ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2650, 5 October 1882, Page 3

ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Tha uanal meeting of this Council wag held yesterday. Present —Mr W.O. Walker (chairman), Messrs T. Bullock, J. Jackson, J. Lambie, Taylor, E. G. Wright, and H. T. Winter. In his opsning remarks tho Ohairraan stated that an apology had been received from Messrs Ross Brop., of Ghertsey, [in referoace t j the tampering with rtr.es, and in their letter tho offending pasties had aikod that proceedings might t 3 stayed. Messrs Boas Bros, had enclosed a cheque for £lO in payment of damage done to the races. With refcrcDoe to tree planting the chairman stated th»t 27,000 trees bad been issued to the settkra for planting along the Bides of 1 the water raoos. A communication had bean reoeiyed from the Sulwyn County, onclctirsg & plan and report from Mr Dobsoa ra tho proposed bridga c-T?r. the [Kakaia at [Dobbin's ford. A letter had been receivod from the Geraldino County Council, stating that the traffic over the Eangitata ferry was so small that they did not feel justified ia granting a subsidy. The balance sheet for the half-year ending September 30th. 1882, was laid on tho table ; also a table cf dog returns, and a copy of the Contagious Diseases Aot. Tho engineer's report was rend and dealt with.

The engineer was instructed to fence off the willows planted at the intake of tho .North Aehburton, and hia proposal to temporarily shut off the water at Pudding Eill was approved. The queotion of diverting a stream at Alfoid Foroj,t, as well aa the question of a service between T.ijlor'e and Boyer's streams at Mount Boaters, waa referred to the water supply committee, and the engineer's route for water races at Islouui Santera was approved. With reference to the Tinwald creeks, tho engineer ;ws« instructed to divert the watsr from tho tail race at and tho chairman wa3 authorised to accept tenders. Mr Taylor presented a petition re the Bangitata ferry. A sub-committee, consisting of Meters Bulicok, Taylor, and the chairman, was appointed to report on the matter, and it was resolved that in the meantime tLci ferry should be kept open. A letter was read from Mr Mofiatt, offering to maintain the race in tho river bed on oondition cf his being silo rod to use the water from the Wakanui flit supply for hie mill. Beaolved—"That Mr b3 allcwed the use Of the water for mill purpote n , en condition that he pay naif the ooet of keeping : the race clear."

Be the proposed bridge over the B=kc.ia :\t Dobbin's ford, it was resolved—" That the area to be rated for the construction of Dobbin's ford bridge be considered by scornaaittee of the whole Council at its next meetlag."

Mr Harper's letter re the Upper Ashburton Licensing Committee was left in abeyanoe, and it was resolved that the South Hakaia Licensing Committee be informed that the Council u not in a poeition to reply at present to Mr Makeig's letter. A letter was read from Mr Purnell enclosing an apology from Messrs Boss Bros., of Ohertsey, re tampering with the water raoos in that district, and it was resolved that the matter be left in the hands of the chairman. In reply to a letter from the secretary of the Ashburton Domain Board, it was resolved that half the amount voted by the Council at its meeting in June, viz , £6O, be placed t£» the credit of the Board. In reply to a letter from the Mount Bomers library committee, asking the Council for & grant in aid, it was resolved to inform tho committee that the Coucoil would jive £1 for every £1 raised by the committee towards building a library, provided the plans Tiers* approved of by toe Council. With refereccs to assisting tho library in supplying bookt, the Council referred the committee to a "Gszatte" notice re the distributisa of the Government gratts. A deputation, coaeicsing c.-f Mesirs Haitj B. 8. Coster and Hende'ecrj, wes received from the Bikaia and Ashbnrton Forks Bailway Company re the Council's action with regard to the ncn collection of the rate as provided by the District Railways Act. Mr Hart stated that since the raii aray hed been in operation the shareholders had not received the amount guaranteed by the Government. The Government had, as far as they were concerned, kept faith with the company, but the Council had_ not seen fit to undertake the collection of the rate as provided by itiz District Railways Aot. Ths company had not had the power to levy a rate themseire*, but provision had since been mado empowering the company to levy rates, and ho thought there need be no future diffiiul'y with the company and the Council «f cfas* latter body would undertake tho oolleouon, of the rate now due, as provided by the As*. Replying to the deputation, the Chairtaa-.i of the Council said due consideration bo given to the wishes of the company, l»u: before action oould bo taken, a resolution previously passed by the Cuuacil would h-.»o to be rescinded. Dp to the present, theCouncil had baen under tha scproieiou that company were in full legal powsr to hvy a rate, and had thought it beat to leave the company to make their own arrangement*. The Council were anxious than justice should be done to all parties concerr.cd, and wonld fully consider the representation* cf tha deputation. The deputation then withdrew, and the matter was coEsidered in committee.

On the Council resuming, Mr Bollock, on behalf of the Ashburton library committee, asked the Council if they would be prepared to par ov« the amount of the promised grant in aia without the library committee first having the foe simple of the •ito vested in them (the oommittit') as there was a difficulty in the way of the Borough Connoil being able ts hand ever the fee simple of the land. If the "Council were satisfied with the action taken by the library committee, they were prepared to proceed at once with the building cf the library. It was resolved—" That the Council piiy over the grant in aid of the building, subject to the plana being approved by the Council." Some further business of z minor nstcrc was transacted, and the Council proceeded to pass accounts and accept tenders for various works. Previous to adjournment ihe following notices of motion were given:— Mr Julian Jackson to move—" That application be made to the Government to eof.iaitute the entire oounty ono licensing district* under the amended Act of 1882." Mr J. Lambie to move—" That tho Connoil will at its next meeting authsrha the' striking of a rate to raise the sum cf £2611 10s 5;! for the Bakaia and Ashburton Forks Bailway Company, as directed by the •lilinister of Publio Worki in a letter dated 18Eh October, 1881."