ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVII, Issue 6508, 5 January 1882, Page 6

ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

The usual monthly meeting of the Ashburton County Council was held yesterday; present—Messrs W. 0. Walker (Chairman), Hi. a. Wright, T. Bullook, D. Cameron, H. T. Winter, Hugo Friodlander, and Julian Jackson. ohaibman's statement. The Chairman -made hia usual business statement, and laid on the table a list of tho business done by him during the month. The Hospital returns were also laid on the table. These havo already been published. bnginbbb's ebport. The report by the County Engineer was read and adapted. It is a voluminous document of eight closely-written foolscaps, and is too long for this issue. THE MOUNT HtTTT OBHBK. Mr E. G. Wright thought that a souroe of supply for supplementing the plains races supply was being neglected in the Mount Hutt creek. A sufficient supply apparently could be obtained from the Mount Hutt stream at a trifling cost, while the Oounoil were now asked to incur considerable expense in brirging down a supply from the North Aehburton. He would move the appointment of a Committee, consisting of Messrs Walker, Jackson, Friedlander, and the mover, to consider tho whole question of the Mount Hutt stream supply, and report to the Council. In the course of a discussion which followed, Mr Wright stated that the refusal of the proprietors along the creek to permit the water to be taken meant nothing, as the Waterworks Aot enabled the Council to deal with the water in either of the two rivers— Ashburtoc and Bakaia—and with any of the tributaries of either. The motion was carried, Mr Friedlander seconding. A DEVIATION. Mr N. Walsh waited upon the Council, and pointed out that in consequence of a deviation made upon the original line of a water-race that should have run through his property, he was deprived of water altogether for some 2000 acres of land he owned. The land he had bought solely on the assurance of Mr E. S. Coster, a late member of the Council, that the race would run along the line first laid out. The alteration of the route had left the race that had been laid down almost valueless to him, as it cost him about £1 a tank to cart water.

The question haying been diaoussed, it transpired that a deputation comprising Messrs Helmore and another had waited upon the Council at its last ordinary meeting, and had so represented the ease to the Council, that the deviation had been sanctioned and mado. Mr Wright said he had, unfortunately, been absent from the meeting, or he would assuredly haro opposed the deviation. There were men who would like to hare the water run round every paddock on their farms. The matter was ultimately disposed of by the adoption of the following motion, by Mr Wright:—" That the channel Dl follow the direction of the line of road as originally laid out." TAMPERING WITH THB BAOBS. Regarding the complaintß of interference with the water-races, it was resolved that the Chairman consult the Council's solicitors, with a view to ascertaining the most effioient and expeditious means of getting at the parties known to be guilty of obstructing the races. It was also resolved to stop the supply by cutting off the water from every race that had been tampered with, unless such practices ceased at once, notice of the Council's intention being given to those interested. MOUHT AITO BAOB. Mr Wright moved—" That tenders be invited for the construction of Mount Alio water-supply race, with a view to having it completed by May next." The motion was carried. -WIHSLOVT AND WILMVTBY WATEB-BACBS. The extension of the Winslow and Willowby water-races was deferred till the March meeting, and several other works were held over for consideration for a month. COMMITTEES. An extension of time was granted to the Reserves Committee, to enable them to bring up their report; and the like facility was granted to the Committee appointed to confer with the Borough re Hospital Maintenance and Charitable Aid. ACCOUKTS. Several accounts were passed for payment. HIHDS WATBB SUPPLY. Messrs 0. P. Cox and 0. J. Harper both wrote asking for, the one two miles, and the other three miles of water-races in the Hinds district. 'J he letters were referred to the Engineer for report by next meeting. Several other letters on kindred subjects were referred to the Engineer.

KOONT HUTT BOAD BOABD. The Mount Hutt Boad Board wrote, forwarding copy of a resolution passed at a recent meeting of that body on the eubjeot of a scheme for storm-water drainage, enclosing details of the scheme, and asking Council's aid. The resolution stated that the area to be benefited would be greater in the South Kakaia district than in the Mount Hutt district, and that, therefore, the proportion of cost of the scheme to be borne by that body ought to bo one-half j Mount Hutt one-fourth, and the County Counoil onefourth. The Bakaia Boad Board sent a copy of a resolution stating that the area to be benefited would be larger in the Mount Hutt district than in tho South Bakaia, and that the latter Board would not agree to pay more than an equal share of tho cost withtl e Mount Hutt Bourd. The Bakaia Board's reso ution was remitted to tho Mount Hutt Board for its consideration. PETITION. A petition from Uroinore for small loopline water-races was reforred to the Engineer. HOSPITAL AND OHABITAELB AID. Mr W right moved, and Mr Winter seconded —" That the previous Hospital Committee be discharged, and the Committee moved by Mr Wright have power to negotiate with the [ Borough Council on the subject of the | Hospital management, viz. ;-•'i'hate. ComI iriitieo bo appointed to confer with the AshI burton Borough Council as to the expediency of toth tho Coutv y and BorougU undertaking to administer the Charitable Aid within the County, as the present system of administration entaiin a heavy loss upon both bodies—the Committee to consist of tho Chairman and Messrs Cameron, Jackson and the mover.' " The above was carried, as was also a

motion to ask the Treasury to f Ornish figures showing how the proportion of the deduction mado from the subsidies for charitable aid is obtained. CONTRACTS. Extension of tlmo for harvest was given to soveral contractors. LA.KD BAIHO. Mr Wright moved, and Mr Friodlander seoonded—" That the Chairman, and Mossrs Bullock, Friedlandor and the mover be appointed a Committee to oonsidor an application to the Government for tho rocovory of one-third of the proceeds of the land sates on the deferred payment systom within the County. Carried." The Oounoil thon adjourned.