COUNTY COUNCIL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXIX, Issue 9986, 15 March 1893, Page 3

COUNTY COUNCIL.

ASHBURTON. A special meeting of the Ashburton County Council was held at Ashburton yesterday to consider the Wakanui creek water supply; present—The Hon W. C. Walker (Chairman) and Messrs H. Friedlander, E. Q. Wright, D. Cameron, D. McMillan, E. Coster and John Grigg. Mr Wright said that the Council had tried to arrange this matter fairly between all parties, tut as soma of the settlers would not accept the terms offered, they would have to begin again and bring the matter under the Water Supply Act. Mefsrs Ledley, Cochrano, Wilson, Mills and ohonk waited upon the Council as a deputation from the Wakanui creek settlers. Mr Ledley presented a petition from the settlers agreeing to all the proposals of the Council regarding the Wakanui creek, except the , payment of an annual water rate. He said that the settlers were unanimously in favour of these-terms,, with the exception of Messrs Corbitt, Wilson and Brown, Mr Qrigg asked Mr Ledley what would be tho effect upon the minds of the objectors if the Council stopped the water altogether ? Mr Ledley said ho thought it would be a breach of faith, as the land owners had bought their land with the water running through it. Mr Pxiecllander asked Mr Ledley why they desired to be exempted from rates ? Mr Ledley said that —(1) They looked upon the creek as a main race. (2) That they had bought their land with the water running through it, and thought that they were entitled to the water. (3) That it was tho source of supply for hundreds of miles of other races. Taking Mr Baxter’s figures as their basis, he thought that the Council would have money enough to keep tho supply in order without any rates. Mr Wright said tho Wakanui Bottlers seemed to be of opinion that tboy were to be charged for the benefit of others. Tho Council had offered fair terms, and on account of a few malcontents the scheme could not be adopted. Tho Council would, therefore, have to proceed under the Water Supply Act. He would first like to ask the deputation whether tho settlers would be willing to have themselves constituted a separate district, and bear the whole expenses amongst themselves; would the settlers agree to an arrangement of this sorb ? Mr Ledley replied that he thought the settlers were reasonable men, and would put no obstacles in the woy of the Council. He did not think it would be necessary to make a now Water-race .district. They only objected to pay the annual rate, and would agree to all other proposals of the Council. Mr Wilson said he was nob one of the malcontents, hut he objected to paying for more water than he wanted. The water did him a considerable amount of damage. Mr Priodlander said as the Council was going to spend a largo sum in clearing the creek, the ratepayers might well forego their objection to the small annual charge of JSIO spread over a large district. If they would do so it would very much simplify the matter. Mr Grigg pointed out that the Council had been compelled to take action in the matter for the protection of the settlers. It had been threatened by certain land owners to stop the water altogether. It was for the protection of the settlers and for their interests that the Council had moved in the matter.

The members of the deputation agreed to Mr Priedlander’s suggestion. Mr Ladley ashed leave to withdraw the first petition, and substituted the following ; Wakanui, March 8, 1893. The Chairman Ashburton County Council.— Sir,™We, the undersigned ratepayers, interested in the Wakanui creek question, beg to notify the Council that we are prepared to hand over the creek to the control of the Council on the terms submitted to ue in the Council’s memorandum lately circulated amongst us, and to give all necessary facilities for the acquisition of the creek by the Council as set forth in that memorandum. Signed Thomas Travuvza, Joseph Choak, David Buttericb, J. Bonifant, Edwin Thomas, D. Williamson, George Lamb, S. Burnard, Y. Fitzgerald, G. W. Lodley, T. Wilson and John Cochrane.

Mr Ledley remarked that they had kept this petition as a card up their sleeve. They did not want to pay rates if they could avoid doing so, bat finding the Council would not accept their first terms they now wished to submit with a good grace, and would leave the matter in the Council's hands, as the settlers had full confidence in their acting fairly. * Mr Walker pointed out that the objections to the proposal were now very small, and if the mill-owners could be satisfactorily arranged with, he thought the matter could be easily settled. A letter was read from the solicitors of the mill-owners somewhat altering their terms. The letter was considered in detail, and many of the alterations suggested were not agreed to. Mr Wright proposed the following resolution :—“ That an advertisement bo inserted referring to the proposals of the Council set forth in a memorandum, stating tho names of the settlers who have signed, and intimating that unless the remaining settlers on the creek give their assent in writing on or before April 5 next, the Council will be compelled to constitute a separate water supply district under the Water Supply Act for the Wakanui Creek district, which will involve greater cost to the ratepayers.” Mr Coster seconded the motion, and it was carried. A letter was received from the Geraldine County Council, stating its willingness to bear its chare of the cost of the sheep bridge over the Kcngitata river. Mr Grigg proposed that the Railway Department be written to and asked to carry out the work. Mr Wright seconded the motion, and it was carried.