ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXV, Issue 7838, 19 April 1886, Page 6

ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL

A special meeting of the Ashburton County Council was held on Saturday; present—Messrs W. C. Walker (Chairman), Coster, Harper, M'Lean and Wright. BRIDGE BY-LAWS. The by-laws in connection with the Ashburton traffic bridge, adopted at a previous meeting, were confirmed. RAKAIA AUXILIARY WATER SUPPLY. Mr Coster moved— " That the time had arrived for taking a supply of water from theßakaia for the races near the beach between the Rakaia and Ashburton, and that this Council do now consider the question of finance for this purpose." The Engineer's report on the question of auxiliary water supply from the Rakaia river was read as follows:—Since I reported on this subject, about two years ago, the condition of the river-bed in the vicinity of South Rakaia has been somewhat altered through the action of successive floods, but a course is still open for an efficient scheme at a reasonable cost. I should now propose to lead out the supply at a lower level, and on an easier gradient, crossing the railway at the same point as before. The off-take would be about 25 chains north of slaughter-yard, and an earth-work channel would suffice. The excavations, however, would be of considerable depth, as the accompanying sections show. The head-work would consist of a strong groin, breast-work, and low weir, and if; any works were to be undertaken from this source, it would be highly advisable to put in the groin at least as soon as possible so as to secure the front of high terrace there and permanently guard the site of proposed channel. The planting of some strong willow stakes in that locality now would also prove very advantageous. I have traced on the map the general route of proposed channel all the way across to the Wakanui Creek district. The head-race would contain a supply of 12,000 gallons per minute, and be capable of supplying the existing races over the entire district between the proposed channel and the sea, represented by an area of about 82,000 acres, and 120 miles of water-races. The depth of cutting near the riverbed, and liability to sand-drift at one or two points, may cause a little additional expense in way of maintenance, but the great advantages to the area proposed to be served are so manifest that I should have no hesitation in recommending the adoption of this scheme. I beg to annex estimate of cost, amounting to £2IOO ss. This does not include land compensation nor fencing, as I should hope neither of these items would be necessary. Estimate of cost of auxiliary watersupply from Rakaia river near South Rakaia:— Headwork at inlet ... ... £550 0 0 Headrace to railway, including crossing ... ... GSO 0 0 Main channel, Rakaia to Wakanui 584 7 0 Road crossings 125 0 0 Add contingencies 10 per cent 190 18 0 £2IOO 5 0 Mr Cost3r said there could be no doubt that the completion of the scheme would confer very great advantages upon the settlers in an important part of the district. The only difficulty was the question of finance. He thought it would i not be fair to specially rate the settlers i benefited by this particular scheme for the cost of the work, as they had contributed a large share to the cost of similar under-, takings in the County. If the motion proposed were adopted, the Council could then discuss this and other features of the question. Mr Harper seconded the motion. Some desultory discussion followed with regard to the question generally, and especially with regard to the bearing the work might have upon any future scheme of irrigation. The motion was adopted. Mr Wright submitted that the cost of the undertaking should be a special charge upon the district benefited. The Council had exhausted its funds, and had carried out a fairly complete water supply. Speaking as the representative of the Longbeach division of the County, he could not consent to the proposed work being made a charge upon the whole district. Mr Coster dissented from Mr Wright's views. The water supply was not yet complete, and matters would be very much complicated if a special rate were to be struck for each local work to be undertaken. Mr Wright desired to learn how such districts as,the hills could have their interests looked after, seeing they required neither water supply, irrigation, nor drainage. It would be manifestly unfair to rate them for works from which they derived no advantage. Mr Coster said the.hills districts had derived but little benefit hitherto from the Council's expenditure, but the means of the County which had been expended had been chiefly derived from land fund, to which the plains mainly contributed. Mr Wright was of opinion that quite as much land fund came from the hills as from the plains. The proposal before the Council partook so largely of the nature of irrigation that it might almost be regarded as such, and it would be admitted that the charges for irrigation ought to be localised. The Chairman reminded members that the Counties Act Amendment Act provided that the rates should be expended m the ridings from which they were raised. When the Council cleared off its present overdraft, and started clear, so to speak, it would have to allocate the expenditure in each riding in proportion to the rates raised. The matter was deferred till next meeting. BOUNDARY ROAD. On the motion of Mr Wright a Committee, consisting of the Chairman, Messrs

Leadley and Coster, were appointed to" fix the contributions" to be respectively paid by the Eangitata and Coldstream Eoad districts for the maintenance of the part of the Main South road bounding the two districts. Messrs Wright and M'Lean announced that the Upper Ashburton and Coldstream Road Boards had made an amicable arrangement with regard to the boundary road. The Council then adjourned.