GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2174, 12 March 1891, Page 2

GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Geraldine County Council was held yesterday. Present — Messrs W. Balfour (chairman), R. M&okay, W. B. Howell, J. M. Barker, and J. Guild. Mr Quinn apologised for nonattendance. WATEB BACKS. The engineers reported as follows : " We have laid out the branch extension of races as directed in the Woodbury and Rangitata districts. There will be no difficulty in carrying on the tail water of the Orari-Waihi races from Mr Postlethwaite's to the Orari racecourse if desired. We have been through the Seadown races and have put in hand any necessary amendments of road crossings asked for by the Levels Road Board. We accompanied the chairman of the council to the Waitohi head race in order to arrange compensation with the landowners whose properties are intersected by the headrace. T. ndera have been called for the headrace of the Waitohi water supply system. We have the Levels Downs water Bupply survey in hand. It will take a great deal of sury eying to lay out economical lines of races, and before we shall bo in a position lo give an estimate of the cost of the work. We think the scheme proposed has considerable possibilities, as we are able tj carry the water to the head of the Levels Valley near Taiko Flat. We have laid off 18£ miles of the headrace and so far have not met any great constructive difficulties." The rangers' reports were read, and were generally satisfactory. The Beadown ranger stated that he had been obstructed in his duty and threatened with personal violence by one of the ratepayers.—lt was agreed that the ranger mUBt be protected in his work, and, if necessary, supplied with police protection.

An opinion was reoeired from the council's Solicitor to the effect that, if the council desired to obtain water from the South Bide of the Pareora for the supply of the Otipua downs, it would be necessary to obtain the permission of the Wainaate County Council and of the freeholders over whose land the headrace would run. The Counties Act and the Public Works Act made provision for such cases, — Mr Marchant said they had made a flying surrey and found that it was not feasible to tak9 the water from this side of the river as the ground is too broken. They proposed to take the water by a filter-box about Mr Elworthly's lime kiln, and race it down the South side of the river (in Waimate County) about two mile and then flume across the river. The only freeholder to be dealt with on that side would be Mr Elworthlr. In regard to the Levels survey Mr Marchant said it was most favourable so far. They had not yet got to the Washdyke gorge, which might be flumed across. He believed the water could be brought to Mr Rhodes and others. The ground was very retentive and there would be little loss from percolation, so thit the water would run a long way. Ha had also been over the ground an the north side of the Tengawai, and found that the water could he taken below Mr Saunders' house on the top of the downs above llr Howell's. Referring to the distribution of the water after leaving Mr Postletwaiie's, the engineer said ho had been to the Qrari settlement, and saw some half dozen settlers, and* no one seemed to know anything about the petition for watsr, except that suoh a petition'had been carried round. The water could be taken there.—'The chairman said if t hey Wanted water, ifc wss for those who wanted it to supply the information required by the council.

The chairman repotted that he had settled with the owners of the land for the Waitohi head on fairly gathfactasy terms. A petition was reoeived for the extension of the Waitohi water district towards Temuka, signed by more than half the ratepayers in the proposed extension. Also, protests from Messrs R. Edgar and Alox. Frew against their land being included in the extended district, as they had a sufljqiency of water already.—S&r SJarohaut explained fchafc tliO witter u>ust go through their laud

to get ifc away from fchoao above. If the counoil thought it would be an injustice to them, the rate need; not be collected from thom.—Mr B. Edgar waited on the oounoil in support of hie protest. He had no* been consulted about it, and had not been asked whether hit land should bs included or not. It would be very unjust to put him into the district when he did not want water, but was at constant expense lio get rid of water. Mr Edgar having retired the council discussed the mattw, and ultimately it was decided to defer action for a month.

Mr A. M. Clark asked to have certain sections omitted, and another included—lt was stated that neither could be done A circular was read from the office of the Minister of Lands offering to obtain information from ikbroad to assist tbe countT.conncili in lmgation matters.—Beply that any information will be thankfully received. Mr A. Kelman wrote complaining that the arrangement he heid made respecting the quantity of water to be supplied to him was not being adhered to.—Received Mr C ; G. Tripp asked for an inorefied supply of water on n yearly lease.—Previous resolutioa, that no iSxed time be allowed to be adhered to. '

BBIDGE9, The engineers reported as follows .—The Geraldine Bridge repairs contract is proceeding satisfactorily. As direoted, we met Messrs Flatman, Barker, and Maokay, together with Mr-Shun, at the Orari traffio bridge, and with them discussed the question of its maintenance. We are of opinion that the decking of the bridge is unsafe for any description of traffic, and that if it i, not immediately closed or repaired tome aeoident must ooour on ifc before long. Tenders have beeu called for the Tengawai stook-bridge contract, and repairs to Tengawai bridge, It will be necessary to compensate Mrs Stewart for right-of-way to the stook-bridge, as traffic over it must pass over a strip of. her land on the south side.—Mr Howell proposed, Mr Barker seconded, and it was carried—" That the bridge be closed to all vehicles, and a ford made; the Geraldine Boaid Hoard to be asked to superintend the making of same; the engineer to see that the bridge is stopped at once j owners of land affected by the making of ford to bo communicated with." Mrs Stewart asked for £lO compensation for land taken for iJtook-bridgeapproaob, and also for a piece of fence.—Decided to purchase the land, and fence it in on one side, Mr Maokay moved—" That the engineers furnish an estimate for the cost of restoring the Orari bridge for all traffio." ' Mr Howell move&and Mr Guild seconded, as an amendment—" That estimates be given for both suoh restoration and for rednotion to a stock-bridge." The amendment was carried, Mr Maokay opposing. ' THNDEBB. Messrs Ogilvie & Byers wrote complain* ing that all thu ironwork needed by the County Council was given to one particular shop, instead of being let by tender,—Mt Marohant explained that the letter refered to the pointing of iron rail piles and the making of sluioe-gates. The iron raUs wars staoked near Mr Sinclair's shop by the Government, and as be had thus nnthing to pay for removal he was able to do the work more oheaply than others. With regard to the sluicegate, he had given Mr Sinclair the order because he had previously made one for a contractor very satisfactorily.— The letter was received!.

Tenders were dealt with as follows : New stock-bridge and repairs at Tengawai, Pleasant jfoint: W. Fletcher, £716 10*» D. MoKay, £823 sa; 0. WilaoD, £ll7llSi • Elder & Mclnnes (informal, stock-bridge only), £61113* 3.1.—M.r Fletoher'a tender was accepted, Head-works of Waitihi Raoei : Calvert & Rooney, £9BB j J. Oartwright, £1343 18i 8d « W. Fletcher, £1359 19i; J. .Pearson, £1389. The tender of Messrs Oalvert & Booney was aocepted. MracEiiANEOua, Mr S. D. Barker wrote on behalf of himself and his relatives, thanking the council for their vote of sympathy on the death of his brother, Mr R. A. .darker, a member of the Council. Mr E. Pilbrow was seleotsd far appointment as olerk to the Temuka Licensing Committee. Mr A. 3. G. Rhodes, M.H.R., wrote respeotiDg site for offioe, asking information as to whether any other local body had been given a site by ibhe Government.—After a disousiion, members deoided to go and look at one or two site* on the conclusion of the meeting. The secretary of the Charitable Aid Board wrote asking for an estimate of the amount required for charitable aid in the county during the year. ACCOUNTS. Accounts to the amount of ,£442 8s 2d were paased for payment, and too meeting terminated,