SELWYN COUNTY COUNCIL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5347, 27 August 1895, Page 3

SELWYN COUNTY COUNCIL.

THIS DAY. An ordinary meeting of the Selwyn County Council was held thiß morning ; present — Mr D. M'Millan (chairman), and Messrs H. W. Peryman, B< Westenra, J» Gough, W. Dnnlop, J. Rennie and George M'Haffie. The Chairman stated that the following correspondence had been reoeived since last meeting :— From Mr Wiffin resigning his seat oh the Counoil ; aho from the Re-turning-officer announcing the election of Mr G. M'Haffie for the Heathcote Ward. From the Minister of Publio Works, authorising the extension of the tramway along the Lincoln Road. The Inspector of Police wrote, stating that instructions had been given to enforce the registration of dogs. From the Avon Road Board, in reference to damage done to a culvert by. a traction engine. From the Rakaia and Riccarton Road Boards, applying for bonus for the destruction of small birds. From the Heathcote Road Board, applying for grants promised at last meeting. From the Springs Road Board, reporting damage to the bridge near Gebbie's Valley by the late floods. Reports would be laid on the table from the HalsweU Drainage Committee and Mr Rainey on the drainage of the Halswell; from Mr Chapman on the repairs to White's Bridge; as well aa reports from the^ inspector of slaughter^ houses and the inspector of plantations and water- races. The Chairman also stated that as requested by the Council, he had attended the County Council Conference at Wellington, and he laid on the table a copy of the business done. The conference was satisfied that the Local Government Bill would not pass into law thiß year, and consequently it did not take much trouble in the matter. Since then- the Bill had been circulated, and the _ Council had received a copy. Seeing that there was little probability of its passing, and as it was a lengthy Bill, he thought it was unnecessary to *go into it that day. Should further developments render it necessary, a special meeting could be held to consider the matter. The question of the damage to a culvert waa referred back to the Avon Road Board. Mr R. Rainey wrote, conveying resolutions passed at a publio meeting at Tai Tapu in connection with the Halswell drainage, which have already been published. The Ualswell Drainage Committee recommended — "That Mr Murray be empowered to employ someone to plant mar rem grass npon the embankment by the side of the canal where damaged by the recent floods. The committee consider the work should be done by the Government in pursuance of an undertaking given by the Commissioner of Lands when the lake lands were sold, but as the matter was urgent it authorised the work without prejudice." The report was adopted. Consideration of the matter of the damage to the bridge at M'Queen'a Lagoon was deferred for the present. It waß stated that the approaches in the meantime had been fenced off. The Council then proceeded to deal with water-race and plantation business-. Accounts to the amount of £914 ls were passed for payment. A deputation of seven, headed by Mr R. Rainey, waited upon the Conncil on Halswell drainage matters. Mr Rainey recapitulated what had been done at publio meetings held to consider the question. It had been suggested that anew drainage distriot should be deolared, but previous to anything being done in the matter it was decided that the deputation should wait upon the Council to see whether it would take action. The reason that the Council had been approached was because it was thought that it was a body with all the necessary 'machinery for carrying out the drainage of the low-lying lands, without the creation of a new body. They were not prepared to reoommend any scheme, but would simply ask what the Council was prepared to do. The Chairman pointed out that up to. the' present the Council had confined itself to clearing the River Halswell, and if a syßtem of drainage were to be undertaken it would be necessary to get the permission of the ratepayers to raise a loan for carrying out the work, and a special rate would have to be struck. It must reat with the people themselves to propose a scheme, and he thought the deputation should give the Counoil some idea of what was desired, whether dredging or merely keeping Jbhe present watercourses olear, and keeping the lake at as low a level aB possible. Mr Rainey aaid the deputation was of opinion that the watercourses should be deepened, and that some machinery shonld be devised for the eradication of the American weed with which the drains were, infested. These caused an accumulation of silt, which almost blooked the watercourses and caused the surounding land to be flooded. It was absolutely necessary that the bottom of the River Halswell Bhould be kept thoroughly clean, and this would allow of a certain amount of scour, which, if the weed were removed, would keep the waterway fairly clear. Some of the deputation suggested that a permanent contraot should be let for keeping the lake at alow level. After the matter had been thoroughly discussed, the Chairman said the Council was glad that the deputation had come, i He could assure them that the only I reason -why the Council had not taken ] the matter up in a thorough manner previously, was that from reports which had been obtained from experts, it had been found that any scheme, to be effective, was beyond the means at the disposal of the Counoil. He referred to a good deal of information which the Council had been at considerable expense to obtain, and suggested that at the adjourned public meeting Mr Mnrray should be present on behalf of the Council, and lay before those present all papers and reports bearing npon the drainage question. After further discussion, the deputation thanked the Conncil and withdrew. It was deoided to call for alternative tenders for clearing the River Halswell, and that Mr Murray should attend the meeting of Tai Tapu ratepayers and submit all the information in the possession of the Council as to the cost of drainage and dredging the Halswell district.

Atalanta Cycling Club. — The annual ball of the Ladies' Atalanta Cycling Club was held in Hobbs's Assembly Eoom^ laßt evening. There were about fifty couples present, and a very pleasant evening was spent, Mrs Stace acting as M.C. The music was supplied by Mr C. Fox's Quadrille Band, and Mr W. Edwards provided excellent refreshments. J