GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2305, 14 January 1892, Page 3

GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The usual monthly meeting of the Geraldine County Council was held yesterday. Present—Messrs W. Balfour (chairman), J. Talbot, and W. B. Howell. On the minutes being read, Mr Talbot questioned the accuracy of the record of some remarks made by him at the previous meeting, respecting the dispute between the clerk and the over the number and state of of water districts in the office, but it was decided to defer the matter until next meeting. WATER RACES. The engineers reported as follows: A|/Waitohi The term of maintenance fou these contracts has now expired and the works should therefore now be taken in charge by the Council. All the extra branch races required have either been constructed or are in course of execution and the water is traversing the district in a satisfactory manner generally. We have laid out the race applied for by Mr Gilliatt. We estimate the of constructing it at about £l2 to £ls. The plans required by the Water Supply Act were duly completed by the date required.” Mr Marchaut stated that some subsidence had taken place in embankments at Waitohi, and the contractor had to make these good. —lt was resolved to grant the water supply asked for by Mr Gilliatt. The Seadown ranger reported that he had repaired the head works dam and had maintained a good head of water. Messrs Humphrey and Grant were not getting on well with the making of their bppclrracethey had given up one line and were trying another. The Woodbury ranger reported that some of the boulder work at the headwoitkß had been washed away by a flood, owibg to the wire lacing giving way through decay. Repairs were in hand. The races were in good order. ' The Orari-Rangitata ranger reported that the padlock on one of the sluice gates had, been wilfully broken. The races were in good order, and had a good JcHqw of water. Gorse on Mr Badham’s was choking the race. , It was agreed to report the matter of the broken lock to the police as a case of wilful destruction of property. The Geraldine Flat races were reported to be in good order. ' The members of the Waitohi Flat Voluntary Committee wrote expressing their willingness to act, and requested to be informed whether there was any contract with regard to the services of Mr Radford as clerk of works. The committee were unanimous in thinking that his services would not be required when the ranger took up his duties.—lt was stated that notice had been given to Mr Radford.

Mr' H. Coulter, Eangitata district, wimp forwarding rate for interest, but he deoßned to pay the maintenance rate.— The clerk stated that a case was now in the hands of the court. an explanation.

Mr W. S. Maslin, auctioneer, waited on the council and made an explanation respecting the sale of old bridge timber at Orari. He did not complain about the resolution passed by the council, but about the remarks reported in the papers to have been made by members. There Were statements made that were positively false, and those making them must have known they were false. The chairman read the newspaper report. Mr Maslin said ho could give ample justification of the price obtained. The pi# decking taken off was used again so it could be used; what was left was then picked over for water-race

purposes, and the material then remaining was nothing but rubbish. He did V,jjot think there was a sound' plank in it. .X rji]| ere ' y a s only' 10,500 feet,' taking the pieasuromQut of the planks as when new.

17 years ago, and it was divided into 39 lots of 12 planks, or about 500 feet each, on that reckoning. It would take a little more than three lots to make a cord of firewood, and the price obtained was above the local rates for best wood. It would take nearly five lots to give 100 posts, which would make the posts 30s per 100. , After some further remarks, and ah ' explanation by Mi.Marchant, the council’s engineer, the chairman said the council were perfectly satisfied with Mr Maslin’s explanation and he withdrew. ORARI BRIDGE. The Geraldine Road Board wrote stating the fences of the approaches to the Orari bridge were not sheep proof, and great inconvenience was caused by sheep getting through.—The x’oad board to be requested to see to the fencing for the council. SLAUGHTERHOUSES. Reports, with returns, were received from the police officers recently appointed inspectors of slaughterhouses in the county. Constable reported that those in tne Timaru district, except the freezing works and Messrs Peacock and Geaney’s, were not too well kept, and he had given notice to licensees to keep their slaughterhouses and yards cleaner. He reported two prosecutions for breaches of the Act.' Constable Egan, Temuka, reported one dirty place, and that he had o-iven notice to n-bcite tlie nuisance. Cohstable Stanley, Pleasant Point, reported all the places well kept. Constable Willoughby, Geraldine, reported satisfactorily in all but one case. He said a licensee, Mr Lawson, had no killing premises on his licensed section, and killed at various places. It was decided to give Mr Lawson notice to comply with the terms of his license within a month or lose his license. Accounts amounting to £644: 19s lOd were passed for payment, and the meeting terminated.