GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 7064, 9 February 1893, Page 3

GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Geraldine County Council was held to-day. Present—Messrs W. Balfour (chairman), J.. M. Barker, M. Quinn, W. B. Howell, J, Talbot. BRIDGES. Mr A. Mee, representing the deputation which waited on the Council last month, interviewed the Council again, and apologised for the absence of Mr Orbell, who was to have accompanied him. Mr Mee, for the benefit of members who were not present at the previous meeting, repeated the leading facts and arguments in favour of a diversion of the river Tengawai under the traffic bridge at the Point. The stock bridge, be argued, was not a good stack bridge, and at any rate, was not intended for every day use but only for times of flood. Twenty four hours rain would stop all wheel traffic, and having to cross the river with its narrow gutter must reduce every load of wheat by five bags. There was the bridge, and those who wanted to use it could not understand why they should have to ford the river with all their produce when it could be turned under the bridge for a small sum. There was no doubt about the efficiency of diverting fences. (Mr Barker: You want the works two miles up ?) They did not care where the works were put. They did not want to fix the site of the works, they had nothing whatever to do with protecting properly, what they wanted was get the water put under the bridge that was standing there high and dry ; the council should put the works where they would be beet for the purpose of diverting the river. Mr Howell felt himself in a difficulty, as representing those directly interested and those interested only as payors of rates. He did not think there was much in the argument that the traffic really required the diversion. Many other places were in as bad a condition. There was nothing in the reference to the Upper Waitohi traffic because the people there would go round by the Temuka bridge if the rivers wore up. The grain carting season did not last long, and people always waited a few days till the rivers went down. He had never known grain go down to the bridge to avoid the upper ford. But he wont on the engineer’s report that the country side was in danger, and he would on that ground move that £250 be expended, as an experiment in turning the water under the bridge, and as a means of saving property below. Mr Talbot could not see that any fresh light had been thrown upon the matter by the new deputation. They did not seem to have much to go upon, as they bad a bridge of some sort the whole width of the riverbed ; it was not a bad river, and no one would think of putting one there if there was not one. If they could turn the river permanently for £260 there would be something in it, but there could be no certainty about it. He could not separate the scheme for protecting property from this, and the proper course was to form a river board. Mr Howell believed the work would be effective for a time, but ho doubted whether it could be permanently effective. Mr Talbot feared the river would get back if they gave it any room at all, Mr Mee was quite impatient with Mr Talbot for harping upon the site for the works at a mile and a half up. The deputation did not care where the works were put And it was no use talking about a river board as there was no one to make a board. Mr Barker said it was a pity this energy was not expended before the stock bridge was erected.

Mr Mce replied that when the stock bridge was built the river ran wholly under the traffic bridge, and the stock bridge was put up for convenience in times of flood. The river had shifted and gone under the stock bridge since this was erected. Why did the Council take ov-"r the bridge if they did not intend to maintain it ? they had better have left it with the Levels Eoad Board, who at all events would not have built such a useless thing as that stock bridge. Mr Quinn wondered why the Council had not beard anything of this demand until after people had begun protecting property up there.

Mr Meo explained that it was not the protection of property, but seeing the success of the diverting fences, that inspired the deputations, When they saw how easily the river could be diverted by those fences they made up their mind to demand a diversion. Mr Talbot said Mr Mee made the beet or his case, but the bulk of the traffic went over the upper ford, showing that the bridge was no real necessity. The chairman spoke in favour of granting the demand, his principal argument being that the Levels district supplies half the rates and has a comparatively small share of bridge expenses. He did not agree that diverting fences were yet only experimental, j Of course if there were no bridge there the ' Council would not erect one, but there was the bridge and they were asked to make it available. Mr Howell said the river did not need a bridge at all except in time of flood, but Mr Mee did not agree with that. Mr Quinn had made inquiries among large farmers up there, and they told him they did not want any more money spent on the river. . _ _ , In reply to a question, Mr Marchant said the river could be diverted near the bridge, but then they could not be sure it would not get behind their works above, and if they went to the weak place above there would be room for it to get back again before reaching the bridge. To turn it above, however would be effective for some time, but they could not ensure permanency. After a discussion lasting about an hour in all, it was agreed to defer a decision till a full meeting is obtained (Mr McKay being absent), and agreed that it shall not now be dealt with except at a full meeting. A petition was received from settlers in the Orari-Bangitata district protesting against, a bridge being built on Bolleston’s road. The principal traffic was on the main road, and any bridge should be erected there.—Reply to be sent that the Council have come to no decision regarding the bridge, and before they do so the interests of the petitioners will be consulted. It was suggested that if a stock bridge is decided on, on® ooul([ be attached to the railway bridge. WATER RACES. A “ special order " was adopted, constituting the Four Peaks water supply district. The Waitohi Committee wrote asking to be relieved of the payment for engineering, which they did not require.—lt was explained that a moiety of the engineer’s salary was distributed among the water districts.—Mr Talbot supported the application on general grounds; the time must come when the districts must take full charge of the races, and if the engineer was not wanted the ratepayers would surely have a right to object to pay for him. Reports from the rangers were read. They reported a good deal of vegetation in the races, and neglect of cleaning by farmers, who were busy harvesting Mr Shaw, as chairman of a meeting of ratepayers, Geraldine Flat, repotted the election of a water race committee, Messrs A. Kelman, A. McKenzie, D. Shaw, R. Taylor, and J. Allan. It was resolved by the meeting that the council be asked to sanction the following scheme s —The committoe to appoint the ranger, fix his salary, and have authority to see that he keeps the races in good order to their satisfaction ; the Council to levy and collect rates sufficient to pay the ranger’s salory and other reasonable and necessary expenses. Mr Talbot spoke in favour of the, general adoption of a scheme of this kind, taking the Waitohi committee as an example, and gradually giving more power. It was decided to hold over the Geraldine

I letter for a month, and Mr Talbot promised j 1 to draft a scheme for general adoption. The question of liability for payment of “ maintenance " rates by persons who have a natural water supply Was brought up, and the engineer was instructed to go round and assess the arears exempted :by the new Act. Accounts amounting to £l6lßs 6d for work done in clearing races on Geraldine Flat (which ought to have bsen done by ratepayers) were ordered to be sent to (he ratepayers concerned. inSOHLAKHHOFS. The chairman and secretary were instructed to lodge an objection against the borough valuation of the offices. The tender of D. 8. Pearce for lease of 8 acres of land at the Waitohi headworks, at 10s per acre per annum, was accepted. The Council then rose.