SELWTN COUNTY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2719, 27 December 1882, Page 3

SELWTN COUNTY COUNCIL.

An ordinary meeting of the above Council was held this morning. Present—Mr E. J. Lee (chairman), Messrs H. W. Peryman, F. Jones, E. Westenra, W. Dunlop, D. McMillan, and H. J. Mathias. The Chairman read the following statement :—Dobbin's bridge—The committee appointed to take the necessary steps to apply for a grant under the Eoads and Bridges Construction Act for the construction of a bridge over the Eakaia at Dobbin's ford, have carried out your wishes, and their report will be laid before you. It will be desirable to pass a resolution defining the district considered to be specially benefited by the proposed work, as "provided by the Act. Drains in Springs district—The Springs Eoad Board have applied to have the public drains in the district placed under the control of the Board. I requested JMr JPeryman to inspect the drain referred to by Mr McDonald in a recent communication, and his report will be read to-day. Public Eeserves Sale Act, 1882—The Minister of Lands has asked the opinion of the Council as to selling one of the reserves included in the schedule of the Public Eeserves Sale Act. At my request Messrs Westenra and Jones have examined the schedule, and drawn up a report on the whole question. Dog registration—Several of the Eoad Boards have written, accepting the proposal to undertake the collection of the dog tax for the ensuing year. The ranger has been employed during the month taking out summonses against owners of unregistered dogs, with very satisfactory results. Main roads—l have received a letter from the Malvern Eoad Board asking what main roads the County Council has taken over. Spreydon Eoad Board—The Spreydon Eoad Board apply for a special grant for drainage works in the district. A report on the works proposed is forwarded with their application. Eeserve 1301, at Kirwee—The steward of reserves has offered to lease this reserve to the Council at a rental of £5 a year. I have replied that the terms asked for are excessive. The Coalgate Domain Board recommend the appointment of Messrs Langdale and Davidson, as members of the Board. The Springston Cemetery Board recommend the appointment of Messrs Morrish and Pearson as members of the Board ; they also ask for a grant in aid of building a Mortuary Chapel. Park roads —The quarterly report from the surveyor will be laid before you". We have leceived notice from the Public Works Department to discontinue taking gravel from the pit at Addington. Having made inquiries, I propose to reply that the pit was purchased by the Provincial Government specially for the use of the Park roads, and as the care of these roads now devolves on the Council, we consider ourselves entitled to the use of the gravel pit. Ford, Eiver Selwyn —Mr Coe draws attention to the dangerous state of the ford of the river Selwyn on the Lower Lake Eoad. Hororato water race— The inspector's report for the month will be laid before you ; also a letter from Sir John Hall. Mr Dobson reports that there will be no difficulty in obtaining a further supply of water from the Hororata at a point near the Haldon crossing. I suggest the Eakaia Eoad Board should be communicated with, and asked for a grant for the work. Malvern Waterrace—The visual report of the overseer has been received. The Lincoln Eoad Board have voted £IOO towards extending the waterrace into that district, and ask the Council to supplement the same-Slaughter-houses—The inspector's monthly report is to hand, also several applications for renewal of licenses. The Lincoln licensing committee recommend increasing the remuneration of the clerk of the committee.

The report of the committee on Dobbin's bridge was read. It stated that the work would involve an annual rate of 4d in the £.. A letter was read from the Ashburton County Council, expressing its willingness to contribute one-half of the amount, to be guaranteed by the local bodies interested. The Chairman said that the Council would expect the Ashburton district to contribute two-thirds of the amount. A resolution was passed defining the district to be specially benefited by the proposed bridge. The application of the Springs _Road Board that the public drains in the district might be placed under its control was referred to a committee consisting of Messrs Peryman, Jones, and Westenra. Mr Peryman reported recommending that Mr Macdonald's request be granted, and that a culvert be constructed. The report was referred to the Springs Road Board for their consideration. The report of the committee on the reI serves included in the schedule of the Public Reserves Sale Act was read. It recommended that reserve No. 178 in the Waimakariri river bed, which had no saleable value, should be reserved, as it might be useful to the Waimakariri Board of Conservators. Agreed to. The committee also recommended that reserves 461, 309, 1980, 1935, 1238, 1288, 1289, and 1600 Bhould be sold, and that the Road Boards interested should be previously consulted. Agreed to. The committee's report also dealt with other reserves. It was resolved to write to the Malvern Road Board, stating that it was not intended actually to take over the main ! roads, but that they had merely been included for the purposes of the Act.

The application of the Spreydon Road Board for a special grant for drainage works was, on the motion of Mr Jones, referred to the committee on the drains in the Springs district, to report at next meeting. [ The Council decided to decline the offer to lease Reserve 1301 at Kirwee. The appointment of Messrs Langdale : and Davidson as members of the Coalgate Domain Board, and of Messrs Morrish and Pearson as members of the Springston Cemetery Board was approved. The surveyor's quarterly report on the Park roads was read and dealt with. Mr Coe's letter in reference to the dan- j gerous state of the ford of the Selwyn on the Lower Lake road was read. It was decided that the matter was one to be dealt with by the Eoad Board. The inspector's report on the Hororata water-race was read and considered. It was resolved—" That the caretaker take steps from the Ist January next to collect fees, &c, for the water supply under the by-laws of the Hororata water-race." A letter from Sir John Hall was read in reference to the terms on which an extension of the water-race should be carried through his land. It was decided to refer the matter to Mr Joynt, solicitor, with a statement that the Council was anxious, as far as possible, to meet the wishes of Sir John Hall. Mr Dobson's report was read on the question of obtaining a further supply of water at a point near the Haldon crossing. Mr Mcllwraith moved—" That the Raksiia Road Board be requested to grant .£IOOO to this Council, to be placed to the Hororata water-race account, for the purpose of carrying out the water supply proposed in the Rakaia Road Board district; any balance unexpended of the above grant to be refunded by the Council." The motion was seconded by Mr Mathias and carried unanimously. The usual report of the overseer of the Malvern water-race was read. Mr Davis applied for an increase of .£SO in his salary, representing that his travelling expenses were very heavy, and that he would soon have to purchase another horse. After discussion, it was resolved —"That taking into account the expenses of the caretaker of the Malvern water-race, his request for an increase of salary of £SO per annum be granted, to cover rent of house at Kirwee, J care of Hawkins' water-rac«, and forage I . allowance." j

With reference to the letter from the Lincoln Eoad Board, referred to in the chairman's statement, it was decided to write to the Board, informing them that the Council would be glad to entertain their proposal when a supply of water was available for the purpose. f% The report of the Inspector of Slaughterhouses was read. There had been fiftyeight applications for licenses, fifty-seven of which were for renewals. The applications were granted. A letter was read from the Chairman of the Lincoln Licensing Committee, recommending that the remuneration to the clerk be increased to .£lO per annum. The Council decided that they could not make an exception in this case. Accounts were passed for payment to the amount of £630 5s 9d. Mr Dunlop moved—" That this Council forward a letter to the Minister of Lands urging upon him tha necessity for making large and substantial reserves for hospitals and charitable aid purposes throughout the colony at once in anticipation of legislation during the next session of Parliament." Mr Jones seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously. An application from the Springston Cemetery Board for a grant in aid of the erection of a mortuary chapel was de clined. After disposing of one or two minor matters the Council adjourned until the 20th Januaay next.