GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 236, 21 February 1880, Page 2

GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

An adjaurm-d meeting of the Ger Mine County Council was held on Thursday in the Temuka Road Board Office. MEMBERS PRESENT. Mr C. G. Trinp (Chairman), and Messrs A. Wilson, T. Hardcastle, E. Acton, G. F. Clulee, J. Mfiidelaon, imd if. J. Sealy. MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. RETURN FROM KOAD BOARDS. Returns from the Mount Peel, Mount Conk, Temuk-, and Levels Road Boards were. read. Returns from the G rakline Board were not ho hand. The returns from the Mount P"ol Road Board were :—Hates for year 1871), nil; rates f>-r list fiv • year.-., £540 4s 2d ; subsidies for year 1879, nil ; of County Fund for 1*79, £832 5s lOd ; halan-e t-> credit on Hist De'wnbjr, 1879, £3B. . ; 08 lis; number of ratepayers, 81; valuation for 1880, none. From the Mount Cok il-vid B >n,rd : Bute?, none as yet ; sham o' County iMmd, 1870 12 por cent, £749s 3d ; 20 per cent of land sales, £2402 0s 5d ; Government subsidies, L 217 10 8d ; share of licence fees and land revenue, WO9 iw &1 : credit balance, December 3ist, 187J>. L 20,502 10s 0d ; : umber if ratepayers, 220 ; valuation for 1880, none. T , « , r» , From the Temuka Road Board :- Rates for 1879, L 417 is 4d ; rates for last five years, L 3733 18s; subsidies for 1879, L4IU4 30s 7d ; credit balance, December 31st. 1879, ' L 13,867 18s Od ; number of ratepayers, 400; valuation for 1880, L37,'451 15s. i „ , „ , , From the Levels Road Board-Rates for 1879 L 2656 !;> 5d ; rates from October, J 875! to December 31st, 1879, L 9075 2s2d ; subsidies for 1879, L 2327 3s Gd ; share County Fund, 1879, L 3659 18 ; credit balance December 31st, 1879, Ll4lß 7s lOd ; number of ratepayers, 903 ; valuation 1830, incomplete. It was resolved to makeanotheraprlicatiou to the Geraldine Road Board for returns to be furnished according to the Counties Act. A summary of the returns was ordered to be prepared before the next meeting of the Council, and also a statement ot the Council's present liabilities. Copies of the rate rolls of the Geraldine and Teinuka districts were laid on the table together with the claims for preparing them, L 8 8* and L's Gs respectively. SLAUGHTERHOUSES. A letter was read from the Colonial Sec retary's office, returning the copy of the Slaughterhouse Regulations, forwarded by the'Council, to have th-m signed and sealed as the law directed. Two reports were read from the inspector of Slaughterhouses. He recommended that slaughterhouse floors should be of concrete or stone flags, as being far better than wood. Except those at Fairlie Creek and Silverstream, lie had inspected all the slaughtering places in the County since the Council's last meeting. He said he had grext difficulty in obtaining weekly returns from the butchers. Ho desired to be authorised to inform the licensees distinctly that they were liable to a heavy fine for not complying with the law regarding returns. He had explained the law to most of them, but ho wanted the Council to support him. II was resolved to give tho Inspector the necessary authority. The regulations adopted at tho last meeting were read and confirmed. The Inspector was present, and asked the Council to define his relation to them. It' was believed that ho had no right to collect fees under the regulations framed by the Bench of Magistrates, as the Council had assumed tho functions of that Bench, and had decided to adopt fresh regulations. The Council agreed that until their own regulations were complete, those issued by the Bench were still in force, therefore fees could be collected under them by the Inspector. A draft form for returns was submitted by Mr Acton, and a c\ mniitteo was appointed to revise it, and to have printed a number of forms. It was also decided to have 200 copies of the Slaughterhouse Bye-laws printed for sale to tho public at Is Od each. STANDING ORDERS. Mr Wilson moved, Mr Clulee seconded, That the Standing Orders approved at the last meeting be continued, and a number of copies printed. RATES. Mr Wilson, in reply to Mr Sealy, stated that the question of rate 3 would ba better left alone, and he asked Mr Sealy if he could tell him how mui'h, if any, money had been raised by the Mount Cook Riding. DOG TAX. A letter was read from tho Col. Secretary's offi o, stating, in reply to a request of the Council, that the law did not provide for a delegation of the power of appointing collectors by the Council, and recommending the Council to nominate persons for appointment as collectors. It was resolved to endeavour to get the police to collect the tax. A letter was read from the Borough Council of Timaru, acknowledging the receipt of a request to refund registration fees of dogs belonging to owners residing in the County of Geraldine. The letter was referred to the Council's solicitor, with a copy of the request sent to the Borough Council. STOPPAGE OF ROADS. Papers, etc, relating to applications for the stoppage of roads in the Geraldine and Levels road district were received, and it was resolved that ; üblic notice Bhould be given that applications and objections to the proposals would bo considered at tho Council's next meeting

