COUNTY COUNCIL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLIV, Issue 9860, 6 July 1923, Page 8

COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING HELD. REVIEW OF WORK.

The monthly meeting of the Ashburton County Council was held to-day, there being present: Messrs W. f • Lill (chairman), W. G. Gallagher, J. Fr amp ton, H. B. C. Withell, D. J. Morrow, J. Moore, T. S. Harrison, A. T. Lilley, A. J. Magson, T. Blackley, A. Horsey, and C. Reid. The council’s overdraft was stated to be £5731 4s 7d. Payments to-day amounted to £2317 Is Id. The chairman submitted his monthly report as follows: “Main Highways Bill.—On June 20 Mr Reid and I attended the conference of South Island bodies in Christchurch. A great deal of discussion took place, and it was finally resolved that the Government be recommended to appoint separate boards for both Islands. In my opinion the council should protest against the principle of the Highways Act as at present constituted. I have prepared a resolution, which will be submitted to you for your consideration to-day. Telephone Connections—Cracroft and Klondyhe headworks: Application has been made to have the houses of the caretakers conjnected by telephone. The District Engineer informed me that in t\vo months’ time an alteration would be Made, permitting eight connections,, so v until then nothing can bo done. Remit for Counties’ Conference. —A remit has been sent to the Counties Association: “That the Local Electionsand Polls Act be amended to enable nominations to be received a month before the date of an election so that electoral rolls can be printed only if ' required.” This council paid £BO tor printing rolls for last election, 3-pd ■they were not required. Ruapuna Interest Payments. —The necessary steps have been taken by the County Solicitor to have a clause prepared for insertion in the Washmgmp Bill to enable the council, if desired, to pay the interest out of its general account. A clause has also been prepared which, if passed, will enable the eoun.cil to transfer monies to the water ;supplv accounts to pay off the overdraft" of those accounted’ The Inspector, Mr E. N. Johnson, reporting on health matters, stated there had been four cases of scarlet fever and two of .pneumonia. Regarding dog registration, £236 1/s 6d had been received as revenue froni this, source. There were still a number of , dogs unregistered, and legal action would be necessary if the regulations were not complied with soon. thirty motor-cars and 12 motor-cycles were among the vehicles registered during the month. . 1 _ , 0 , Ashburton-Rakaia Water y. During the month the supply m the mains, sub-mains, and distributing .races has been well maintained; in fact, on occasions it has been found necessary to ease the supply in e main races. Severe frosts experienced in the district near the hills caused several overflows, hut these were immediately attended to. The sides of the auxiliary channel at Metkven are at present receiving attention, in order that more time may he expended on the race botton at the time of the annual overhaul of races, when the supply will be shut off. Portions along the banks of the auxiliary channel and Pudding Hill mam race are becoming overgrown with gorse, which must be dealt with before next summer. As far as I can gather it is the council s dutj to do this very necessary work, and I should be pleased to have your instructions in the matter. • . , The repairs to the spillway of the Pudding Hill dam have been completed, a thorough overhaul being made of the whole structure. With fair wear it should be many years before it should require any attention. The South Branch connection, O’Shea’s Creek, has not been required this month, there bomg sufficient water for all purposes in the Noith Branch of the Ashburton River without drawing -on the South Branch. 'kfcontractors for the Acton mams have commenc-d their annual overhaul, but owing to the illness of Mr Collat'd they are not quite as far toiwS with the work as prevmtis years. Gorse is being, grubbed along the banks of the mams, wheie the council is responsible for such work being done. The deepening of the outfall of the race on Jones Road has had the desired effect and with occasional attention should cease to be a source of trouble. I have spent several davs in this district during the month," and from observations 1 am convinced that there are many races at present badly located which if shifted would greatly add to the efficiency of the system. I have instructed the rangers to interview owners of properties on which there arc faulty races, to see whether they aro prepared to shift them in e event of the levels showing a more practicable and satisfactory course. It will surely b 9 m the landowners own interests to do so. ' Owing to subdivision, etc., the water race, system is being gradually extended in this, district, and the time is not far distant when the Council will have to look for additional water u> augment the supply for that area between the Cairnbrae Road and the Main South Road which m dry spells is often very short of water Ashburton -Rangitata Water S|uprjly, Cbn siderablo trouble has been experienced since the last flood with the headworks of the South Ashburton main race. Large quantities of run- : nine shingle has been lodged against tin rates, necessitating the constant j attention of the ranger. This mam, race has been straightened for a. aw-, tance of six chains below the Mon-, talto Road and the old race filled in. , A small single-span bridge has been erected in the centre of the road line. | The completion of this work fulfils a j lon~-felt want, replacing, as. it does, , an 'exceedingly dangerous side-bridge and ford. I am of the opinion that a ; paved ford on the lower side of the I bridge is very necessary. The wont could be undertaken during cleaning j when the water is shut off. v\ ith a view to relieving this race of _ storm water during heavy rains, it is proposed to construct a lateral floodgate and spillway at the northern end of the timber fluino, North Hind s River, during next month. When this , is completed there will be less likelihood of the embankment of the South Hinds Flume giving way as it has done in the past during heavy rams. Since the overhaul and deviation of the Hinds Gorge head race, the supply has been well maintained. The Limestone rwk has also been sufficient for all 'purposes. The Mount Somers mam

