COUNTY AFFAIRS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 151, 7 April 1933, Page 6

COUNTY AFFAIRS

ACTIVITIES FOR MARCH. REPORTS OF THE OFFICERS. THE COUNCIL’S DECISIONS. The Ashburton County Council met this morning, when there were present Messrs J. Moore (chairman), W. G. Gallagher, D. J. Morrow, J. Carr, S. P. Taylor, J. Bland, R. W. Wightman, F. Frampton, R. Houston. J. Lambie, and H. C. B. Withell. The Chairman’s statement read as follows: “Finance. —It is pleasing to report that the Council’s position at March 31 is very satisfactory, the year’s operations finishing with a credit balance of £8741 2s 9d (last year £741.5). “The position of the various accounts is as follows: —Ashburton Riding £824 (£966 last year), Mt.. Hutt Riding £1258 (£1688), Mt. Somers Riding £1240 (£860), Rangitata £856 (£1163), South Rakaia £lO2l (£1214), Upper Ashburton £1323 (£1295), Wakanui £768 (£649), water supply £1479 (debit £B2), Methven water supply maintenance £B4 (debit £7), AlfoiYl Forest cemetery £9 (£8), contractor’s deposits £67 (£130), Methven water supply interest account £243 (£193). It will be noticed that the water supply, account was in debit last year, £B2, and is now in credit to the amount of £1479. Some of the ridings are not in as good position as last year. “Rates.—Rates have come in fairly well, but the outstanding amount is £2397 (15.26 per cent.), compared with £2745 (13.83 per cent.) for the previous year. Although the amount of £l6B1* is outstanding in rents (compared with £1029 last year), most of it is good and will bo paid. The total' receipts for the financial year ended on March 31 were £74,317 (last year £74,088), and the expenditure £65,575 (last year £66,673). “With the abolition of the Board, the Anama District and the Mount Somers District become the Mt. Corners Riding (outlying) of the County. The Ruapuna cemetery now falls under the Council’s control, and for the benefit of the residents of the locality, it would he advisable for the Ruapuna Domain Board to be declared the Cemetery Trustees also. The Engineer’s Report. iue (iuV a. ix. a' ooiis) iepoi'ietl as ioiiovvs: — ••water supply. —Tne water at an sources oi sut>jtUy nas lowereu, out an auequate supply lias been outuineu at tne mtanes unougnout tne system to allow tne water to reach tne extreme enus oi the races. Tne Dlocitages anu oinstructions m tne races at tne oegmnmg of tne montii were very troublesome. Many nortn-westers assisted in making tne trouble. Tne soakage, owing to tlie dry season, nas also caused wastage, many tamers lately Have done good work in cleaning their races, which lias assisted greatly m maintaining a tnrougn now of the water; but some of tne cleaning has been crude. Aslibur.ton-ltakaia. —The supply at the Pudding Hill dam has diminished, and all the available water is being utilised. The auxiliary channel from the North Branch ox the Ashburton River lias been fully maintained. The Mount Hutt race is Still low, and farmers at the lower end had an irregular supply. A gang of men have been established in a camp at the upper end of the proposed auxiliary channel, and it may be possible to estimate the value of the augmented supply within a few days. All sanctions have now been obtained, and there is no cause to delay the work if the supply develops favourably. The supply channel to the Methven High Pressure system has been cleaned throughout.. This channel continues to provide an abundant supply. The reservoir and sumps have also been cleaned. In the lower part of the district tlie races in the portion about Overdale have been more affected by the unfavourable season. The B and C races were fairly good, the water getting through to the Main race from tlie ltakaia river. Difficulty with the supply in the D race, however, was experienced, but lately there has been an improvement. The supplies in the Acton Main races have fluctuated owing to the channels in the Rakaia river shifting about with the many floodings that have occurred during the last month. The contractor in charge of the Acton supplies has been constantly engaged in attending to the supplies to the intake gates. The lower reaches of the North Branch of the Ashburton river were dry on two occasions; once owing to the sluice gates being interfered with. The Winchmore Main and Sub-Main have been running to their full capacities, and the distributing races have been well supplied. O’Shea’s Creek auxiliary supply has been kept up as much as possible. All water available has been turned into tlie Lagmhor Creek. Ashburton-Rangitata. The main race from the South* Branch of the Ashburton river has been kept up to a full head of water. The river has been steadily lowering, and the intake bad to be closely watched in order to keep up the supply. As there is a heavy growth of weeds on the bottom of the race, advantage will be taken of a break in the weather to have the race harrowed. The intakes of the Westerfield supplies have been increased to the full capacity of the pipes. The Lagmhor Creek is carrying a small supply, and all water available is being utilised. The Hinds Gorge supply diminished considerably, and the supply at the Northern intake, in the Terrace race, failed. A new race has been cut across the riverbed to a small stream near the northern bank. The men have nearly completed the now race and when finished, it is anticipated that this will materially assist in keeping the supply up to all requirements. There is still a fair stream running in the other races, and the water has been distributed alternately by turning all the available

