SELWYN COUNTY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2385, 24 November 1881, Page 3

SELWYN COUNTY COUNCIL.

The annual meeting of this body was held on Wednesday. Present Messrs Eoys, Matirias, Peryman, Jones, and Dunlop. Mr Enys was voted to the chair.—A letter was read from the Returning Officer, announcing" the result of the general eleotion.—The Chairman stated that the first business was the election of a chairman.—Mr Peryman moved that the late ohairman, Mr E. J. Lee, bo re-elected ohairman for the ensuing year. Mr F. Jones seconded the resolution, whioh was supported by Mr Dunlop and agreed to. The Chairman read tho following statement of business to be brought forward—" (1) The Aehburton County Counoil and North Rakaia Board of Conservators have been communicated with in reference to proposal to place the fordsman on Burnt Island. The former body has replied that ir, ia willing to pay its sharo of cost of erecting a oottage if the site is available. No reply has been received from the Board of Conservators relative to the resorve. (2) The Lincoln Road Board has forwarded a lease of part of gravel reserve No. 343 for execution by the County Council. (3) The Colonial Secretary, in reply to a letter from this Council respecting the alteration of boundary of Upper Waimakariri Riding, has replied that ho is advised the County Council, not the Governor, is the proper authority to alter ridings. jThe letter has been referred to the oounty solioitor, who has prepared a special order for tho purpose. If the Council approves of it it will be necessary to hold a special -neeting to adopt it. (4) The South Malvern Road Board writes objecting to tho maintenance of the Bluff bridge being undertaken by the Road Boards, anr> asks the Council to reconsider its decision. (5) A letter has been received from the Riccarton Road Board agreeing to the proposed arrangement with regard to the Park roads. It now remains for the Council to make arrangements for undertaking the part of the work whioh devolves on the county. (6) A letter has been received from the Akaroa County Counoil stating that as no aotual bar can be found in the river Halswell, the Council has withdrawn the amount voted towards the cost of removing it. Tho Heathcote Road Board now apply for payment of £llOO recently voted for special works in tho district, viz., bridges at Woolston and Hillsborough, £700;) maintenance of Sumner road, £200; bridge at Monk's, £IOO, and bridge on the Hills road near Austin and Kirk's, £IOO. The Spreydon Road Board ask for a grant of £44 10s for olearing the Halswell, and £35 for the Heathcote, and for keeping them clear for twelve months ; the portions of the rivers to be cleaned have been placed under the control of the Board by special order of the Council. The report of the engineer and tenders for thirteen miles of the open race will be laid before you. The following letters have been received respecting tho Malvern water raoe :— (1) From East Malvern Road Board asking that the culvert over branch race No. 1, near reserve 1322, may bo lowered ; (2), from Colonial Secretary acknowledging the receipt of copy of the bylaws ; (3), from Mr Joynt as to the power of the Council to distribute water outside the water race district as defined by the Act of 1880 ; (4), monthly reports of the engineer. It will be necessary to appoint two members to sign cheques on the county account." The matter re Dobbin's ford was deferred, pending a reply from the Board of Conservators. The chairman was authorised to execute a lease of reservo 343, and to affix the county seal. It was resolved—" That a special meeting be held on the 27th December next, at the purpose of adopting a special order making tho proposed alteration in the boundary of the Upper Waimakariri riding." The matter of the Bluff bridge was deferred until next meeting. It was resolved to ask the Riccarton Road Board to undertake the work of maintaining the Riccarton road on behalf of the Council. It was resolved—" That the amount applied for by the Spreydon Road Board be granted for clearing the Heathcote and Halswell. The report of the engineer on the Hororata water race was read and adopted. Mr Brown's tender for thirteen miles twelve chains of open race was accepted. It was resolved—- " That Messrs Er>ys, Mathias, MoMillan, and Weßtenra be appointed a standing committee to supervise the water races." The committee was authorised to proceed with the distribution of the water according to the plan produced by the engineer, on the applicants signing the necessary agreements and paying the sum of £5 on account of the £ls provided by the by-laws for each head race and 10s on account of the 20s for loop holes. The ohairman. and Mr F. Jones were appointed to sign cheques, and Mr Peryman to sign during the absence of the ohairman. After passing several aocounts, the Council adjourned to Tuesday, December 27tb, at 10.30 a.m.