GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2383, 16 July 1892, Page 2

GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Geraldine County Council was held on Thursday. Present—Messrs W. Balfour (chairman), R. Mackay. W. B. Howell, J. M. Barker, j M. Quinn, and J. Talbot. AyA'J'EK-EACES. The engineers reported as follows on water-races; —The branch race, Marshall's to Humphrey's, in the Seadown district, has been satisfactorily compteted at a total cost ai £7l) Os 10o\ We append a statement of account showing adjustment between the parties concerned. Mr Dwan applied to have the above race extended through his property. The cost of doing so would not exceed £2O. Mr Humphrey's upper farm is now served with a branch race through Mr Wooffenden's. The cost of this race lias been very Bijiall, but we do not yet know the exact amount. We have inspected the races constructed in the Raugitata district by Messrs Cadwallader & Campbell. Subject to a few amen4a#eii£s.. }jd>iph we have instructed the ranger to see "earned out, they are quite satisfactory. The rangers' reports were on the whole satisfactory, one or two complaining of neglect of certain settlers to clear gorse out of the raises. The Seadown ranger reported that the river was very low in the middle of the moutllj so that he had to get a horse and dray to cart boulders , ty ''tlitlil np tjte stream. The Waitohi comni 4 *'* o * reminded the gouncil that the term for wind 1 they were appointed had expired. They were *2]U»g to continue to act if the council desired it. Details of work done and required were given.— On the recommendation of Messrs Quinn and Talbot, it was determined t° reappoint the voluntary committee for Waitohi for twelve months, no intimation having been received that the ratepayers wished the committee to be elected. Councillors expressed the opinion that the council would be glad to sec the mme system adopted by other districts. The engineers were instructed to inspect a leak in "the Waitohi race which h injuring Mr Hullen's land, and suggest a remedy. Messrs J. P. Scowan and C. W. Eichbaum wrote claiming exemptions from water rates for Walton Mill farm, as the race water was not used, there being an abundant supply from other sources. Messrs H. Oldfield, J. Hedley, and A. Beck, lower Seadown; and A. W. Campbell, Cooper's Creek, Raugitata, wrote claiming exemptions from water rates under by-law 3 for their lands or portions of them, and the three iirstuumed demanded a return of the rates,

already paid on illegal claims. —It was stated that this rule applied to the maintenance rate only, exemption from which could be claimed in writing. There could be no refund. Mr G. Winter, Rangitata, wrote asking that his water rates be fixed on the new valuation, as the old one was unfairly high for his land. Mr A. M. Clark complained that the Waitohi races on his land were banked up over low places, and by damming natural water-ways caused stagnant pools. He ,vould expect the council to pay for the damage thus done to the land.— Referred to the local committee for advice. The Levels Road Board wrote requesting the council to put a stop to the overflow of race water on the Point road at Mr Stevenson's farm ; also complaining of injury to a piece of road near Lyons', Kerrytowu, by the blocking of natural drainage by race embankment.—To be attended to. SMALL BIRDS. A circular from Mr J. D. Ritchie, Secretary for Agriculture, urged the local bodies to co-operate in the destruction of small birds, and a memo, from the A. and P. Association suggested that the County Council should take the matter in hand.—Mr Talbot thought that the local bodies were doing the best that could be done. Mr Balfour said the Levels Road Board thought the county should bear the expense of any action, so as to distribute the cost better. The Levels board now had a man employed to distribute poison, who used something he called " Flour of malt" to hide the bitterness of the poison. He believed that the boards had thrown away hundreds of puunds by distributing poisoned wheat in bags to farmers. Mr Talbot had come to the conclusion that the purchase of eggs was a waste of money. Mr Howell tli ought the council should not undertake the work unless they were requested to do so by all road boards. —It was agreed, on the suggestion of Mr Talbot, that the other boards should be written to, informing them that the Levels board had asked the council to undertake the work, and asking them for their opinion about it. BRIDGES. The engineers reported as follows on bridges : —We have advertised the Pareora bridge for sale by tender on a specification we have drawn up. The protective fence at Pareora has been satisfactorily completed at a total cost of £65, including cost of iron piles. We inspected Mrs Stuart's application for a protective fence at the Te Ngawai stock bridge. We are of opinion that a fence 250 ft long extending down stream from the protective fence of the stock bridge at the southern end would improve the ford at this place considerably by preventing a strong current sweeping along the terrace during floods. In flood time this crossing is not at all safe, as a deep channel is always scoured out at the foot of the terrace. This advantage the fence would obviate. [Estimate of cost given]. We have inspected the Orari river on Rolleston's road in order to form an idea of the cost of a bridge there in accordance with the petition addressed to the Council. It would require 720 ft of bridging to properly span the river. For a stock bridge composed of new timber the cost would be £550 to £6OO. This might be reduced by using timber from the old Oxford-Temuka railway bridge. In reference to the protection at Mrs Stuart's, Mr Howell said that as the council had taken over the fords at bridges they must do their best with them, and the erection of the fence was agreed to. As to the Orari bridge on Rolleston's road, the estimate made was for a stock bridge, Mr Marchant said a traffic bridge like that at Raincliff would cost £I2OO or £I3OO. For the stock bridge the use of old timber would reduce the price to £4OO or £SOO. The bridge must be a long one to reach from terrace to *errace. —After some debate it was agreed that a traffic bridge was out of the question, and that further consideration should be given to the question of a stock bridge. Tenders were opened for the purchase and removal of material of the superstructure of the Main Road Pareora bridge in three sections. No. 1 section, seven spans of main bridge and three small pieces, W. H. Tubb, £8 10s. No. 2 section, eight central spans of main bridge, no tender. No. o section, eight spans of main bridge and south approach, W. Quinn, £4s.—The tenders were considered ridiculous, and it was decided to return them, and to let the bridge stand till the covin pi} find some use for the timber, Mr Quinn stated that there were complaints about breaches of the bylaws and of the Police Offences Ac*, in the traffic of traction engines in the Temuka district, both in the way of crossing bridges, and driving the engines at night without lights.—The. attention of the police to be called, to the matter. SLAUGHTER HOUSES. Slaughtering licenses were granted to Messrs J. Bryan (cheese factory), Temuka, B. Gould (Glengummel), ajid and F. W. Wright ' The respective boards had ho objection. THE LATE SIR H. ATKINSON. On the motion of Mr Talbot, seconded by Mr Howell, it was resolved " That this council place on record it appreciation of the valuable services rendered to the colony by the late Sir H, A. Atkuisoj.i throughout his long political career ; also its deep feeling of regret for his death, and of sympatliy and condolence with Lady Atkinson and family in ttyjiY bereavement, ACCOUNTS, Accounts amounting- to £5lO were passed and the meeting terminated.