COUNTY COUNCILS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5601, 6 February 1879, Page 6

COUNTY COUNCILS.

ASHBURTON. The ordinary monthly meeting of this Council was held at the-Road Board office, Ashburton, yesterday afternoon; presentT— Messrs W.C. Walker (Chairman), A. Saunders, J. C. Wason, Charles Reed,-E.- G. Wright, John Grigg, E. S. Coster, and D. Cameron. SUSPENSION OF STANDING OEDEBS. . Mr Saunders moved “ That Standing Order No. 3 be suspended, that sub-sections . No. 9 and 10 may stand 1 and 4, and No. 2 he made No. 5." ’ . Mr Grigg seconded the motion, which was lost on division, four voting for it and five against. LAPSED NOTICES OF MOTION; Mr Wright thought the Council should take into consideration the notices of. motion that were given by Mr Saunders, and which had lapsed, through not being called on. After a slight discussion, Mr Grigg moved, —“ That the consideration of Mr Saunders’ notices of motion on the Order Paper come on at half-past one.” Mr Wason seconded the resolution, which was agreed to.

THE CHAXEMAH’S STATEMENT. The Chairman said that since the last meeting of the Council there had been three Committee meetings held for the purpose of considering the reports of Committee appointed, for the following business: —(l) The. report of Mr Higginson on the Eangitata road bridge, which had been fully considered, and it was decided to order the iron work from England at once. The Committee; confidently hoped that the work would now be successfully carried out in a permanent manner. The consideration of a Hospital for Ashburton had also been reported on by the Committee appointed for that purpose. A series of questions had been drawn up for the guidance of the Committee in carrying out the work, and had been submitted to the resident medical gentlemen in Ashburton, and the Hospital Board in Christchurch. The appointment of an Engineer for the Council had also been considered, and the Committee had appointed Mr W. Baxter to that office. The supply of dog collars had been obtained, and were now ready for distribution to the various persons authorised to sell them. With reference to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, it would be remembered that the Government had asked the Council to appoint a representative on the Managing Committee in Christchurch. This the Council had refused to do, on the ground that they did not approve of the Government proposals, and partly because the Council was on the eve of taking into its own hands the management of hospital matters within the County. The Conference held in Christchurch had framed two resolutions —one, that it was desirable that hospital management should bo placed in the hands of local bodies, and another that legislation on the subject was necessary. The last resolution he did not consider to have been necessary, as the matter was provided for in the Financial Arrangements Act. He made these remarks thinking that the Council might re-eonsider what had already been done, in deciding not to send a representative to the Managing Committee. If the Council wore a voluntary contributor to the central fund, he thought they would be in a position to claim £ for £ from Government for the amount so contributed, and the money thus expended would come from the Consolidated Revenue, the source whence many thought hospital maintenance should be derived. He would suggest to the Council the advisability of sending a representative to the Managing Committee.” OOEEESPONDENOE. The following correspondence was received : —From Mr Higginson, forwarding his statement of charges for supervising the erection of the extension and repairs to the Eangitata road bridge. From the Geraldine Bead Board, enclosing the following resolution passed by the Board —“ That the Clerk write to the Minister of Public Works, Wellington, re the repairs to the Eangitata bridge being on the north side of the river, and altogether in County of Ashburton, requesting to be informed whether the Geraldine Eoad Board is deemed liable for its proportion towards the cost of the present repairs j if so, would draw the attention of Government to the fact that the Ashburton County Council are noyr carrying out these repairs contrary to the recommendation of their Engineer (Mr Higgeh* son) in his reports to the Council upon this work, and the Geraldine Eoad Board beg to protest against their action in this matter.” Mr Grigg moved, and Mr Bead seconded, and it was carried—“ That the letter of the Geraldine Eoad Board bo returned, pointing out that they were in error, and requesting them to forward a correct statement to the proper authorities in Wellington, and that a copy of MrHiggenson’s letter be sent to them also."

From the Geraldine Eoad Foard, stating that their Chairman was not in a position to reply to the question of the Council re the man in charge of the Ferry oyer Bangitata river, as he was not known to him. From the Treasurer re payment by Geral-

dine County Oounoil of half cost, vu., £l2B Is lOd.

From the Selwyn County Oounoil* asking the Ashburton Council to raise their contribution towards the ferryman at Dobbin’s Ford from £25 to £6O; From the ' Ashburton Agricultural and Pastoral Association, pointing out to the Council tho large number of unregistered dogs in the Count). From the Ashburton Road Board re the bridges at the Hindu and Ashburton, and asking the Oounoil to undertake the work; as soon as possible. J From the Colonial Treasurer, stating that the sum of £6OOO, being 20 per cent, or the Land Fund derived from the sale of land within the. County, had been placed to the Council's account. /,

Mr Grigg moved and Mr Boed seconded—- “ That a Committee, consisting of the Chair* 1 man, Messrs Wason, Wright, and the mover, be appointed to report on the question of dealing with the encroachments of the North Ashburton river.” Carried. 1 Mr Wright moved, Mr Coster seconded, and.it was carried—” Hat Mr Foots* plans and report for protective worksin the North: Ashburton be 1 referred to tho County Engineer, and if approved, to have instructions to call for tenders for carrying out the work at once.” -< \

bobbin’s fobd. | Mr* Saunders thought that as this was! amatter that most interested the Road Boards,, ha would move —“ That the Chairman ibo requested to communicate with the Chairman' of the Road Board moat interested,' and jto act on, ( the information so obtained;” i ' Mr Grigg seconded the motion, which l was carried. > , . j 1 DOG COLIiAEB. 1 j ■ The Council decided to instruct the police to proceed against; owners of unregistered dogs at .once, as;the supply of collars were now to hand. . ! BEIDGES OTEE THE ASHBUETON AND HINDS '■■■• -1 EITEB. .... -j J He Council decided to refer the letter frqm the Ashburton Read Board re ! these bridges to the County Engineer, for his report on tpe 'some.; 1 ’ “' 1 J ■ ‘ JI'OSXPOHEMkNt OF NOTICE OF MOTION* j - Mr. Grigg'asked that the notice of motion standing in bis name be. postponed until next meeting, which was agreed to. Mr Saunders* notice of motion was l also postponed.. i ■ COUNTY BEAD. ’ i It. was decided to : appoint a Committee Jto report upon the l design for the County seal, j

