GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1903, 13 June 1889, Page 2

GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Geraldine County Council was hold yesterday. Present —Messrs W. Balfour, (chairman), W. B. Howell, R, A. Barker, R. Maokay and W. H. Moore, The chairman stated the result of the suit Silcook against the council. He attended the trial. The council’s engineers admitted that the oontrsotor was entitled to receive £238 more than bad keen paid him, and the single issue placed before the jury was how much the contractor was entitled to receive, he asking for £7OB, The jury seemed to have “ split the difference,” and gave him £486, There was still the question of penalties, a question of law, to bo argued, If the full penalties were allowed they would amount to more than the jury awarded the oontrsotor over and above what their engineers agreed was due to him, but it was impossible to say how the argument would end. The expenses would be very considerable, probably £3OO at any rate, and the council would have to come to some decision soon as to how the money needed to pay the expenses would bo raised. It must mean a general rate he supposed. It would not be fair to make the water race districts bear the expense o! a Supreme Court action, Mr J. Hay wrote requesting the payment of £l2 on behalf of E. Oonnihan, and £ls 10: on behalf of T. Brosnahan, these being amounts adjudged by Mr H, Ford, as the council’s valuer, to be fairly due to tho claimants for injury and annoyance through the making of tho Seadown head race through land in their occupation.—Amounts ordered to be paid.

A latter was read from Mr Tripp’s solicitors, setting forth at length twelve to iditions under which ho would allow the bead-race to be constructed through his land, (1) Hie private race not to be interfered with; (2) Mr Tripp to be supplied with water from the race for paddocks not supplied by private races j (3) to be allowed toereota turbine, and use the water in the race if he desires, so long as he does pot appreciably affect the flow of water; (4) all surveys to be at the expense of the Council; (5) he to be at liberty to sow what grass seed he pleases on the race land and spoil bauks and oolleot the seed; (6) Mr Tripp not to be liable for any water rates or charges; (7) the races to be formed and kept entirely at the Council's expense; (8) no trees or shrubs to be out from Mr Tripp’s property without his consent; the work on Mr Tripp’s land to be all completed by the end of October, and no dogs allowed on his land; (9) The Council to bo liable for any damage to Mr Tripp’s property caused by the race ; (10) the Council to erect such fencing along the race, where required, ai might be considered fair and proper fauces by three ratepayers, named; (11) wherever the race goes under a fence

some means to be applied at once to prevent sheep going along the race beneath the fence; (12) Mr Tripp would not claim any compensation for land token up to 4f acres, if more than that was taken then £l2 an acre for the excess. . Mr W. Postlethwaits waited upon the Council on behalf of the ratepayers interested to urge that the work be pushed on as rapidly as possible. Mr Tripp was very anxious to hove the work completed before the end of October, before his shearing commenced, and the ratepayers were as anxious to got the water by that time. - Mr Postlethwaite having retired, the council considered the matter, and it was resolved —“ That immediate steps be taken to proceed with the Waihi-Orari water race.' 1 Mr Msrohant said he could go on with the surveys and plans, which would take about a month. It was also resolved that the promoters be asked far a guarantee for expense of survey and any other outlay that may be incurred previous to the legal authorisation of the loan by them.

The Victoria Lodge, 1577, I.C, Napier, has passed a resolution affirming the desirability of forming a Grand Lodge.