be replaced. I have received an offer to Bupply dog collars for the ensuing year. The monthly report of the inspector will be laid before you, also a report from the county solicitor on informations laid during the month. Mr Dobson's report on the progress of the Hororata water-.-ace works w 11 be submitted to you. The contractor has been again delayed for want of timber, and the anticipated progress has not therefore been attained. The engineer's monthly report on the Malvern water-raoe has been received, and draft by-laws in connection with the distribution of water have been prepared for your consideration. The Chairman mentioned that he had received a telegram from the Hon. John Hall, stating that he had intended to be at the meeting that day, but the steamer was quarantined.—A letter was read from the Biocarton Boad Board, declining to join with the Council in requesting the Government to arbitrate as to who was liable for the maintenance of the Park roads.—A petition from the residents of St. Albans and other parts of the Avon district to the Governor, asking to be constituted a municipality, was forwarded to the Council, in accordance with the Municipal Corporations Act, for its information.—A letter was read from the Ashburton County Council with respect to the refund given by the Government of the sum expended by the Oounoil on the approaches to the Bakaia Gorge bridge.—The Chairman was authorised to sign bs requested by the Ashburton Oounoil. It was resolved that the secretary write to the Government, informing them that it had been stated that it was the intention to fill up between the south side of the gorge and the rook, and asking if such was the case.—The Chairman said that the oommittee appointed to carry out tree planting were not yet prepared with a detailed report of their operations. They had some eight lota of about 592 acres in all. Of this the oommitee hod taken up, fenced, and planted about half the total acreage. The Council proceeded to consider the report of the surveyor of the EUesmere Boad Board on the state of the traffic bridge over the Selwyn attached to the railway bridge. The report stated that nearly all the piles were rotten, and required removing. The planking, also, would require re laying. —After a lengthy and desultory discussion of a conversational oharaoter, it was resolved to refer the report to the Eoad Boards interested.—A tender for the supply of dog collars for the year 1882 waß received from Mr A. Dunbar, and accepted.—The report of the inspector of slaughter houses for the month was read.—A report was read from Messrs Dobson and Sons bb to the progress of the Hororata water race, and also a letter from the contrator, stating that, owing to delays in receiving timber, he had not been able to keep his oontraot time. It was agreed to extend the oontraot time for a month under the circumstances mentioned. The report of the engineer on the Malvern Water-roce was read, stating the progress made with the work. — Several applications for water were received, and held over for the present. —A deputation from the Oity Council, consisting of His Worship the Mayor and Or. Vincent, waited upon the Council with regard to the subject of the maintenance of the Park roads. —i'he Chairman said that in justice to the ratepayers of the county they could not see their way clear to pay all the expense. They had therefore offered to pay half the cost, that the Oity Oounoil should pay one-third, and the Eiccarton Eoad Board one • sixth. This was rejected, and now the matter was in statu quo.— The Mayor said that the position taken up by the Council was that half the Lincoln road should be kept in order by them, but that they could not legally spend any money on the Park roads. These roadf, he contended, were the property of the province, and therefore came under the power of the Council.—The Chairman said that if the Governor decided that the Oity Oounoil were

entitled to pay any share of the maintenance of these road* they could do it legally, ae would wish to point out that the city was Dy far more interested in keeping these roadsona the park in order than those outside. Besides, supposing that the County Council haa to keep up the heavy exp enditure alone on the park roads, when their funds were exhausted they would have to rate. Then this would arise that the County Council would be rating outsiders alone, becsuse they were unable to rate the oitizens. Again, the cost of the maintenance of these roads had not exoeeded £4OO a year, of which the County Oonncil proposed to pay half, or £2OO a year.—The Mayor inquired whether this would include the i/inooln road also.—The Chairman said it would. The proposition made by the County Council seemed to him to be a fair and reasonable one.—Mr J. L. Wilson said that he took it that it would be better for the oity to have the Linooln road under their own control. Supposing that this proposition was made that the City Oounoil take the Linooln road over entirely; that the County Council take over en its own aooount the maintenance of the road through the Park from the Hospital to the hotel; that the boundary roads between the Biosarton road distriot and the County Council be divided between those two bodies. By this means he thought that the difficulty would be got over.—Or. Vincent was of opinion that sum suoh course as this would be the best to adopt, and that they should recommend the Council to accept a scheme suoh as this.—Mr Wilson was of opinion that the Eiccirton people would acoede to this.— Mr Mathias asked Or. Vinoent whether the deputation brought any proposition ?—Or Vinoent replied in the negative. What they had come for was to see what the County Council proposed.—After some disoußsion, it was resolved—" That the County Council would communicate by letter tho terms proposed."—The deputation then retired.—After passing some accounts, the Council went into committee, and afterwards adjourned.