GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2502, 13 May 1893, Page 3

GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the GeraHine County Council was held on Thursday. Present Messrs Balfour (chairman), Howell, Talbot, Mackay, Barker and Quinn. engineers' report. Messrs Meason and Marchant reported as follows: " Opihi Bridge—This bridge is in a decayed and dilapidated state, and in our opinion has been unfit for heavy traffic for a long time past. Had it not been for the constant attention bestowed on it by the Temuka Road Board the Council would have had to amend it long ago. It has gone from bad to worse, the planking and joists are badly decayed on their bearings, and decay has set in iu several parts of the structure. We think that nothing short of a complete reconstruction will be of the slightest use, as it is manifestly useless to put a new deck on a semi-rotten foundation. We propose then to deal with the origiual length of 1500 ft only of bridging for the present. The road traffic will continue to use the Temuka end of the bridge for a length of 750ft,thus crossing the main stream by the bridge, then descend from the bridge to the riverbed by means of an embankment, cross the riverbed and pass along a short piece of road at the southern side of the river, and so back to the main road. This will provide for the road traffic in a safe and as convenient a manner as possible. The stream at the southern side of the river will be diverted to the northern channel so that except in very heavy floods there will be no water for traffic to cross. The reconstruction of the bridge will be conducted as follows : —The specified length of the bridge to be entirely dismantled, and all joists and every timber examined for decay, and treated accordingly. The planking to be laid crosswise, on new ironbark longitudinals, these in turn resting on transoms carried by their girders. All the timber in the bridge will be worked up as far as possible after removing the decayed portions, and the whole of the OxfordTemuka railway bridge timber to be cut up also and used in it. A considerable amount of new decking will be required outside that to be procured from the joists of the old bridge and the railway timber. This we suggest to the Council should be ironbark. This would be of course a much more expensive timber than black birch, but. we think the extra cost would be well repaid by its very much greater durability. The bridge carries an enormous traffic, and we think that black birch would wear out in half the time that iroubark would. By adopting the course we have outlined, will make the bridge practically speaking as sound as when new, and much stronger than it ever was. We estimate the cost of dismantling and°rebuildingthe bridgeing, 1500 ft in length, at from £2200 to £2500. It entirely depends ou the condition of the timbers, which will be revealed when dismantled. The above estimate could be reduced perhaps by £SOO or £6OO if less expensive timber than ironbark were used. It is for the Conncil to say whether this shall be done ; we think the money would not be well saved. Before very long it will be necessory for the Council to consider the question of reconstructing the remainder of the bridging at the northern end. When this is undertaken the ordinary flow of the river must be diverted from the present channel to the southern side so as to let the traffic cross dry-shod. " Water Races. —We made an inspection of the water-race district at Fairfield and Geraldine Downs. In the case of the former it presents no special difficulties, and we think the water could be supplied at a reasonable cost. The headrace would intersect the downs, for which we cannot give an estimate of cost unless a detailed survey is made of the work. In the case of the Geraldine Downs, a water supply to them would of necessity be much more expensive than anything we have hitherto done in the county. We believe a supply to these downs is quite possible with the exception of the very highest part, but it would necessitate an exhaustive survey to afford a basis for making a reliable estimate." After discussing a few details, it was resolved that the work oa the Opihi bridge be put in hand at onoe, and the engineer was instructed to prepare plans and specifications.

THE LATE PREMIER. Mr Mackay moved, and Mr Quinn seconded —"That this Council deeply regret the loss the colony has sustained through the death of the Hqii. John Ballance, to whose administration the colony is largely indebted for the present satisfactory condition of the finange, That the above be entered on tji§ mniutes of the Council, and a copy of the same be sent to Mrs Ballance, together' with an assurance of the Council's sympathy with her in her bereavement." Mr Howell did not see that it would be right to predit Mr Ballance with all the improvement in the colony's finance. They could all concur in an expression of sympathy with Mrs Ballance. Mr Mackay said there was a good deal of truth in it, If the «' other side " had been in power they would have agreed to it.

Mr Barker : Not at all, Mr Talbot agreed with Mr Mackay. Seeing that the financial posit'CTi 0 f colony had como out so much better than was they should give the credit co those who had administered the finances, Rightly or wrongly he thought that the administration of the finances had been such that the dolorous representations that had been made concerning it had been falsified. The finance had come out right, and they should give the credit for that where it was due. Mr Howell said he would not vote against it, but he would have preferred to see the motion cut down and simplified. The motion was put and carried 'tiam can,.

