SELWYN COUNTY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2412, 28 December 1881, Page 3

SELWYN COUNTY COUNCIL.

The usual monthly meeting of the above was held on Tuesday at 10 30 a.m. Present— Messrs B. J. Lae (chairman), F. Jones, Dunlop, Paryman, McMillan, Boys, B. Westenra. The Chairman said, before proceeding with the business of the day he desired to return them his thanks for having re-elected him as chairman. Ho trusted, by his discharge of the duties of the office, to merit their confidence. The business before the Council was as follows—Since last meeting a letter has been received from the North Kakaia Board of Conservators, stating that Burnt Island having been leased, the Board is not in a position to grant the use of it for the fordsman. The letter from the South Malvern Boad Board with reference to the maintenance of the Bluff bridge, the consideration of which was deferred last month, will be again laid before you. The Biocarton Boad Board has stated its willingness to supervise the maintenance of the roads through the Park on behalf of the Council. The deed embodying the terms of the agreement between the Council and the Bakaia Boad Board for the diversion of Happy Jack’s Creek through gravel reserve 2212 is now ready, and I will ask your authority to execute the same. The Avon Road Board apply for £SO for clearing the river Styx to November last, and enclose a petition from ratepayers asking the Council to continue the grant. A letter has been received from the Halswell Boad Board, applying for a grant of £IOO for drainage works urgently needed. I have aeked the Board to specify the works proposed to bo undertaken, but have not yet received a reply. I have received a letter from the Akaroa County Council enclosing a reply from the Government to their application for an annual grant for the purpose of letting out Lake Ellesmere. A communication has been received from the Ellesmere Boad Board in reference to clearing and widening the riverlrwell. A“potition from tha'ratepayers on this subject was received two months ago, the consideration of which was deferred pending an expression of opinion from the Boad Board. Petitions have been received for and against the annexation of part of the Avon Boad district, and deputations from the several petitioners will wait upon the Council to support their views. Applications have been received from the Biocarton and Heathcoto districts for confirmation of decision of ratepayers re stoppage of certain roads. In the absence of a standing committee to consider such applications, I have asked two members of the Council to look into these oases, and their report will be laid before you. The monthly report of the engineer of the Hororata water race has been sent in, also letters from the Bakaia Boad Board and Mr Oordy. A report from the engineer of the Malvern water race will bo read. The monthly report of the inspector of slaughterhouses will be laid before you, also several applications tor renewal of licenses. An apology for non attendance was received from Mr Mathias.

With respect to the question of Dobbin’s Ford, The Chairman said the matter had been referred to the Bakaia Board of Conservators as to obtaining a site at Burnt Island for the fordaman’s house, but an answer had been received that at present the Bakaia Board of Conservators could not accede to the request of the Council as to obtaining the site. A letter was read from the South Malvern Boad Board with reference to the maintenance of the Bluff bridge, declining to contribute towards the same, as the bridge was a district work. The letter went on to say that the Council having absorbed the revenue, such as dog tax, &0., which would otherwise come to the Road Board, the Council must take the responsibility. Mr McMillan considered that the Malvern Boad Board had not been fairly treated in the matter of bridges. It had had to pay £350 out of its funds for the Glontunnel bridge, and if, in addition half the cost of maintenance of the Bluff bridge was added, it became a most serious matter.

Mr Boys eaid that the Council at a former meeting thought the letter of the Board not quite such a one as could be received. In answer to Mr Westenra, The Chairman said that the principle had been adopted throughout that part of the cost of maintenance of main bridges should be borne by the adjoining Hoad Boards, The Act that this should be done.

Mr pointed out that the South Malvern district had not had a shilling spent in it as others had for drainage, &o. On the contrary, the district bad bad to assist the Council in doing county work.

Mr McMillan pointed out that other districts participated in the benefits of the bridge but did not contribute. The Chairman said that these districts not adjoining the bridge, as stated in the Act, the Council could not legally get at them. Mr Jones said, if the Council spent money on this bridge they would soon have to pay a goodly sum for tho repairs of the bridges, Ac., in tho Heathcote district.

After some further discussion, Mr McMillan moved—“ That the County Council carry out the repairs necessary to the Bluff bridge, and that the coat be defrayed out of the county funds.’’ Mr Jones seconded the motion.

Mr Peryman moved os an amendment—- “ That the Eoad Boards interested—viz,, the South Malvern and Eakaia, execute the repairs necessary to the Bluff bridge, the Council providing the cost of the same ; all moneys so expended to bo deducted out of the funds allocated to those districts.”

