SELWYN COUNTY COUNCIL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6197, 27 March 1888, Page 2

SELWYN COUNTY COUNCIL.

♦ The Sftlwyn County Council held an ordinary meeting this forenoon ; present — Mr D. M'Millan (Chairman), and Messrs P. Jones, K. Weatenra, W. Dunlop, H. W. Peryman, J. G. Murray, W. Boag, J. Einnie, and T. H. Anson. chairman's statement. The following was the Chairman's statement :— " The correspondence received since last meeting is as follows :— Circular from the Mines Department relative to the payment of subsidies towards the cost of roads on goldfields; letter from the Property tar Commissioner, relative to the subsidy payable to the County ; letters from the Eiccarton Lake Coleridge, and Upper "Waimakariri Koad Boards on the subject of California^ thistles growing on roads and public reserves; letters from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals asking if the Council has any objection to the Inspector of Slaughterhouses being asked to act as Hon Inspector for the Society; letters from the Eailway Engineer drawing attention to the state of the traffic bridge over the Selwyn ; letter from Sir John Hall, asking the Council's approval of his cultivating portions of the reserves leased to him in terms of his lease ; letter from the Colonial Treasurer, granting the additional loan applied for to complete the Eakaia water-races. Letter from Mr M'Donald and others, asking for a grant in aid of the cost of removing a clay bar in the Ll. Eiver. Eeport of the Inspector of Slaughter-houses, and three applications for licenses. The Committee appointed to visit the road from 'Whitecliffs to High Peak has submitted a report. Eeports from Mr Davieß and Mr "Wilson, relative to water-races under their charge. Letters from Messrs Eidgen and Adams, complaining of scarcity of water in the Greendale races, and Mr Davies' report thereon. Letter from Mr Watson, complaining Of Mr Davies 5 action in a recent prosecution, and Mr Davies' reply. Letter from Mr Francis in reference to the recent compensation claim of Mr Sheate. Letter from Messrs jlzard and Loughnan, stating that the Misses Hurt abandon their claim against the County for the present. A writ hag been served on the Council for damages in connection with the Hororata race. I have received a letter from the Commissioner of Crown Lands, and from j Mr Wilson, relative to supplying water to the lands sold on deferred payments at Hororata. Mr Seay asks permission to erect a water-wheel on the Malvern water-race to drive a chaff-cutter." ASHBURTON. \ The Chairman referred to the approaches i to the Bakaia Gorge Bridge, and eaid that a sum of over .£SOO was Jying to the credit ! iof the maintenance fund. He suggested j I that mo3t_of. this should be placed on

