SELWYN COUNTY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2359, 25 October 1881, Page 3

SELWYN COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the Selwyn County Council was held this morning. Present—Dr. Turnbull (in the chair), McMillan, Peryman, Wilson, Mathias. The Aotmg-Uhairman read the following statement: fore us to-day j one is really a petition to the Ellesmere Road Board, and forwarded with their recommendation to this Council. The petition is from residents and ratepayers using the ford over the Rakaia known as Dobbin’s ford. It seems that hitherto the fordsman has resided on the north bank, but the petitioners to the Road Board believe that it would bo conducive to his usefulness if he were stationed on Burnt Island. The Ashburton County Council pay one-half the expenses of this ford, and will require to be consulted ; also, Burnt Island is a reserve under the North Rakaia Board of Conservators, and they will n quire to be communicated with. The fordsman sends a letter, naming certain conditions about his removal to Burnt Island. The second petition is from owners and occupiers of land in the neighbourhood of the Irwell; they ask for a grant in aid for widening, clearing, and otherwise improving that river. There are no funds appropriated to that district, but a grant may be made out of the general funds. The total cost is estimated at £250. The question of the alteration of the boundary between Akaroa and Selwyn counties occupied our attention some time ago. Lsttera have been received agreeing to the proposed alteration. Wo will require to proceed under clause 30 of the Counties Act, where it is made necessary that both Councils should petition the Governor. Bake Ellesmere.—lt was proposed formerly by the Akaroa Council that the two counties should bear the cost of letting out the waters. Tetters have been received from the Akaroa Council proposing an application to Government for money for this purpose. Whatever source the money is derived from, it will be necessary to entrust its expenditure to one or other of the Road Boards. The Kir wee Domain Board write, asking the substitution of Messrs O. G. Parker and W. J. Simpson for H. fj. Rose and N. 8 Kingdom, resigned. This will require to go before the Governor. A cheque has been received from the Courtenay Road Board for £SOO, as their contribution towards the completion of the Malvern water-race scheme. The engineer for the Malvern water-race will lay his report and accounts on the table. Sundry applica tion for heads of water have been received. They cannot be dealt with till after the special meeting on November Bth, when the advertised by-laws will be confirmed. In the meantime arrangements are being pushed forward for carrying out the proposed system of distribution. The result of our visit and inspection of the Hororata water-race is stated fully and clearly in the engineer’s report now on the table. The Rakaia Road Board has written, stating that it would reconsider the question of erecting tanks as public watering places. The inspector of slaughterhouses is prepared with his report. The City Council propose to meet us at half-past eleven to day relative to the Hagley Park roads. Application is made for grant in aid to clear the Heathcote river above and below the Lincoln j road bridge. The sum of £35 was granted . last year, and you will probably see your way . to a similar one this year. It will be necessary to appoint one of our members to sign the ■ cheques in the place of our chairman, Mr Lee, and to inform our banker of the change. ] It seems that the day for election falls upon the 9th Nov. This is the Prince of Wales Birth- , day and also the day for the Agricultural Show. It is proposed to postpone the elections to the . 16th November. “ Gazette” notices have not j yet been received from Government, but we ] hope it will reach us before this meeting closes. The South Malvern Road Board calls our attention to the necessity of having the } Bluff bridge at Coalgate painted and tarred. ( A letter will be laid before you from Mr Pountaine, Hororata, asking that culverts be j placed at places indicated over the Hororata water-race. Several deeds will require the signature of members, and the accounts coming duo this month will be brought up. After discussion, it was resolved, on the motion of Mr Mathias, seconded by Mr Peryman—“ That the question of the location of the fordsman at Dobin’s Eord be submitted to the Ashburton County Council and to the North Rakaia B ard of Conservators.” — The Irwell petition was then considered. Mr Wilson moved —“ That the petition from ratepayers at Irwell be referred to the Biles- ' more Board for its opinion as to the advisableness of transferring the control of the river ' Irwell to the Board.” This was seconded by Mr Peryman, and agreed to. —The counties boundaries were then discussed; ultimately 1 Mr Peryman moved, Mr Wilson seconded, and it was resolved—“ That this Council join ' with the Akaroa County Council in petitioning the Governor for the proposed alteration of the boundary.”