ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7805, 7 March 1891, Page 6

ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Ashburton County Council was held yesterday. Pre-sent-—Messrs W. C. Wallcer (Chairman), J. Brown, O. J. Harper, E. S. Coscer, H. Friedlander, J. Grigg, D. Cameron, aud W. McMillan.

The Engineer reported that there was a good supply of water iv the races. There was no overflow, and the races in their present couditloo would carry on to the beginning of June, the usual period of overhaul. Several new races and alterations had been completed, and were running satisfactorily, iv order to hasten the supply to village settlements tenders had been called fur that work. He suggested that new races should bear some proportion of the cost of enlarging the mams and submains. Some steps had been taken to ascertain the cost of the Rakaia irrigation scheme, but the time had been too short to give any defluice report. Ashburton S&ngltata water supply was fairly satisfactory, some races wanted overhauling, but they could not be done dntil the water was turned off. Ashburton and Mt. Somers supply were well supplied. Mr Friedlander reported that the landowners had been interviewed with reference to the Westerdeid water supply, and it was hoped thac the matter would soon be settled to che satisfaction of each party concerned. Mr Harper read a report on what had been done at the Irrigation Farm by the County Council, -he rep.rt showed that the results obtained had been almost marvellous. From ten acres sown with clover, aud irrigated four times during the seasou, eighteen ions of hay had been sold, while a second crop gave ten tons of ensilage, making a total of twenty-eight tons for teu acres in the season, and this from what was originally a wretchedly poor piece of land. . Ten acres thac were not Irrigated only gave a total oi two tons. Auoiher part oi the Irrigated portion of the farm nad yielded three tons of potatoes aud one ion each of carrots anu mangolds, while a pare not irrigated prouueud noching buc weeds. All tne experiments carried oae ou the farm had gone to show Chat a geueral scheme of Irrigation would be of immense benedt to che poorer lauds on the plains. The report was adopted. Mr Wright moved the adoption of the report ot the Committee re the water supply for Blocks 1 aud 2, Rakaia Village Cjciydemeut.

Mr Coster seconded the motion, which was carried.

- The Committee that had been appointed to inspect and report ou the proposed course, reported thac the course ha*l been somewhat, altered, owing to objections that had beeu made by landowners, aud the Engineer had been iustruccsd to call for tenders for the work.

Mr Harpjsr moved—" That the waterrace iv the Ashburcon-Kangitata district: be so improved Chat all the applications for new races can be granted; alio a supply of water for Irrigating small ureas for garden purposes." He pointed out the disadvantages they were all laboring under, and tne benedts chat would be derived from enlarging Che races. Mr Wright seconded the motion, as it was practically che same as be had previously proposed.

A somewnat heated discussion ensued respecting the newly instituted sheet wich tbe names of those who had allowed water to be wasted.

Mr Brown also supported the motion. The motion was put ac a later stage of the proceedings and lost. Messrs Brill, aud Protueroe waited on the Council iv support of a petition praying that the Council would revoke any permission given to any parties to interfere with the natural flow of Wheeler's and Spier's ereeici, aad to restore to the petitioners the natural, advantages they enjoyed from those .creeks prior to the diversion of the water from its natural flow.

After a lengthy explanation Messrs Grigg, Friedlander and Bowen were appointed a Committee to inspect che locality with, the' Engineer and report at the uext meeting.

Mr F-ieolandbr, in accordance with notice given ac a previous meeting moved—"That the Engineer be instructed to report as co che cost of a complete system of irrigation. for that part of the county lying between the south branch of the'Ashburton and Bangitata Rivers and extending ,rom the vicinity of Shepherd's bdab and the Anaina estate to the main line of railway, together with any contingent drainage chat may be required."- . Thg. motion was seconded by Mr Harper end carried.

Mr Friedlander was granted leave to withdraw bis moCiou to approach the Government with a view co obcaiuiug the services of an engineer versed in Indian irrigation, seeing the Government had beau issuing circulars to the various local bodies on a similar subject. Mr J. Brown moved—" That 4s 2d per 100 be paid for full-grown small birds' heads."

Mr Grigg seconded the motion. The matter would have his cordial support, as the small birds nuisance was becoming a very serious evil indeed. He would even go as far as to give 5s per WW, a-i It would ttave-tne effect of inducing men-to systematically kill the birds during the winter months. No less than 6i9,UUi) eggs and heads had been brought to'his store this season, aud Mr Fooks had told him. that for the Wakauul Road Board aud the Council he had paid away this season £175 for eggs and heads of small birds. ■ Th 6 .notion was carried unatianlmously. Mr Brown moved— ** Thac, for the purpose of thoroughly suppressing the small birds nuisance, It would be advisable to iutroduce the sparrow-hawk into the colony, and that native hawks should be 6 laced under the protection of the law." te spoke strongly iv favor of the motion, believing Chat the hawks would do much towards keeping the small birds in Check.

Mr Wright seconded the motion.

'Mr Coster pointed out that the native hawks- were already protected by law. , Mr Habpea thought ie was a matter for the Acclimatisation Societies. The motion was carried and it was decided to forward a copy of the resolution to the Government.

Or. the motion of Mr Grigg It was decided—That the payment for birds hekds be resumed after the period for poisoning had expired. .Mr . Friedlander moved — "That tenders he Invited for the supply of 200 bushels of poisoned wheat for delivery on or before June Ist next, tenders to be in by next meeting." Seconded by Mr Coster, and carried. 'Mr Wright moved—"That the Council requeue tho Minister of Lands to pay over to this Council, under authority given him by section 23 of the Land Act Amendment Act, 1887, tbe moneys payable to the deferred payment settlers wichin the county, comprising occupants of deterred paymeat, perpetual lease and village settlements, in order that such moneys may be applied to supplying these settlers with Water." He read copie3 of resolutions that bad been passed at meetings held at the Hinds, Dromore and Tinwald, supporting his view of the matter. The Chairman read resolutions that had been passed by the Bangitata, Upper Ashburton, and South Rakaia Road Boards In opposition to Mr Wright's motion. Mr Wright then went on, and spoke at great length in favor of his motion, In order that tho moneys might be paid over to the County Council, and applied for the purpose of providing the deferred payment and other village sectlers with water. Along discussion followed. Mr Grigg supported the motion, and Mr Harper spoke at length against it. Mr Brown moved as ah amendment to Insert the words " with the consent of the Road Boards interested" after the word Council.. . __r Friedlander seconded the amendmenu - Mr Coster, the Chairman, and Mr Cameron opposed the motion. Mr Brown's amendment was lost. Mr Wright ha-ring replied, the motion was put and lost, the mover and Mr Grigg only vo*iug for it.

Ou the motion of Mr Grigg, it was unanimously resolved—" That an honorarium of -£100 be voted to Mr Walker for his services as Chairman of the Council," all the members speaking ia high terms of praise of tbe manner in which Mr Walker had always discharged his ditty as Chairman. Mr Friedlander mo-fed. Mr Harper seconded, and It was carried—" That with reference to the various petitions sent in by Mr Wright in connection with the meetings held at the Hinds, Dromoreand Tlnwald, and the several resolutions passed by the Upper Ashbnrton, Raogieata and South Rakaia R:>ad Boards, this Council take no action In the matcer, but suggest to tbe petitioners that if they cannot get their demands complied with by the Boad Boards to apply to the Minister for Lands, who has power, i under Section 22 Sub-Section 1 of the Land Act, determine how these lairds sure to be speflt*" ..... , A quantity of routine business was •traTAsaofeed, and the CooaoU adjourned.