COUNTY AFFAIRS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 303, 5 October 1935, Page 3

COUNTY AFFAIRS

DECISIONS OF THE COUNCIL.

CONTROL OF NOXIOUS WEEDS.

The meeting of the Ashburton County Council was continued yesterday after the “Guardian” went to press. The. Waimate County Council wrote that it had called a conference of local bodies and Government Departments at Ashbuiton on October 14 to discuss the planting of trees in gorse-infested areas with a view to eradicating gorse.

The Department of Agriculture wrote regarding a more strict control of Californian thistle.

The chairman said the time had gone past when the pest could be controlled. There were many acres of Crown. land that were infested with the thistles and the Government was not doing anything about it. The Government, therefore could not ask the Council to support strict control. This view was supported by members Mr J. Moore stating that the carriage of seeds” by water was much worse than the carriage of seeds by wind. This would be one of the worst troubles of irrigation. Messrs B. Grant (principal inspector of stock for Canterbury and Westland) and J. W. |Smitli (stock inspector at Ashburton) waited on the Council in regard to the control of noxious weeds, especially Californian thistles. Mr Grant said the Council had the power to declare any weed a noxious weed and so exercise some control. The Department felt it had some right to go to the Council in the matter, and to make the Council feel that it had the ' responsibility. He thought the County was reasonably clear of the thistle. , Mr Smith said there was a good deal of the thistle in certain areas and the clear areas should be protected through the compulsory carrying out of the Act. , Mi- J. Carr said that farmers wished to keep their land clear but they were faced with difficulties. The north-west winds, the races and the rivers aided in contaminating the whole County from the large areas of thistle on Crown land to the north-west of the County. Mr Grant said the Department realised the difficulties mentioned, but was the Council going to give up the whole thing without a fight? After a general discussion the deputation retired and! the Council decided to hold over discussion till' the next meeting. The chairman and Mr Carr were appointed to represent the Council at the conference called by the Waimate Council. . . 1 . It was agreed to entertain tlie delegates a luncheon and to take them on an inspection of plantations during the afternoon. In a statement, the chairman (Mr D. J. Morrow) said “Main Hoads, Mayfield District— The sale of the two plantations in this locality will result in the transport of large quantities of timber and firewood over some miles of side roads, necessitating extra repairs and upkeep. “1. Reserve 35778, near Mr S. Miller’s, purchased by the St. Leonard’s SawmiLling Company. Transport from this plantation to the Mayfield-Valetta road, a distance of 1\ miles, is now under way. This road is unmetalled. “2. Reserve 2o'4S, near Mi' S. Miller’s; Wattle tiees purchased by Mill. H. Loose. Transport of firewood has not yet commenced but traffic of lorries and plant to this and the St. Leonard’s block will pass over Miller s Road from Ellery’s Road, a distance of one mile. “The upkeep of these roads would, at ordinary times, be the responsibility of the Mt. Somers Riding, but as the. Council will derive the benefit from the sale of the trees, it is reasonable that these roads be treated' as main roads and' a charge on tlio general account, until the transport is finished. “I would therefore, recommend that the cost of repairs and maintenance of these roads, from Ellery’s road to Reserve 35778, and thence to the Valetta road, a distance of approximately 2i miles, be charged to the general acocunt.”

In regard to the road maintenance it was decided that the cost should be divided between the general and riding accounts on the basis of 80 per cent, and 20 per cent., respectively. The County Engineer’s report (published yesterday) was adopted. The Geraldine County Council wrote in regard to the recent fatality on the Rangitata bridge and forwarded a copy of a letter received from the Coroner suggesting that the space between the longitudinal planking and the side of the bridge should be asphalted and raised to the level of the planking. The Main Highways Board Engineer wrote that the Board had suggested the removal of the planking, or its extension for the full width of the bridge, and would grant a subsidy of £3 for £1 for the work. The Council went into committee to discuss the question. , Later, Mr Gallagher stated that the bridge was perfectly safe with reasonable driving. The way heavy bolts had been broken in the case referred to, it appeared that the car concerned must have been travelling at a ternhc speed. The chairman thought that perhaps even greater general speeds might be encouraged with the planks covering the full width. - .. Mr Crothers said that the Council would not be justified in the «penditUre that would be involved (£loOO). _ Members pointed out that such accidents were rare and that the new bridge over the river near the rad bridge would take the majority of the traffic as soon as it had been built. It was decided to inform the Board and the Council that the work could not be undertaken. T) ie Ashburton Borough Council wrote asking that control of a reserve on the riverbed, required for a septic tank, should he handed over to the Borough. . After a good deal of discussion, the Council decided to grant the Borough Council the use of the land for a septic tank site -for all time, at a rental of £6 a year.

The Farmers’ Union (Mayfield branch) wrote expressing the appreciation of members of supplies of water made available in that district dining the annual overhaul of races recently. The Mayfield Women’s Institute wrote thanking the Council for the interest it had taken in road planting in Mayfield and for the grant of trees made. J , , The Wakamii Road Board wrote that it' had' made a grant of £lO toward the cost of protective works to be carried out at the mouth of the Ashburton River.