ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXI, Issue 7231, 3 May 1884, Page 6

ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

The usual monthly meeting of the Ashburton County Council was hold yesterday in the Council Chambers; present—Mossrs \V. C. Walker (Chairman), John Lambie, E. G. Wright, Julian Jackson, Androw M'Farlane, Thomas Taylor, Thomas Bullock and Hugo Friedlander. chairman's statement. The Chairman mado his usual introductory statement. engineer's report. The Engineer's report was read as follows : Ashburton-Eakaia Plains Water Supply: I have levelled and staked out tho authorised connections between D and E 5, and between E 5 and E. These branches have now been formed, and the upper portion of D race is being enlarged, which will have the effect of bringing down the additional supply required for the races in Eakaiaand Lower Acton district. Having met those settlers situated between Lauriston and Cairnbrae, who are served by tho test channel, I find they are unanimous in tho opinion that the transference of the channel from the road to the centre of their holdings would not serve their purpose, as paddocks have been formed and cottages built to suit the location of that channel, but in the event of the Council authorising the extension of branch already made for Mr Adair and others, all of them are prepared to transfer the test channel from the road to field side of fence, and to defray the expense of branch line, with the exception of Mr Strachan, who has just come to the district, and wants fuller information and a little time to consider the matter.—The extension from E.S. 47831 downwards would be about four miles in length, as shown on map, and I have taken levels at such points as were necessary to determine the route. With reference to the petition from Messrs Mollet and Laine, Messrs Orr, A. F. Somerville, and proprietors of Highbank, for a branch race to supply their properties on Mount Hutt Downs, I have gone carefully into the question, and have taken levels nearly overtheentire length. I find that in order to touch the lower comer of Messrs Mollet and Laine's E.S. 31536, it would be necesI sary to connect with Chapman's creek ■ near trig pole 830, cross Dry creek, about 20 chains north of Broom Park by a flume three chains in length, thence through rural sections 17253, and 20234, 20919, and 26732 to lower end of said section 31536, and thereafter through Mr A. Orr's property, to a point about ten chains north- : west of his house, from which it could easily be let through Mr Somerville's property and upper portion of Highbank to | connect with E 4 race as shown by red line on plan. The length would be about nine and a half miles, and the total cost, including flumes, fords, &c, ,£l9O. The properties on the first three and a half miles of race, namely Mr Chapman's, Mr M'nraith's and Mr Aynsley's, being already supplied from other sources would receive no benefit from proposed race, but would, on the contrary, be subjected to rather awkward severance. These owners would not, of course, pay any part of the cost, but would probably give a right-of-way on condition that they should not be made liable for any charges for maintenance or otherwise. An alternative route I have shown by dotted red line. This would miss a considerable portion of Mr Orr's property, and would leave out Mr Mollet's altogether, but the expense would be somewhat less. A third route, and the one which I should be inclined to recommend, is shown by dotted blue line on plan. It would leave E race at West Coast road, pass through Mr Holmes' R.S. 20919, take in the lower end of Mr Orr's property, and thence downwards through Mr Somerville's and Highbank to E 4, on a line common to all the routes described. The cost of this would be a little under ,£SO. —Chapman's Creek Extension : As requested by the Council, I have examined the route, and invited tenders for such portion of the -work as can be executed in the meantime, pending the arrangements of the Methven railway authorities for passing the floodwater across that line near Cairnbrae. —Fencing Deviation Eakaia Gorge road: Tenders for this work will be placed before you to-day. —lmprovement Carter's Creek: Tenders for ihe enlargement of this creek are called for to-day, and the contract will be adjustable so that the expenditure shall not exceed .£75. —Wakanui Flat Water Supply: The main race from Wakanui Creek is nearly completed and will shortly be in operation.—Wakanui Protective Works.- The accompanying plans and sections show the nature of the proposed works, I have marked off on the ground the line of bulwark and site of proposed embankment. The clearing of the spits in river bed, at points indicated in red, would give partial relief, and facilitate the construction of bulwark and embankment. I estimate the cost of works as follows : Bulwark, complete, ,£650; embankment, .£45 ; cuts in river, .£9O; three small groins, .£100; willow planting, ,£55; total, ,£940. —Ashburton Forks Protective Works : The following points are those requiring protection : —l. At boundary between Sural Section 14351 and 14658, gorse groin secured at end with piping, repairs to protect groin, and 180 cubic yards of embankment, total cost, .£SO. 2. Near middle of Eural Section 14553, gorse embankment secured with piles and addition to present crate, £6O. 3. Lower end of rural section 14553, adjoining Winchmore road, one groin 70 feet long, ,£45. 4. Clearing spit in river opposite rural section 14552, £25. 5. Groin 20 chains south of rural section 14552, £35. 6. Opposite reserve 1728, addition to present crate and connecting same with river embankment ; embankment seven chains long with crate at lower end, £65. 7. Cut in river bed near Digby's bridge, £ls. 8; Below ford leading into Forks district, on E.S. 28629, two groins and embanking, £7O. 9. Ford at Eule's, south bank, two crates, £4O. 10. South Ashburton river, north bank, Green's road, cutting new channel and planting willows, £4O; —total, £445 (this is exclusive of willowplanting near Nos. 1 to 9 and intermediate points, the expenses of which I estimate at £124, making a grand total of £565). I am of opinion that the expenditure of this amount will suffice to meet the present requirements, and when these are executed I should suggest the employment of a small staff for maintenance purposes, and to erect any minor works which may be necessary from time to time owing to continually shifting state of the river. The , willow planting more especially should be I started at once so as not to lose the season, and manyportionsof the river-beds are now well adapted for this purpose.—Wheatstone Main Drain : In accordance with your instructions I have inspected this drain. It is much obstructed in several places with vegetable, growth, &c. To clea,r it out properly to the original formation will require an expenditure of about £3O. ASHBURTON-RAKAIA PLAINS WATER SUPPLY. The first paragraph of the Engineer's report _was referred to the Water Supply Committee. EAKAIA GORGE BRIDGE APPROACHES. The Council went into Committee on the above subject, and passed a resolution—- " That the Selwyn County Council be informed that this Council is not disposed to hand over any balance until the approaches to the bridge are satisfactorily completed." This resolution was adopted on the Council resuming. WAKANUI PROTECTIVE WORKS. A lengthy talk took place on the subject of the Wakanui protective works, the providing of which against the encroaches of the Ashburton river has long agitated the minds of the Wakanui settlers. Ultimately it was resolved—" That the Protective Works Committee bo re-appointed, and

