GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1943, 14 September 1889, Page 4

GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Geraldine County Council « held on Wednesday. Present —Messrs W, Balfour (chairman), R. Mackay, M; Quinn, and It. A. Barker. ■- i Messrs Smithson and Raymond wrote stating that the completion of deeds between the council and Mr Thow must be held over until the return from Australia of Mr 1. L. Morris, one of the signatories required.

Mr Tripp ■wrote enclosing £25 in part payment for fencing. Mr J. W. "White reported the result of : the application for judgment in the Silcock case, which went against the council, with costs; particulars were not yet to hand.— The chairman explained the judgment—that no penalties were allowed to the council against the contractor. I here was aU opinion throughout the county that the cost of this suit must fall upon the whole county, bo far as the legal liability was concerned this was not the case. It was not a county debt, but a debt of the water district. The county must provide the money in the first instance, as thh water district had no funds, was, in fact, in debt. What steps would have to hd taken in future to recoup the County lie could not at present say, but certainly The. water district would eventually have .to pay. The Government might amend die law, as diffident borrowing yvas an,error any council was liable to nialto. . . Mr Stubbs, the clerk, said if the liangitata district w.ere enlarged to take in ail those who now wauled water, or say from I river, to'riveri the council could on the j enlargement borrow a fresh loan sufficient ftf cover, the present debt and the new works required, The rate on the enlarged district would be lower than it is now on the present district. The Rahgitata district now owed the county £317, tp which the law, costs and some other payments in ; tHe Silcobk case would have to be added ; the Seadown district owed £464; the Woodbury £7B; and the Orari- Waihi— T (thia-would presently be recouped)—£l7s. j Tho : chairman said there was great need I for' dri amendment of the law. Mr 3haw and Messrs Wharton and Prohdfoot wrote that they were required to pay rates in the Bangitata district and yet had not been supplied with water.— .Referred to engineers, with instructions to provide all ratepayers in the district with water, if possible. Mi? Winter waited on the council with a similar complaint, and also to ask for a branch race to some of his land outside the water district.—The former was re-

ferred to the engineers. ' Mr Kempster wrote inquiring about his supply 1 from the Orari-Waihi system.— Kefprred to the engineers. ■ Mr F. Bethune wrote offering terms for permission to run an outfall race through his fend into the Waihi. Messrs Taylor and Flatman conaplained that peoples trimming fences near the race above them allowed the trimmings to fall into the race and float down, to collect into masses in the race on other people’s land, damming the race, and causing it to overflow and injure the land; People trimming fences, they suggested, should be compelled to use gratings to prevent such ..annoyance to their neighbors.—The ranger made a similar complaint.—lt was , decided that as to clear had been given two or three times a final notice be given, with threat of prosecution if the work is not immediately done. The engineers reported Orari-Waihi Water Supply : This work is proceeding very satisfactorily, and should be finished well within the contract time. —Geraldine Flat’ Water Supply : The contract plans are completed. We ask authority to call for tenders for the work;—The calling for tenders was deferred till the 21st, ~ for consideration in the meantime of the protest of ratepayers on the Waihi against the race water being turned into that river. In reply to Mr Mackay, it was stated that nothing had been heard from the Government respacting the-lower Pareora bridge. A motion was made to take over the Tengawai bridge, but the question was deferred for a larger meeting.’ * ■The. engineers.,reported that the cons*B&r% had = commenced work on the 'Winchester bridge. A memorial, signed by many occupiers of land on the banks of the Waihi, above and below Winchester,, protested against the surplus waiter from the races, of the Geraldine Flat and Orari-Waihi systems being turned into the river Waihi, and thus;increasing theivolume of that river, unless the council would clear the bed of the river from the mass of willows, gorse, and broom which was growing in it. They would notpjbject to the race water from other Hvers being turned in if the riverbed were cleared, but if , the obstructions were not cleared they would hold the council liable for any damages they might suffer from overflow of the piver. Ooe of the memorialists stated the water now £ow3.oyer his land, in spite of the dry weatherl—it .’bah resolved to obtain a legal opinion on the liabilities of the council in this matter. Mr Gimson, of Winchester, was allowed to transfer a slaughterhouse from one gaclion to another,’ ’ ; Mr Mackay moved, and Mi* Barker seconded—‘‘That at next meeting a general county rate of Jrd in the £ bu struck for the period ending 31st March next, payable in one sum on 15'h October, prox.” The secretary stated that a farthing rate would produce about £3OOO. Accounts amounting to £894 were passed £or payment;