—The Lake Ellesmere question provoked some discussion, after which it was resolved, on the motion of Mr 1 McMillan, seconded by Mr Wilson—“ That the Akaroa County Council be asked 1 the probable annual cost to let out the 1 water in Lake Ellesmere.” agreed to request the Government to 1 gazette Messrs O. G. Parker and W. J. 1 Simpson as members of the Kirwee Domain 1 Board in the room of H. L. Rose and N. S. 1 Kingdom, resigned.—The engineer to the Malvern water race reported that small falls j wore required in some places on the branch channels to prevent the deposit of shingle. 1 Prom 300 to 400 would be required at an estimated cost af £IOO. Some small timber 1 flames which would cost about £3O were also required. The report stated that a number j of applications for heads of water had been received, and also detailed the progress made by the contractors for small bridges and branch water races. The report was received and referred to the water-race committee. A long discussion ensued on the matter, and it was resolved on the motion of Mr Wilson, seconded by Mr Peryman—“ That the details of the distributing channels of the Malvern water-race be left with the Malvern waterrace committee, with this suggestion, that the district embraced by the Act be first supplied, and that legal advice be secured relative to our powers to take water to occupiers outside the water-race area.”— At this stage, Councillor Ayers and the City Surveyor waited upon the Council. Or. Ayers stated that the City Council were prepared to take the whole care and maintenance of the Lincoln road, and that they were precared to bear half-cost of the maintenance of the Carlton Mill road and bridge—Mr Peryman thought the whole cost of the bridge should be borne by the City Council, as its division would lead to a great deal of bother and correspondence.—Mr Walkden thought the City Council could do the work, debiting the Selwyn Council with their proportion of the cost. —Mr J. L. Wilson said he thought the Biocarton Road Board were anxious to come to an amicable settlement of their portion of the Park roads.—The deputation having been informed that their would be duly considered, thanked the Council, and withdraw. — After a brief discussion, Mr Wilson moved, and Mr Peryman seconded the Lincoln road adjoining Hagley Park be placed legally under the control of the City Council, and that the cost of maintenance and reconstruction of the Carlton bridge bo defrayed jointly by the City Council and Selwyn County Council.”— On the motion of Mr Mathias, seconded by Mr McMillan, it was agreed —“That the acting chairman be authorised to sign memorandum of lease of part of reservo 1322 from the school commissioners to tho County Council, and that the seal of tho Council be affixed thereto.” Tho engineers to the Hororata water-race work reported that more than five miles of the Rakaia Terraco road flume had been comDieted. Detail section had been taken across M> Bealey’s property to the corner of Rural Section 28856, and also down the branch road from tho south east corner of Rural Section 33025 to the road at the corner of Rural Section 29663. No difficulty would be experienced in carrying open races along these linos it the trenches were flurned across the gullies and low places. The length of the now race on the Rakaia terrace would be six miles twenty chains, and (hat on the bronch road eight miles forty-five chains. The earthworks connected with these would cost about £450 The re port gave full details of arrangements made for tho proeeou'ion of the above woiks The report was received and adopted, and the engineer was requested to aa’.l tenders for the varims works as early as posii.le. The report of the m speotor of slaughterhouses was considered satisfactory, and some applications for new slaughtering licenses granted. MrFountame s application for culverts was considered, and Mr Dobson was instructed to carry out the work. —Mr Wilson moved and Mr Mathias 1 seconded— 1 " That the Spreydon portion of the River Heathcote be placed under the control 1 of the Spreydon Road Board.” Mr Peryman

moved as an amendment —“ That the Bum of £35 be granted to the Spreydon Road Board to defray coat of clearing the Upper Heathcote.” This not being aeoonded, the original motion was carried. —Mr J. L. Wilson was authorised to sign cheques in the absence of the _ chairman.—lt was resolved, on the motion of Mr McMillan, seconded by Mr Peryman— “That the painting and tarring of the Bluff bridge, Coalgate, be left in the hands of the Rakaia and South Malvern Road Boards.”—Mr Peryman gave notice of motion—“ That the Government be requested to amend the County Council Act bo as to provide for the retirement and election of one-third of the members annually, instead of as now provided by the Act, that oil the members retire at one time every three years.”—After some routine business, the Council adjourned.