GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL

Temuka Leader, Issue 280, 12 August 1880, Page 2

GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL

The usual monthly meeting of this Council took place in the Council Rooms, Timaru, on Tuesday last, at 11 a.m. Present—Messrs C. G. Tripp (Chairman,) Hardcastle, Acton, Clulee, Mendelson, Wilson and Sealey. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed

A mass of correspondence was read, viz., from the Colonial Secretary, Chairman Ashburlon County Council, Resident Magistrate, Timaru, and a number of others. Correspondence from the Colonial Secretary with lefereuce to certain claims put forward by the Government for reimbursement of monies paid on behalf of tho Timaru Hospital were discussed, and repudiation of same expressed by members of Council, on the ground that, as the Council had no claim to Colonial funds or any subsidies due before 30th June last, it was not liable for debts.

Some discussion look place regarding the liceuirng of hawkers a d pedlars. Ci'.imately it was resolved to write to tho neighbouring County Councils to learn if they imposed a license on hawkers and pedlers.

Mr Wilson having given notice of motion to the effect that he would propose that a rate be levied, now moved that a rate of sixpenco in the £ be struck on all ratable properly within the County of Geraidine, the same to be payable on or before the Ist November next. Mr Wilson said that he had been twitted with the statement that the ratepayers iu the Levels Hiding and other part* of the country were opposed to the rate. He could onyl say, iu reply, that ho held in his hand two petitions, each signed by about a hundred ratepayers, chiefly residents iu the Levels Riding, and this only the work of lit le more than one day. The destruction of property and the danger to life is so great that the cry for a bridge has become universal He stated that he and Mr Mendelson interviewed the Temuka Road Board with the vicv of ascertaining how much that Board would grant to assist in building the bridge, and on what conditions they would carry out the work. He regretted to say the Board had not acted so libeially as they expected. The mem" bers had express. t\ their willing''ess to advance the money and carry out the work, on condition that the C unry Con ncil repay the whole sum less £looo—in five years, with current interest added. He was not weddel ton rate, and if any other member of the Council could produce any other feasible plan for erecting the bridge he would gladly fall in with it, but the bridge we must have, even if we have to impose a rate. He had, however made the amount as small as possible He was aware sixpence in tin £ would not build the bridge ; but it would be uine to" twelve months perhaps before the work was finished, when another sixpence in the £ could be imposed, provided no money comes into the Council's hands from other sources He begged to propose the resolution Mr Sealy seconded the motion pro forma

MrMendelson moved, as an amendment the followiug .— c That the Temuka Road Board having offered to advance the money to construct the bridge, on condi tion that the Council repay the whole sum (less L 1000) in yearly instalments, with interest, spreading over live years, the Board's offer be accepted." Mr Acton seconded the amendment pro

forma Mr Mendelson admitted the necessity of the bridge, but said rating is objectionable at the present time, and would beg to move that the Standing Orders be tmspendedfor three hours in order that the Council may legally decide to accept this offer He admitted that a rate wou'd bo but the time for imposing it could put oif Mr Actou could see no necessity for suspending the Stauding Orders He objected to a rate in these hard times when people were so heavily rated already, and qe had no proof that the ratepayers who signed these petitions anticipated a rate. Moreover, sixpence in the £ would only bring in some L4OOO, which would not build the bridge Mr Clulee said he must oppose the resolution on the same grounds as Mr Acton. He could not support a motion for a rate.

Mr Sealy would prefer a small rate to borrowing the money from the Road Board The annual payment of principal and in-

terest would come very heavy, and could not be met without a rate. He would pre fer rating at once to involving the Council in debt, and, as the bridge is an urgent necessity, he would support the resolu tion.

Mr Tripp (Chairman) said he would •support the resolution. He did not tpprove of going a-begging from any Road Board. The -bridge is a. necessity, and why not rate for it and other requirements as well, such as for the Hospital debt. vfe could not get out of rating sooner or 'ater, and he thought it as well to do ic now. He would support the resolution.

Mr Wilson vvishel to say a few words in reply. He had been told that a6d rate would not build the bridge. He was not needing to be told that, but if he had proposed a Is rati;, it would at once be denounced. It did not bear so hard upon the ratepayers to divide it, and he had moved accordingly. As regards the expressions of so great a sympathy for the poor oppressed ratepayers, he would like to ask these sympathisers—Messrs Clulee and Acton—how much the Mount Cook riding paid in rates ; how much the Mt. Peel riding paid in rates ; and how much the Geraldine ratepayers paid in rates. Did they pay any '? He would leave the sympathisers to answer. Regarding the ratepayers, who signed the petition, not ant 1 cipating a rate, he would just recall to their mind that his notice of motion that lie was to move for a rate being struck had been before the whole county for a month. Surely Mr Acton or Mr Clulee was not prepared to say that these rate payers who had signed tho petitions did not read the newspapers. He would not take up tho time of the Council longer bat allow the vote to bo taken.

Tho Chairman thoo put the when th-ee, voied for and throe against. Mr Harduantle moved a further amendment that a plan by Mr Shires for backing up the shingle by wooo .sheeting be adopted, a plan by Mr Shires for sumo being submitted. T>vo voted for the amendment.

Mr Acton moved tha application be made to tho railway authorities for them to extend the railway bridge to make it suitable for a traffic bridge, and the Coun cil would pay the expense. This amend ment was carried, five voting for it. Here some confusion took place, when the mover of the original resolution stated that the Chairman had neglected to formly declare tho resolution carried by his casting vote. Some misunderstanding evidently occurred here, the Chairman and one or two other* being of opinion that this motion or amendment put by Mr Acton only re ferred to the site of tho bridge, and not to the resolution or Mr Mendelson's amendment, the Chairman having so distinctly stated his approval o the resolution. At this stage of the proceedings Messrs Mendelson and Acton showed great uu willingness to ullow the resolution to be come- law. Mr Mendelson in par ticular declining to vote. At this stage it became plain that, as the proposer ami s conder of the amendment could not have their own way> they were determined that the supporters of the resolution should not, and began to talk as if no progress could be made with the bridge. Mr Wilson, the mover of the resolution, seeing the turn things were likely to take rather than jeopardise the work beiug carried out, desired, with the consent of the Council,to withdraw the motion'uiid sup port Mr Mendelson's amendment. This being agreed to, the amendment was carried, and tho Council hen adjourned till Wednesday, 7th September.