ASHBURTON.

Press, Volume XXXI, Issue 4287, 26 April 1879, Page 3

ASHBURTON.

A special meeting of this Council was held yesterday afternoon, to consider how the Governor should be received at Ashburton. Present —Messrs W. C. Walker (chairman), J. Grigg, Saunders, Reed, and Cameron. The Chairman explained the object of the meeting, and stated he had prepared a draft address to be presented to his Excellency, which he would lay before the Council for their approval. Alluding to' the election caused by the resignation of Mr Wason, the Chairman said a gentleman had written a letter to a local paper complaining of the indecent haste shown in electing a successor to Mr Wason. He would point out that no haste whatever was shown, but that he had merely complied with the provisions laid down in the Act. The draft address was then considered in committee and approved of by the Council. The Chairman said he had made enquiries, and found that the contractor for the new railway thought there would be no difficulty in having things ready, so that His Excellency could turn the first sod on the occasion of his visit. This matter and the question of a lunch was then fully discussed, and the chairman and Mr Grigg were appointed a committee with power to arrange the whole matter.

A deputation of the commercial men of Ashburton waited on the Council respecting affording relief to the farmers in the district. The deputation consisted of Messrs Joseph Clark, Saunders, inn., and Jamieson. Mr Clark said what the deputation wanted was that the Council, who they understood had a large sum Of money to "their credit, would guarantee to leave a sum, say of £40,000, in the bank for a year. If they would do ao, the deputation thought they could go to the Bank and ask them to sdvance money to the farmers to put in their crops. The money | was- urgently needed during the next six ' weeks to get on with the work.

I- ..TheChairman,*Mr Grigg, and othera.spoke i-at great length on. the ma*ter,-expl-irung that .most of the money at the disposal of the • Conncil was bo w on fixed deposit at the Dnion :Bank/_nd the only Way in whioh" the' in'atter icould be arranged would be by extending the !time of these fixed deposits. The Council, however, doubted the prudence of the proceeding, and the fact was the bank had the money in their hands already, and at least £20,000 was at fixed deposit in the bank for a year. Mr Saunders said he thought it would be most unwise to lock up the funds of the Council at a time of depression like the present, when public works could be probably carried on not only at a low labor rate, but also to the very great relief of those employed. : The deputation then withdrew, the Council stating they should be glad to hear of any fresh suggestions at their next meeting on May 7th.