Selwyn County Council.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5349, 30 June 1885, Page 3

Selwyn County Council.

i — «. — THIS DAY. The usual monthly meeting of the Selwyn County Council was held at 10.30 a.m. today in their new offices, High street} present—Messrs H. J. Mathias (Chairman), H. "ff. Peryman, P. Jones, R. Westenra, W. Dunlop, J. Bennie, and J. D. Enys. The action of the Committee appointed to obtain new offices was approved. CHAIRMAN'S 6TATEMENT. The Chairman stated that correspondence had been received from the Tai Tapu and j Halswell Eoad Boards in reference to the maintenance of Dunford's Valley road ; from the Chief Surveyor, drawingattention to the necessity of sending him notice of any proposed alterations in re closing roads ; from the Minister of Lands, forwarding notioe of vesting certain gravel reserves in the Springs district in the Council. From the Colonial Secretary, acknowledging the receipt of the Council's letter, relating to the recent alteration of the Heathcote riding. From Mr M'Kelland, on behalf of occupiers of Government and educational reserves, relative to the present system of letting these reserves. From the County solicitor re "blowing" meat, and report from inspector of slaughterhouses; from the Springs Boad Board, stating that they had no information on the subject of dredges suitable for rivers t from the Courtenay Road Board, stating that they had voted .£lO for the Darfleld Domain Board. Tenders for the head works of the Waimakariri water-race would | be laid before the Council. A letter h_4 . been received from the Colonial Secretary, forwarding gazette notice of definition of the Hororata water-race. It would now > be necessary for the Counoil to petition the Governor to proclaim the vace under j section 50 of " Tho Counties Act Amend- ( ment Act, 1883." Letters had been received from the caretaker in reference to the by-laws of this race. Tho monthly report of the Overseer of the Malvern water-race would be kid before the meeting, and also a letter from the East Malvern Eoad Board, asking the Council

to make a culvezfe; over the creek at the West Coast road crossing. The Courtenay • Boad Board had rasked for a reply to the resolution passed . at a public meeting in : March last. Letters had been received ; from the Overseen of the Waireka water- < race and Mr G. Smith, relative to a claim ; by the latter for compensation. Mr K. Wilson had reported on the Selwyn Forks waterrace, and Mr D. M'Millan, M.H.R., had forwarded copies of local Government Bills. The HalsweU Road Board had applied for a grant of .£250 in aid of maintaining the Lincoln road. Accounts showing the distribution of the -revenue for the last year had been prepared and supplied tomembers. The Riccarton Road Board had reported that the Styx bridge on the North road was unsafe, and required re-building. They had also sent alternative plans for the same. The replies from the Road Boards to circular addressed to them on the subject of the small birds nuisance, would be laid before the Council. DUNF*SBD'B VALLEY ROAD. Correspondence from the Tai Tapu and Hals ivell Road. Boards, asking the Council to settle the matter in dispute between them as to the maintenance of the Dunford's Valley road, was referred to the Roads Committee to .report at next meeting- i &"_A_GHTER-HOUSES. ; The repon. of the Inspeotorof Slaughterhouses stated that no applications for slaughter-house licenses had been received, j The slaughter-houses within the County were in, satisfactory condition. An opinion was read from the County J Solicitor,, to the effect that the Counties' j Act gprV-r? no power to the Council to "make j a by-law prohibiting the practice of "blowing" meat in the slaughter-houses. I Mr Joynt suggested that the proper place j fore siach a law would be in the Police;, Offences Act, as then it would be of general j application, and not confined to any parti- : cular county. ' The Council decided to forward a copy of

Mr Joynt's opinion to Mr M'MiOan, M.H.R., with a request that he would endeavour to have the suggestion carried ov,t. WATER RACES. Tenders were opened for the beadworks of the Waimakariri water race, and that of Mr J. Scanlan, at £419, for No. 1 contract (concrete work) and £.39 for No. 2 (iron pipes) was accepted, the Council reserving the right to dispense with a portion of the pipes if necessary. The Secretary was instructed to prepare a petition asking the Governor to proclaim the Hororata Water-raceunder the Counties Act Amendment A';t. - «• • The tender of Messrs Stuart and Fairbairn, £120, was accepted for eight mile 3 thirty chains of ihe Rakaia and Campbell's Water-race. In reference to a letter from Mr K. Wilson, it was decided that a charge for twelve months' supply of water should be levied on land through which the race's passed, whether the land were laid down in crop or in grass. "* Mr Rennie undertook to see the caretaker of the Hororata water-race in reference to the bylaws of the race. I On the motion of Mr J. D. Enys, seconded by Mr R. Westenra, Mr Wilson was instructed to prepare plans and specifications for the Bluff water-race, and that tenders should be called for the work, to be submitted to the next meeting of the Council. The application from the East Malvern Boad Board for a culvert on the West Coast road, was referred to the Water race Committee, It was decided to inform the Courtenay Road Board, with reference to the resolutions passed at a meeting of ratepayers, that the Council saw no objection to the publication of an annual statement of receipts and expenditure on the waterraces, but that they did not agree with.the proposals that the ratepayers should determine whether any additional rate should be levied, and that local bodies should have control of the races. On the motion of Mr Peryman, it was decided to offer the sum of £5 to Mr G. Smith as compensation for land taken for water-race purposes. LINCOLN ROAD. The application from the Halswell Road Board, for a grant in aid of the maintenance Of the Lincoln road, was referred to the Finance Committee to report as to the amount of funds likely to be available. STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS. The statement of accounts, showing the distribution of revenue, was referred to the Finance Committee. STYX BRIDGE. . The plans for the proposed bridge o*v*c-r the Styx were referred to the Avon Road Board for their opinion. STOATS AND "WEASELS. The Chairman read a summary of the replies received from various Road Boards to circular of the Council as to the introduction of stoats and weasels, and also on the small birds nuisance. Most of the Boards objected to the stoats and weasels, and were of opinion that more concerted action was required for dealing with the small birds, which were generally on the increase. LOCAL GOVERNMENT. . The Chairman read a letter from Mr M'Millan, M.H.R., enclosing copies of the Local Government Bills brought forward by Government. Mr Jones moved — " That this Council adjourn to Tuesday next to consider the Local Government Bills." Mr Peryman seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Accounts amounting to £946 12s lOd were passed for payment. NOTICES OF MOTION. The following notices of motion for next meeting were given : — Me --Jennie— " That 'the sum of £500, set apart for the conservation of the Selwyn river, together with the accrued interest, be applied to the construction of waterraces within the Ellesmere district." Mr Dunlop — "That this Council grant j £1 for every £1 raised locally by the Road f Boards in the County for the suppression of i the Bmall birds nuisance." The Council then adjourned to July 7, at 10.80 a.m.