GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 263, 3 June 1880, Page 2

GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Gcr.Mine County Council was held yesterday. Present—Messrs ,H. J. Scaly (in the chair). E. Acton, G. F. Clulee, T. Hardcastle, J. Mendelson, and A. Wil son. Mr Sealy state 1 that he h«d received a letter from C, G. Tripp, the Chairman, regretting his absence on the ground of ill-health. MINUTES. The minutes of the last meeting were r oad and confirmed. SLAUGHTERHOUSES. A letter was read from Messrs White and Jameson, tiie Con m il’s Solicitors, giving an opinion on the question whether an unlicensed person could legally slaughter cattle on his own account u ion the premises of another person holding a license. They were of opinion, though Act was rather arobigous, that the poi son aud not the-premises was licensed in each case, and therefore that an unlicensed person could not legally use the premises of anyone else for slaughtering purposes, but were liable to be prosecuted for so doing. Five applications for new slaughtering licenses were granted, subject to the Inspector’s report. The Inspector reported that Messrs Osborn and Swandell were slaughtering on their own account without a license up n Mr Allpress’s premises, who held a license After some discussion, the following resolutions were passed : “That Mr AUpress be informed that he must not a'low any person, not being his paid servant, to slaughter cattle on the premises, unless duly licensed.” “That Messrs Osborne and Swand-11 ininformed that, in slaughtering rattle without a license, they are actimr illegally, and that they must take out a license at onoe.” In order to make the po-ition of the slaughtering licens- business more plain, Mr Wilson proposed, Mr Hardcastle s"conded, and it was carried—“ Tnat.at each meeting of the Council a table be prepared showing the number of licenses issued by the Council under the Act, the amount of fees paid and left unpaid, what returns had been sent in, and what not sent in.” DOG TAX.

The Inspector of Police notified that he had paid the sum of L 5, received for dog tax, to the Council’s credit. A communication from Government informed the Council that tin- appointments of dog tax c-illectors would appear ia the next Gazette.

Mr Sealcy sail he had, -is requ-sted by the Conn il, waited upon the Ch-rk of the Borough re the dog taxes collected by him, and he found that about LBS should come to the Council. SANITARY. Mr A'-tnn said he wished to make some remarks respecting some of the provisions of the Public Health Act, and tln-ir applicability to centres of population which contain a large number of inhabitants, such as Temuka, Winchester, and Pleasant Point. It was a disgraceful thing,lie thought, in a country naturally so healthy as 11 1 is, typhoid fever and diphtheria should spring np so,frequently as they do. After severely criticising the cesspool system, and the action of the inhabitants in using water from subterranean streams 12ft below the surface when the cesspools were five nr six feet deep, he said that even savages learned from experience that they must change their camp .Torn time to time, because the neighborhood in which they have long lived becomes poisoned and unfit for human life. He thought the Council should urge upon the Road Boards that they should take steps under the Public Health Act to amend the present wretched state of affairs. He did not expect to see his recommendation carried out at once, but he would move, as an initial step in the matter, “ That this Council desires to recommend to the Road Boards within the County the 42nd, 46th, and 49th clauses of The Public Health Act, 1876, having reason to believe that the more active exercise of the powers entrusted to Local Boards under the Act would conduce to the health and security of all persons residing near centres of population which are not boroughs, such as Geraldine, Pleasant Point, Winchester and Fairlie Creek.”

Mr Wilson said that the provisions of the Act were now prettj’ stric'ly applied at Temuka He quite agreed with what Mr Acton had said. The reckless system until la;eiy in vogue at Temuka had done a great deal of harm there, and must be equally harmful elsewhere.

Mr Mendelson said that unless the Council could put its hand into its pocket and help the Boards it had better not interfere. The Boards could do these things without the talk of the Council. It was a good recommendation, nevertheless.

Mr Acton repeated that carrying out the provisions referred ;o would not cost the Boards anything. They had simply

to make cleanh’nessobligatory on the part ofhousehoid6rs, and these must find the means in any way they thought proper. Mr Sealy pointed out that each Board would require an Inspector of Nuisances, which would be a source of expense. The Poad Boards, he was afraid, would not thank them for making such a recommendation. They were already inclined to resen* the interference of the Council, and would do so unless assistance were also given. If the recommendation weie given effect to, it would be difficult to draw the line between those centres that were to be dealt with and those that were not. A village of TOO souls might be dirtier and more unhealthy than one of the largest towns, and very often the smallest communities were the most careless about sanitary matters, and therefore the most dangerous to public health. A duster of five houses might form a prolific sour e of typhoid, diphtheria, other diseases. It would be very difficult to draw the lire in applying the provisions of the Act. and at any rate, unless the Council would be prepared to pay the inspectors, ho thought the"recommendation to the local Boards would be futile. Mr Clulee spoke briefly in favor of the motion They were moving in i good cause, and could afford even to be snubbed about it. _ , . The notion, seconded by Mr Hardcastle was then put and carried. ACCOUNTS. Accounts to the amount of L 73 19s Id were passed for payment, OPIHI BRIDGE, Mr Wilson gave notice that at the next meeting he would move that the Council take into consideration the state of the Opihi River, with a view to taking steps to have the unbridged portion of the river bridged without further delay. ADJOURNMENT. The Council then adjourned till the 6th July next.. TEMUKA ROAD BOARD. The above Board held its usual sitting on Tuesday. Present :—Messrs Talbot (< hair man), Quinn, Ensor, Barker, and Paterson. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed . DEPUTATIONS. Mr Lawson interviewed the Board re balance of poundage, and handed over certain monies for the sale of a horse, also re sundries for the pound. The Surveyor was ordered t > see to the matter, and the Poundkeeper ordered to get p' ‘tmd book. Mr Bisset interviewed the Board in reference to some claying that had been done on Stewart’s Road, and stated that the proper quantity had not been put on by the cr ntractor,and that the contractor began work on March 25 and finished on the 31st, and only had one dray at work, therefore he could not have put on the proper quantity. After the Surveyor’s explanation—which was directly opposite to Mr Bis sett’s version—the Board decided that Mr Pilhrow bo asked to see the work, and to make his report next Board day.