that they meet the Engineer on tho ground to fix the position of the bulwark; that tho plana be approved of; and that tho plan marked A, tinted rod, and signed by the Chairman, represent tho rating district under tho Eoads and Bridges Act." It was further resolved that tho poll of tho ratepayers be taken forthwith, under section 49 of tho Eoads and Bridges Construction Aet. Tho polling-place was fixed for the Wakanui Schoolroom, and tho Clerk was appointed Eeturning-Offieer. In tho matter of protective works for the rivor at the Ashburton Forks, a Committeo comprising Messrs Bullock, Friedlander, and tho Chairman were appointed to consider the question of finance in regard to these works, and report to next meeting of the Council, meanwhile the work might be put in hand, and the cost charged to a separate account. WHEATSTONE DRAIN. It was decided to call for tenders for the work of clearing out the Wheatstone main drain. PROPOSED SERVICE BRIDGES OVER THE RANGITATA. A petition signed by about eight farmers and sheep-dealers was presented. It prayed for the erection of two bridges over the Eangitata alongside the existing railway bridges, so that sheep could be driven over them, and thus save the trouble and danger attending tho system farmers are compelled to adopt at present of driving the sheep through the river. On the motion of Mr Bullock, it was decided to receive the petition, to communicate with the Geraldino County Council, to ascertain what proportion of the cost that body is willing to bear, and also with the several Eoad Boards interested. The petition stated that a Government engineer had estimated the bridges' cost at £llsO. SHEEP TAX. It was resolved to apjjiy to Government to reduce the tax for the inspection of sheep to such an amount as should be sufficient to cover the necessary expenses of the department. DEPUTATION. The Mayor of Ashburton waited on the Council, calling attention to the encroachment of the river above the township, and suggested that the County Council, as. a Board of Conservators, should undertake the ..work of protection at the point of danger, the Borough of Ashburton contributing a portion of the cost, seeing that the work would tend to the protection of Borough property, as well as to the protection of many County ratepayers. The Chairman pointed out that a scheme of protection had been prepared by the Engineer, to cost about £6OO, and means would have to be taken to raise the necessary funds. Mr Friedlander said some steps would soon have to be taken to protect the Toad from the river, as the stream was steadily coming towards the main road to Alford Forest. When that road became affected, it would be necessary to buy land to replace it. Mr M'Farlane said when that road went, the Woollen Factory would also go. (Laughter.) Ultimately it was decided—" That the Borough Council contribute half-cost of the work as estimated by the Council's Engineer (£7O), and the Council will proceed with the work at once." LOCAL GOVERNMENT. Mr Julian Jackson moved the resolution of which he had given notice at last meeting. They were now reaching a period in the County's history when two rating powers would bear hardly upon the hardworking members of the agricultural community. He thought the Eoad Boards were the most suitable bodies to exercise the powers of local government in the County. Mr E. G. Wright was not with Mr Jackson on the subject of the Eoad Boards. He allowed to the Eoad Boards all the credit they deserved, but he contended that there were many works to be undertaken and many subjects to be considered with which the Eoad Boards would be powerless to deal. He was of opinion that the public work of the County would be quite as efficiently, and certainly more cheaply, carried out by the County Council. Such works as the water-races, for instance, would have to be managed by a central body, and there were many other duties to be performed by such a body that the Eoad Boards could not undertake. The Chairman said the time had not come yet, he thought, for dealing with the question of abolishing either the Eoad Boards or the County Council. It would be time to consider the matter when the ratepayers requested the question to be considered in proper form. As yet the only sign of agitation had been shown at Methven, and it was, he fancied, rather ungrateful on the part of the Methven people to do this. (Laughter.) It was the County Council who gave the Methven people the new sensation of paying ,a rate. No rates were paid by the Methven people until the County rate was asked for. The Mount Hutt Eoad District levied ro rates, the district did not care a snuff for the railway rate, and now it was ungrateful enough to raise an agitation against the Council. After some further discussion, the resolution was lost on the casting vote of the Chairman, who remarked that though nobody was opposed to economy, it would be wiser to bring forward a more definite motion than the one now disposed of, which ran as follows :—" That the Council take into considei'ation the necessity that exists for more economical local government in future." ■ PAYMENTS. Several accounts were passed for payment. Some other minor matters were disposed of, and the Council adjourned. After the ordinary meeting, the annual financial meeting was held, and the Chairman duly authorised to sign the balancesheet.