deposit, and asked leave to pay £Zd towards the recent expenditure. The fund was a special fund that could not be operated upon without the concurrence of the Chairmen of the Ashburton and Selwyn Councils. The proposal of the Chairman was agreed to. - dobbins' fobd. • ' A proposal from the Ferryman was left to Mr Kennie to dispose of. SUBSIDY. A letter from the Government was read, etating that the Courtenay and Biccarton wore the only Road Boards which had sent in a statement of the rates for 1887-8. Until the receipt of these no Bubsidy could be sent. The Chairman said Mr Jameson had sent a reminder to the various Boad Boards, and had been informed that in the majority of cases- the information had. been sent long: ago. In one instance the subsidy had been actually received. - ; CAMFOKNIAN THISTLS. The Riccarton Boad Board wrote stating that they had given instructions to have the Calif or man thistle eradicated wherever found on public lands. The Lake Coleridge Board wrote to the Bame, effect, and asked the Council to see that the. thistles growing on the reserves were destroyed. The Council decided to take the necessary ' steps. PREVENTION. OF CBTJBIiTT. The Council resolved to allow the Inspector of Slaughterhouses to act as Hon Inspector for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. BEIiWTN BRIDGE. The Secretary waß instructed to inform the Railway Department that they themselves had contributed to the weakening of the bridge, and that the Boad Board was attending to the matter as far bb the Board were concerned. RESERVE AT HORORATA. Permission was granted to Sir John Hall to deal with a section of the Plantation Reserve as he requested. . ELLESMEBE WATER RACE DIBTBICT. The Chairman said he had applied for an increase of 10 per cent on the previous loan. The Government had approved of the additional loan being granted. The Council approved of the action taken by the Chairman. . GKEENPABK. A letter was read, stating that a deputation from Greenpark were to wait upon the Council relative to the removal of a clay-bar in the LI river. They would ask for a grant in aid of the cost, which would be about £400. Mr Murray said the LI could be effectually treated, only, by dredging, as was the case with the Halswell. Mr Peryman said the clay-bar was a very hard one. The consideration of the matter was deferred until the deputation should have been heard. SLAUGHTERHOUSES. The Inspector reported favourably on the slaughterhouses. HIGH PEAK ROAD. The report of the Committee who had visited Whitecliffs was read. It recommended the work as one especially to be undertaken by the Government, and one on which the services of the unemployed might be utilised during the slack period of the labour market. . Mr F. Jones moved the adoption of the report. Mr Westenra in seconding it, said that he thought enquiries should be made as to the quantity of manganese that could be obtained, and as to its marketable value. The Chairman and others held that the road was one that must sooner or later be made. The report was adopted, and the Sedretary was instructed to forward a copy to the Minister of Public Works. WATER KACES. ' ' Mr Davies reported on the water races under his charge ; and forwarded a statement showing that he had received £291 12a rates. DEPUTATION. A deputation consisting of Messrs Carter, M'Donald and others waited upon the Council to ask for the removal of the clay bar in the LI river. The bar was in the Springs Road district. Subscriptions to the amount of £S6 had been collected, and the cost was estimated by the Board's Surveyor at £400. The Board had promised to give £ for £, and the deputation now asked for a grant from the Council. A large area of land was affected by the inundations caused by the bar. Formerly a lagoon had existed in the same place, but this had been done away with by the cutting of a drain which runs parallel with the river. The river was very shallow here. The deputation were of opinion that £300 would do all that was required. The promised subscriptions now amounted to £91, and the Boad Board was disposed to grant a little more than £100. The Boad Board would do .the work. The Chairman promised to send a reply to the deputation, who thanked the Council and withdrew. Mr Jones thought the cheapest plan for the petitioners to adopt would be their forming themselves into a separate special drainage district, and levying a rate on themselves. The Councillor referred the matter to the Springs Boad Board, Messrs Feryman and Murray in the meantime inspecting the district, to report to the Council at next meeting. WAIBTAKARIRI WATER- RACES. The following report was read :— . . "I have the honour to report that the Waimakariri waa in flood from March 11 to March 17. On March 16 and 17, the water was very high, and on tie night of March 16, the whole of the perforated cylinders. (14)/ except one, were : displaced and washed some distance down the river-bed. They have all been recovered at a cost of £2 2s, and placed on the groin at the head works, where I propose leaving them for the present. Oa Maroh. 17, when still a heavy pressure of water was on, I opened the sluice gates to see if much shingle would be thrown through the remaining cylinders into the race, and found that very little passed through. I have therefore supplied the race from the open end of the outside cylinder ever since, but have placed a temporary grating in front of it as a check to large bouldera passing through. The only time when I think much shingle would be led into the race would be when the river is actually rising. The gates are nearly closed, so that much harm could not be done. What shingle came through could be removed out of the race at a very trifling cost. I heg, therefore, to suggest tbafc the present plan be given a fair trial. If found not to answer, the cylinders could be replaced. The cost of leading the water back to the headworks from the main stream, recovering the cylinders, and fixing the grating has been. £11 Ids 3d. Speight and Firth, contractors for Contract 37, have finished their work, but I have nob ' passed it yet. I hive made out a voucher for the balance due them, and will hold over payment until the work is passed.— -I have, &c, , . "C. L. Davibs." The report was considered very satisfactory. Mr Anson thought there would now be no necessity for putting the cylinders in. The report was adopted. Mr Nunweek waited upon the Council with reference to the extension .o£ the district. The Chairman explained what was necessary to be done, and said he anticipated no difficulty. Mr Nunweek thanked the Council and withdrew. DRAINAGE OK THE HALSWELL. , Mr Murray moved— " That the Council take into consideration the best ni«ans to be adopted for improving the drainage of % the River Halswell drainage district." He thought that a dredge should he put upon the river, and a canal should be cut. This would take some years, and in the meantime the river would have to be treated as it has hitherto been. It would not do to neglect the river until a dredge could be obtained. Ho thought the Read iioaro Bhould contribute the necessary amount as hitherto. From ail he could b,fcar, Jhp Ball dredge-seemed to be the most suitable for the river, He suggested fchatijhe whole

affair be referred to a Special Committee to report to the next meeting of the Conncil. This course was adopted. HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID. Mr Jones moved — •• That a special meetIng of the Council be held on Wednesday, April 4 next, at half-past two o'clock, for the purpose of making a special order directing that the rates under the Hospital and Charitable Institution Act, 1885, shall be collected by the Road Boards and Town Boards -within the County." This waa agreed to, as was a further motion for a special meeting, to be held on Wednesday, April 18, at 2.30 p.m., for the purpose of making a rate on all the rateable property under the Eating Acts, 1876 and 1882, to provide for the payment of charitable aid, &o. Mr Danlop was opposed to any rate being levied on the whole County. Some districts would prefer to pay out of the general rate. Mr Jones said the levying of the rates had been staved off as long as possible, bnt there was really no choice in the matter. Sir Boag said that the Ktccarton Board had put 25 per cent oa their general rate thiß year. Mr Jones explained that where the rate could be paid out of the general rate it would. ACCOUNTS. Accounts to the amount of £672 18s 4d were passed for payment. This concluded the business.