ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 8034, 6 December 1886, Page 3

ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

The usual monthly meeting of the Ashburton County Council was held on Friday; present—Messrs W. C. Walker, M.H.R. (Chairman), E. G. Wright, C. J. Harper, Donald M'Lean, E. S. Coster, Julian Jackson, and Q. W. Leadley. chairman’s statement. The Chairman made his usual statement, summarising the business he had done during the month, and that to be brought before the Council. engineer’s report. The Engineer’s repirt was read as follows : “ Plains Water Supply : With a view to augment the existing water supply in the Lower Bakaia district, I have, as requested by the Council, prepared a scheme which provides for the enlarging, to a greater or less extent, of 47 miles of the races which have a connection with the auxiliary water supply leading from the Ashburton river. I have prepared specifications for the works in nine contracts, tenders for which will be placed before you to-day. Theie will, besides, be some minor works, such as the enlarging of two or three small flumes, which can be best arranged as the works advance. There will also be a short connection required from El race in Mr Lyttelton’s B.S. 5821, at the point originally proposed to give the necessary supply for the recently formed races near the Bakaia river. These improvements should prove beneficial in ordinary seasons to a large tract of land east of the main line of railway, but in a very dry season, such as last, when a sufficiency of water was not available even from the North Ashburton river the benefit will not be so appreciable, and no auxiliary supply for that district can be held to be permanent except such as would connect with the Rakaia river. Proposed Auxiliary Supply from Wakanui Creek for Lower Wakanui and Seafield districts. —I have gone carefully into this question, and have levelled and staked off the route in accordance with line indicated on map. The offtake would be at the footbridge over creek at Mr Bullock’s house, and the course would be through rural sections 18126, 18151, 18041, and a small corner of 20618 joining the existing race P in rural section 23472, from the lower end of which it would pass through lower end of Fairfield property to supplement A race, thence along a line parallel with road to 81, with an extension to B race, near Charing Cross. Prom the offtake to P race the fall would be only 6ft per mile, the formation width over that length would be 6ft, and average depth a little over 2ft, From junction with P race

