GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2423, 10 November 1892, Page 4

GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Qaralduis Gotuity Council was hold on Saturday. V/. Balfour (chairman), R, Mackay, J. M. Barker, and M. Quinn. An apology was read from Mr Howell on account of illhealth. WATER-RAGES. The rangers’ reports wore read. A. Gynes, Rangitata, inquired whether the owners of land were to clear their races; if so, they should get notice to clear before harvest. If he had to do it he must have the assistance of a man for four months. Several pieces of foul races which he had reported last month had had nothing done to them by the owners, Mr A. Brown, Peel Forest, was granted permission to cut a branch race on his farm.

G. Crozier reported the Seadown races in good condition, with a good supply of water. He had made some necessary repairs in concrete at the headworks.

The Orari Plat races were reported to be in good order. W. Fly, Geraldine Flat, reported the river banking up, and that an embankment at a flume had given way, and he had had to cart clay to puddle it. It was still leaking.—Mr Marchant said he would go up this week to see it. engineers’ reports.

The engineers reported as follows ; « We are calling for tenders for broken stone metal at Saltwater Creek bridge, bridge, and also for sheep-fencing at Tengawai stock bridge. Wo ask the council to make arrangements for the acceptance of these. Just before the last council meeting we had inspected the Tengawai river with the chairman of the council and Mr A. Mee, in order to see if the water could be diverted under the Tengawai traffic bridge, and so improve the crossing for traffic. There should be no difficulty in effecting this if the council will go to the expense of making permanent protective works. Another view of the case is, that by so turning the river protection would be given to be low-lying flats from Cooke’s farm downwards. As we previously reported, this tract of country is in a most dangerous condition, and in our eyes is only awaiting a really heavy and continued flood to convert an extensive area of rich and valuable land as it now is e into a riverbed.’ ”

Mr Marchant stated that he proposed to asphalt the Saltwater Creek bridge, and put broken metal upon the asphalt. That ought to preserve the decking for a groat many years. The chairman stated that he went with Mr Marchant and Mr Mee to inspect the Tengawai, and they inspected it thoroughly from the stock bridge up to the protective works put down by the Levels Road Board. There was no doubt that a great deal of damage had been done by the river in the last six mouths, and it was equally certain that more damage would be done if some steps were not taken to prevent it. He did not say that it was the council’s business to undertake the protection of the threatened lands, but someone should undertake it. The council was the only public body which had'any power to do works of that kind, and if the council did not undertake it they could, and should, indicate to the settlers what steps wore incumbent upon them for their own protection. It was certain that very serious damage would be done if protective measures were not taken.

Mr Marchant said that ho had not estimated the cost, but £3OO could be spent with good effect, though more would be needed to make a thorough defence. The more he looked at the river the more dangerous he thought it. The people ought to be made understand how very serious a danger threatened them. It was painful to see so many people living in a fool’s paradise, as they were, leaning on the council, hoping the council would do all that was necessary. The council would get the blame if a disaster happened, and, therefore, should either decide to do something or let the people know that they would do nothing. It would be wrong to allow such a state of things to continue. Mr Barker said the question of cost was secondary. The first point to settle was whether the council was to do anything. The chairman road a letter from Mr Howell in which he stated that if the question of the diversion of the Tengawai cropped up he hoped the council would treat it as a part of a well-thought-out Bcliomo for liio vrliolQ ol the rivers i otherwise he could not but feel that they would ba unjust to the ratepayers as a whole if they launched out Into a great expense in this one instance. Mr Quinn mentioned that lower down the river, near Kerrytown, a few farmers had lost many acres of land and had spent a lot of money in protecting their farms. If the council spen t their funds iu protecting the Point these farmers would have a good claim to bo recouped their expenditure, and there would b;» heaps of applications sent iu for protection of property. Mr Barker said It would not do for the council to spend their funds for such a purpose, or there would bo no limit to the drain upon them. Ratepayers on the hills would certainly object. The council should write to some of the principal men in the l.ioahty informing thorn of the nature of Uiecugineois 1 report, and advising them to form a board. Mr Marchant said the shingle in the liver was level with the grass lauds; there was no bank to retain the water, and a heavy flood would go over the whole place. It was a sad thing to see people living in such a sense of false security, like those living on the slopes of Vesuvius.

Mr Stubbs, the secretary, recalled the fact that in 18CS a flood covered nearly the whole of the Levels Plains, and another some years later a great part of it.

It was resolved, on the motion of Mr Mackay, seconded by Mr Quinn —‘‘ That in reference to protecting the Tengawai river banks above the traffic and stock bridges at tlio Point it will bo notified to those concerned that tho council are of opinion that tho course of the proper tyowners who aro interested is to form a Board of Conservators for tho purpose of carrying out such works as are necessary for the protection of the land endangered.” MISCELLANEOUS. A letter from Mr A. E. G. Rhodes, was read, advising the Council to make a fresh application for the timber in the Oxford- Temuka bridge, as it was so many years since permission to take it was given, that, the timber not having been made use of, the grant might lie taken to have lapsed.—Mr Stubbs said he had written to the Minister of Public Works, but had not yet recoived a reply. It was resolved that the clerk take legal action to recover all unpaid rates. Mr Quinn inquired how it was that -witnesses for the Council in the Seannel prosecution had not been paid their expenses; if such expenses wore not paid they could not expect people to give evidence for them in future. —Mr Stubbs ho was not aware they had, not been

paid, Jlo was applied to by soma Miwr wituesßOSj hu4 «ot knowing tHo amount they were 911 titled to, took them to the fiolioitof’s office. BRIDGE OVER THE ORARI. Mr Quinn also mentioned the matter of the stock bridge over the Orari asked for some time ago by settlers east of the railway, and it was decided that the engineers report fully at next meeting, endeavoring to reduce the length and cost, if possible. A few accounts were passed for payment and the meeting terminated.