Mr Enys seconded the amendment. Mr Westenra suggested that the question should bo adjourned till next meeting.

The motion and amendment being withdrawn, Mr Wcstenra’s suggestion was agreed to, and the matter stood over till next meeting.

With respect to tho Park roads, it was resolved to instruct the overseer of the Biocarton Boad Board to call for tenders for repairing the same wherever practicable.

The Chairman was authorised to seal an agreement between tho Courcil and the Bakaia Boad Board as to the diversion of Happy Jack’s creek. An application was received from tho Avon Boad Board for a grant of £SO for clearing tho Biver Styx. Mr Dunlop moved—“ That the request be granted,” which was seconded by Mr Peryman and agreed to. A petition was also forwarded by the Avon Boad Board, asking that the grant should be continued for tho ensuing year.

Mr Dunlop moved—“ That the grant be continued for the year ensuing.” The Chairman said that an application had been received from the Cemetery Board for a grant of £2O for the completion of the road to the new Cemetery, which might be discussed at the same time.

Mr Dunlop then moved—" That the sum of £BO be granted towards clearing the Styx for the ensuing twelve months, and £2O towards opening up the Cemetery road.” Mr Enys seconded the motion, which was agreed to, A letter was read from the Akaroa County Council, stating that the Government did not see their woy clear to contribute towards the cost of opening Lake Ellesmere. An application was read from the Halswell Boad Board for a grant of £IOO for drainage works. In the absence of any information as to the works proposed, the matter stood over till next meeting.

A letter was read from tho Ellesmere Eoad Board with reference to the clearing of the Eivor Irwell, stating that the Board did not recommend tho expenditure of public money thereon.

The report of the committee on tho action of the Heathcote and Avon Boad Boards as to the stoppage of certain roads was laid before tho Council. The report recommended that the decision of meetings of ratepayers in the Eiccarton and Heathcote districts as to the stoppage of certain roads be confirmed. The report of the committee was adopted. Messrs Lee, Peryman, Jones, and Westenra were appointed as a standing committee on the diversion of roads.

At this stage a special meeting of tho Council took place to confirm the alteration of the boundaries of the Upper Waimakariri riding, and tho special order drafted by the solicitor to the Council was then agreed to on the motion of Mr Enys. The report of the engineer of the Malvern water-race was brought up and read. A deputation from West Melton waited on the Council with reference to the extension of tho water-race through their district. The Chairman, after hearing what tho deputation had to say, said that tho matter would have to bo referred to the standing committee to consider and decide on it.

Mr Enys moved—” That as the engineering work in connection with the Malvern water-

race is so nearly completed, Mr Bitso receive three months’ notice of the termination of his agreement.” Mr McMillan seconded the motion, which was agreed to. A deputation in favor of the proposed annexation of part of the Avon road district to the Biocarton road district waited on the Council, and Mr Q-. Harper laid the reasons for such annexation before the members.

Mr H. J. Hall, the chairman of the Biocarton Boad Board, attended to state the willingness of that body to receive the ratepayers as proposed by the petition for annexation.

The Council having listened to the views of the various members of the deputation they retired. A counter-deputation from the Avon Boad Board, comprising Messrs Flesher and Cooper, waited on the Board to urge their reasons against the annexation as proposed. The Council decided to adjourn till 2.30 p m to afford Mr J. L. Wilson, the chairman of the Avon Boad Board, an opportunity of being present.

On re-assembling at 2.30 p.m. Mr Wilson was not present. The Chairman said the Council could not wait any longer, and he should, therefore, call upon Mr Flesher to state the views of the Avon Road Board.

Mr Flesher entered into a statement of the reasons why the Avon Road Board were opposed to the severance, and the deputation then withdrew.

After gome discussion, it was decided, Mr Dunlop dissenting, to recommend the Governor to accede to the prayer of the petition of certain ratepayers of the Avon district for annexation to the Biocarton Boad Board.

The report of the Engineer of the Hororata Water Race was road. The engineer was authorised to treat with the owner of land required for a waterway for the purchase of the same.

The report of the Inspector of Slaughterhouses was road. There were thirty applications for renewal and one for a new license.

The renewals, with conditions appended to one or two, wore granted, as also was the application for the now license. Mr H. J. Hall, chairman of the Biocarton Boad Board, waited on the Council with reference to the cost of supervision of the maintenance of the Park roads. He stated that the sum fixed by the Boad Board was £4O per annum. The Chairman suggested that £25 would be sufficient.

It was resolved that the sum to be paid should be £25 per annum. A number of accounts were passed for pay ment.

The Council adjourned at 3 30 p.m.