the channel would gradually contract to a formation width of 2£ft at lower end. The total cost of works, including sluice and sheeting at inlet, would'not exceed £l5O, assuming that there would be no claims for land compensation or severance, and I do not anticipate any difficulty on that score. This service would benefit the lower Wakauui and Seafield districts, precisely in a similar manner as the lower Bakaia district would be benefited by the service already reported on, but it would have this advantage, that the supply would be drawn from a source quite adjacent to the district, though it must not be overlooked that no benefit will accrue from it during a very dry season like the last, when the North Ashburton river falls towards its lower end. I might also state that far any experimental irrigation purpose this channel enlarged to some extent would be a convenient and cheap medium for conveying nearly all the surplus water from the creek to the adjoining dry land, and, perhaps, in nine years out of ten, would be available all the year over. I have examined the creek at points higher up than the proposed offtake, but there the ground northwards rises more rapidly, and is much Woken up with gullies, <te., so that while the expense would be greatly increased little or no advantage would be gained by placing the inlet at a higher level. Repairs: The repairs to Pudding Hill concrete channel are in progress, and, with suitable weather, will be finished in two or three days. Sandhills, Acton: With reference to the stoppages of E2 race from sand drifts, I have, as requested by the Council, carefully inspected the position there, along with the manager of the estate. I find he has taken vigorous measures to abate the evil by covering the affected portions with straw and bags, and sowing with broom, &c., besides fencing off these entirely from stock. The positions of these are sketched on the plan, and would, in extent, be about 80 acres and 20 acres respectively. When Mr Allen finishes the work he has in progress I do not think the water supply will be much affected. In about a fortnight he hopes to have all fairly secure; and meantime he is prepared to defray half the cost of clearing the drift out of the race if Council will defray other half. I would have no hesitation in recommending this arrangement, especially as the question of a deviation here would be expensive and inefficient, and such deviation would involve the withdrawal of the race entirely from the Acton property or the adjoining property of Mr White. Ashburton Bangitata Water Supply : This supply has been fairly kept up during the last month. Some of the settlers are doing a little towards the improvement of the races, but more effort will be necessary in this direction before efficiency is attained. Several fords are also being put in order. Tenders for enlarging 01 race will be placed before you to-day. Wood's Creek : As requested, I have inspected the course of this creek, and cannot find that any injury to the Wheatstone district arises from it, except where the artificial cut from it was made from lower end of Mr Wood’s farm to the gully. Here the channel would require to be deepened six or eight inches generally and well scoured and relief given at the ford, on which is a good deal of back-water at present. The cost should not exceed .£3, including small deviation where creek enters road line. Mr Wood is gradually clearing out the creek through his land so far as is necessary ; so also are Messrs Crow and Lysaght. On the latter section there were indications of recent overflow about ten chains up from Graham’s road, but this place is nowsecurely embanked, and gorse, &c., is bein g cleared oi t higher up the creek. I should not recommend any work except the clearing of the outlet. Painting : Tenders will be placed before you to-day for re-painting hand-rails, Taylor’s stream and Digby’s bridges, and also re-painting parts of Council’s buildings. Blackford-Eedcliffe road : As the interval between last meeting and this wasi shorter than usual, I was unable to complete the survey and section work for the remaining section of road at Terrible Gully. This is an intricate point, and will require to be carefully laid off. I hope to go there next week, and will have tenders ready for the Chairman’s acceptance about Dec. 20. Taylor’s Creek : The contractors are now just starting the work on the various lengths. Main Drain Level, Wakanui: The contractor is making fair progress, and should finish the earthwork and concrete by the end of this month. Boad Deviation, E.S. 20819 : The accompanying tracing shows the proposed deviation from the present site. The alteration would be a decided benefit to the Council if they can obtain control of the ground which would intervene between the road as proposed and the liver line, as it would give a desirable length and area of land in the vicinity of the headworks of the water supply, to secure an abundant supply under all the varying conditions of the river bed in that locality. Unemployed: The Minister of Public Works having extended the time till the 4th instant, the men have been employed at Wakanui Protective Work and South road, Tinwald, as before. With the exception of ballasting part of the bulwark, these repairs will be about completed to-morrow. The question of additional protective work below the bulwark is one which seems to demand attention, but the lengthening and additional works at present, say about 15 and 30 chains lower down would cost not less than ,£3OO. The settlers more immediately interested offer to find gorse and cartage at their own cost. THE ACTON EACES. The paragraph in the Engineer’s report dealing with the Sandhills, Acton, was agreed to, and the Council decided to give effect to his recommendation. wood’s ceeek. A petition was read from several ratepayers in the Waterton district re deepening and widening Wood’s creek. The Engineer dealt with the matter in his report, and made certain recommendations, which were agreed to and ordered to be carried out. BLACKFOED AND EOAD. The Engineer’s proposal re this road was adopted. THE “ UNEMPOYED, After considerable discussion, it was decided to grant an extension of time to the Wakanui Protective Works Committee to report, and, meanwhile, the Engineer’s report on the subject of the works being carried out by the “unemployed” would be referred to that Committee. Mr Leadley spoke in strong terms of the laziness displayed by the unemployed on the works, saying that one good man at seven shillings a day wages would he worth any four of the men there working. It was resolved that the Overseer at the works be informed of the statements made re the unemployed, and requested to explain. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting was held at noon, and Mr Walker was re-elected Chairman. PROPOSED TRAMWAY AT MOUNT SOMERS. A letter, written by Mr Walker, the Chairman, to Government, and one from certain ratepayers in the Mount Somers district—both on the subject of the proposed tramway from the coal measures and stone and lime quarries to the Mount Somers railway- —were read. Mr Peache waited on the Council to support the district’s application for a loan, and, after consideration, the application made by the Chairman was confirmed. irrigation. Mr Harper obtained leave to withdraw motion re subdivisions for irrigation purposes. IN COMMITTEE, The Council went into Committee, and on resuming reported the passage of the following :—“ That the County be divided into three districts for the purposes of water supply and irrigation, the first district to extend from the Bakaia to the North Branch of the Ashburton; the second

to comprise that part of the County between the North and South branches of the Ashburton, and the third to include the country lying between the south branch of the Ashburton and the Bangitata, the head works being quite distinct in each case.” “That the salaries of the waterrangers, one-third of the Engineer’s salary, and one-tenth of the Clerk’s salary and of the office expenses, be charged to the three water-race districts, in proportion to the number of miles in each district.” “ That the estimates for the forthcoming year be calculated on the above basis for each district, and that the Council at its next meeting, by resolution, levy a water charge in each district sufficient to cover the estimated expenditure in each district.” GOES* BURNING. It was decided to leave the matter of burning the gorse in the river beds in the hands of the Chairman to arrange. THE UNEMPLOYED. Mr Jackson asked leave to defer hia motion, given notice of at last' meeting, rt unemployed, and, in doing so, took sion to say that in Ashburton County alone, from careful calculations he had made, on data coming under his own observation, about 27,300 free meals were annually given by station-holders, farmers, contractors, &c., to men travelling in search of work or on that pretence. This amount of food represented about £I3OO. Leave was given. PAYMENTS. The usual accounts were passed. dobbin’s pobd. It was decided to continue the Dobbin’s ford subsidy for another year. MISCELLANEOUS. After a considerable amount of unimportant correspondence had been disposed of, TENDERS were accepted as follows :—One hundred dog collars, J. Haseltine, £2 14s 2d ; painting Taylor’s stream and Digby’s bridges, W. Innes, £ll 3s 4d and £l2 6s 8d; painting County Council offices and Secretary’s house, J. K. Chapman, £35; water races. Nos. 4, 5 and 9, Fawcett, £27 19s, £27 7s 6d, and £37 19s ; Nos. 1, 2 and 3, Griffin, £l4 17s 6d, £l3 2a 6d, and £l4l 7s 6d; Nos. 6, 7 and 8, Earnshaw, £lO, £l6 10s, and £l4 7s6d; O 4 race, J. Devery, la per chain. The Council then adjourned.