SELWYN COUNTY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2440, 31 January 1882, Page 3

SELWYN COUNTY COUNCIL.

Tho ordinary meeting of the shove w held at 10.30 this morning. Present Messrs E. J. Lee (chairman), McMillan, Enys, E. Jones, Mathias, Peryman, Westerns, Dunlop. . , Tho Chairman said—l have received a letter from the Government in reply to our communication respecting the collection or tolls on the Otira road, stating that the Westland County expends more upon the maintenance of the portion of the road under its charge than it receives from the tolls, i and that if the gates were removed it would be unable to meet the cost of keeping the road in repair. Under these circumstances the Government does not feel justified in interfering. The Heathoote Boad Board ask the Council to take the necessary steps to have reserve 107 vested in them for Boad Board purposes, with an ultimate view of converting it into a recreation ground. The reserve is situate at the Sandhills, aud was set aside for an abattoir. 1 have received a letter from the Halawell Boad Board, specifying the particular drainage works in tho district upon which they propose to expend the grant of £IOO for which they have applied. The Courtenay Domain Board ask the Council to obtain the sanction of the Government to the appointment of Mr John Turner on tho Domain Board. The Hospital and Charitable Aid Board have furnished me with a statement of its receipts and expenditure for the half-year ending December 31st. I have to report the receipt from the Treasury of the subsidy for the nine months ending December 31st, via , £3346 10s sd, less a deduction of £1359, being proportion of cost of maintaining the hospital aid, and £1943, proportion of expenditure on account of charitable aid, leaving £44 10s 5d to the credit of the Council. Letters have been received from Messrs A. Anderson and D. Darroch, offering to surrender free of cost the land required for the Hororata water race through their properties. I have also received the report of the engineer on the progress of the works in hand. A letter has been received from the Courtenay Boad Board with reference to the Malvern waterrace, and also the usual reports from tho engineer. The consideration of the queslion of repairing and maintaining the Bluff bridge and other similar bridges was deferred from last meeting. The monthly report of the inspector of slaughter-houses will be laid before you. A petition from the inhabitants between the Hawkins and Hororata asking tho Council to cause a report to be made as to the feasibility of obtaining a supply of water will be laid before you. It was resolved with reference to the tolls on tho West Coast road that the memorialists communicate further with the Council.

With respect to the request of the Heathoote Boad Board, Mr Jones entered into an explanation of tho circumstances under which the application was made, and moved —“ That a request be made to the Government to vest reserve 105 in the Council.’'

The motion was seconded by Mr Peryman, and carried.

An application was received from the Halswell Boad Board for the sum of £IOO, accompanied by particulars of the purposes to which it was to be applied. The Chairman said there was only a balance of £65 available.

On the motion of Mr Feryman, seconded by Mr Jones, it was resolved—“ That the sum of £65 be granted for the purposes stated, A letter was read from the Courtenay Domain Board, asking the Council to obtain the sanction of the Governor to the election on the Board of Mr John Turner. It was decided to accede to the request. A statement was received from the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board showing its receipts and expenditure for the half-year ending 31st December last. The Chairman said it seemed that they were charged with very much larger sums than they had ever paid before. It would be desirable perhaps to ask for information. The consideration of the matter was postponed until next meeting. The engineer’s report was read on the Hororata water-race.

A letter was read from the Courtney Boad Board complaining of the unsatisfactory state of several of the bridges over the Malvern water-race. Mr Bitsoe, the engineer of the race, was in attendance, and gave information as to the construction and condition of the bridges referred to. In his opinion a few loads of gravel would remedy the defects complained of. There was nothing glaringly wrong in regard to any of the bridges, and he considered the complaint made was of rather a trivial nature. He had given bis certificate to the contractor.

