GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1724, 14 April 1888, Page 3

GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly Meeting of the Council was, held on Wednesday. Present—Messrs W. Bilfour (Chairman), Mackay, Moore, Howell, and Barker. An apology was received for non-attendance from Mr Hayhurst. The special order relating to the Woodbury water-supply: was confirmed on the motion of Mr Moore, seconded by Mr Mackay. Mr Moore read a private letter he had Meelrtd from a resideot of Woodbury, ebjlcting te being rated for a witir•apply, at it was of no use to him. It | was ffrttdl that in carrying out such Irrigation works slight individual injustice j might arise, but for the sake of the community at large, suoh a matter must b» passed over. Mr E. H. Lougb, Clerk to the South Canterbury Charitable Aid Board, applied for the usual return and estimate of charitable aid for the ensuing year.—lhe Clerk had attended to the matter. Th* Mount Peel Eoad Board wrote expressing astonishment and regret that after they bad assisted the Council in connection with the water-races in the Mount Peel distriot the Council wrote such a letter as they did on February 9th, which, in fact, refused to take any notice of a reasonable request of the Board to provide necessary accommodation for foot passengers to pass over the race, and also ror sheep to pass. In consequence of the curt reply of the Conncil, the Board had taken a legal opinion, and now informed the Council that unless at'next meeting they received a satisfactory assurance that the Board'e request would be taken in hand and completed proceedings would be taken undw section 277 of the Counties Act 1886, for compensation. Mr Meckay paid the Board took thin action because outside complaints reached them of the state of the rnce. He believed a culvert or slock bridge could ba thrown over the place for £2O. After some discussion, Mr Howell moved,and Mr Moo r e seconded—" That the Moint Peel Road Board be informed that the Council must adhere to their former decision to give the. ford in question a fair trial before, making; any alteration, and that if the Road Board agree to this '&* Council are to take the matter into consideration again in six months if any serious complaints ?liall within that time v be *nade against the present ford; if tho Road Board object this the Council are prepared to defend any action brouglit to te9t the cse." As an amendment Mr Muckay moved, and the Chairman seconded pro forma—- " That the Chairman of the Council and Mr Moore meet the Chairman and one member of the Mount Peel Road Board at the water race, aud try and arrang9 the matter in dispute amicably between the Council and the Board." The resolution was cariied, Mr Mackay dissenting. It was resolved that a plan of the land.i of tho N.Z.L. and M.A. Association required for the Seadown water-race purposes be prepared and exposed to view in the usual way, and that a letter from ik* legal advisers of the Association be referred to the Chairmin of the Council to deal with.

The Engineers' report was read «a follows ?

" Bangitata Wa'er Supply—Headworks contract—This contract with extras is now quite completed. The total amount expended including extras is £1026 16a sd, bting about £26 over our estimate and £lB6 over contract sum. The extras are ohiefly due to our having had to construct a very long culvert in extension of the one uuder Thew's road, where thp ground was very loose and apt to slip. It ww also found neceesary to erect three bridges across the nee on Mr Chew's land ; an expensive contingency »ve did not. anticipate. We are glad to report that 'he works have been well carried out; and th >t they are working most satisfactorily. We think they would well repay the trouble of a visit by the members of tbe council. "Distributing races' contracts (Mr Silcock)—Much btUtr progress has been mado on tl'ese contracts since last meeting of the council; the water in ml the races being now some three miles below the railway line. We would call the council's attention to th» nece*sity of enforciog the by-laws in this district, and we would suggest that Mr Radford be appointed a ranger pro Um, We understand that some persona ar* quite neglecting to keep the races through ther land free from obstructions, and are even diverting the water for their own uses. They should at o»ce be stopped und the by-laws rigidly enforced. Mkason & March Ant, Engineers to to the council."' It was resolved on the motion of Mr Mackay, seconded by Mr Moore, that Mr Radford be authorised to net as ranger for the Rangita!a Water Supply District., till such time as contract is finished. Tbe clerk was instructed to prepare the rolls and send oat the rate notices in the Seodown and Rangitata-Orari water supply districts. '• Accounts amounting to £901655d wer« passed for payment and the meeting terminated,