BANGITATA EOAD BEIDGB. | Mr Wright handed in the report of tfie .Committee re proposed extension and repairs to this bridge. He, as Chairman, had anticipated the approval'of the Council; arid acting on Mr Higgenson’s report, had ordered the ■ ironwork andpiers for this bridge foOnr England by telegram and letter. l He ' would move—“ That the report as read be adopted.” ■ Mr Ci Reed seconded the motion, was agreed to. * COUNTF ENOINBBB. j ; He Chairman handed, in the report Of the Committee appointed to select the County Engineer, which was adopted by the Council. HOBTITAD COMMITTEE. -i Mr Wason said the reply from the medical gentlemen in Ashburton had not yet been received, relating to any suggestions they would make for the guidance of the Committee. No reply had been received from the Government, to the Committee’s letter on this .subject.'He would, : therefore, ask the Council to grant in extension of time for the Committee to bripg up their report. | , Granted. i PAYMENTS. Accounts amounting to £195 5s lid were passed for payment. MOUNT SOMEBS BAILWAY. : Mr Wright .said l he would ask to have all the letters read in reference to this railway. Some considerable time had ndw elapsed, apd no reply had yet been received from the Government, and they were eridently befog treated in a most unbusinesslike manner by the Government. Letters had been written to ‘ the Government urging the pushing on of this railway, but they had remained unanswered. As the Minister for Public Works was now being deputationised iir Otago, in reference to certain railways and other public works, would it not be desirable for the Ashburton County Council to do the same, arid wait on that gentleman when he passed, through Ashburton? He would move—r, “That a deputation, consisting of the Chairman, Messw Wason and the mover, wait upon, th'e Minister for Public Works the first opportunity, and urge upon him the necessity for carrying out the Ashburton and Mount Somers Railway as soon as possible.” ' Mr Reed seconded the motion, which was agreed to.

PLANTATION BOAED. Mr Wright, alluding to the necessity for gazetting the members of this Board, would ask the Chairman to forward a letter to the Government asking to have that done. Mr Grigg asked for a similar request for the Board for the plantation reserves at Tinwald. The Chairman replied that the matter should be attended to at once, as the planting season was soon coming on. low’ee eangitata peeet. A letter was read from the Geraldine Road Board, offering to contribute £2O towards the maintenance or the Rangitata Feny, provided the Temuka Road Board made a similar contribution. The matter was postponed until next meeting. EAKAIA AND ASHBTJBTON PLAINS WATBE SUPPLY. Mr Wright said that the power was in the hands of the County Council to carry out this work in full. The contemplated expenditure was estimated at £90,000, which exceeded the funds at the County’s command for this work by about £50,000 over and above what they raised by rates. They had power to raise four times the amount of the subsidy by loan. The Council had already pledged itself to the amount of £IO,OOO, which would enable them to commence operations. He thought that a public meeting of the ratepayers should be held previous to doing anything. Mr Coster said it was clearly the duty of the Council to call a meeting of the ratepayers before commencing the work. The Chairman said the Council could not get a formal opinion from the ratepayers, as the Council had not the power to call a meeting for any other purpose than that of raising a special loan. After some discussion.

Mr Wright moved—“ That the Engineer be instructed to examine and report upon the plans for a water supply for tne plains between the Kakaia and Ashburton, preparatory to the preparation of plans and specifications for the works.”

Mr Wason seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Mr Saunders ashed leave to withdraw his motion to the following effect—“ That tenders be called from the Bank of New Zealand for the Council’s account.” He withdrew this on the ground that since he moved it first the rate of money had fallen considerably. Mr Grigg said he would not agree to the withdrawal, and ho considered that the Bank of Now Zealand being a purely local institution was entitled to tne Council’s account. The Council agreed to grant leave to Mr Saunders to withdraw the notice of motion.

OHAXBMAIf’a EXPENSES, Mr Saunders moved—“ That any travelling or other necessary expenses incurred by the this Council in the performance of his duties should be a charge on the funds of the Council, to be liquidated, like other charges, at each ordinary meeting, and that it is not desirable that any salary be paid to the Chairman.”

Mr Wason seconded the motion proformd. He, however, could hot agree with Mr Saun* ders, that the honorarium given to the Chairtnan was in any way to be considered ns a salary. It was given voluntarily by the Council as an honorarium, and he thought no other member of the Council deserved it so much as the Chairman. He thought it derogatory to even bring the matter before the Council for discussion, and was only sorry that such a question should ever have been raised. Mr Grigg, Mr Wright, and Mr Seed spoke in a similar strain. The Chairman said as regards the honoraria he objected himself to them all, and the hono*

rarium Mr Saunders himself p ®°. oi . ved * Wellington was one of those which came under the same category os that now under ‘notices of motion for next meeting were then given, and the Oounoil adjourned.