A letter was read from Mr Kitsoe requesting that he might be allowed to retire from the service of the Council at once, instead of remaining until the expiration of the three months’ notice. Mr Mathias explained that the committee were of opinion that it would be batter to accede to Mr Kilsoe’s request. They had considered the question of appointing a successor, and came to the conclusion that it would be necessary to have a man competent to take levels. Mr Davis, engineer for the Lincoln Road Board, would be eligible, and had expressed his willingness to accept the appointment on condition that he received an adequate salary. It was resolved that the services of Mr Eilsoe bo dispensed with at the end of January, as requested by him.

Mr Mathias moved—“ That Mr O. L. Davis be appointed to take charge of the Malvern water race, at a salary of £2OO per annum, with an allowance of £25 for horse feed." Mr Westenra seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Tho Council then held a special meeting for the purpose of confirming a resolution, passed on the 27th of December last, altering the boundaries of the Waimakariri Biding of the Selwyn County Council. A formal motion for the purpose was proposed by Mr Mathias and carried.

Tho question of repairs to the Bluff bridge, which was postponed from last meeting, now came on for consideration.

The Chairman explained that there was a motion before the Council by Mr McMillan, to the effect that the repairs should be borne by the Council, but it had been withdrawn. It opened the whole question of the distribution of funds.

Mr McMillan explained his reasons for making this request. Tho Chairman said the Council was being osked to take a step contrary to that usually adopted in all other similar oases.

Mr Mathias thought it would bo a great mistake to depart from the rule of leaving these matters in charge of the Eoad Boards, although he thought that the Eakaia Road Board might devote a portion of the interest on the sum of £24,000, which it had to its credit, towards repairing this bridge. If they were unreasonable in this respect the Council might allocate some of the Board’s funds in its possession to this purpose. Mr Westenra thought it would not be advisable to depart from the precedent already laid down of calling upon the Road Boards to carry out these repairs. It was, however, a very serious matter for the Road Boards, if they were to be required to maintain all the bridges, and ho thought the question too serious a one for the Council to decide at once. The Chairman said that eventually rates would have to be levied for the maintenance of these bridges, and the ratepayers would prefer that the rating should come from the Road Boards themselves than from the Council. Mr McMillan moved—- “ That the Selwyn Council effect the repairs necessary to the Bluff bridge out of the county funds." Mr Jones said he had seconded this motion at last meeting, and would do so now pro forma, but ho was opposed to its adoption on the ground that tho whole question of the distribution of funds should be dealt with on a comprehensive basis, and in connection with the question of the future financial position of the Council. Mr Peryman must oppose this motion, because its adoption would involve tho Council in an enormous expenditure on account of other Road Boards. He would suggest that the Council might incur the expenditure on condition that it was recouped by tho Road Board from funds which might hereafter be allocated to it.

Mr Dunlop thought these works properly belonged to tho County Council, and should not be thrown upon the Road Boards. It would bo better to defer this question for a time, and perhaps next session something would be done in Parliament which would make their course clear.

The Chairman said the work was urgent. Mr McMillan said as the Council appeared to be opposed to his motion he would not press it. Motion withdrawn.

Mr Mathias moved, and Mr Peryman seconded —“ That the noceiaary repairs to the Bluff bridge be put in hand, and that the Rakaia Road Board bo requested to carry them out, the cost of such repairs to be

squally borne by the Rakaia and South Malvern Boad Board diitriota out of lumi that may be set aside for the purposes of those districts.” Motion agreed to. The report of the inspector of slaughterhouses was read, and three new licenses were granted and two renewed. Mr Mathias called attention to the necessity for a more efficient collection of the dog tax, and suggested that rangers should be appointed for the purpose, instead of its being left in the hands of the police. If the fines were raised it would have a good effect. The Chairman stated that the amount of the tax collected in the county last year was £I7OO, as against £1550 during the previous year.

On the motion of Mr Mathias it was resolved Board bo authorised by tho Council to impound stock from the water race in their district, and that the railway authorities be requested to give them tho same authority as regards the railway.” A number of accounts wore passed for payment, and the Council adjourned.