COUNTY CENTRES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLIII, Issue 9747, 13 December 1922, Page 7

COUNTY CENTRES

METHVEN.

(From Our Own Correspondents.)

The Works Committee of ; the Ashburton County Council—-Messrs W. T. Lill, G. W. Gallagher, A. J. Magson, C. Morrison (engineer), and G. Kelly (clerk) —paid a visit to Methven on Monday evening to inspect the main water-race, which it .is proposed to move to the back of the township, and to- meet those ratepayers through whose properties it will run, and those residents in the township who have objections to the removal of the race. Mr A, T. Lilley (in the absence of Mr Jas. C'arr, chairman of the Mt. Hutt Road Board, who is seriously ill) was voted to the chair. Mr W. f. Lill said the work asked for had been mooted for some time. F!rom a revenue point of view the change would not seem to be a good proposition. The county received about £4O in water rates from residents adjacent to the present race, and if the race were removed this would be lost. The alteration would cost £SOO to £6OO, but the council was sympathetic towards the proposal. He admitted, after looking at the race, that something was wanted, as at present it was a serious danger to the residents of the township, as in more than one instance children had lost their lives through drowning. Mr Morriosn estimated the cost of deviation at £250. Mr Mangin, one of the farmers through whose property it is proposed to run the new race, said he was not prepared to pay rates, neither would he pay the cost of cleahing the race. Mr Lill said he would get the county engineer to draw a tracing of the sections-, through which it is proposed to take the race, and then the Road Board .could get the signatures of the property-holders affected. He desired them to. understand that any special conditions wanted by those affected must be put in writing. He explained the method to be adopted for raising the loan for reticulation in connection with the high-presßure scheme. ,

The monthly meeting 6f the committee of the Methven A. and P. Association was held on Monday. Present: Messrs H. Maginness (chairman), James Campbell, C. Hale, E. W. Hampton, A. Geddes, R. J. Low, W. K. AVilson, T. Mangin, W. Morgan, C. A. Bland, A. J. Wilson, J. Watson, and T. Lilley. Messrs Mor-1 gan and Mangin reported that the j men employed on the showground were ■ making good progress with the work, j Mr 'Low' reported that he had inter- j viewed several members who were in, arrears w’ith their subscriptions and had collected a considerable sum.. | Apologies for the absence of Messrs ! Green, Carr, Tilley, Watson, and/ Smith were recived. It was decided to hold a special meeting of the committee to draw up a schedule for the next show. ' i

The following new members were elected:—Messrs W. Hurst, A. Holmes, and James Manger. The Board of Governors of Lincoln College sent an invitation to members to attend at the College on Tuesday, ,19th inst. . Mr W. J. Going /wrote offering a silver cup for the best yearling colt or iilly by Dousby Jun. at the next show, provided there was a minimum of three entries. The question of procuring a veterinary surgeon for the district was discussed, but no decision was arrived at. The chairman was appointed to represent the Association before the Arbitration Court on the 19th inst. in the matter of the threshing mill award. , The folio-wing judges were appointed for the next show subject to their consent:—Messrs T. S. Little (English Leicesters and Border Leicesters), H. J. Andrew (Down sheep), W. Anderson (Border Leicesters), J. Linton (flock sheep), McLachlan (fat lambs), and R. Graham (fat lambs), J. H Muirhead (fat sheep), James Johns (fat cattle), R. E. Alexander (dairy cows), John Nixon (Shorthorn), W: McLachlan (Friesians), J. Dollar and J McLachlan (draught horses), D. Gillanders (hunters), H. S. S. Kyle (harness horses), W. Scoon (cobs ana ponies), J. Morgan (dogs),. AY. Wills (pigs), G. Bundy (poultry), Milhchamp (fruit, vegetables and flowers), Government Fields Instructor (field roots), Barker and Sildon (farm produce), Mrs A. McDowell (dairy produce), Miss A. Gordon (miscellaneous), Hr AA r . Page (motor-car driving). A letter was received from Mr T. S. J. Doherty tendering his resignation as a member of the Association on ing to his having left the district.