ASHLEY COUNTY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2251, 20 June 1881, Page 3

ASHLEY COUNTY COUNCIL.

A meeting of this Council was hold at the Hoad Board office, Eangiora, on Saturday forenoon. Present—Messrs Higgins (ohairman), Dixon, Coup, Blackett, Lance and Ingram. Letters were road :—From the Colonial Secretary, acknowledging receipt of letters of 2nd and 3rd May, embodying five resolutions passed by the County Council. The first three, dealing with the county fund for the financial year ending 31st March, 1883, though possibly open to technical objection, have been accepted by the Government, and the county fund will be dealt with by the Treasury accordingly. The resolutions numbered 4 and 5 were not within the competency of the County Council to pass in cc-ualics in which the Act of 1876 is not in full operation The powers of the Council were strictly limited by the provisions of section 12 of the Act, and no other business than such cs is therein defined can be transacted by them The resolutions alluded to could not, therefore, be taken into consideration by the Government. From the Selwyn County Council, stating that it bad been resolved, at the instance of the ratepayers concerned, to petition the Governor in Council to alter the boundaries of the county, so as to include that portion of the Waimakariri Road Board district which now lies in the Ashley County. As it would be necessary before His Excellency could take action that a petition to the like effect should reach him from the Ashley Council, it was hoped that a meeting of the latter would be called to decide the matter.

The Chairman said in respect to the letter from the Government that the Council know that they had not power to pass the resolution referred to, but they simply did so to assist the Government, by recommending the way in which the Council might be represented, and the alteration of boundaries since the Borough of Eangiora had been taken out of the Mandeville riding of the county. This riding now, instead of returning two members, was only entitled to elect one. It was satisfactory that whatever delay there had been in holding the last meeting, the recommendation of the Council would bo adopted in the distribution of whatever funds were duo to the county. The main business that day would be a consideration of the Selwyn County Council’s letter, ond upon the matter he had also to read a letter of further explanation from Mr J. D. Enys. He had prepared a short petition, the text of which ran as follows : —“ That a certain portion of the Upper Waimakariri district, which is at present included in the Ashley district, is so inconveniently situated, that the ratepayers in that district are unable, by reason of a large extent of intervening inaccessible country, to take any part in the proceedings of the Ashley County Council. 2. That it would conduce greatly to the convenience and advantage of residents in that district, if it was included in Selwyn county.” After a brief discussion, in which it was thought advisable that the portion of the Ashley County in the Upper Waimakariri district, adjacent to the Oxford riding, should be separated, Mr Lance moved, Mr Ingram seconded, “ That the petition be adopted and signed by the chairman, on behalf of this Council.” Carried. A circular from Stevens and Co., Invercargill, was road, calling attention to a boring apparatus, by which the writers pointed out that it might be ascertained whether or not “ there was untold wealth under foot awaiting development.” The macb'ue worked an augur from three to seventeen inches in width, and they were prepared to agree to go to certain depths upon the no success no pay principle. It was decided that the Council could not entertain the matter, though it appeared one worthy of attention. In reply to Mr Dixon, the Chairman said the next general election for the Council would be held in November. In reference to the expenses of the first elections, it was explained as probable that the amount bad been charged against the county funds. The last election expenses would be charged to the Oxford Eoad Board.

On rising, the Chairman said it was probable this would be the last meeting of the present Connoil before the elections.