council's seal. An official seal was received from Fergusson and Mitchell, aud approved ; price of seal, £7 2s 6d. The seal was ordered to be used only in the presence of the Chairman, or two other membors of the Council. PTJKAKI BRIDGE. A letter was read from the Mount Cook Road Board, asking whether the Council would undertake to build a bridge over the Pukaki, stating that the bridge was necessary, as the punt was being worked at considerable loss, and must on that account be discontinued. Afte.i a desultory discussion, a motion was passed, informing the Bo«.rd (hat the Council, being badly off for funds, the question must be left over for future coni ideration.

TIMAKTJ HOSPITAL. Mr Sealy had been requested by t! a Chairman of the Timaru Hospital Oommiamissioners to inform the Council that it was intended to eiihrge the Timaru Hospital, and that they had not sufficient cash in hand for the purpose. About LoOO whs wanted, and, as Government would give £ for £ contributed to the work, it was suggested that the Council should give £250, and Government would give an equal amount. x\fter Mr Acton had expressed his mmd on the subject, the matter was held over for future consideration. A letter was rea'i from the Colonial S -c----retary, enclosing three copies of u Bdl to provide for the management of hospitals, which were not passed last session, through presento of business. The Government intending to bring it forward again,_ would be glad to receive from local bodies any suggestions for amendments or additions.

FINANCIAL. The Chairman read a telegram from the Government, asking what Bank the Council intended to keep their account. To this he had replied that the Council had not yet decided upon any Bank, but in the meantime would keep it in the Bank of New Zealand, the manager of which lie had also written to, informing him of what lie had written to the G jvernment. A letter was road from the manager of the Bank of New Zealand, slating that no moi.ey had yet been paid in to the Council's credit, at Teinuka, but that the advance of L2OO asked for from Government would arrive in a day or two.

PLACE OF MEETING. The meeting was then formed into a special one to consider the following resolution : —•' That a special meeting of the Council he held on Thursday, February 19th, to take into consideration tho advisability of rescinding a resolution passed on the 4th January, 1877, as to place of holding tho Council's meeting." Proposed by Mr Clulee, seconded by Mr Sealy, "That the resolution passed by the Geraldine County Council in reference to it-* meetings being held in Temuka. be rescinded, and that in future tho meetings be held in Timaru." In bringing forward the motion, Mr Clnlee said that since last meeting a change had beau made in the railway time table, which furnished another argument for changing the place of meeting, a 3 members living in Timaru must either teave by the 730 train,or hire a trap, whils members living in Temuka could goto Timaru by the 9"30 train, and return at a reasonable time.

An objection was raised by Mr Mendelson, who said there was no notice of mo tion to rescind the resolution, but only a resolution to hold a spocial meeting to consider the advisability of rescinding the resolution. All that could be done that day was to take the matter into consideration. Mr Clulee ought to have given notice of motionjto resein-1, but he not do so. Mr Clulee said his proposition amounted to a notice of motion to rescind the resolution, and it was so understood by the Council. The question did not require consideration,as it had been well discussed before. The resolution he. now moved was perfectly in order, and they could proceed to do away, with the old, and tfx a new place of meeting wherever they pleased. - The Chairman said he saw no objection to Mr Clulee's resolution. Mr Mendelson said that as far as the resolution went they had made no progress whatever. Notice of such a motion was necessary, and no notice had been given. Mr Acton said notice of .motion was given to each Councillor by the Clerk. Mr Mendelson asked the Chairman if he was beaten on that point, what he considered a majority of the Council as required to rescind a resolution. Tne Standing orders to-day (Thursday) require that two-thirds of the Council sh ill bo in favor of rescinding a resolution. Mr Actou hold that the Standing Orders were not yet in operation, as xhey had to be ap).roved by tho Governor. Mr Mendelson said fchoy must bo held fo be in force as far as the Council was concerned. Others may say that they were not yet lan', bdfc having made them, the Councillors could not say so themselves. The Chairman said he-thought Mr Mendelson was wrong.

