SELWYN COUNTY COUNCIL.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 8187, 1 June 1892, Page 3

SELWYN COUNTY COUNCIL.

An ordinary meeting of the Selwyn County Council waa held yesterday. Present — Messrs D. McMillan (Chairman), R. Westenra, W. Dunlop, T. H. Anson, J. Rennie, W. Boas, T.York, H. W. Peryman, and J. G. Murray. The Chairman stated that since the last meeting correspondence had been received as under:—Letter from the Colonial Secretary, stating that the Council's recommendations relative to the. levying of rates for drainage purposes. would be borne in mind in the event of the Counties Act being amended; resolutions passed at a ■ Conference of County Council delegates held at Auckland last month; letter from the Auditor-General, forwarding annual balance-sheet, duly audited, which would require a special meeting to pass ; letter from the Springe Road Board, forwarding particulars of roads proposed to be closed; letter from the East • Mftlvefta Road Board, applying for a grant of £75 towards the' cost of maintaining the West Coast road; letter from Mr E. R»~ oa behalf of Mr Gilmour, in reference to the River Halswell and Ahuriri - lagoon j reports from the inspector on the same; report of the Inspector of Slaughterhouses; letter from Mr Kemp, proposing an exchange of land for plantation ptirposes, and a letter from the Sydenham Borough Council in reference to the question of boundary roads between boroughs ~ and . road districts. The gas-lamps on the Park road were reported to be nearly-worn out, and required to be renewed at an early date. A deputation from the Tai Tapu Road Board would wait on the Council. • The consideration of the claims of the .Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards for the current year would be resumed. The Riccarton. Road Board applied for assistance in suppressing the small birds nuisance. Reports had been received .from the overseers of the waterrace and from the Water-race Committee. It was agreed that a special meeting should be held on June 15th, to receive the balance-sheet. - - , _. On the report of the Roads Diversion Committee, the application of the Springs Road Board was granted.. The request of the East Malvern Road Board was acceded twin respect of Mr Deacon's letter on behalf of Mr Gilmour, it was decided to forward a copy of Mr East's report on the river as an answer to the complaints made in the letter of Mr Gilmour's land being flooded, and unfitrforuse through the overflow of the river and lagoon. The Inspector's report was read and adopted. • _ ' The application of Mr Kemp was referred to the Plantation Committee. Consideration of the letter from the Sydenham Council was postponed until the next meeting. : , , ', In respect of the gas lamps along the Paxk road it was agreed that steps should be taken to renew them. Vr" Considering the requirements of the Hospital and Charitable lAid Boards, it was decided to raise the £5041 by means of .a special rate of seven-sixtieths of a penny in the pound. ...,,.., , -■-■_- It was' resolved i;hat a subsidy of £1, for £2 be paid, up to £10, during the months of June, July, August, and September to Road Boards as a grant towards the suppression of the snudl birds'nuisance. A deputation, consisting of Messrs Forbes, McCartney, Leathern and Quealy, representing the Tai Tapu Road Board, interviewed the Council and complained of the proportion s of the cost its district was charged for clearing the River Halswell and also in respect of the Gilmour case. The deputation pointea out tnat the Tai Tapu district did not contribute the water to the lagoon, which backed up and overflowed the other districts. The Chaibmax of the Council observed that the Tai Tapa district was treated no worse than any other district and the proportion of the charges made was made upon an estimate of the benefit each district derived. In respect of Gilmour's case the Tai Tapu district was in,-a no worse position than anybf the others. If they could show that they were not getting a benefit in proportion to the amount charged, toe, Council would willingly reconsider the ] whole question. ~ . . , , * ■' The correspondence which had passed between the Council and the Board was read; also the statement made at a previous meetine by the Chairman of the Councfl, and the position of the rate, "and some diecuaaon ensued on the first arrangement for the division of the cost of clearing the river and thepaymentof the rate. j The deputation then withdrew and the, question was not further considered. ; The reports of the o*-eiseera of the waterraces were «adand dealtwith, and, after! some talk over the question of charges, ! Mr Assos gave notice of the following motion for the next meeting:— "That the resolution passed on May 11th, 189% be rescinded, and that the following dates be appointed for payment of water j charges for the period ending March 31st, 1893, viz. Ist, for twelve months' rate 'and balance by December 31st, 1892." j Dos Registrars were appointed for Phil- j lipstown, Lincoln and Leeston, in place of previous ones removed. Accounts amounting to £474 7s Id were passed for payment, ; and the Council adjourned.