GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1974, 26 November 1889, Page 3

GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

A special meeting of this board was held on Friday afternoon last. Present— Messrs F. R. Fhtman (chairman), J. Kelland, W. Deßenzy, and A. Metcalf.

The chairman said the business of the meeting was to consider the action of the Geraldine County Council in laying off a water race down the Geraldine Road. As they all knew a large amount of money had been expended on this por ion of the road in repairing damage caused by floods. Me Deßenzy said he had asked the chairman to convene a meeting, as the owners of property affected had protested strongly against having the race brought down. Personally it would suit him to have the water, but as a member of the board, seeing the damage which had been caused by floods in previous years, and in the interests of ratepayers, he felt bound to protest against it.

Mr Metcalf said the council should be held liable for any damage which might occur. No doubt they had the power to take the race down the road. The chairman said he had interviewed Mr Marchant on the subject when in Timaru this week, and he said if the board objected he would turn the water into the Waihi. He (the oha : rman), then read the clause in the Counties Act bearing on the subject, which showed the council bad the power to construct the race. Mr Kelland said the beat thing to be done would be to draw out a* d forward to the council a formal protest at once before the contract was let.

A resolution was drawn up, and the clerk was iestructed to telegraph to the Council re the action taken by the Board. The following is a copy of the resolution, as proposed by Mr Flatman, seconded by Mr Metcalf, and carried unanimonsly—“That in the opinion of this board the tail water-race, which the Geraldine County Council propose to taka down the Geraldine road in f: ont of sections Nos. 12920, 12330, 12203, 9594, and others, is calculated to lead to ve.y serious damage being done, inasmuch as the flood waters of the Waihi river have always been the cause of much injury to this portion of the road, coating large sums of money lojrepair the damage caused by the ovetflew. The board therefore beg respectfully to advise the chairman and members of the Geraldine County Council that the said council will be held liable ami responsible for any damage which may arise in consequence of the council in any way breaking the surface of that portion of the Geraldine road, as shown by the plans of the Geraldine Flat Water-Supply District.’' The meeting then terminated.