Mr Meci'elson said if that is the castit i 3 nonsense for aiy of thorn to slay here, but he would suggest that tlio matter be reform! to a sol.oitor. The Chairman then read the passages of the Counties Act which referred to the legislation of bye laws. The Standing Orders wore not in force until they Lad been published and approved by tho Governor. Mr Mendelson eaid that is tho laws for the public and not for us. Tho Council have accepted thorn for themselves. If we are ruled out of order wo havo no bye-laws. His objections to the resolution are that there is no notice of motion before us, and it requires five members to agree to rescinding a resolution. Tf he was ruled in the wrong the three of them who are likely to vote Against the resolution will protest against it. Mr Wilson protested against the resolution, and said that by clause 10 of the Counties Act the corporation body of tho county consisted not only of the Council but also of all ratepayers. They could not take the ratepayers to Timaru to form a full Council. Clause 21 referred to tho property of tho Council. There was no clause authorising- them to spend mon:y on buildings or otherwise out of the county Theywould-probably want buildings : they could not erect them in Timaru—out of the county. Clause 139 and 147 referred to the expenditure of monies, but they gave tho Council no power to spend money out of the county. Nothing had been shown to satisfy him that it would be advantageous to go to Timaru. It would not be more convenient for the majority of the membcrj. There was as convenient communication by post and telegraph at Temnka as Timaru, and equally good opportunities for obtaining suitable offices. If the meetings are taken to Timdru it would certainly lead to a division of the county, and the Council would be in the same position as was threatened last year, and if the meetings were taken to Geraldine, it would lead to tho same thing through any action of the southern Ridings, while, if they were allowed to be hold at Temuka the county would be consolidated. As for the Mount Cook Hiding, he considered it would be right for that Riding to separate, as their interests were not identical with those of the rest of the county. Looking at the whole apiait of the Counties Act, and tak-

en in connection with other Acts he thought that tae Council could not hold their meetings out side the county. Mr Clulce said that Mr Meudels<-n having been ruled out of order, Mr Wilson ought not lo refer to his statement. Mr Wilson said that the Chairman had not ruled him out of order, and he had a perfect right to refer to Mr Mendelstn'a statement, ar d he believed, notwithstanding the Chairman's ruling, that Mr Mendelson was quite and would inoue as an amendment, "That the Council's meetings be held, as hitherto, in T.muka." Mr Sealey said lie had pointed out previously that the bulk of the electors of the County wcie centered near "imam, and the returns received that day proved that he was correct. There was.9o3 ratepayers in the Levels ro-id district. 460 in Temuka, 220 in Mouut Cook, and 81 in the Mount Peel district. If there was anything in Mr Wilson's argument abqui moving the electors to Timarn it applied with far greater force against him. Last year the rates raised in the L< vols district amounto to L 2656. about six times_ as much as wa3 raised in the Temuka district Timaru was more centrally situated, ai.d more conveniently situated for tlm larger number of ratepayers add of members Tho argument that Temuka was a central' place was an absurd one. Geographicaly Fairlie Creek was nearly in the centre of ihe Coui.ty, and tivre was something to be p i ' in favour of holding the meetings a that place-. Thepo, u .tioii wasiapidly increasing there ; f r fairer than about Temuka or Geraldine, where population was at a standstill, if not decreasingt Mr Wilson's population argument fell to the ground completely. A large part of Timaru lay outside the Borough, and within the County of Geraldine, and a large number of the people of Timaru were ratepayers of the County. Mr Wilson had spoken of erecting buildings w thin the Borough. Tl.ere was no til :h qu«stieu before the Council, and it would be lime enough to deal with it when it did come before them,it was merely a question of renting offices, and this would ho much the same in both places. After trying it a year in Timaru, if it did not answer, they could take the opinion of the bulk of the ratepayers on the question of building (Hear, hear), and not rest ratified with the opinion af a small knot living close to a small place like Temuka. Mr Acton expected something good from Mr Wilson in support of his amendment, but he was disappointed with his arguments. It was an extraordinary thing for Mr Wilson to found an argument; on Section 10. The argument that if the Council moved to Timaru, it could not rush into huivy expenditure for buildings, was a very good argument in favor of moving t> Tiinaru, if it were true. Tho Council did not want to crock buildings, but if they did the Act certainly gave them power to build them where they chose.

