SELWYN COUNTY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2488, 28 March 1882, Page 3

SELWYN COUNTY COUNCIL.

The usual monthly meeting of the above Council was held this morning at half-past ten o'clock. Present —Meisrs B. J. Lee (chairman), P. Jones, I). McMillan, H. W. Peryman, H. J. Mathias, J. D. Enys, E. Westenra, and J. Dnnlop. The Chairman made the following stato ment: — Tho committee appointed at last meeting have communicated with the Government on the subject of the maintenance of hospitals and charitable institutions. The letter has been acknowledged, but no further information is yet to hand. A letter has been received from the Colonial Secretary, forwarding descriptions of the propored boundaries of the Avon and Kiccarton districts, and asking if they meet the views of tho Council. I have received a letter from the Minister of Public Works on the subject of petitions received in connection with a proposal to change the name of the Doyleston railway station. The Akaroa County Council ask us to co-operate with them in obtaining a report as to tho best means of lowering the water in the lagoon at Ahuriri. through which the Halswell run". An application has been received from the Malvern Road Board for a grant for the purpose of reducing the gradients on two cuttings on the West Coast road. Mr Davies has resigned his appointment as registrar of Idogs for the Lincoln district, and the .Koad Board recommend the appointment of Mr P. W- Eist as bis successor. The Heathcote Boad Board recommend the appointment of Mr Walter Wade as poundkeeper, in place of Mr A. Burrows, whose term lis expired. The amended designs for the bridges on the Park road have been prepared, and are now en the table. In accordance with tho wish of the Council, Mr Dobson has again visited the Hawkins, and sent in a supplementary report on the Bubject of obtaining a supply of wa'ir from that river for the Greendale district. Mr Danock, who agreed to convey a small piece of land required for the Hororata water race, wishes the Council to give him a guarantee that tanks will he placed on his land. By-laws for the race have been prepared, and will be considered at the special meeting to be held to-day. The East Malvern Boad Board ask the Council to erect a watering trough for horses at the crossing over the Malvern waterrace at Waddington. The Burnham Industrial School apply for a head of water. A fixed deposit of .£3OOO falls due to-morrow. As funds are on current account I do not recommend that it be renewed. I have received a letter from Mr Menzies, Napior, offering to procure any loans the Council may require. The Spreydon Koad Board request the Council to take step 3 to alter reserve 110 from a gravel pit to a recreation ground A similar application made in Jure, 1880, was approved by the Council and submitted to the Government. The letter forwarded by tho committee to tne Government on the subject of hospitals and charitable institutions, was read and approved of. It contained a statement of the objections entertained by the Council to the present system. It was resolved that the boundaries of the Avon and Riccarton road districts, as forwarded by tbe Colonial Secretary, bo agreed to by the Council. . The Chairman explained that the boundaries were approved of by the two Koad Boards mentioned. With reference to the letter from the Akaroa County Council, the chairman stated that he had written to tho Council for further information as to what lands would be benefited, what lagoons were to be lowered, and where they were situated relatively to sections in tho Selwyn county. .... , ~ The Chairman stated that the clerk to the Malvern Koad Board had written, statine that .£320 would be required for the purpose of reducing the gradients on the two cuttings on the West Coast r jad reftrred to in his statement. ~ ~ Mr Dunlop said this application opened up the question of the maintenance of the main roads, which 'was so frequently coming before the Council. The Chairman thought it would be battor to defer the question until they knew whether or not they would get any subsidy from the Government for these purposes. If they did not get additional funds from the Government for works of this kind, they would have to put on a rate - -L , , After some disousßion, it was resolved, od the motion of Mr Westenra, to defer the consideration of the question for the present. Mr F. W. East was appointed registrar of doga for the Lincoln district, vice Mr Davies, resigned ; and Mr W»ltor Wade wa3 appointed poundkeeper for Heathccto. It was decided to forward the designs for the bridge' on the Park road to the iiiccarton Koad V Board for their consideration.

Mr JDobson reported on the subject of obtainingl a water supply for the Greendale district from the River Hawkinß. He stated that a suitable site for an off-take had been found about a mile below the bridge; that below Racecourse Hill the water di-appeared in tne shingle which was dry in summer. He BugRested that the consent of the neighboilng proprietors should be obtained before laying out the race, which woi-'d cost in round numbers .£l7O.

