GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1180, 29 November 1883, Page 3

GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The statutory annual meeting of the Council was held in Timaru yesterday. Present—Messrs W. Moody, J. Talbot, J. G. McKerrow, J. Paterson, R. McKay and A. Sherratt. In the absence of Mr C. G. Tripp, late Chairman of the Council Mr F. W. Stubbs, Secretary, presided until the minutes had been read and a new Chair-man-appointed. He read the following letter from Mr Tripp resigning his office both as Member and as Chairman : "To the" Members of the Geraldine County Council. . " Gentlemen—l have placed the resignation of my seat in your Council in the hands of your clerk, as I am required to do under the 56th Clause of the Counties Act, 1876. , . : ■■ " You are required on the fourth Wednesday in November in every year to elect a Chairman, therefore my resignation now will be no inconvenience to the Council.;

" I resign my seat on account of the distance I live from Timaru. To catch the train at Orari I have a ride of about fourteen miles, and leave home shortly after six and cannot return till about half-past six of an evening. I have always regularly attended,, rain or fine. I find getting wet and my Jong journey after leaving the train is too much for me. I shall therefore hope a younger man may be found to do what I have done.

am Obliged to the Council for haying elected me for three consecutive years as their Chairman. I have always tried to act impartially and for the interests of the whole County. " It.is a great satisfaction to me that the settlement of the claim of the Ashburton County Council in regard to the Traffic Bridge is completed, and that you have power in.the Amended Counties Act of this year to carry out Water Races.,. I have'lately constructed a water race at my place of about two and a quarter miles, with a very simple and inexpensive bend work, which I shall be pleased to show to anyone, '? I: am sorry the ; Geraldine Council have lost a portion of the County by the severance of the Mount Cook riding into the McKerizie County. I think a large County can be of more service than a small district. However, as that has been done, I can't help thinking I shall assist in a further severence of the County owing to an injustice that is in contemplation to subsidise the Levels Road Board out of ratea collected in other Road

Board districts as proposed by Mr Clulee at a former meeting. This is neither fair nor just, considering that every penny the Council has had up to now (amounting to nearly £6000) has been expended in the Levels and Temuka districts, and it is further agreed to re-deck the old portion of the Temuka bridge at, I suppose, a cost of £15,000, to save the Temuka Road Hoard. Although Ldo not approve of small Counties (I would sooner see only two Counties in Canterbury, North and' Soutb) I shall assist in further subdividing the County sooner than see members allocating funds after such liberality to the Levels and Temuka Road Boards for such a purpose. "Thanking you, gentlemen, for the honor you have always done me by electing me as your Chairman year after year, and for overlooking my many defects, which shows me plainly that you thoroughly appreciate the way I have always worked for the good of the whole County, 1 have the honor to be, gentlemen, your obedient servant, "C. G. Tripp. " Orari Gorge, Woodbury, «• Nov. 8, 1883."

The Secretary also read a letter from the Mount Peel Road Board informing the Board that Mr R. McKay had been elected to fill the vacancy caused by the retirement of Mr Tripp. Proposed by Mr J. Talbot, seconded by Mr Moody, and carried unanimously—- " That this Council desire to express its regret at losing the services of Mr Tripp, and to recognise the ability and public spirit he has invariably displayed in the discharge of the duties appertaining to the Chairmanship of the Council." It was also unanimonsly resolved—- " That Mr McKerrow succeed to the Chairmanship of the Council." Mr McKerrow then took the chair, thanking the members of the Council for the honor they had done him. Correspondence was then read and considered :

from the Ashburton County Council, acknowledging cheque for £ISOO on account of the Rangitata traffic bridge. The report of Messrs F. W. Stubbs and J. Granger, on behalf of the Geraldine Council, on the accounts in connection with the bridge was read. The report was adop'ed. '

From the Convent of the Sacred Hear!; in reply to a demand for County rates, urging a claim for exemption from rates. Not entertained.

From the Ashburton County Council, asking the Geraldine Council whether it would continue to contribute to the salary of the Rangitata ferryman.

The Council decided to discontinue its contributions. Messrs McKerrow and Talbot were elected to represent ihe Timaru High School on the Council, and returned thanks.

Mr Talbot proposed that the Council would refund certain moneys expended by the Temuka and Levels Road Boards in repairing the Opihi bridge after floods. He thought that if the Council paid for the Rangitata bridge, it ought not to grudge what he now asked.

Mr A. Sherratt warmly protested against any such allocation of moneys. Already abont £6OOO had been spent on these two ridings; and he was quite sure the Geraldine Road Board would, if subjected to injustice of this . kind, declare for a separate County. Mr Talbot said the case of the Geraldine Road Board and the other were not parallel. The Levels and Temuka Boards had contributed towards the Rangitata bridge much more than the others, and should they not thererore be recouped for the heavy expense they h»d been at in connection with the Opihi bridge ? Mr Sherratt said that was a very lame argument indeed. If the two favored districts had a richer estate the more shame for them to come to the Council for this payment. The matter was deferred till next meeting Mr Talbot urged that immediate steps should be taken to adjust financial matters between the Council and the newly-constituted County of McKenzie, but after some desultory argument the matter dropped. Proposed by Mr Moody, seconded by Mr Paterson and cprried—"That the Chairman, Mr Moody and Mr Talbot be appointed to arrange with Mr Meaeon for a survey of a similar kind to that prepared for the Waitohi district, for the districts near Orari and Rangitata, and also the Levels Plains, cost not to exceed £100."