GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2291, 10 December 1891, Page 3

GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Geraldine County Council was held yesterday. Pretent—Messrs W, Balfour (chairman) W. B. Howell, J. Talbot, B. M. Barker, and M. Quinn. WATER RACES. Mr J. Radford, Clerk of Works on the Waitohi water race works, reported that No. 1 contract was nearly completed. There were road crossings to fence, and spoil banks to trim. Leakage along the terrace had taken up pretty well, the bottom and sides had been puddled, and sand had been tried. The head race would be completed in two or three weeks. Slips had been shored up with old bridge timber left on the ground. Weak places had also been planted with white popular. The contractor for No. 2 had men finishing up and making new branch races. He should bo done in three weeks.

Mr H. Ford, Newlauds, wrote that he would have necessary gates put for the accommodation of the race ranger, &c., and until they were fixed he would see that the races were kept in good order. The rangers in the several districts reported satisfactorily on the condition of the races generally. WAITOHI RACE. There were four applications for tne post of x’anger on the Waitohi races, Mr 11. Southby being selected for it. Mr Talbot raised the question of appointing a committee to supervise the management of the Waitohi races. He would give the committee control of the ranger, and they would advise the council on future eSstensions and diversions of races. The committee might be named by the council, or elected by the ratepayers concerned, in the simple and inexpensive manner that school committees are. He would prefer to see the committees elected, but in this case he could name the men who would most likely be elected, representative men well spread over the district. They could meet once a month, and certify that the ranger had done his work properly. He anticipated that a system of committee of advice would be found to work well, and that other districts would follow suit. J The ratepayers had to pay the cost of maintenance, so the management of the races were of vital importance to them, and if a committee of ratepayers could point out any way of reducing the expenditure the council would surely agree to it. He would go no further at present than to make them a committee of advice. They would save the council a good deal of work that the council did not understand, and it would be only right to let the ratepayers have a little voice in the management in their own district. It would be a boon to them, and if it did not answer it would not have the force of law and could be stopped any time. The chief duty of the committee would be to give the council a lead and see that the ranger’s time was properly occupied. Mr Talbot read a motion to appoint a committee, without any names.

|)lr Howell thought it would be a good thing to have a committee, but it should be elected. He was' sure the people would prefer it. Mr Quinn would wait until the ratepayers asked for the system. Mr Barker would not give the committee any control over expenditure. The Council were responsible for the money. Mr Howell: But they find the money. Mr Talbot gave the names he proposed, and these being approved, his motion was put and carried in the following form : “ That the following ratepayers in the Waitohi water supply district, Messrs T. Orr, W. Walker, W. Wright, J. E. Ackroyd, and M. Moore, be requested to act as a committee of advice to the council in all matters connected with the maintenance of the works, distribution of water, suspension of the ranger, etc., within this district; that should they consent to act, it bo for a period of six

months, when the council will if the system is continued ask the ratepayers to elect their committee.” SLAUGHTER HOUSES. The Chief Police Officer wrote respecting the appointment of mounted constables as inspector of slaughterhouses, approving of the rates of remuneration offered. The secretary stated he had given the necessary instructions to the constables, and they would report monthly. DOG TAX. It was decided to appoint police officers to be collectors of the dog tax, wherever possible. ACCOUNTS. The results of the sale by auction of the old timber from the Orari bridge was reported by the auctioneer, Mr Maslin, gross £l2 Gs, net £lO. Mr Marchant said there had been several complaints about the way the sale was conducted. He was told that the auctioneer put up “ one lot with the option of taking more/’ There were ahont 40 lots, containing about 25,000 feet of timber. The first lot was knocked down at a low price, and the buyer, when asked how many lots he, would take, said he would take them all. The whole ought to have fetched well on to £IOO. ,

Members expressed great astonishment ejaculating u A regular suck-in.” “ an outrageous thing,” “ A slaughter.” Some one said “ perhaps the auctioneer was not so much to blame; he has been reguarly caught.” Mr Howell moved and Mr Quinn seconded— c- That Mr Maslin be requested to furnish an explanation of the unaccountable lowness of price obtained for the Orari bridge timber.”—Carried. Another account was complained of, and an enquiry demanded. This was a claim for £9 15s, for carting six cart-loads of timber from Orari bridge to the Waitohi race works—l 3 days at 15s. Accounts were passed for payment and the council went into committee.