It was decided to send a copy of the report to the petitioners at Greendale. The letter of Mr Danock, in reference to the conveyance of a piece of laad required for the Hororata water race, was refeired to the Road Board. It was resolved that permission t? given to tho East Malvern Eoad Board to erect tanks for the watering of stock at Sheffield and Waddington under the direction of the standing committee.

The report of the Spreydon Road Board that reserve 110 might be altered from a gravel pit to a recreation ground was approved of, end it was decided to take Bteps to get the required alteration effected, and to vest the reserve in trustees to be appointed for the purpose. It was resolved that the alteration in the boundary between the Selwyu and Akaroa counties, from Cooper's Knob to the Halswell River, as recommended by the Chief Surveyor, bo approved. A letter was read from Mr H. M. Lfe, of Southbridge, on behalf of persons interested iu the extension of the Hororata water race in the direction of Hesterton and Killinchy, asking how soon the Council would be in a position to Bay whether they could supply water to that side of the great southern railway line, and on what conditions. After some discussion it was resolved, on the motion Mathias, seconded by Mr Enys—- " That as'all the water from the present take-off of the Hororata may ba required to water the district for which the money was voted, the Council cannot entertain any application for water outside of that district at present." The hour of twelve o'clock having arrived, the Council, pursuant to notice, held a special meeting for the purpose of considering by-laws for the regulation of the Hororata water race. It was resolved that the by-laws be referred to a committee, consisting of Messrs Mathias, Enys, McMillan, and Westenra; the committee to report at next meeting. The ordinary meeting of the Council was then resumed.

The report of the inspector of slaughterhouses was laid on the table, and several licenses were granted.

The Chairman announced that an invitation had been forwarded to the chairman and members of the Council to be present at the opening of the Ashburton-Bangitata water race on Friday next. It was decided to reply accepting the invitation.

A report was read from Mr Davies on the condition of the Malvern water race.

On the motion of Mr Feryman it was resolved —" That the officer in charge of the Malvern water race be instructed to take proceedings sgainßt the owners of stock damaging or interfering with the race." Mr Dunlop called attention to the necessity of erecting a few additional gaslamps in the Riccarton rjad, where it ran through Hagley Park. The road from the Hospital to the Riccarton Hotel was at present in total darkness at night, and unsafe in Beveral places. He suggested that fi"e lamps should be erected at a cost of about £8 eaob per annum. Mr Mathias aaid|it was a question whether the Council would be justified in incurring such a large annual expenditure for the purpose, and suggested that the Riccarton Boad Board might be aaked to contribute. After some discussion, Mr Dunlop moved—" That this Council erect five lamps in that part of the Park road between the Hospital and the Biccarton Hotel." Mr Mathias said he would exercise his right of objecting ti the motion being tiken without notice.

The motion was consequently withdrawn, and notice given for next meeting. Mr Dunlop moved, pursuant to notice—- " That the Council proreed to allocate the omount deducted from the county on account of hospitals and charitable aid amongst the Boad Boards of the county on the basis of population" The mode adopted by the Government of charging this expenditure was very unfair to the suburban Eoad Boards, who contributed so largely in rates. The Chairman suggested that the consideration of the matter might be deferred until the new Hospital and Charitable Aid Act was before them. No doubt they would have a ccpy of the Act by next meeting. Mr Dunlop said his motion referred to last year, during which his district contributed no less a sum than £1603. The Chairman remarked that that district Bent the large majority of patients to the Hospital. Mr Dunlop said all he wanted was that each district should pay according to its population. Mr Jones seconded the motion. It was obviously unfair that two ridings should contribute 9s lOd of the money for charitable aid charged against the county. Mr Westenra agreed with the suggestion of the chairman that it would be batter to defer this question until they knew the intentions of the Government in regard to future legislation. Mr McMillan objected to th 9 motion on tho ground that it proposed to revert to a system of allocation previously abandoned by the Council ai objectionable. The motion was put and negatived. After passing several accounts for payment the Council adjourned.