COUNTY COUNCIL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume X, Issue 2373, 6 May 1891, Page 3

COUNTY COUNCIL.

A special meeting of the Ashburton County Council was held , to-day. Present—Messrs W. 0. Walker (chairman), H. Friedlander, D. Cameron, W. McMillan, lames Brown, C. J. Harper, and J. Grigg. An apology wan *cad for the absence of Mr E. G. Wright, j WATER SUPPLY BILL Mr E. G. Wright wrote forwarding copies of the Water Supply Bill, with latent amendments, for consideration of ifche Cojaneil The Bills were referred to the Water Supply Committee. B RACKS. Messrs John Lambie and R. Mulligan wrote complaining of laxity on the part of ranger Fawcett m enforcing the by-lawn m reg»rd to clearing the races. Mr £ambie stated that one part of the race had not been cleared out since it was made seven years ago. After some discussion, the following motions were passed;— Moved by Mr Brown—" That m all cases m which clearing of races has not been attended to by the occupier* the clearing be done by the Council at the occupiers' expense, m accordance with the by lairs." Seconded by Mr Cameron. Moved by Mr Friedlander—" That the Engineer's reprimand to Fawcett be approved of, and the ranger warned that, unless he pays more skrict attention to his work than hitherto, •his services will be dispensed with." Seconded by Mr Brown. TOISOMUf) .ORAIN. It was resolved to adopt the same ( mode of distribution of poisoned grain as was adopted last year. WATER CHARGES. Mr F. Amos wrote complaining of the amount of water rates he had to piy m proportion to the acreage of land he owned, and also the frontage of. race he had to keep clear. For eighty acre* pf holding he had to keep sixty chains of face clear. Discussion of the case was postponed uutil next ordinary meeting, at which a reaplution, now on the notice paper, and bearing on such cases, would be dealt with. KAKAIX CfORGJE BRIDGE AFFBOACHIS. The Mount Hutt Road Board wrote on the subject ci the approaches to the Rakaia Gorge Bridge, which were out of repair, and asking the Council to do the necessary work. It was decided <;hat " the letter be vt) r f erred back to the Road Board asking $bern tp show upon a tracing from what

point the Road Board wishes the Council to take control of th« approach, and also i thac the Engineer be requested to state ! for information of the Council what he fairly considers the app^ o ich. It was ; further decided to. enquire how the j Selwyn County Council interpret the 1 approach on the north side. MISCEILANfiOUS. It was left m the hands of Messrs Friedlander and Giigg, to draw up a reply to Mr Chapman, of Drayton, on subject of a water race asked for. A letter from the Lyttelton Borough Council re planting on their reserve leased by Mr D. Brick, was left m the hands of the Engineer. The Engineer was requested to make a report on the Mount Sovners tramway plant. CHARITABLE AID. The Secretary to the Charitable Aid Board wrote stating that the quota of con. tribution required from the Ash burton County was £909 11s 7d which was considerably lower than the average for the last seven years. It was resolved that the balance for ; the year ending March 31, 1891, be paid at next ordinary meeting. The Ma«fcerton Borough Council's petition to the House of Representatives praying for the severance of the Wairarapa and Wellington Charitable Aid district was read, and the Council decided to support, it, and sign and seal the petition. RANGBR3' SALARIES. Applications from two of the rangers for increase of salaries were not entertained. WATER CHARGES. A letter from Mr W. Jamieson, Wakanui, stated a grievance similar to that of Mr F. Amos, considered at an earlier period of the sitting. The matter was held over until next meeting. A similar applisation from William Stewart was also held over. [Left Sitting.]