GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1890, 11 May 1889, Page 1

GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Geraldine County Council was held on Wednesday. p r p Sr . n t _ Messrs W. Bailout (chairman), Moore, Mackay, Hayhurst, Barker, and Howell, In his opening statement the chairman said the Government had not replied to the council’s resolution re the i Pareora bridge, but there was a communication respecting the position of the W’aimate County Council. The suit Silcock versus the council had been postponed till the end of the month. A letter from the Ashburton County Council stated that some members of that council intended to inspect the sou‘h bank of the Rangitata at the traffic bridge, at 2 p.m. on Monday next, tor the purpose of deciding on the works needed for the protection of the bridge, and invited the council to be represented by one or more members.— After some discussion Messrs Moore and Barker agreed to go if possible. The engineers’ report on the position of the head works for the Orari-Woihi water races, with plan, was submitted. The first 20 chains would be in the riverbed, Wheae it entered Mr Tripp’s land at the terrace, the race would be 12ft deep and 16ft wide at the top ; io 10 chains this would run out to deep and wide ; in 10 chains further to 3ft 2in deep and 7ft 2in wide; and in eight chains further to 9 inches, or the depth of the distributing races. The loud required for race and spoil banks would be acres. A letter from the Waimate County Council covered a resolution passed by that body in reference to- the lower Pareora bridge, to the effect, that in the opinion of the Waimate Council the cost of restoration and maintenance ot the bridge would at present be beyond the rating power of the council, or at any rate beyond the power of the people to pay such rate, and that the Government be asked to take into consideration the advisability of having the railway bridge decked for traffic, The resolution also exoressed approval of the past action of the Geraldine County Council with respect to the bridge. Mr A. E. G. Rhodes, M.H.R., wrote that ho had seen the Minister of Lands concerning the bridge, and urged upon him the advisability of obtaining full information before taking any steps in the matter.

The chairman said Mr McLaren thought, in regard to a stock bridge, that it would be better to make use of the old traffice bridge, with extensions at each end, and it appeared to him (the chairman) that that whs a good idea. If a stock bridge were attached to a railway bridge roads to it would have to be acquired. The Government might agree to the addition of a stock bridge to the railway bridge, but would not agree to deck their bridge for traffic. The old bridge would do for stock as far as it goes, and would only need to be added to at each end.—No resolution was passed dealing with the matter. A memo, from the Treasury slated that a loan of £ISOO had been provisionally granted for the Orari-Waibi and Geraldine Flat water races. It was probable that a Bill would he introduced next session to increase the interest payable on such loans, and it would be well for the council to strike the rate so as to produce not less than 6 per cent interest on the loan. A circular was received from the Dunedin Exhibition Committee, mineral section,

A circular from the Sydenham Borough Council re a “ ratepayers mutual insurance ” scheme was received. Accounts amounting to £133 13s 7d were passed for payment. Matters in connection with the Siicock suit were dealt with in committee, and the meeting terminated.