GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2267, 15 October 1891, Page 2

GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Geraldine County Council was held yesterday. Present—Messers W. Balfour (chairman), R. Mackay, J. Talbot, and M.Quinn, WATER RACES. Mr Talbot reported on tbe result of an interview he and Mr Quinn h?,d had with. Mr Humphrey and others o;n north-east Seadown, who desired to have the water extended to their land. He understood the water could be supplied to them for £SO or £6O, and Vhat the applicants weret willing to make a substantial contribution to the cost. He moved that the application be granted • provided the applicants agree to pay one third of the cost, and that tenders be called for the work as soon as a guarantee of such payment is given.— . , ' ; ‘ Messrs J* Page and Kennedy waited on the council to ask for a watersupply for Rangitata Island, east of the railway. Mr Page said there were 14s ratepayers, all of whom desired the water. The area to be served was about 10,000 acres. They wished to know first whether if any preliminary expenses were incurred and the work was not gbne on with, would the ratepayers haver t o .pay them, and if so how much would they be likely to come to.—Mr Page was informed that when there was areal desire for wate^

the council made the preliminary ex ami nation without charge to the rate payers, and if the work went on the cot was charged to the loan. The usual thin wai for the ratepayers to sign a stating the areas of their holdings and valuations, asking for a water supply. Mr Talbot thought there was nc necessity to wait for the formal petition, and he moved, and it was carried, that the engineer make a trial survey and furnish approximate estimate of cost. Mr Mackay raised the question whether the council could borrow money for this work as they had already undertaken work to the full extent of their borrowing powers for this and next year. The engineer reported that the Waitohi head-race contract was proceeding but slowly ; the water was urgently needed, and they awaited the council’s instructions as to what steps should be taken with regard to it. The contract time expired on the 16th September. The distributing races’ contract was practically completed as far as constructive works were concerned, but could not be properly finished nor measured up until water was available. The rangers in the several districts reported all in good order, except in Rangitata and Woodbury there was reason to complain of growing gorse and gorse-cut-tings blokfng races. The clerk of works on the Waitohi race contracts reported on the two contracts. The water could not be turned on for a week yet. There were 19 men and horse teams at work. Mr Calvert, contractor for the distributing races, wrote complaining of loss through the water not being turned on. Besides the loss of time, stock were treading down the race banks, and he estimated the loss from this cause at £3 per day. Mr Marchant said he had urged the contractor for the headworks as much as he could to push on, but he complained that he could not get men. It was resolved on the motion of Mr Talbot seconded by Mr Quinn, —“ That the contractor for No 1 contract be informed that a claim for damages has been made upon the Council for No 2 contract, in consequence of the delay in turning water into the races.” It was mentioned that there were two or three people desirous of buying or leasing the land bought by the council at the head of the Waitohi race, and it was agreed that it would be better to sell it. The engineers submitted a report on the subject of watering the Otipua district. The area defined on the accompanying map was 5800 acres. The proposed site of intake was immediately by Mr Elworthy’s limekiln on the south bank of the Pareora. 825 ft of filming would be needed to carry the water across the river. The cost was estimated at £2600. Allowing £l3O per annum for interest, and £7O for maintenance, the annual cost per acre would be slightly over 8d per acre, per annum. —Plan and estimate to be aeferred to the petitioners for consideration. A note from the Colonial Secretary pointed out that the poll on the question of raising a loan for the Waitohi races was taken for the original district. A fresh poll must be taken for the enlarged district—Mr Stubbs said he had acted upon this, and advertised the preliminary meeting, BRIDGES. The engineers reported that the repairs to the Orari bridge were proceeding satisfactorily, but the work was being delayed by the non-delivery of the balance of black-birch planking. Tenders for repairs to the Saltwater Creek bridge had been invited, and they would be glad to have the council consider the proposed regulations for traffic during the repairs. Tenders were opened for the Saltwater Creek bridge repairs as follows :—W. Fletcher, £298 10s (accepted), D, Sturrock, £323 Is 6d. [The remainder of the report will appear in our next issue.]