GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1674, 17 December 1887, Page 4

GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Geraldine County Council was held on Wednesday. Present Messrs Balfour (Chairman), Mackay, Howell, and Moore. A letter was read from Mr George Butler respecting the land taken from him for waterworks purposes, and requenting a settlement!"of the sarrie.^—Ttie imatter was explained by Mr Hoi well showing that the Secretary and Mr Ford had been deputed to attend to it.

Mr John Talbot (the late Chairman) had an interview with the Council |on different matters. He urged the question of redecking the Winchester bridge. The bridge was in a very bad state, and the engineer should certainly be asked to report on it. Tbe Temuka Road Board were at present interesting themselvei in the matter, and he believed they would bring it before the Council. The approaches were said to be in a very dangerous state, and though the bridge was not exactly a main one he urged it would be cheaper and better for the Council to redeck and repair the bridge generally rather than remove it and > make a ford. Another matter was that a bridge would be wanted over the Orari either at Badham's or Rolleston's road. He thought the engineer should be instructed to re port on the advisability or not of a bridge over the Orari. In his opinion the best site would be at Bad ham's lioad. He also thought the Council might couple the Oxford-Temuka bridge with this question and make sure if the bridge could not be removed to the. site on the Orari he had indicated. Regarding irrigation works, he explained that the Council had to bear all the preliminary expenses, their remedy being one easy to put in motion. The Rangifcata works would work out all right. The Woodbury works had proceeded to a certain point, and he hoped the Council would proceed carefully in their case. The district required the water, and the wishes of the residents should be complied with. .Seadown supply was in a somewhat unsettled state, and the Counc'l must very carefully and fully consider the whole subject. The > company on whose land it was proposed to erect the head works had sent an objection to the Government, and this had stopped the latter'issuing the usual proclamation. He had thought the Public Works Act applied to the matter, but it turned out that it did not. However, ho understood from the engineer that'he had a plan whereby the company's land could be avoided altogether at an additional cost of Bomething like £4OO. He thought the Council should face the whole question at once.

Discussion followed, and the engineer explained on the plan how the company's land could be avoided altogether, and the head works and race taken on to Mr Butler's land.

Mr Butler, on being called in, explained fully his claim for compensation, and reasons for wanting it settled as quickly as possible. He declined to answer a question put by Mr Talbot relative to cost of land if the diversion of head works mentioned byMr Talbotand the engineer were! carried put.

It was unanimously resolved that the erigineerreport'oh the cost of bringing in the water'from a source other than that at present proposed, and that Mr Butler's account 'be paid as agreed on ; also that' notice be given of an intention to raise a loan for the. Woodbury water supply. A formal letter was received from Dr Macgregdr, Inspector, of Hospitals, relative, to the resolution, passed by the Council re ihe separation of the Waimate and Timaru Hospital districts j also from .Mr A. E...G. Rhodes, member for Gladstone, stating that he; would" the matter every attention.

, The Minister for Public Works wrote advising the i Council to make formal application for the Temuka-Oxford when the same would give the matter every attention.—lt was decided to do so. Inreply to the Waimate County Council, 'memberß egreed -ithat Mr Marohaut should accompany Mr Black to make an inspection and report on the lower Pareora bridk*. * The Temaka Road Baarrt wrote enclosing a tender for the approaches and fences (o the Winchester bridge, and also a petition from residents between the lower Orari and Rangitata rivers, asking that a bridge be erected over fho river Orari.—Consideration postponed.

The Geraldine fioad Board wrote stating that the Orari river w,ih encroaching on' the north terrace nenr tho traffic bridge, and asking that the same bo attended to.—Engineer to report. The Engineers reported 'hat the late fl)oda had slightly damaged the protective works at the Opihi bridge ; that the headworks contact of the Rangitata water-' works contract was almost competed, and. that water ought :to be f.uruod into the main race in about five weeks' time. They handed io a special report on the [Jpper Opihi bridge, Pjjiqt-Kaincliff road, ;recommending(tbaii a High .fence of very strong wire be put down where the river had encroached.—-The Chairman and Engineer were authorised to carry out the works in connection with the Rsincliff bridge.' * Accounts amounting to £577 11s 9d were passed' for payment, and the meeting terminated. •• ■ '<'*■' ■