GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2253, 12 September 1891, Page 4

GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The montly meeting of the Geraldine County Council was held on Wednesday. Present—Messrs W. Balfour (chairman), R. McKay, J. M. Barker, J. Talbot, and W. B. Howell. An apology was received from Mr Quinn. EXPLANATION. Mr Howell said, the newspaper report of the last meeting made him say that Mr Tripp was the only agitator for the alteration of the constitution of the county councils. He could, not tax his memory with having said those exact words. Mr Tripp had asked him to deny that he had anything to do with it, and he wished to withdraw the words coupling him with it. Mr Tripp wrote : " I have nothing more to do with it than you have. I have taken no part in it, and have never thought of it except when Mr Flatman spoke of it." Mr Mackay supported Mr Tripp's denial. He wa3 at the meeting when Mr Flatman brought up the resolution, and certainly Mr Tripp had nothing to do with it. Mr Talbot said that he noticed in the Parliamentary reports that Mr Rhodes stated all the local bodies in the county were unanimous in desiring the change. That was not so. The Temuka Road Board were decidedly against it, and other boards did not agree -to it unanimously. Mr Rhodes stated he would move when in committee on the Bill io get the proposal inserted. That was acting rather hastily, for the scheme was put forward by a few members of road boards only; it had not 'been properly before the people at all. The secretary said Mr Rhodes had, been communicated with. ; WATER EACES. ' The usual reports from the rangers were read. • The clerk of works on the Waitohi race race contiacts reported that good progress had been made with ■ No. 1 contract, the head race, but the contract could not be completed in the contract time. It would take six weeks to finish.—The contractors wrote asking for an extension of the contraot time by three weeks, on the ground that severe frosts had prevented •them from working on a southerly face.— decided to leave consideration of the question of enforcing penalties untill the ..contract is completed. Messrs Humphrey and Smith, of north Seadown, Waited on the council to urge the claim of a block of land comprising about a dozen farms to be supplied with a water race; they had to pay rates, and had nothing for them. An estimate of the cost of the race required was about

£6O. * It was explained to Mr Humphrey that the whole of the loan raised had been spent in construction j and it was very doubtful whether the maintenance rate could be used for construction.—The deputation having withdrawn, Mr Talbot suggested that he and Mr Quinn should go and see the people concerned before next meeting, and the council approved of this course. . Mr D. Bell was granted an additional crossing for stock purposes over the deep head race at Waitohi. The engineers reported as follows : "The Waitohi works are being very satisfactorily constructed by both contractors, Messrs Cartwright and Calvert. The former will not have the works sufficiently far advanced so that water could be turned on within the contract

,"We have about half completed the trialsurvey of the proposed Otipu water diatriotj and wUL have the report and estimate of cost in readiness for next meeting." . Mr F. R. FJatman wrote asking how it was the Woodbury water rates had not been reduced.—The secretary stated there •was not a sufficient surplus in hand to allow of a reduction this year. Mr Barker pointed out that there were aome strange anomalies in the rating. Mr Postlethwaite's land had been valued for property tax purposes at £6 an acre all round. The estate had now been cut up and persons who bought, riverbed sections fit £4 10s others who bought good land at £l6 per acre, were equally rated on a £6. valuatipn.r-The secretary said lie could do nothing until the next •property tax assessment. " A petition signed by 38 settlers was received, praying for the constitution of a water distract on the Levels Downß. The . boundaries proposed for the district were set out in' full. Eoughly speaking they include the downs to the north of a line from the Cave to the Washdyke, less a • half-mile strip between Washdyke and Point already served by a Seadown branch race; total area about 23,000 acres.-~The engineers had previously made a flying survey and rough estimate, the latter about £7ooo.—After,discussion it was resolved that the necessary steps be taken ,to give effect to the petition. BRIDGES.

The Waimate County Council wrote asking that the consideration of the restoration of the Pareora bridge be held over for the present, m they were not in a position to deal with the question yet The request was agreed to. It was understood that the Waimate Council ore seeking to get a stock-bridge attached to the railway bridge. The chairman thought this would betoo farfrom the line of road. A resolution was received from the Levels Road Board, asking the council to assume control of the Saltwater Creek bridge, and after discussion, it w.asjresolved to agree to the road board's request, The question was raised whether the lihe .council should not also take over the Waihdyke bridge. The follw*»S report by the engineers

was read : . . » '.."Orari We tnaAe &n examination of the girders of this Bridge from end to end, and as we anticipated from s*eyious inspections found it generally ill an extent state of preservation. Two spans at the northern end require four new girders. "With this exception the bridge needs hardly any repair it its main timbers. " Opihi—We think notice should ; be given that this bridge is unsafe for traction engines in its present condition, and that drivers crossing it must do so at their own risk. Some of the girders have been considerably strained of late by traffic, and we do not consider it in a safe condition for such. « Saltwater Creek—This bridge consists ot three 33-ft spans, iron plate girders, .supported by groups of 2-inch wroughtiron pipes, decking of wood, and was Ibuilt some 18 or 20 years ago. We • stripped, decking of its covering of

clay and shingle in several places, and found about one-third or half of it completelyrotten. There is considerable tremor in the bridge under a passsing load, and we have no confidence at all in the system employed for supporting the girders, especially after having been constructed for so many years. The decking should be renewed at once, and we think ironbark piles should be driven alongside the iron pipes, as we do not consider the bridge safe for heavy traffic. We estimate the cost of repairs and reinstatement of the bridge at £260. It was resolved on the motion of Mr Talbot seconded by Mr Howell," That the ongineers be instructed to invite tenders for Saltwater Creek bridge, as per their report on the matter.'"—The mover said he regretted' having. to incur such an expenditure, but he saw no way of avoiding it. Mr Talbot,moved, and it was carried—- " That the clerk be instructed to notify that the Opihi bridge is unsafe for heavytraffic, and that owners of traction engines will incur a great risk in crossing the bridge in its present condition, which risk they incur after this notice on their own responsibility." MISCELLANEOUS. Some correspondence was received from the Harbour Board, respecting vfche rate for 1890. Inspector Pender wrote that the mounted constable would be allowed to act as inspector of slaughterhouses in the county.—The secretary was instructed to write and make final arrangements. \MrA;E. G. Rhodes, M.H.R., wrote that he would, as requested, oppose the ione-man-one-vote clause in the Counties Bill, and had taken notice of the council's remarks respecting small birds. It was agreed .to go into committee of the whole at the afternoon sitting next meeting to consider the new by-laws affecting traction engine traffic. ACCOUNTS. A resolution was passed giving the secretary power to sue for unpaid rates, and his adjustment of the valuation of a divided property, was formally adopted. Sundry claims amounting to £833 were' passed for payment. The balance sheet for the year ended March last just returned from the Government auditor and certified correct was received and ordered to be published.