ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12825, 8 June 1907, Page 12

ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL

ife- ~—•—- ."'.■' Tho monthly mooting of the Ash-tartc-n County Council was held on Friday. Present—Messrs C. J. Harper (chairman), J. Cairns, 0. 0. Chapman, JO. Gates, W. J. Dickie, J. Lambie, M. , Stitt, J. O. N. Grigg and VV. Morgan. Tho "Works' Committee reported that during the past month all the races within tho district had been turned off for cleaning purposes, and from a casual inspection made by tho County overseer the general condition of the races ootiM bo favourably reported, ur> 011. It waa expected that tho timber for tho construction of the Rangitata traffic bridgo would have Jbeen dolivered by this time, hut owing to some labour troubles in West Australia it was probable that the timber would not oomo to hand till July. Arrangements had been made for fencing certain plantations, which had been burned during tho summer months. : A draft of the now leaso for the Mount Somors tramway line was read •od approved. Tho question of paying for the scalps of hares again camo up for consideration, and the resolution passed at tho Inst meeting of the Council traa rescinded. . The Wakanui Road Board wrote on the destruction of small birds, and suggested that tho Council should procure a supply of King's lightning bird traps. Tho Chairman said ho thought that tho Council already did enough for the destruction of small birds hy supplying , poisoned grain free, and considering tho prico paid for the birds' heads, it would pay individuals to purchase their own traps. Ho did not think the Council should bo asked to do this. The small birds were not taking tho poisoned grain freely, and it would bo for tho,Council to. consider whether it should continue to supply poisoned grain. Tho Council decided that it could not entertain the request of tho - Board. Tlie uso of Reserve 3189 was granted to Mr James Harrison, L'lent Hills A ' letter v/as road from the- Borough Council asking that a representative attend a conference to discuss the question of fixing on one tiny in the week a* the general half-holiday throughout thi' colony. Mr M. Stitt was appointed kt represent the Council at the meeting. A deputation, consistiiiij'. of thy Mayor (Mr Hoivrv Davis), Coiuicillois Thomas and H. I?riodlnnder, waited on the Council with roferonce to the any nual subsidy towards the upkeep of the ij Domain, nnd asked that it bo ruad.i " at least £100, ine-tond of £75, tho amount given Inst year. The deputation iwintpd out that during the past year additional expeiK-ea had been incurred in the erection of a pavilion, and the curator was employed in erect-i-rvg a largo fernery, and a laa-go propagating house wns also about to bo built. After tho deputation had retkrcfl, tho chairman proposed, and Mr Stitt seconded, that the Council vote a grant of £100. Mr Dickie proposed as nil amendment that £50 bo grant*:! lliis was seconded by Mr Cairns, and also supported by Mr Gates. The amendment was lost, and tho motion carried. Mr Dickie then moved, 'That the Council vote a sum of £20 towards i the upkeep of the Methven Domain." This was seconded by Mr Morgan. The chairman thought thnt a motion ot this kind should first come offieiallv thiotigh tho Methven Domain Board. Tlio motion was then with-irajrn. A number oF applications lor water services were dealt with, tho Council deciding that tho new races applie 1 for could! not bo grauu*L Tho usual rates on theßuapuna watosnpply wero struck.