GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2541, 12 August 1893, Page 4

GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Geraldine County Council was held on Thursday. Present—Messrs W. Balfour (chairman), R. Mackay, J. M. Barker, and M. Quinn. An apology was received from Mr Talbot. COUNTY CONXi’ERENCE. The chairman reported the business transacted at the conference of County chairmen at Ashburton, which has already been reported in our columns. SMALL BIRDS NUISANCE. The chairman, whilst expressing approval of the principle of the council s undertaking the business of poisoning birds throughout the county, was of opinion that the two men who have been employed are quite insufficient to get over the ground fast enough. He suggested that the several road boards be asked to engage men for the council, to distribute poison to be supplied by the Council. All the members emphatically endorsed the opinion of the chairman that more men were required, and it was decided to act at once on his suggestion, and ask the road boards to engage trustworthy men, to. make the best use of the remainder of the poisoning season. WATER RACES. The engineers reported that they had laid off all branches authorised throughout the county up to date, and attended to all other matters in connection with them. In regard to matters on which they received special instructions a separate report was given. Regarding the Geraldine Flat district they recommended that the head race be not cleaned at present, as the willows and other vegetation help to maintain the loose banks, and there is more water running than is required, the surplus escaping at a by-wash. On a complaint of Mr Kelman that water was overflowing, they reported that if Mr Kelman raised the banks of his ornamental pond and cleaned out the outfall race there would be no overflow. They did not find that D. Gregan had a legitimate ground of complaint. They had instructed A. Jones to remain in charge of the Geraldine Flat races until a fresh appointment was made, as it would be unsafe to leave the head race without a guardian in case a heavy flood came on. Particulars were given of the new branches laid off. A case was described in which water is supplied to a settler outside a water-district; the water is turned into a natural channel and then traverses 137 acres of land more than is paid fur. Notice should be given that unless the extra acreage is paid for the water will be prevented from running through it. The Soadown ranger reported the races were in good order. The river Opdii had been high several times, but had done no injury to the race except removing some of the willow trees that had been put down at the intake. The Geraldine Flat Committee sent in three tenders for the post of ranger, aud x’ecomraended that of J. Joe, at £9 for the four months, be accepted, and the council decided to accept it. _ The two other tenders were, one at £24, the other at £SO a year. The Orari-Waihi Committee reported that the races were in good order ; they had inquired whether the ratepayers had ' ; "'ed notice to clean out their races ~ -’“auing was done by the before the * hev f OUll d that councils order, ana . •’--•r,therewritten notice was not given, tiuj forethought the ratepayers should not be called on to pay for the work done. —The council decided that the amount must be paid. The Woodbury Committee reported that notice had been given to all rate r . payers to clean their races before the new ranger took charge of them. Tenders had been called for the rangership, and the committee recommended the acceptance of that of the old ranger, J. Riley, at £1 13s 4d per month. They had received stationery, minute book, plan of district, by-laws, etc. The report concluded—“We consider our committee will be useful in looking after the interests of the water supply district.” The Waitohi Committee reported that nothing unusual had occurred, but the heavy rains had caused a lot of extra work on the head race, and more still remains to be done. The headworks were all right. The Orari-Raugitata ranger reported on two or three complaints made. Mr Dennistoun had got all his races cleaned out. “ His big plough makes a good job cleaning out races.” Mr A. Metcalf wrote complaining that he had been charged Is 3d per chain for cleaning races, when he had to pay a maintenance rate for cleaning. He suggested that the district be divided into two, and committees appointed. A report was received from Mr J, Murray of the proceedings at a meeting of ratepayers in the Orari-Rangitata district. (Already reported in our columns.) Mr Barker explained the feeling of the meeting, which was fairly representative of the upper and middle divisions, less so of the lower division. Those present showed a preference for a nominated committee, to save the trouble of elections and also for a three years’ term. But the most important thing they considered w.) s the three years’ term,not for the sake of the elections in any way, but because the tenders for maintenance would bo lower for a term of three years than for one year. It was plain that in order for the work to be done cheaply it must be done with the plough, aud as ploughs are rather expensive things they would iiardly get men to lay out money in ploughs for one year’s work. On that -account they all objected to the one year term. As there was so small a meeting, aud many of the ratepayers had not yet had a chance to consider the scheme, it was resolaed to postprne consideration of the matter for n month.

It was decided that if the settler referred to in the engineers’ report does not pay for the watering of extra acreage, the water must be pi>t off ]bj>at portion. The clovk, Mr Stubbs, drew attention to a financial difficulty caused by the reduction of the valuations in the Rangitata district. The poll was carried for a rat® °f 80 much in the £ to provide interest-: tfio vaj nations had been reduced from £115,000 to £BO,OOO, and consequently the rate eoilegtable ;yyojffd bp £4B 7 ft 9d short. The rolls provided were also in a very bad condition. It was decided that the solicitor should be instructed to pus]} ° Q with the summoning of persons wht) W e F9 i.h arrear with rate payments. Correspondence with the Treasury respecting the Joan for the Four Peaks race work*, showed that rj. .dead lock exists between the office and the Treasury through different readings of the Acts. Messrs Perry, Perry & Kimierney wrote as follows :—“ We are instructed by the Bank of Hew Zealand Estates Company, Limited, to notify yonr Council that since the year 1801 trespasses have from time to time been committed on the property at Arowhenua by persons acting under the authority of your Council, and that such porsong have constructed a water race on the company’s property and occupied and used portions of its land for that purpose without the sanction of tho company and without having lawfully cqujrcd tho laud referred to, of paid any