water down one race for two days, and then in the other direction for two days. The Mount Somers race has a good supply, but all the water in the creek is being' used. Several farmers in this district are cleaning their races, and a visible improvement has been created. All fords are reported to be in good condition. The flow from the Cracroft Main race has improved during the last few weeks, but tlfb supplies both north and south of the Hinds river, earlier in the month, were much lighter. North-westers, blowing rubbish into the races and causing blockages, accentuated the trouble, and shortened supplies in the smaller races. Cases of tampering with junctions and sluice gates have been detected. Roads and Bridges. The work of scarifying, regrading, and metalling has been carried out on Surveyor’s Road, Isleworth Road, and Longbeach Road, for a distance of about 13 miles. The crusher lias been continuously engaged on this work. The motor graders have been employed on the Highways and County roads. The time has been broken during the month owing to tractors and graders requiring an overhaul and repairing, also operators being on annual leave. The dry season had a marked effect on the roads with much traffic on them, causing disintegration and roughness, especially on the old roads. Several roads will be in need of surfacing with metal during the winter months. Two gangs have been working in the Ashburton Gorge; one, near Hakatere, and one at Lake Heron, clearing cuttings, patching the roads with metal, regrading a watercoui.se, and installing pipes. The bridge gang has been engaged tarring and sanding the deck, and completing repairs at the Mount Somers bridge; screwing up, adjusting .timber at Ashburton Gorge bridge, Stour bridge, and Rangftata bridge. As the contract for keeping the Acton main races in condition has expired, tenders for the position of caretaker have been invited, and can be considered at this meeting. Lease of portion of railway reserve near Hinds Bridge.—The land, referred to in the Railway Department s letter consists of a strip of land 16.6 links wide adjoining the Main Hig 1way on its north-western boundary, running from the Lynnford. Road to the Hinds river. Tne width of the Main Highway, between the fences, and adjoining the leasehold, is 63.4 links. It will be seen from the above that the widths of the Highway between the present fences, and the width of the leasehold, makes a total of 100 links, which should be the width of the Highway alone. Ido not see any reason ror leasing this poition of the reserve, and it appears to me that the land should be dedicated as a Highway. The report was adopted. A deputation, requesting that the Ashburton Gorge road be straightened while the unemployed men were at Hakatere, waited upon the Council. Mr R. Buick, for the deputation, said that there were about 29 turns in the road between the upper bridge and Hakatere, and it was thought that the presence of the. unemployed workers in the district presented a good, opportunity of straightening the road. It was stated that the road was not according to the survey, but also that the men would return to Ashburton on Wednesday. It was decided that the Engineer should make a survey of the road in company with Mr Buick, and means of carrying out the proposed work would he considered again. Protesting against the Council s cutting-off of a small water-race at Methven, Mr C. H. Ireland (represented by Mr J. W- M. Dart) waited upon the Council. Mr Dart stated that the use of the high pressure water supply was a most expensive item, but was absolutely necessary if the race were cut off. Otherwise stock would suffer. Other residents had stated that they would be without water for stock and the race was absolutely necessary. ■ Mr Carr said that certain residents had asked that the Council cut off the race, complaining of the insanitary conditions and the uselessness of the supply iu view of the high pressuie supply. The Council tried to act in accordance with the wishes of the majority. After considerable discussion, it was decided that Messrs Carr and Wightman should meet Mr Ireland and others interested and attempt to make a satisfactory arrangement. The Minister of Lands (Hon. E. A. Ransom) advised that the proposal to clear the Hinds riverbed at a cost of about £4OO, excluding the labour, had received attention and the Government was prepared to contribute £IOO towards the cost of items other than labour. The plan had been forwarded to the Canterbury Land Board. • The matter was held over until the Ashburton riverbed was' inspected by members of the Council. Poisoning of Rabbits. Reporting in the poisoning of rabbits in the County plantation reserves, the Inspector stated : “About 801bs of poison pollard was mixed at the yard for this purpose. The poisoner started to lay poison about March 13 at Westerfield, and as the weather was very dry, and there was not much feed about for the rabbits, it resulted in a large number taking the poison, about a hundied being picked up. “This shows that the poison was sudden in action. In going back over the same ground again a week later, very few rabbits were to he seen. The poison has not been so well fuither hack, where there is any green feed. With the cold weather coining there is no doubt that good results will he obtained from the pollard poisoning, one farmer having had two tins, and reporting good kills.” The Mid-Canterbury Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union wrote recommending the Council to co-operate with the stock inspector in a. systematic laying of poison in the County for the destruction of rabbits. The pest was serious. , „ It was decided to reply to the Farmers’ Union that the Council was prepared to organise a poisoning campaign in co-operation with the stock inspector, hut under the regulations the poison could not be stocked.