LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2187, 11 April 1891, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Gbbalmhb Foad Boaeb. —The monthly meeting of the Geraldine Road Board will be b'ld on' Monday next.

Timaru A. and P, Association. —The annn*l meeting of (his association takes place this afternoon. Rack Privileges To-day Messrs Gracia, Maclean and Co. sell the privileges in connection with the forthcoming meeting of the S.O. Jockey Club.

The Governor at Auckland. —The Governor and the Countess of Ooslow gave a ball at Government Boose on Thursday night. About 509 guests were present. Primitive Methodist Church. A harvest thanksgiving service will be held in the Primitive Methodist Church, Geraldine, to-morrow. The service will be conducted by the Rev. Mr Wood. Prohibition —On Monday evening a public meeting will be held in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Geraldine, to discuss the subject of prohibition. The names of the speakers at the meeting appear in another column. Garden Party at Timaru. —A “Garden Party” in ail of the funds of Sf. Mary’s Church, Timaru, took place on Thursday afternoon last, there being an attendance of between 405 and 500. About £BO was netted.

Free Reading Room —A free public reading-room, making the second in Dunedin has been opened in Walker street. The room was built at the b»ok of (be Mission Hall, and suitably furnished by a lady who desired to be anonymous. A Stup D Hoax. —What is apparently a cruel and senseless hoax baa been committed by soma one in connection with the Kakanui. A bottle has been picked up on the Peninsula which, on being opened, was found to contain a cigarette card with the fol'owing inscription “31 91. Kakanui seen off Chatham Island disabled. Crew supposed to be on Island ; send assistance at once.”

SYNOPSIS OF ADVERTISEMENTS

F, Newman—lmpounding notice. Mount Peel Road Board —Tenders for works. R. H. Pearpoint—Has lost £5 note ; payment stopped. N.Z. Railways—Train anangements for Timaru Races, etc. W, R. Border—Advertises Howard’s celebrated digging ploughs. Geraldine Public School—Treat to the children on Thursday next. Geraldine Rifles—Annual meeting of members on Thursday next. Harvest Thanksgiving Service —At Primitive Methodist Church to-morro'*'. Prohibition Meeting—Oddfellows’ Hall, Geraldine, on Monday evening at 8 o’clock. Temuka Boot Store—Business notice ; all kinds of English and Colonial boots on sale. J, B. Rutland & Co.—Particulars re sale on account of Mr Q. Gibbs on Wednesday next. Geraldine County Council—Notice re dog registration ; special order re Waitofai Flat water race E. E. Guinness and A. E, Cox—Sell sheep, cattle, pigs, etc., at Geraldine stock sale on the 15th inst. H. 8. Webster & Co. Entries for Geraldine stock sale ; live and dead stock at the Geraldine sale oo the 16th inst. on account of Mr Fitzgerald. J. Mundell & c 'o. —Winchester sale on the 14th inst. ; Geraldine stock sale on the Xsth inst. ; sale of freezers and forward store sheep at Temuka yards on the v

GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The follow pg ia the conclusion of our report of Wednesday’s meeting of the council ;

WAT EE EACES. Messrs Chi Lei-t and Jiooney, whose tender for the Waitohi head-works had been accepted, but who afterwards declined to lake up the work, waited on the council to explain and ask for the return of their forfeited

deposit of £SO. I hey stated that they got a price for the concrete and timber work, but when they got the contract the man would not stick to his offer, so they could not stick to theirs.—After a discussion it was decided to return the deposit less £3O.

A special order was made striking an annual-recurring fd in tbe £ on the Waitohi water-race district to provide interest on the water-race loan.

It was agreed to have the Waitohi petition re-signed. Tbe report of the engineers on the Levels water-supply scheme was read, and, after some discussion, it was resolved that the report be laid before the ratepayers interested as early as passible- The plan shows that the main race would be 40 miles in length, winding about very much in its course to tbe proposed termination for the present, the north side of tbe Washdyke gorge, opposite Mr E. T. Rhodes’ house. The total area of country watered by the proposed system is 25,000 to 27,000 acres, reckoning half a mile on each side of the main races; the estimated cost £7OOO.