compensation for it. In addition to the foregoing facti we may add that the water race has been so negligently constructed, that it has already caused considerable damage to the company’s property, and is likely to cause still more injury in the future. We would be glad to learn as early as possible what you propose doing with regard to this matter, as our instructions are to commence an action against your council for the trespass and damage before referred to.” After a considerable discussion the chairman was requested to consult the solicitor on the subject. BRIDGES. The engineers reported :—We have in hand the design and specification for a bridge over the Orari river, but have not been able to complete it in time for this meeting. The whole of the OxfordTemuka railway bridge has been dismantled aud the timber removed to the Opihi brige,where the sawing of it is being slowly proceeded with. So far this timber is cutting up badly; what with decay, notches, and holes coming in irregular p .sitions there is great waste in sawing it into new sizes. We shall have to procure a considerable amount of extra decking to compensate for this loss, but until the whole of the old timber is sawn it is impossible to say how much. None of the ironbark has yet been delivered, but it is daily expected. Mr Chas. Miller, Rangitata Island, offered to take £4 for his interest in the lease of the laud required for an approach to the Rangitata stock bridge.—Agreed to. POISONING CASES. Mrs K. Brosnahau, Kerry town, wrote demanding payment of £1 ss, the value of live geese poisoned by the men employed the Council to lay poisoned wheat who put some down within a chain of her house.

A letter was received from Mr C. G, Tripp’s solicitor, claiming £l4 Bs, value —less value of fleeces—of 32 halfbred hoggets, alleged to have been poisoned by eating poisoned wheat spread on a road near the Rangitata bridge on 13th July. These were part of a mob of over 2000 that were travelled on the road that day. I’oisoned wheat was spread along, dead birds were seen, “consequently the sheep must have died from eating poisoned wheat.”

Mr Aimes, the Council’s pohoner, attended that his subordina + e admitted that he had thoughtlessly, and contrary to instructions, spread poisoned wheat within ten chains of Mrs Brosnahau’s house, being misled by two circumstances. He did not see the occupied house as it stands behind an empty one, and as he was told by a local man, “ to go ahead and scatter it all the way to the corner,” aud without thinking he did so, passing the house on the way. As to Mr Tripp’s claim, Mr Aimes said that his instructions to his subordinate was to scatter thinly on the roads, a handful to 25 or 30 yards, aud at that rate, sheep could not pick it; they would not even see it, though birds could. He believed his instructions would be followed. The man gave a bag of poisoned wheat from the cart to a settler on that road.

The Council decided that the man must pay for the geese, as lie laid the wheat contrary to his instructions ; and to reply to Mr Tripp that while regretting the loss of his sheep, the Council could not recognise the claim for payment.

I PROTECTION WORKS TENGA.. that Mr Cook The engineers repox.. v p bli had been duly notified under the upnc Works Act of the intended construction of this work, i hey were given to understand that there would not be any further opposition from him to its construction. —lt was stated that Mr Cook was WlUu'g to accept £3 as compensation f )r his land to be crossed by the fence, aud it was agreed to pay that sum. Mr Barker stated that the Orari river was just now setting in the north bank above the bridge, and threatening to endanger the main road. The Geraldine Road Board were protecting the road, but in doing that they were also protecting the council’s bridge. He wished to know whether the council recognised that the board have any claim upon them f° r that. It was quite certain that but for the works done by the road board to protect the road the bridge would long ago have been left high and dry, like the Tengawai bridge, flow far up the river did the council’s liability in such a matter extend ? The chairman considered that when necessary works were in question distance could not bo considered. As far as the Orari case was concerned, he was in favor of the county assisting the road board. . Mr Quinn also thought that it would be just and fair to help the road board. Four tenders were received for the diverting fence in the river Tengawai— R. Calvert, £196 10s; J. Davis, £224 ; D. Gregan, £225 15s; W. H. Fletcher, £237 6s 2d, Mr Fletcher’s tender was withdrawn. Mr Calvert wrote asking that his tender be increased by £lO, as he had forgotten to put down that amount for willows. —The Council refused to make a precedent of that kind, and accepted the tender in its original form, anb determined to require the tenderer to carry out the contract or forfeit bis deposit.

The engineers recommended that they be authorised to purchase from the Government say 25 tons of old rails for use in protective and other works; also that the Council take steps to acquire, say a quarter of an acre of the Maori reserve at the north end of the Opihi bridge, so as to give a good road access to a ford when the north end of the bridge comes under repair. The land would have to go through the Native Land Office and there might be a Jot of trouble about it. —It was decided that the rails bp ordered, and steps be initiated for acquiring the access to the Opihi. NOTICES OE MOTION. Mr Mackay gave notice to move that the day of meeting be made some other day tlpm Thursday (as members can do no bugipcss ip the afternoon). The chairman’s notice of motion for an additional member for the Levels jtlding was postponed for a mouth. ACCOUNTS. Accounts were passed for payment amoputipg tp £207, and the Council rose.