ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9669, 6 March 1897, Page 4

ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Ashburton County Council was held on Friday. Present—Messrs E. G, Wright (Chairman), D. Cameron, C. J. Harper, E. Herring, S. S. Chapman, E. Richards, M. Stitt, D. Williamson. The Engineer, in his monthly report, dealt with a proposal to construct a storage dam for storing about 96 million gallons of water, whioh might be utilised for regulating the supply in the races below Anama. An excellent site could be obtained for the purpose on the Anama estate. The Chairman moved—" That the Chairman have authority to negotiate for the purchase of the land—6o acres—from the Anama Estate, for the purpose of constructing a storage reservoir from the Limestone Creek." The motion was carried unanimously. An additional amount of £2 16s was voted for improvements to the Rakaia Cemetery. The Committee appointed to go into the question of. adve'rtisiup in the local papers, reported that if consideration of the matter be continued it would be necessary to appoint a special person to compare the circulation of the two papers. The report was adopted. Mr Williamsonproposed, Mr Herring seconded—"That the Standard have a third share' of the advertising, but that there be no increase in the total expenditure." The motion was carried unanimously. The Committee appointed to go into the matter of tampering With the water-races reported that fines ranging from 10s up to £5 had been imposed, and in most oases J aid.' Other delinquents were cautioned, t waa resolved that in cases in whioh the fines were not paid legal proceedings be taken.' ; ■ \«- j Accounts amounting to £519 10s lid were passed. A letter was read from the Hampstead Town Board intimating their intention of closing the bridges .over the mill creek running through their distriot. A letter was read frpm the Council's solicitor, stating that the Town Board had no power to close the bridges or roads in question. The Chairman'said he had forwarded a oopy of the solicitor's opinion to the Hampstead Town Board. Mr Williamson pointed, ou£ that a bridge over the oreek at Markey's was in existence long before the water was brought in for the mill supply. The Chairman's action was approved. A letter was read from Miss Muirhead, Alford Forest, declining the sum voted by the Council m connection with the fire on the bridge over the North Ashburton river, and suggesting that the amount should be given to some benevolent object. The cheque wa3 returned, and Miss Muirhead said she did not wish to accent Eayment for Bimply doing her duty. The louncil decided that the amount be handed over to the Alford Forest School Committee, as a donation from Miss Muirhead to the children's prize fund. The action of the Longbeaoh Road Board in closing a road was approved. I Mr Fergus was appointed a ranger for the I Mount Somers Road Board distriot, and was authorised to impound cattle found straying ou the Council s reserves, inoluding the tramway reserve. It was deoided to send a circular to the Road Boards, pointing out that the Council's subsidy for the destruction of small birds was available during the whole year, with the exception of those months during which poisoned grain was distributed,, and that they be requested not to discontinue the payment for heads and eggs till June. It was also deoided to ask the Borough Council to co-operate with the Road Boards in paying for. heads and eggs, and to inform ' that body that the usual subsidy would be paid the Borough Council if they would oo- j operate with the Road Boards.