GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1866, 16 March 1889, Page 1

GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of tba Geraldiae County Council was held on Wednesday. Present—Messrs W. Balfour (chairman), | W. B. Howell, W. M. Moore, K. Mackay, R. A, Bwker and J. T. M. Hayhurst. The chairman said he had not written to the Government to aak what st»ps could be taken to get out of the difficulty that had amen from the loans raised for the conntruction of the water racas being insufficient, and for assistance in the solution of the puzzle how best to enlarge existing districts, as, after consideration, be concluded that the Government would not assist them. They would simply refer the council to their legal adviser, and if they made any remark upon the deficiency of the loans would probably say that if the council made a mistaka they must toke the consequences. A long discussion took yilace on the clauses of the Counties and Local Bodies Loans Act', bearing on th« raising of loans and extension of districts. Tho chief i difficulty, iu the mind of the council, ia

he way of enlarging the district, aa dti I rired, and of. raising the extra money ' required, is that the ratepayers would not take tha trouble of going to a poll for a fresh loan to enlarge the district and extend the supply, notwithstanding that it would ba to their advantage to do ao, since the enlargement of the district would spread the liability and annual cost. Resolved, on the motion of Mr Barker seconded by Mr Mackay—" That the petitioners for water outside the Rangitata water race district should amalgamate with it and include all the land between the Rangitata in one district, and that the petitioners be recommended to take the necessary Btepa to carry this out," In reference to the application of the Levels Company for a anpply of water from the Seadown races to the portion of the Levels estate on abutting on the Point road, it was recommendod by the engineer and the chairman thnt a supply be granted, the company bearing the cost of the race, estimated at £BO, and paying an annual rent for water, the amount of nhich it was recommended should be £ls.

Mr Mackay moved, Mr Moore seconded, and it was carried—" That tbe N.Z. and A.L. Company's application for wsiter bo granted in accordance with bye-law 17, the company to pay to the council the cost of* constructing the raca the yearly charge for the water to be £ls, and the land to be benefited being about 1040 acres."

Mr Edgar, of Levels Plains, complained that tha raco through one of his paridoeke was very crooked, iostead of straight along the fence.—The engineer to examioe the work complained of, Mr Moore asked what was being done as to ixing tbe rates for the Geraldine Flat water races.—The secretary, Mr Stubbs, BBid the rate must be levied on the new property tax assessment, and that had not been furnished yet.

As a notice of motion Mr Howell tabled the following :—" That at next meeting I shall move that a maintenance rate be struck in each of the water Bupply districts."

On tho motion o! Mr Moore, seconded by Mr Mackay, it was resolved—" That further sums as may be necessary up to 10 per cent on the loans for the Seudown and Woodbury water races be now applied for from Government according to the terms of sections 21 and 22 of the Governraent Loads to Local Bodies Act, for the purpose of paying all necessary charges on the said races for which the original loans are insufficient." The engineers, Messrs Meason and Marchant, reported as follows : «• We have the honor to report that we have inspected the Rangitata, Orari, aud Woodbury water races throughout and find everything in a most satisfactory condition. We bava also inspected the proposed alteration in the site of the headworks of the projected Orari Flat works, and we are of opinion that the position of the intake should bo altered in accordance with Mr Tripp's deeire, although the cost will be somewhat increased thereby. Pending arrangements with Mr Tripp as to purchase of land, fencing, etc., we are not in a position to give a final estimate of the cost of these works. 3eadown water district —In spite of the protracted dry weather and the fact that the Opihi river is lower than it has been for years a good iow of water has been maintained in these races. Contracts Nos. I and 3 (Mr W. Flotcher'a) are now completed, and Mr "Gregan's contract should be finished in a week or two. Having witnessed repeated breaches of the by-laws io the Seadown district, aud finding that the authority ot the ranger is being defied, Ye have instructed Mr Radford to take legal proceedings agoinst the offenders in accordance with the councils resolution at. last meeting."

Respecting the Waihi-Orari r<ioe, Mr Marchant said that be had met Mr Tripp and had gone over the line of r«ce lo where the latter thought it bast to fix the headworks. la some respects this site was better than that originally selected, and he at once agreed to adopt the line wished for by Mr Tripp. Some discussio n thon onsued between them as to the posi - tion of the race, and he (Mr Merchant) said that the best thing to be done was for Mr Tripp to write to the council stating that if the latter would give him a Bupply pf water in perpetuity, he would in turn allow the council a site for the race free of cost. There the matter ended and from what passed he understood that Mr Tripp quite agreed to that proposal. As against this the chairman had received a private letter from Mr Tripp, the gist of which was that he desired not to be bound by what had passed between himself ahd Mr Marchant, but forwarded a letter from hia solicitors instead. Id their letter Messrs Harper stated that Mr Tripp would come to no decision until he was acquainted with the results of a full survey of the ' work proposed to be done. It was decided that Mr Marchant should makeja contract survey of the race, and that tracing and estimates of acreage wanted be forwarded to Messrs Harper, as agents for Mr Tripp. If this does not meet the case and satisfy Mr Tripp, Mr Howell suggested that as the matter interested the ratepayers in the Waihi-Orari district more than it did the council, a mseting of the former should be called to fully discuss the whole situation. Mr Joseph Noble, of Woodbury, applied for water to be brought ou to bis section from the upner race. The council decided that as Mr Noble had refused to have the water, h« can only have it now by paying the exponse of putting it in, including engineer's fee, and all other expenses. Mr W. McLeod (for Mr A. McDooald) wrote from Bulmer complaining that. Mr J. Wareiug had about 350 pigs lying about in the race at South Rangitata.—The e'erk said that he had already written to Mr Wareing to stop it. In reply to Mr Barker the chairman sawj that no letter had been received about the state of the YVaihi bridge.

Mr Hsyburst said tbnl be had been informed that this matter would come up at next meeting. In the meantime he suggested that a light be placed at each end of tha bridge now used. Accounts amounting to £758 17b were passed for payment It is proposed to fully discuss the engagement of the engineers at nuxt meeting.