ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Press, Volume XLI, Issue 6054, 10 February 1885, Page 3

ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

* The adjourned meeting of the Aehburton County Council was field on Monday. Present—Messrs W. C. Walker (chairman), Poster, Harper, Jackson, McLean; and

IF The Chaibsun stated that the Qeraldine County Council had again written on the nuestion of the erection of a stock bridge s>ver the Bangitata river, in a line with the nrailway bridge. Mr Eolleston, M.H.8., wad also written advocating the erecfoa of [the bridge. The Longbeach. Boad Board [had brought under the notice of the [Council the necessity fox increased means [of drainage in the Wheatstone district. : The late Council had voted £300 towards 'this and other works, on condition that tho inhabitants interested contributed the sum of JEIOO towards the cost of the work. The Longbeach Boad Board had requested that the ">*'" road between Winslow and the Hinds be metalled, as it was very bad in wet weather, The amount of rates paid to date was J84470 43 Bd. The Government Insurance Commissioner had remitted the grant of £1000 towards the Aahburton Forks Protective Works. The Engindeb reported that a good deal of inattention had been exhibited by many occupiers in allowing obstructions to impede the flow in the water-races. The Council resolved that the rangers be instructed to use increased vigilance in mainlining the efficiency of the water supply, and that the occupiers be requested to take reasonable means of assisting towards the same end, and that the Engineer be instructed to report any cases requiring prosecution. The question of the Barr Hill and Bakaia branch races was postponed till next meeting, as w&3 also the question of lan additional groin above the Winchmore road.

■ The Committee appointed to report on the Wakanui protective works stated that the worka erected had been the means of saving a great deal of property that would have otherwise been liable to be flooded. The Committee recommended that three or-four additional groins be constructed, x som ta «QBtepoiatßforth««oQectaon*f

sat.Where the scour is greatest. They also recommended that willow-planting be continued next season.

gffhe report was adopted, but the question oßbrther expenditure was postponed. Jotulas Jacxson moved-—"That JJUjsrs Walker, Megson, Coster and the HSjiver be a Committee to draw up a petitaSp to Parliament stating the -wishes of tiw ratepayers that there should be only (jjife rating body; that the Chairmen of Bead Boards should constitute the Council; ajjfl that such Council should exercise the ewcutrve powers as fully as at present .w» the Counties Act, save and except to rate." RgTg-jhe motion was seconded by Mr Coster. nL'sCr Haspxb said he had no idea euch an Swortant question was to be brought l.gjfcfore the Council at that meeting. Before [•the matter was dealt with he thought each f member of the Council should have had pjrritten notice.

t> The question was postponed till next imeeting. tOn the motion of Mr W. C. Walkkb, Mr . G-. Wright was elected to represent the unty on the Ljttelton Harbor Board. was read with reference t&rfdam constructed in Ashburton Eiver near the property of Messrs Dudley ME Northey, a letter from Massrs Harper I anuCo., as solicitors for Messrs Dudley I Northey, requesting the Council to I rmove the dam and erect works to protejj their property. yhe Council resolved to communicate wSji Messrs Dudley and Northey on the nynter, and to inform them that the dan-g-frous point referred to wa3 above all work tjmt had been undertaken by the Council, jane Council recommended the appointD&nt of Mr D. McLean as a member of the Board in place of Mr H. T. Winter, J|3P-be Committee appointed to confer with late Committee of the Borough Council reference to the proposed traffic Igidge over the Ashburton river in their rewrt recommended that immediate steps » taken towards the erection of the HSdge. It also suggested a pro rota allofipion of .half the county's share of the wt among the Boad Boards more immediately interested in the construction of the the Tinwald Town Board to be also Bbluded. |& The report was adopted, and after some wscussion it was resolved that the Engineer Jjje instructed to forward the plans for approval by the Government, and that senders be invited as soon as possible after jspproval, the Bridge Committee to report mt the next meeting on the financial proposals for covering the extra cost above the iam voted by the Government. W It was resolved that the .£BIO granted a>y the Government be expended on the Pishburton Gorge road, as recommended j*by the Mount Somera Boad Board. It was also resolved that .£lls be expended 1 on the Bakaia Gorge road. > A return was laid on the table showing ihat out of a total of .£6397 16s 10a applied • for under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act, the Government had granted |£1125, to be apportioned as follows :— Kyle road, £200; Bakaia Gorge road, £115; Ashburton Gorge road (Mount Somers district), £810. Correspondence, was read re the proposed foot and stock bridge over the Eangitata river.

The Council decided that it was unable to entertain the idea of contributing toi wards the proposed work. Mr D. Jackson's offer to act as ferryman over the Eangitata was accepted. With reference to the improvement of Ford's creek from Flemington to the sea, the Clerk was instructed to inform the Longbeach Boad Board of the conditions •on which the sum of £350 had been voted by the Council.

A. letter from Messrs Vincent and Co., asking for a refund of a portion of the fee for 1884 for the Wheatsheaf Hotel was referred to the Licensing Committee.

v' A petition from residents in the Mount. 5 Somers Boad Board district, praying for a "separation of- a portion of the district, w»b presented, and a Committee was appointed to report at the next meeting of the Council.

Mr C. J. Harptck gave notice of motion— "That in the opinion of this Council it is desirable to let the maintenance of the , water-races within the county by tender from year to year." . The CouncU adjourned to February 12th.