WATER RACES. The chairman reported that he had seen Mr A. M. Clark regarding his complaint of damage to land by overflow from the Waitohi races. He was shown the places and saw that the overflow was caused by subsidence of embankments across hollows. In reply to a question Mr Balfour could not say whether or not there would be any overflow if Mr Clark cleaned out the races. After a good deal of discussion it was resolved—-'That the engineer be requested to inspect the races complained of Mr Clark, and report at the next meeting of the Council." A long discussion took place on the question of enforcing the by-law to compel owners to clean raws or to pay the cost of cleaning them by men put on by the rangers, and it was agreed that the by-law ought to be enforced until the

ratepayers in some combined manner demanded tae adoption of some other system. Mr Talbot said he had seen a number of ratepayers in the Rangitata district and gathered that generally they ;m : against adopting the comm.ttee systejn. At the same time there was a great deai of dissatisfaction at the present system. Mr Balfour and Mr Quinn said there was no chance of Seadown adopting a committee, and a letter from Mr Dennistoun confirmed Mr Talbot's report concerning Rangitata. Mr Barker said Woodbury would probably be ready to adopt the system. After members had consulted Mr Marchant, Mr Talbot moved, Mr Barker seconded, and it was carried—" That the engineer be authorised to make a survey, and furnish estimate of cost to carry out the application of the settlers at Fairfiled for a water supply." The rangers' reports were read. Mr Crozier, for Seadown, wrote that every thing was satisfactory, and the freshes in the river had done no damage; he had to attend specially to one or two fords. Mr Beilly stated that the Woodbury races were in fair order. Mr G<mld reported that there was a good flow in the Orari-Waihi races. THE TENGAWAI DIVERSION. Mr Howell had given notice of motion to rescind a resolution passed last November, refusing to spend county funds in protecting private property, but it was pointed out that the resolution he wished to clear the way for did not conflict with the one his notice referred to, though at the previous meeting it was ruled that it did. Mr Howell then moved "That a sum not exceeding £250 be expended in dtverting the river Tengawai under the traffic bridge." Mr Mackay seconded this. •he mover stated that he had no idea of spending money for the protection of private property. There was a good bridge standing there useless, and it the river could be turned under for the sum he had fixed, it would bo a valuable exoeriment.

Mr Talbot repeated the objection he had previously raised that the application was really meant for the protection of private property. Mr Barker was sure that if this were done a precedent would be created for the piling up of similar claims among them. A letter was read from the Levels Road Board, covering a resolution asking the council to widen the Btock bridge, so as to make it available for light vehicles and better suited for crossing fat sheep. Mr Marchant being asked for his opinion of this proposal said that it would only make a botch of the bridge, and as far as engineering went, it would certainly be better to divert the river. If the bridge were widened for light traffic they could not keep heavy traffic off it.

The Geraldine Road Board, forwarded a resolution protesting against any expenditure of county funds on protective ■works on the Tengawai, as according to the evidence the works were wanted for protection of private peoperty and not for the protection of county bridges. If money was spent on such works th« Board would make a claim on the council for a refund, of the expenditure of £SOO spent by the board in protective works ac the Orari traffic bridge. Mr A. L. Barker, chairman of the Orari River Conseavatiou Board, wrote asking the Council to consider the issue involved before spending any county rates in protecting the banks of the Tengawai. If they once began such work there would be no end to it, and the Board of which he was chairman would consider whether it was not their duty to apply to the County for a refund of all the money they had expended since the formation of the County Council, to hand over their books, and dissolve the Board. Mr Barker enclosed in his letter one front MrJ. Guild, pointing out that if the County Council did any work on a river bank they beoaina liable for any damage consequent thereon, at any future time. The Orwri conservators, he thought would ask for a refund of the money they had spent. If such work was to be undertaken by t]je Council, an immediate demand should be made for works tQ fee carried out to movent thj Oi'ari through Temuka, as it was sure to do if the banks were not protected.

It was finally agreed to pass Mr Talbot's motion, Mr Howell's to be withdrawn till next meeting, when the alternatives can be properly prepared as to oost, etc. At the request of Mr Howell, the clerk was instructed to prepare a return of the expenditure and rates collected in the several ridings during the last three years. Mr Talbot moved, Mr Howell seconded, and it was carried—" That the ohairman of this council be authorised to signify to the Ashbiirton Comity Council its willingness to contribute half the cost of proposed stock bridge over the Rangitata river, and also to contribute half oost of maintenance of the sanie,"

FINANCIAL. The secretary to the Hospital Board forwarded a letter stating that the Council's contribution for the year would be £lops 17s 2d, and Mr Sfcubbs, clerk to the Council, for the information of members, filled in a return showing what each town and road board would have to contribute. Accounts amounting to £2BO 6s 4d were passed for payment, and the meeting terminated.