The secretary said the council could only borrow £6OOO in one year according to the Act. This year £3OOO had been borrowed for Waitohi, and there was the Otipua scheme in hand also. There would be £12,000 wanted altogether. It was, however, considered that this difficulty could be got oyer in some way or other, the Government to be consulted on the subject. BEIDGES. The engineer reported as follows; — “ Orari—We have closed the Orari bridge to wheeled traffic, and opened a ford across the riverbed. We think public notice should be given warning people that they must take the risk of crossing the bridge, as we think it quite possible that a heavy draught horse might put his foot through some decayed plank. We arranged with Mr C, Hewson for the purchase of his small section on the northern branch of the river for the purpose of opening a ford ; on the southern side we were able to make the ford approach without touching private psoperty. (Estimates given for planking bridge to reduced width, and for reduction to stock bridge). Opibi Bridge, Main Eoad —This bridge is giving great trouble in repairing the wornout planking which frequently breaks through in the joints under the heavy loads traversing the bridge. We think the council must before long face the question of entirely renewing the planking on the old portion of the bridge, and which, when done, should be laid crosswise instead ©£ longitudinally as at present. Had the planking been laid crosswise at first we do not think it would have required renewal so soon Tengawai Bridge—The contractor for the stock bridge and repairs to existing bridge is making good progress. In connection with the subject of bridges we again draw the Council's attention to the necessity that exists for regulating the traffic of traction engines over them and over the roads generally. Hone of the bridges, with the exception of the Opihi bridge are fit to carry them, neither is there the slightest necessity for the engines to cross them, with the exception of the Opihi bridge. Last mouth 5 planks were broken and sprung in the Winchester bridge by the careless driving of a traction engine over it. By the direct instruction of the Council the bridge was rebuilt to carry ordinary horse traffic only, as a first class ford exists alongside it there was consequently no occasion for the engines to cross it. We think steps should immediately be taken to prevent this reckless and unnecessary destruction of public property.” On the motion of Mr Howell, the question of regulating the traffic of traction engines on public roads and bridges was referred to a committee consisting of the chairman, Mr Guild, the engineer, and the mover. The engineer asked for, and was given, authority to purchase 25 or 30 tons of old rails for stock bridge and protective works. The engineer reported that he met the Geraldine road overseer there, and Mr Bhiers had opened a ford across the Orari at the traffic bridge. A letter from the Mount Peel Eoad Board protested strongly against the closing of their bridge and substituting a ford.—The Temuka Eoad Board, at the suggestion of the Mount Peel Board, supported the latter’s protest This board agreed with the Mount Peel Eoad Board in recommending the redecking of the bridge on a reduced width of lift. A petition signed by over 200 persons was also received to the same effect.— After an animated* discussion, Mr Guild moved that the council do. not see their way to incur the expense of restoring the Orari bridge. He approved of stock bridges, bat traffic bridges over such rivers as the Orari were luxuries they could not afford. It was finallv

agreed to postpone the decision on the case until next meeting, to allow Mr

i in Quinn to be present, and to give other ratepayers an opportunity of expressing an opinion about, by petition, if they saw fit. MISCELLANEOUS A discassion took place on tbe suitability of a building for an office under offer, and a‘ resolution was passed authorising the chairman to approach the owner with a modification of the offer, Tbe appointment ®f Mr E Pilbrow to be clerk to the Temuba Licensing 1 Committee was sanctioned by tbe Government Department. Tbe direction and authority from the harbor board to collect the harbor rate was received and read, together with an explanation of the new procedure. —Notice to be given to the local bodies of the amounts required from each. These amounts for the year are : —Hoad Districts : Levels, £760 lls 8d ; Temuka, £369 19s 4d ; Geraldine, £246 15s Id ; Mount Peel, £199 Issd. Town Districts: Temuka, £2B 8s 6d ; Arowhenua, £9 13s lOd ; Geraldine, £2O 10s 2d; total, £1635. It was resolved to authorise subregistrars of dogs to prosecute owners of unregistered dogs. Permission was given to Mr W. Pringle to obtain a second class slaughterhouse license for his farm. Accounts to the amount of £7ll ; 15s 7d were passed for payment, i The present credit balance was stated to be about £BOO.