GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2086, 16 August 1890, Page 3

GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

■ The Geraldine County Council held their monthly meeting last "Wednesday. Present Messrs ~W. Balfour (chairman), W. M. Moore, W. B. Howell, R, Mackay and A. B. Barker. An apology was received from Mr Quinn. BANGITATA. The chairman stated that he had examined the Water-Races Bill prepared .by Mr Joynt. This would enable them to add 7000 acres of new area to Rangitata district by a poll of the ratepayers in that area; but it would not enable them to supply the water, because the council had no money, and the bill did not provide for raising a fresh loan. A fresh district could be made, a loan raised, and the water paid for to the old district, as a share of the coat of the headworks. JN-QTICB 01" APPBAL. A notice was. received from Messrs Perry and Perry to the effect that the JudgVs decision in the Pareora bridge case was to be appealed against. SIiAUGHTEBING PIGS. Mr White reported that he had taken action against a person for slaughtering pigs for sale without a license. A heavy penalty was not pressed for, and the defendant, being j convicted, was fined 5s and cautioned , The secretary said the caution had net done muct good, for the next Saturday there were numbers of pigs , breoghi in for sale. < GEBJLLDINE PtiAT. Nine offers for doing the work of ranger to the Geraldine Flat races ; were received, ranging from £ll tu £6O * year.. "The chairman stated the ratepayers, 12 in number, asked that the ranger might be placed under the i charge of a committee appointed by themselves, and a letter from one of ] the committee suggested that they ; ■hould be given the whole control.of , the race, to save engineering and other outside expenses. • # ' 'lhe chairman pointed out that it t would not do for the council to let the : control go out of their hands, as the ■ council would be liable for any damage done through want of proper control over the headworks during floods. Messrs Shaw, Kelman and Mac- ; kenzie wailed on the council in reference to these matters. Mr Shaw explained that the water was costing nearly a shilling an acre, and they were desirous of reducing the cest by lessening the cost of maintenance as much as possible. He expected to get the water fer 5d or 6d an acre, and it was going to cost him very nearly Is an acre Mr Kelman thought there could be no one better fitted to look after the works than the ratepayers themselves. Mr Moore said the council could not let them have control of a man the council had to pay. v But we have to £nd tßßtajpneT. v After discussing this matter, and asking for a balance-sheet of the race accounts the deputation withdrew. The council decided that the ranger aystem in "force in other districts should not be departed from. The council must control the rangers, WASEB BA.CES. The reports of the several rangers were received and read. The Rangitata ranger reported some extra work through a flood in the Orari. The Woodbury race had not Buffered at all by the freshes. The ranger on the Orari-Waihi races reported that the culvert at the head works was choked withjsilt.—Mr Radford to go up and ranger how to clear it. An application from Messrs Webb and Cormack and others for'a small diversion of the Woodbury race, they to do the work, was agreed to. • On the motion of Mr Barker the tender of Richard Riehards for the ,rangership of the Geraldine Flat races, at JBll a year* was accepted. BATES. *"■ Mr 4. W. Campbell wrote re the demand made upon him for rates for the Rangitata water-race, and asking to ! be relieved from -the maintenance rate for 1889 : 90.—N0t agreed to. 1 ' Mr.A. M; Clark wrote asking for information under what authority he was asked to pay rates on section ! a property valued at double Miat it was worth.—The clerk having explained the matter the council-re-solved to to the property tax valuation. Mr XM. Barker asked if it was still necessary for the Woodbury race maintenance' rate to be 3d per acre. — The couHCil held that it was quite necessary,; for the district still owed the county for maintenance last year. ' : GEBALDINE BOAD BOAED. A letter from the Geraldine Road Board, again declining to collect the harbor rate, was read, and a memo, from the council's solicitor, acknowledged; alsoi that the main road between | Winchester and Geraldine required shingling to the extent of say 1000 w a rds. This being a main road and under the control of the council the board did not see their way to beep countv works in repair out of local rates.* If the board earned out the work for tbe council would they refund the amount expended, or carry out the work themselves? It was resolved to inform the board that the council have not taken over the main roads. UOXJVT PEBi BOAD BOARD. The Mount Peel Road Board wrote 'asking whether in caees where the Barbour rate had to be sued for the board would be responsible for all legal Wito,coit of rate and other books,

[ with ether expenses.—To be informed that the special order covers every- ; thing. . | OEABI BEXD&E. i Messrs Mundell and Co., Guinness. G-racie, Maclean and Co., and Webster and Co., wrote drawing attention to i the unaafe state of the Orari bridge, the holes in which at once required repairing as they were dangerous to stock, valuable fat sheep having had their legs broken while crossing it. The letter was receiyed, members deciding, in view of the appeal on the Pareora bridge, to wait and see the whole thing through as regarded the question of? county bridges It was understood, however, that tbe worst places in the bridge might be repaired. In regard to the re-election of councillors it was remarked that affairs respecting these bridges would be made a test question. Mr Howell said that he would willingly test feeling. Routine basmess having been discussed, accounts amounting to £165 2s 7d were passed for payment and the meeting closed.