GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1853, 14 February 1889, Page 2

GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Geraldine Oounly Council was held yesterday. Present Messrs Balfour (chairman), Mackay, Moore, Hayhurst, Howell, and Barker. Colonel Eichbanm, on behalf or. the N.Z. Mortgage and luvesttuent Company, wrote complaining that the Counoil had not given that serious consideration to his former complaint to which it was entitled. His company had a clnim against the ratepayers, as represented by the Council, for damages for trespass; damages for encroachment of the river Opihi upon the company's land, caused by the works of the Council; and compensation for interference with extensive riparian rights held by the company. The act of trespasa would lie in that the Council could not get to the land taken by them without trespassing upon the company's land. The company, by a single act, could have prevented the commencement of this work, but they did nob wish to impede a work of great puklic utility.—The Engineer said he understood the letter of Col. Eichb»ura was intended as a protective measure in the event of any action being taken by the company against the Council. As regarded riparian rights, it was laid down that no such right existed unless the water permanently touched the land, and tbe present dam was ODly of a temporary nature.—lt was decided to allow consideration to stand over until the matter had been fully gone into by the Compensation Court. Messrs Howell and Mackay reported that they had visited Me Yance's land, and could not recommend the council to grant the request for culvert applied for. They recommended a level crossing, and that applicant be advised to remove his gateway.-—lt was decided not to entertain the application. Mr George Crozier was appointed ranger for the Seadown water-race, out of twelve applicants. Mr J. Talbot wrote in reference to a strip of land aloug the main road across the Plains. The land referred to was much used, and he asked the Council to improve the crossings oyer the Seadown water-races giving access to this land.— flequesfc to be complied with. A lengthened discussion took place on the opioion from the solicitor ia reference to the new water districts. It was pointed out that the council had not power to extend districts, but that persons who had held aloof from the scheme, believing it could not be obtained, were applying and obtaining water on the same terms as those persons who had bean enterprising enough to have their laud taxed in order to bring the water in. An opinion was expressed that such persons should be charged more for water in order to contribute toward* the cost of bead* works.

The engineers reported that the contracts for the Seadowu water supply are now all in a forward state, and should be completed before next monthly meeting. Nearly all the races are now charger) with water, although the percolation has been necessarily great «here the races have ©nly been cut so short a time. Considerable loss has also resulted from evaporation. The rangers of the Ornn-Rangilata and Woodbury water supply districts reported that everything was working well, end that a full head of water was being maintained. The Hon. E. Mitchelson wrote notify- - ing the abolition ot the Public Works The Government Auditor wrote stating that if Councillors would sign the declaration to the effect that the sums disallowed in the last balance-sheet were " actual expenses " incurred by them by attending the meetings of the Council, he would remove disallowance. The Treasury Department wrote acknowledging Council a application to borrow £ISOO under " The Loans to Public Bodies Act, 1886," and stating that the application would be laid before the Colonial Treasurer on his return to Wellington. The Public Works Department wrote in reply to the Council's application that a Commission should be appointed to inquire into matters connected with the Lower Pareora Bridge that it wculd be a mora economical course to obtain the advice of a Civil Engineer of good standing. Should this course not be approved of, the Department stated that the Council had power to appoint such a Commission itself without the intervention of Government.—Consideration of the matter deferred. The clerk to the Levels Koad Board J-'wrote forwarding account for £72 4s for half liability of expenditure on Lower Pareora Bridge sinoe 31st March, 1886, also a further sum of £4 18s. The account had been forwarded to the Levels Board by the Waiinate County Council. Resolved : " That particulars ba ascertained from the Levels Board if authority had been given to the Waimata Council to expend money on the Lower Pareora Bridge." Accounts amounting to £6OO were passed for payment, and the Council adjourned. ________