Mr Stewart waited on the Board, ami asked that a » reek which runs alongside ot his road, and partly on Ids land should be straightened by carrying it along the road, he being willing to pay half of the c-pt.

It was resolved that, if Mr Stewait do the work, and the Board consider that they are beaefitted by it, Mr Stewart to be recouped one half the cn-t. Mr Dickenson stated that if the Board insisted on his keeping the drain at the level indicated, it would be the means of stopping his mill. It was resolved that Mr Dickenson be informed that the Board is determined to protect their m ads, and to control all watercourses, hut so long as the roads are not matemlly damaged by the mill dam the Board will not insist on their order being carried out. Resolutions were passed as follows : That all nnshingled roads be sown with grass in the spr ng and autumn seasons; tnat a rate of 6d in the L be struck upon the rateable property in the district ; and that in future it be the Clerk of the Board’s duty to publish a copy of the minutes, and that nothing be suppressed without the order of the Board or its Chairman. Mr Barker said tli t a certain resolution passed at the Board’s last meeting had not been published. Mr Ensor said that the footbridge at Neall’s and one near McPherson’s old farm required a little attention. The Surveyor was instructed to survey them, and report next meeting. Mr Barker stated that a hole wanted attending t) near the Oraii Hotel.— Surveyor to see to it. Mr Barker requested that the Orari River rate be collected by tiie Board’s collector. —Request acceded to, M’r Quinn drew the attention of the Board to the necessity of a cheap "footbridge over the Kakahu, near Sharp’s— Surveyor ordered to view the proposed site, and to report as to the cost of a cheap style of-bridge suitable. Mr Quinn also stated that a footpath is n-edod from Ackroyd’s to the Park gate ; also one from Craig’s corner to Ewen’s road.—Tenders to be called. CORRESPONDENCE. Prom Mr Empson, respecting fords at Rangitata Surveyor ordered to get any necessary work done at a small expenditure . From Mr Bolton, asking that Board rates be payable at Mechanics’ Institute, instead of Board Office. —Request not acceded to.

From Mr A. L. Barker, requesting 28ft 9in drain pipes, to give access to Sections 10319 and 9750 across road drain*.—'Request granted. From Mr Davis, applying for drain pipes to be put in the creek on Ewen’s Bead.—Surveyor ordered to get the work done, it necessary.

From Mr Burke, re culvert opposite his place at Milford. —Ordered to be at-

tended to, the culvert to l>e altered as suggested by Overseer, and the road 1 drain deepened, and tenders to be called. From Mr John Braddick, asking for a, bridge over the Rangitata at the back of his land. —Overseer ordered to report on the same. From Mr W. Demuth, asking leave to cut willows from approach to Temuka Bridge.—Overseer to see into the case. TENDERS ACCEPTED The following tenders were accepted— No 30, Anderson and Latimer,Ll 5 19s; No 31, J. Mcßratney, 2s 6d per chain ; No 32, J. Langford, L2 19a. surveyor’s REPORT. I look the levels of the head and tail water, at the Milford Mill, as directed and found the difference to be ll TBft when the mill was not at work, and the water at its highest level in the dam ; and when the mill was at work, the tail water arose 7 inches leaving a difference of 10 feet 7 inches between the level of the head and tail waters. The height allowed him in his lease is 8 feet 9 inches, which would allow the clam to be lowered 1 foot 10 Inches. I thought it best not to take any further action in the matter, until it came before the Board again, for if the creek is lowered sufficient to drain the road and the adjoining land, I am afraid the mill could not work with its present wheel. 1 inspected the dam in the creek at Mr Hayhurst, as directed, and found the water about 6 feet above its natural level, he was putting in a new culvert at llv* time, and when that was completed. tin* Witter was lowered 4 feet 6 inches, and kept at that height for over a week, and at the end of that time it had made no difference to the height of water at the Sod Town bridge, and only 2 inches at the bridge near Ackroyd's ; therefore 1 am of opinion that the water cress and weeds is the cause of the crock being above its natural level, and that : f the darn was entirely removed it would not lower the water much, unless the creek was cleaned out.

There is a creek in Section 10329, which runs out of the Raupo Creek on to the Waitohi Road, and has the effect of flood ing it. I think it would be very desirab'e to erect an embankment at the head of it, and for about 3 chains along the Raupo Creek, so as to keep the water as much as possible off the road

I would alsoaskthe Board’sinstructions relative to raising the sides of the Upper Swamp Road, on the south side of .the bridge over the Ohapi Creek, as I believe in flood time the water runs out of the creek, and along the sides of the road to Scott’s

The drain on the west side of the canaf reserve requires cleaning out from Marshall’s Road to the Milford Road, as it is badly grown up with water cross. ADJOURNMENT. The Board then adjourned