race lias been overhauled throughout its entire length, and is now in exceptionally good order. The overhaul of the various flumes in this district is in progress. I have undertaken this work this month in order that more time may be given to the overhaul of the mains and submains next month, The natural reservoir which formed on the terrace immediately above the Ruapuna Main Race has practically disappeared, although there is a little percolation through to the batter of the race. The drain has been extended back to the edge of this reservoir in order to provide an outlet for any further water which may collect there during heavy rains. There has been an excess of water in the Lagmhor Creek duo to the rising of the springs, and it has been found accessary to shut down the gates. There is also a good supply in _ the Remmington’s Creek and the distributing races from it. | Altogether four objections to the proposed taking over of Lagmhor and Remmington’s Creek by the Council have been lodged. Ashburton-F orks Water Supply.— The supply in this district has during the month been more than sufficient for'all purposes. Overhaul of Races. —Speaking generally, a fair response has been made to the council’s appeal to landowners to clean the distributing races on their respective properties. Where landowners have failed to perform; this duty and the races- are in a bad state, men have been put on to clean them, the cost of so doing being a charge against the landowner concerned. .Next month is the 1 month for the animal overhaul of all mains, submains, and distributing races throughout the county, the period coiir ! mencing as from August 6. and expit’i ing on September 1. It is to b© I clearly understood that landowners; wiio’ cleaned their races during Anril and- May last are not absolved from the' responsibility of again doing so during the coming overhaul. County Bridges.—During the month Mr Casey, of the Railway Department, together' with members of the council, inspected the protective works above the Traffic Bridge, Ashburton riverbed. It was pointed out that a small island’ overgrown with willows in the middle of the bed was responsible for the turning of the stream on' to the south bank. Mr Casey promised to forward tile council a formula' for a solution extensively used by the’Public Works Department for the eradication of willows by poisoning. The small stock bridge over the storm water l channel on the Springfield-Lyndhurst {Road, which' was washed out of position during’ the- recent heavy fibods, has been restored to its original position and strengthened. The decking on the stock bridge over the South Hinds River is in a deplorable state. I have given instructions to the Itanger to replace all broken planks and make the bridge 1 safe for traffic;. in conversation with the Resident Engineer, Public Works Department, this week. I was given to understand that it is possible that a sufficient sum will be available this year for the construction of a traffic bridge over Bowyer’s Stream, Lambie’s Crossing, and one over the Woolshed Creek, Ashburton Gorge Read. As it is improbable that the Rakaia Gorge Bridge will be replaced until next year, it will be necessary to advertise that the bridge is unsafe for heavy traffic, and that persons using it do so at their own risk. As many of the spiking joists of the adjacent bridge are in an advanced state of decay, an early opportunity should be taken to replace them. Reserves. —As instructed, I have made a re-survey of Reserve 2763, Ashburton Forks, and Reserve Pt. 2501, near Pudding Hill. While in the locality I took the opportunity of reestablishing the boundary line between the top portion of the Reserve and the adjoining freehold, as it is intended at some future date to fence on this line.

During the month. Reserves 2673, of 95 acres, Westerfield, and 4041, of 27 acres, Dromore, have been planted, and Reserves at Mouth of ltangitata and Tinwald refilled. It was found necessary, in order that the young trees may be guarded as far as possible from stock, to strengthen and replace some of fencing oil these reserves. Foiir gravel-pits on Reserve 4041, Main South Road Dromore-Chertsey, have been reserved for the use of the Upper Ashburton Road Board. This body has agreed to erect a stock-proof fence between the gravel pit and the planted portion of the Reserve in each case. The fencing of Part Reserve 786, Rakaia Riverbed, is being proceeded with. When this is completed, the

planting of approximately 27 acres ! of pinus insignis and 7 acres of gums will be undertaken. There still remains to be planted approximately 2 acres at the Mouth of the Rakaia River and 2 acres of Reserve 845, -Wakanui Creek. Gorse is being grubbed on several unleased reserves throughout the County, while eight orders to clear gorse and broom have j been served on the lessees of several I reserves. , | Poison is at pr.sent being laid for the destruction of rabbits on the ReI serves throughout the County, special attention being paid to the Reserves i just planted or refilled. It is noticeable that already the pest has damaged several young trees in the Wes-

terfield Reserve. Tenders will be laid before you at this meeting for the purchase of * standing timber on the Council & serves at Windermere, Cavendish, An- ! ama, Westerfield, and Ashburton I Forks. During the month interested i parties have been shown over these : T^AC'fvrveS. | Poisoned Grain.—This _ work has I now been completed. Owing to the I unsuitable weather experienced during (operations it was exceedingly difficult (to get the wheat sufficiently dry, consequently it has taken a little lon--1 ger to prepare than was anticipated. 1 However, there is available for this | season approximately 2,500 bags of I or run ” Maps.—Under Section 5 of “The Water Supply Act. 1904,” _ we are compelled to keep in this office a map showing the boundaries and courses of every race made or about to be made in this County. For about three i years this map has not been kept up j to date, indeed, the present maps are quite worn out. It will be necessary j to have a new map prepared before 1. can commence the work of ‘ s lowing, the boundary and course of every race in the (County.” It will be a long job but it must be done sooner or later. (Proceeding.)