Mr Hardcastle moved, and Mr Mendelson seconded a further amendment —That the Geraldine County Council's meetings be held in Geraldine. Mr Hardcastlo reminded the Chairman that at the first he said he preferred holding the meetings in Geraldine rather than Tui.aru. They could get the Geraldin) Road Board Office gratis, while in Timaru t ! iey would havo to pay for everything. According to tho Act, the meetings should be held in tho lounty, bo "he should vote for Gei •ildino. Mr Mendelson corroborated Mr llarelNStle's statement re the Ciiairm.m. Mr Seaiy pointed out with regard to holding tho meetings within the county th;.t th" Ashburton, Selwyn and Wakanui C"uu i s held their in boroughs outside their jespoctivo counties. xUr Wilson repeated his objection to h 'lding the meetings in Timaru, on the ground that the Council had not power to spend money there, "MrClulec said that Mr Wilson's chief arguments \vero based on the expenditure of money, though not a syllable had been uttered about buying land or erecting buildings. If the Council could not spend money in Timaru, that w;i3 the very place to go to.

The Chairman said ho wished to any a few words before putting the motion Ho had looked at this question, not from a ltoad Board point of view, but from a broad, a county point of view, and he hoped that while ho remained in the Council he should never give a selfish, narrow, contracted vote, but such as would show the peopl: that ho had studied tho matter carefully, and such as would give them some confidence in him. Yet ho knew it was probable that after voting «a ho was going to vote, ho would be called upon to resign. But the Councillors 'must not think only of themselves ; ihey should consider what was best for tho district. If tho meetings were held at Timaru, tho two members who lived there would be put to no trouble in travelling, and tho two Tomuka members would c;o to and from tho meetings most easily and comfoitably. Four of the members, therefore, might be considered to have the meetings close to their homes. The lato member for Mount Cook Hiding, who had to come from the Mackenzie Country, was obliged to travel several days in coming to, and returnieg from, meetings, and if tho railway were extended to Burke's Pass, a member residing in the Mackenzie Country would still be placed at a great disadvantage. But if tho meetings were held at Timaru, he wc uli be able t get back a portion of th way on the day of tho meeting, which h° could not do if the Council met at Temuka and he would be entirely cut ofl* if they met at Geraldine. He would say that Timaru was the best place for their meetings. There they would have a choice of offices, they would be near their solicitors, and near the Survey Office, and would havo all their business men close about them, and thus a vast amount of correspondence would be saved. Then when they came to let contracts—not like lioad Board contracts, for a few hundreds, but for thousands and, perhaps, tens of thousands of pounds—the gentlemen who would take such contracts would be men whose time was valuable, and who might live in Christchurch or Dunedin. These gentlemen could come to Timaru and transact their business and get away again. Time would be saved in every way. The only person who would be inconvienced was himself, as he lived so far away. He had been long accustomed to business, and never thought anything of trouble, and if he gave a little of his time to his country, it was a pleasure to do so. Mr Hardcastle had referred to a petition he (Mr Tripp) had received. He had received a petition, but it was signed by only 16 ratepayers of the Hiding ho represented, and by a number of persons whose names were

not on the Mount Peel roll, and which he therefore passed over with contempt. He would ask Mr Acfcon what he would say if a portion of the Mouut Peel ratepayers were to send him a requisition asking him, ti.e representative of the Levels Riding, to vote in a certain direction. Mr Acton said he should envy those who had so much time to waste on an unproductive work. A protest, signed by Messrs Mendelson, Wilson and Hardcastle, was theu handed to the Chairman, protesting against tho /' ruling of the Chairman that, four was a / majority of the whole Council - r Tlio amendments were then separatelyput and lost, Messrs Wilson, Hardcasie and Mendflson voting for them, and tho--Cjainnan, and Messrs Clulce, Acton an<L Sealy against them. The .anginal to hold the future meetings then put and carried, tho voting being""' reversed. MISCELLANEOUS. At the conclusion of the special meet- - ing, the adjourned meeting again resumed business. Mr Wilson proposed, and Mr Sealy seconded, that Mr Clulee he appointed treasurer.—Carried. Messrs White and Jameson were then appointed solicitors. The Bank of New Zealand, Timaru, was appointed the bank of the Council. Mr Wilson then proposed a vote of thanks to the Temuka Road Board for kindly granting the use of its offices, —■ Carried. A vote of thanks wss passed to the Chairman, and the meeting was adjourned till March 5, at 10 3) a.m. at Timaru