GERALDINE TOWN BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1832, 22 December 1888, Page 4

GERALDINE TOWN BOARD.

A spacial meeting of this Board was hfld on Wednesday evening last. Present—Messrs W. S. Masliti (Chairman), A. White, J. Wi!li*ms, A. Sherratt, R. Taybr, and J. Mundell.

The Chairman stated the object of the meeting, viz. : the consideration of a water supply for the town of Geraldine. He also read the report of Messrs Meason and Marchant, Timarn, upon the proposed race. The report wsis to the effect thatafter taking careful levels and survey, the firm were of opinion that at a p >int,about 55 cha'ns above the road bridge the water could be taken from the Waihi river by means of a filter box sunk in the river. The water would Ihen run by means of an open race, and a small amount of fluming into the Town* Board's channels. It could thus be run into large underground concrete tanks for a supply for fire extinguishing purposes by the use of a manual engine. The estimated cost of the race and head works was about £l5O. ' There was ample fall for alow level service, such as that proposed to be brought into the town, but such'service could not be looked upon as 'eVer being convertible into a high level service. The.question of the probable cost of distributing the water then came up, and it was calculated; that it would' not cost, more than another £l5O.

The Board were unanimously of opinion that it would be bestto carry the work out themselves, and to have nothing nothing whatever to do with races outside of (hair own district, as had been suggested by some people. Membars wer<j also of opinion that it would be better for the Board to expend the £3OO required out of their own funds as an ordinary work, _as that would do-away with the necessity of borrowing that sum and a'l the expense and trouble entailed thereby. The annual revenue of the Board would only suffer to the extent of £ls by carrying out the work with their own morey, and it was considered hardly necessary to go to the trouble of raising a loan when they hid the money by : them. f The Chairman read over the Act dealing with loans to local bodies. In reply to Mr White, the Chairman said the chief benefit to be derived from the construction of the works wan that if on efficient fire brigade were formed Ihe 25 per cent, at present added to the fire insurance premiums for places within the town would no doubt be taken off.

! In reply to Mr Taylor, he said the Fin; Association at Christchurch had not yet gua-anteed that reduction, although they had been written to upon the matter. Mr Taylor was certainly in favor of the work, but not unless the 25 per cent. reduction would be allowed on it completed and a fire brigade form*"'* j Members W9re a'l decidedl" -g iopinion. It; Wfis decider l " j of the same ;Fire ABsqcin' 5 them r>* '' . . . to again write to the .»" . ion, Christchjiirch, informing .. the Board's intention to bring in

. permanent water supply, and also to provide, an efficient, brigade, and to ask them if they would in that case take off the 25 per cent, loading, the same as they had done where ; there was a brigade., Mr Mundell proposed, Mr Taylor seconded, and it was carried unanimously —"That in the event of this Board bringing a water supply into the town that the work be done upon their own account,.without reference to the supply of the ! County Council." The Chairman pointed out that if the work were carried out as an ordinary work with the Board's funds, 1 without borrowing the money, it'would not be necessary to call a public meeting of the ratepayers, whereas borrowing th 6 money wool 1 necessitate the consent of the ratepayers'and other formula. One member pointed out the 25 per cpnt lediiotion wouH mpan a difference to him nf £l7 10a per annum, more than sufficient to pay the interest upon the whole sum required for the work.,

At a rough gurss'Tt was estimated that . tho reduction would make a saving to ioßiuers of aboiu £75 per annum. It was decided, upon the motion of Mr Mundell, seconded by Mr Williams, to carry out the work, provided the answer from the Association is satisfactory.—The .Clerk was instructed to write to the Association on the Bubject at once. (It was also decided to. take a legal Opinion as to the Board's power to expend it's funds in the construction of waterworks, and also as to whether they could construct those works as an ordinary work without a vote of the ratepayers being taken. This being all the business the meeting terminated,