ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2518, 4 May 1882, Page 3

ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Ashburton County Council was held on Wednesday last, at the Council Chambers, Baring square. Present Meiers O. Walker (chairman), Friedlander, Bullock, Lambie, Winter, Cameron, Jackson. The Chairman stated that since lest meeting Mr W. Hselett had been appointed to the post of water ranger for the South Rakaia plains, at a salary of £ls per month. The following tenders had also been accepted for the auxiliary water supply on the Rakaia plains:—A. McFarlane, water race, £123 17s ; J. Black, flumes, 36a per 100 superficial feet ; J. Devery, water race, £37 15s and £29 15s; Meher and Co., cement, 2 Os 5d per cask ; and for shingling culverts on South Eakaia plains, J. Griffin, 10a for supply of shingle for each culvert. The auditors could not certify to the correctness of the accounts till the vote for the water trial at the industrial exhibition had been refunded to the Council. A letter from the Geraldine County Council, enclosing report from Messrs Shiors and Irvine as to the state of the Eangitata traffic bridge, would be matter for consideration. The engineer had referred to the subject in his report, Mr Fooka had been instructed to have the office and clerk’s residence put in repair, and the work was now being proceeded with. Mr Grigg had paid the sum of £453 8s 4d, being two-thirds of the Hinds improvement account. Mr Grigg was now being communicated with in refer ence to the balance. The Council’s solicitor had drafted short Bill re by-laws for water and water races, and he had taken the necei»ary steps to comply with the Standing Orders of Parliament, The engineer reported that, with the exception of two or three miles at the seaward end of some of the branch races and the small subsidiary lines, the Ashburton and Eakaia plains water

scpply service was now tolerably complete over tho whole district. The supply In Pudding Hill stream was increasing, and by the end of the month it might be expected, there would be sufficient water to meet all requirements till the dry season came round again, and before that time the auxiliary supply from the North Ashburton river would be complete. Levels had been taken over the entire length from the river to Methven, and the works had been let in four sections, No, 1 contract being already in hand. The water supply did not enter on the Springfield property, but a service of one-tenth of the new supply authorised by the Council for this property could be given between points to he mutually agreed upon by the Council and Messrs Gould and Cameron. The water ranger had commenced his duties, and was devoting his time to the points requiring attention, but had not had occasion to report any fresh case* of tampering. Several owners were now putting in gateways in connection with water reccs. Tho work of shingling the culverts itt the Eakaia district was being proceeded with., but improvements were still required in two of the branch races befera the water could be laid down to the lower end. The excavations for head works in tho South Hind& Gorge were nearly finished, and twenty chains of the head race were completed. The head works at Limestone creek were in progress, and Mr Wright had agreed to give the supply from the creek on terms which would

involve the Council in no cost for the present, the stipulation being that in the event of his requiring a water tho Council wonld be liable for the difference of cost between

the expense of a dam on the best site available after the Council’s works had been completed. The contractor had been making good progress with the water races from Montalto to Baling, and in about throe weeks those races would be completed. Messrs Silcox and Quigley had cut all the races in their contracts between the Ashburton and Rangitata rivers. The flaming over the South Hinds was in a forward state, and by the end of the month the whole should be ready to supply the plaiqs between tho Hinds and Rangitata rivers. Between tho Ashburton and the Hinds the water had found its way to a point about a mile from, the lower end of the race, where a few chain* of new race would have to be out, when the water would find its way to the lower end o£ the Borough Endowment reserves. The water through the Westerfield district was advancing very slowly—at the rate of about thirty chains a day. The contracts for extension towards Willoughby would be commenced in a week hence, so that the water might be rendered available for that district after it reaches Winslow. With reference to the Wakanui Flat supply, the head work in. the river bed was pretty well advanced, but would not be finished for a fortnight. Good progress was being made with the branch race*, and these wonld be also finished in & fortnight. The Rangitata traffic bridge would hav« a few of its iron caps fixed at once, and the remainder would be procured as soon as the Council gave the necessary authority. The engineer endorsed th* reports from the surveyors of the Mount Peel and Geraldine Road Beards with reference to the necessity of immediate repairs to the decking of the present bridge. This subject waa referred to in the report of the 15 th February last.

It was resolved that the engineer arrange with Mr Cameron as to where ha wishes Mb one tenth of the new water supply on the Springfield property taken out. A letter was read from the Geraldine County Ccuncil re the Rangitata traffic bridge. It was resolved “ That tho repairs to the decking of the bridge be pnt in hand at once.”

The engineer was instructed to proceed with Mr Power’s and other water supplies. With reference to a letter from Mr Graham re the stoppage of the Tinwald Creek, it was resolved to instruct the engineer to attend to the matter. Mr Fried lander’s notice of motion re the quantities supplied to contractors came on for consideration, and it was resolved that the subject be deferred till next meeting. Mr Friedlander’s motion re recommending the Government to compel threshing machine owners to supply a return of the grain threshed by their machines was next considered, and it was decided to communicate with the various County Councils, forwarding them copies of Mr Friediander’s motion, and asking for their co-operation.

It wes resolved to forward a circular to the various Licensing Committees in the county, pointing; out that great expense had been incurred by them under the new Act, and also to point out tne difference in the cost of the various elections in the different districts. It was also decided to recommend greater economy, and to point out to the Government that the annual election of Licensing Committees was unnecessary, and suggesting that they should be triennial.

The sum of £3O was voted to the Hospital and Charitable Aid committee.

A letter was read from property holders in the Mount Somers Gorge asking for a grant for metalling the road up the Gorge. The letter to be sent to the Mount Somers Hoad Board, asking that body to furnish the Council with an estimate of the work recommended to be gone on with.

A sum of £2S was voted to the Ashburton Fire Brigade, With reference to widening and shortening the approaches to the Ashburton bridge, the engineer was instructed to furnish au estimate of the cost of the proposed work, lb was resolved not to turn on the supply of water for the Wakanui flat unless the owners sign the requisite agreement. A deputation from the Ashburton A. and P. Association waited on the Council with reference to the overcsowding and general want of accommodation at the association’s sale yards. The deputation stated they bad bean appointed to wait on the Council and ask them to co-operats and assist the association in providing further accommodation, Xney would suggest that the Council appoint a sub-committee to confer with the association on the subject. They would ask for a vote of £3OO or £SOO for the erection of additional yards. The Chairman of the Council replied that the Council wore fully aware of the necessity of increased accommodation being provided, and they would appoint a committee to confer with the A. and P. Association on the subject.

The deputation then retired, and the chairman and Messrs Jackson and Friedlander were appointed a sub committee to interview the Association with power to act, Messrs Zouch and Ward waited on the Council as a deputation from the library committee, asking the Council to vote a sum in aid of the building of the new library. After the deputation had retired, some discussion ensued on the subject of the proposed site, and tbo question of voting a sum of money to the library committee for their now building. The Chairman remarking that it would be inadvisable to grant any sum whatever until they know exactly where the site of the new library was to be. A suggestion was made that the Council give pound for pound contributed by the public towards the proposed building. It was then proposed that the sum of £l5O should be voted to the committee. An amendment to this was made to the effect that £IOO should be granted to the library committee. Farther discussion ensued, and ultimately it was resolved on the motion of Mr Lambie, that the Council will assist the library committee to the extent of £1 for every £1 subscribed by the public provided the site chosen be approved by the Council. The total amount voted, however, not to exceed £2OO. After the transaction of some further business of an unimportant nature, the Council adjourned.

A special meeting was then held for the purpose of signing the yearly balance-sheet in accordance with the provisions of the Counties Act, 1876. This was done by the chairman, and the Council adjourned.