GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1479, 13 March 1886, Page 3

GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

An ordinary moeiing of the Geraldine County Council was held on Wednesday. Present—Messrs J. Talbot (Chairman), B. H. Postlethwaite, R. A. Barker, W, Moody, and B. Maokay. Mr F. W. Marchantj Engineer to the Council, was in attendance in connection with the water supply scheme. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed.

The Chairman made a rather lengthy statement regarding the waterworks proposals, and after some discussion it was resolved on . the motion of Mr Moody, seconded by Mr Barker—“ That the subject of taking land from the New Zealand Mortgage and Investment Association and other parties interested, fo the bead works of the Seadown race, be referred to arbitration, an arbitrator to be appointed by each party, and an umpire to be appointed by the arbitrators, whose decision shall be final. The Council is of opinion that this method is preferable to taking it under the Public Works Act. To be left open for fourteen days, and in case of no arrangement as to arbitration having been arrived at, the Engineer is instructed to take the necessary steps under the Public Works Act.” The Chairman stated that the residents in the Rangitata District were anxious to have their works carried out, but he did not think it advisable to go on until they had progressed further with those they were already engaged in. After a short discussion, it was moved by Mr Moody, seconded by Mr Barker, and carried—“ That the Rangitata water supply scheme be referred to the district again, in consequence of an alteration in the boundaries in the district necessitating the whole steps to be gone over again.” Mr Merchant, the Engineer, then retired. The Council granted the Geraldine Road Board the timber to repair a small bridge. Mr Robert Hammond was granted a slaughtering license, A letter was read from the Colonial Treasurer informing the Council that £912 15s 2d had been placed to their credit, as share of the subsidies due to local bodies. The following were the amounts for the various road districts : Geraldine, £lB7 10s; Levels, £375 \ Mount Peel, £lB3 19s 2d; Terpuka, £216 6s, The Hospital and Charitable Aid was apportioned as follows Revels, £226 8s 7d j Geraldine, £57 14s, The Chairman said he had forwarded the amount received, to the Secretary of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. The Chairman said that the valuation rolls had not been deposited with the Council, b»t with the Road Boards. He had thought it advisable thaj; the jjbopld |ep these rolls, and he bad sent a telegram to Mr Sperrey, who replied that the rolls would be sent provided they were not kept inore than two days. They had bspn received and he (the Chairman) had jpadp a Careful popiparispp of fhe values, fie quoted figures to show that the latest evaluation was about 5 per cent I pas average per apre. fie thought'that flip inform**: fipn showed that flie Geraldine valuations were not fairly adjusted. He considered that Geraldine was valued at least 10 per cent, less than Temuka, and instanced where laud of equal worth was differently valued. He did not know that there was a great deu| to be dpnp ia (die matter, huf itrhas upsatie|iic|pory to the Couuci 1 , as it sas under these valuations they struck their'ratpi—The subject dropped after a ghorf discussion, Mr Moody brought up the subject of the desirability of a stockbridge of the Opihi, which was much needed and would give a through line to the Mackenzie Country, but the question was postponed till next meeting.

Accounts amounting to £6OO were passed for payment. This being all the ordinary business, a Special Meeting was held, when it was —“ That the bridge over the Waihi river, near Geraldine be included in the By-law regulating weights of traction engines;” and further —“That the By-law regulating the passage of traction engines and loads drawn by them over certain bridges in the County epeci’ fied in the said By-law be adopted.” The meeting (hen terminated.