GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2226, 11 July 1891, Page 2

GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Geraldine County Council was held on Wednesday. Present Messrs W. Balfour (chairman), J, Talbot A. Mackay, W. B. Howell, and J. M. Barker. An apology was received from Mr M. Quiim,

WATER RACES,

A letter was reud from the Treasury Wellington, pointing out that the securities for the proposed loan of £3OOO for the Waltohi water supply district could not be deemed sufficient because (1) the district was not properly described, (2) the rate decided on was not sufficent to provide for interest and charges on the loan. It would be necessary to obtain the ratepayers' consent to an .increased rate, and a gazette to correct description of the district. The chairmaii said it would be necessary to do all the work again, in taking a vote of the ratepayers. Mr Talbot said the ratepayers would not be asked to undertake the payment of a larger rate, as the enlarge-

ment of the district would make the xate already agreed to sufficient. The chairman : But they must turn up to vote. It would be unfortunate if they didn't. Mr Mackay : They will turn up so long as the weather keeps fine.

Mr Barker: Whose fault was it that the description was wrong. The Secretary said it arose in the first gazetting of the district.

Mr Barker : What will be done if they do not vote. Mr Howell : They will have to because there is so much money spent. Mr Talbot: I dont think there is much doubt about it.'—but they may. The chairman: We should have to stop the works. Mr Howell: And the whole country would have to pay for what had been done. How much is that ? The chairman : The contracts are all let; there is about £2OOO involved so far. Mr Howell : I think we may take it for granted that the thing will be passed. Mr Talbot had not the slightest doubt the ratepayers would reeognise that a mistake had been make and would make no difficulty about it. He moved.—" That the resolution passed by this council at a special meeting on June- 20th, 1891. enlarging and defining the boundaries of the Waitohi water supply district he now adopted." —Mr Mackay seconded the resolution which was carriedj -Mr Radford inspector of the Waitohi race works, reported that progess was being made. Mr J. Airry applied for a supply of water to his sections .near Lower Rangiiata school, he to cut the necessary race and pay the same rates ar those in the water district.—Agreed to.

Mr J. Fraser, Waitohiy wrote complaining that the race contractors had cut his fences and left gaps for stock to trepass and stray. —The attention of the contractors has been drawn to the matter. BRIDGES A separate report was made to the Opihi bridge. The bridge was now unsafe for traction engines or other very heavy traffic, owing to the planking being more or decayed in its own bearings ; the joists were also decaying. The fifty older spans were in the worst condition and they proposed to deal with that portion only at present, unless the council preferred to make one job of it, They proposed to dismantle the bridge entirely and rebuild it on an improved system, with crosswise planking. New string bark longitudinals would be used, and 10 juists removed from each span would come in for deeking planks, the balance of decking to be black birch if it could be got at a reasonable rate, if not, then string bark. The cost of 'reconstructing the 50 spans was estimated at £IBSO. This would be

lcuuuauie uy SjA\j\j uy saie OI Oil material and by £460 more if the ok , Oxford-Temuka bridge material were J used, so that the nett cost would be £I2OO or £I3OO. Mr Talbot doubted whether the finances would going on with the work at present, and the bridge would stand another years patching. Tenders were opened for the restoration of the Orari bridge :—D. Clouston, £557 U4s 9d; C, Wilson. £478 10s; C Brader, £353 10 ;. W. Fletcher (accepted), £285 4s. The council supplies timber to the value of £270, which is to be added to the tender to make up the cost, SLAUGHERHOUSES. H. M, Stonyer and W. Borrell applied for the sanction of the issue of slaugherhouses, {licenses, at Otipua aud Gapes Valley respectively. Granted subject to the consent of the roads boards. Some discussion took place on the inspection of slaugherhouses: on a letter from the T.A.P.A., suggesting that the police should be appointed inspectors as in other parts of country. Inquiry to be made if they can do it. FINANCIAL. On the motion of Mr Talbot, a general rate of }d in the £ waAtruck for the current financial year, payable on 15th August next. This is only the fourth rate struch since the County was formed. It was stated that a rate would meet the expenditure proposed this year, or very nearly.

Accounts amountiug to £GG6 were passed for payment and the council rose at 1 cJO p.m.