GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2032, 12 April 1890, Page 2

GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of this council was held on Wednesday, Present— Messrs W. Balfour (chairman), M. Quinn R. A Barker, and W. B, Holwelh An apology, on the ground of indisposition, was received from Mr Moore.

Complaints were received of the new race crossings on Geraldine Flat, as they were impassable for grain carting. Mr Radford, clerk of works, wrote suggesting that they be given a coating of broken metal.—The engineers to attend to the crossings in soma way at once. The rangers’usual reports ’were read. All the races were stated to be in good order except one of the Seadown branches on Messrs Hoare’s land, and the ranger recommended a slight diversion to take it out of the farmyard of one of them,—The diversion to be made.

An application was received for water from Mr Jos, Holwell, Arcwhenua, 112 acres, which he had bought from an owner who bad refused the water This was held over, pending receipt of' applications expected from ne : ghbors.—lt was remarked that the council would have to demand the first cost from the applicants.

The engineers reported that fairly satisfactory progress had been made with the Geraldine Flat race contract during the -dj past month ; the work should be com- * pleted by nest meeting. They had commenced the revision of the Waitohi Flat district, and would report at nest meeting.

The engineers reported that the repairs to the Opihi bridge, main road, were nearly completed, and in a satisfactory manner. Ihey had completed the plans and epecificationa for the Pareora bridge work, and asked for instructions as to callin''’ for tenders.—The calling for tenders'* was postponed till next meeting, the chairman stating that he had been informed a writ would be issued to take the question of the nature of the restoration into the Supreme Court.

The chairman of the Efarbor Board, Mr Acton, waited oa the council to explain his board s proposil to a ter (he mode of obtaining the amount required by the harbor rat'. The proposal was gone into pretty fully, and, as a resu’t, Mr Holwell moved a resolution rtc tgnising the wisdom of the proposal and cordially approving of >t. This was carried unanimously.

The clerk of the Kaukapuka Licensing Committee wrote asking the council to take steps to get clause 3 of the Licensing Act, 1882, amended so Ihii. bTroughs, or any part thereof, or lowc districts may amalgamate with any riding of » county or a road district ; also that the carryin® out of the Act ha pi mad iu die hands of the local bodies in whose districts the licensed houses exist.—Received An applio.tion by Messrs Peacock and Geaney for transfer of slaughtering license was granted. “

Replies were received from most of the County Councils in Canterbury, approving of the conference of county chairmen proposed by Mr Moore. Mr Holwell suggested to the chairman a few subjects tor discussion. •

On the suggestion of Mr Barker, it was resolve i to g.ve registrars and sabregistrars of dogs authority to prosecute persons neglecting to rogis'er. Mr Birker brought up a complaint from settlers at Orari tint their wells and ware going dry, a result, they beheyea, of t king wa’er from the river tor the races. He stated that several spripgs never known to f jl between Qrari and Winchester become dry, several wells had failed, and the pipe-well at Oran station had had to be driven deeper two or three times lattoly, The residents attributed the falling of the witer level to the races. The heavy rains which had failea had no effect in raising the water. He did not share their opinion ns to the cause, but would suggest that their explanation he tested by shutting off the races for a week or two, the people along them to sgpp'y themselves by miking dams before the water was ohut o{£— Mr Hoi well said bis creek was dry for the brst time in 26 years. Doubtless the successive dry seasons experienced were - le cause, borne argument ensued, in ' he course °f which Mr Murchant said >at 16,000 gallons of water uere flowing past the lowest intake every moment, and ie ia not thfal? the river would flow a nme urther down if the races were closed. nr-'f 1 " 6 WaS D -° owners k'P of subterranean t -° r ’ In ie Cil3e such rivers as r r , iari ! were there any riparian rights, ihe counci! had been advised already that such rights only exist where the water

permanently wets a bank.—Mr Barker said he would bring up the matter again next month, and the subject was then dropped. Accounts amounting to £3lB 10s 9d were passed for payment, and the council rose.