GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2047, 17 May 1890, Page 2

GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Geraldine Count? Council met on Wednesday. Presents Messrs W. Balfour (chairman), W. B. Howell, K. Maekay, W. H. Moore, E, A. Barker, and M. Quinn. A letter from the Geraldine Eoad Board was read, suggesting that the Uran bridge should be kept open for light traffic and stock. They would be willing that their overseer should continue to watch the bridge, and effect small repairs, but the board would not be responsible for any accireport by the oversesr stated that the decking and side rails were ip bad order.—A letter from the Mount Peel Eoad Board enclosed a resolution passed at the meeting of ratepayers that they would be willing to pay their share of the cost of maintaining the Orari bridge in order for traffic.— It was stated that it would cost £I2OO- - redeck the bridge. The chairman suggested to defer the matter, together with tne Pareora bridge, to see what would be the result of the legal action in respept of tfie l{ittep,—%r objected tp coupling any two bridges, and moved—“ That this council do now proceed to carry on all the altera* tions and additions previously decided

on to render the Lower Pareora bridge a stock bridge.”—Mr Barker seconded the motion pro forma , and after full discussion, in which it was urged that it would be wrong to go on with one class of bridge while a lawsuit was pending to compel another kind of bridge to be made, the motion was put, and lost on the casting vote of the chairman.—lmmediately after this a letter was received from Messrs Perry and Perry informing the council that they had that day instituted proceedings in the Supreme Court, at the suit of Mr David Stowell on behalf of himself and the ratepayers of the "Waimate County, and Mr Donald Munro on behalf of himself and the ratepayers of the Geraldine County, against the council, requiring them forthwith to take all necessary steps for the purpose of re-establishing the Lower Pareora bridge, in as full and complete a manner as it existed prior to the bridge being allowed to fall into disrepair, by an order that the council repair the said bridge and maintain it in proper condition for general traffic. The necessary documents would be served to-day, and the motion for writ of mandamus had been set down for hearing during the present month.— As to the Orari bridge, action was deferred, on the suggestion of Mr Moore, till next election, when the question of rating for maintenance of the bridges, may be submitted to the ratepayers, the Geraldine Eoad Board to be requested to continue to make small repairs as heretofore till the wider question is settled. The engineer reported that the contract for the repairs to the Opihi bridge was completed during the month. On the decking being opened up several joists were found to be rotten and required renewing, and many planks were found to be more decayed than they appeared to be. Three farmers in the Seadown water district waited on the council, asking to be supplied with races. The reply was the cost would be £SO or £6o— had no money, but would allow the farmers to make the races at their own expense. These were people who originally objected to the water. ’ A resolution was passed authorising the clerk to sue for all arrears of water rates. An application from a Woodbury settler for a crossing ” over a simple branch race was refused, as most people made their own crossings in such cases—a bagatelle for the farmer himself, expensive for the council to do.

Mr E.' Burke, Geraldine, applied for a branch race to one of his paddocks.—lt was objected that the water must run to waste from the race as planned, and the application was post- , poned for the present. The engineers handed in a bundle of _plans of the land taken from Mr Tripp for the Orari-Waihi head race, 3a 3r 4>p r the plans being required in the preparation of a grant o£ easement. The engineers reported that the Geraldine Flat races would be finished rin two or three weeks, and water was ~now running down several of the races. 'Jhe rangers siso sent their usual reports.' Special orders were passed (1) increasing the harbor board rate from ith of a penny to ie, and (2) making a rate of l-16th of a penny on property within the Eangitata and Orari water supply district to provide interest and sinking fund of loan. Accounts ameunting to £628 Os 6d were passed for payment and the council rose.