RANGITATA WATER-SUPPY DISTRICT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2540, 10 August 1893, Page 3

RANGITATA WATER-SUPPY DISTRICT.

At the request of Mr J. M. Backer, a member of the Geraldine County Council, about twenty ratepayers in the above district met him on Tuesday evening at the Rangitata Station Schoolhouse to discus 3 the question of water-race maintenance. Mr J. Murray was voted to the chair. Mr A. Metcalf moved and Mr McCarthy seconded—" That the Rangitata waterraco district be divided into three districts ; that a committee for each district be nominated by the County Council to hold offico for three year.s; that the council be asked to call tenders for the position of ranger for three years; and that the district divisions be :—(1) From t!io sea up to what is called the boundary fence, Orari Station, (2) from Rao's cross roads on a lino with the Orari bridge to Eam'itata, (3) from Rao's road to the head-works." The motion, after discussion, waß carried, only one ratepayer voting against

The chairman said that by sub-dividing the district into three districts tho committee would have a much smaller area of laud to look af cer, whilo the Rangitata district as a whole was much too large for one committee to attend to. Be would, aofc bw we. man from tendering

as ranger for three districts, for each committee could hold a ranger responsible for the work done in its own particular district, and if they did not pass his work the council would not pay him. Mr Barker, in reply to Mr Metcalf, said that any committee would not have the power to do away with the services of the engineer. It was absolutely necessary that an engineer should now and again visit the head-works, for if the latter were washed away at any time the council would be held responsible. A ratepayer here interjected that nothing had been done to the head-works for five years, and asked if it would not be better to employ an engineer when he was required, instead of paying him money for doing nothing. Mr Barker said that would be like shutting the stable door after the horse had fled; they might have five years without danger, and then in one day the whole head-works might be washed away. As a member of the Council, he would not take the responsibility of the head works if an engineer's services were dispensed with. The Rangitata district paid £2O for engineer's services this year, and they could not get the work done cheaper. Mr Murray agreed with Mr Barker that the headworks required the supervision of an engineer. A questiou was asked Mr Barker whether he thought it fair that the proposed new bridge over the Rangitata should be put near the beach to satisfy about half-a-dozen ratepayers in face of a petition from over one hundred ratepayers to have the bridge at the Main South Road, where it is most needed. Mr Barker replied that the funds would not allow of any bridge being made over the Rangitata for the next 18 months at least, the being all bespoke for that time, and although specifications were out for the proposed bridge, he was certain they would not be passed. In the meantime ratepayers who wanted the bridge at the Main South Road should continue hammering away at the Council.

The chairman proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Barker for attending the meeting, and answering questions. He considered it only just to the ratepayers that a member for the council should be present at their meetings. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the meeting.