GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2568, 14 October 1893, Page 4

GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Geraldine County Council was held on Thursday. Present—Messrs W. Balfour (chairman), M. Quinn, J. M. Barker, and Mackay. Apologies were received from Messrß Talbot and Howell. BNGINEFES' REPORT.

The engineers, Messrs Meason and Marchant, reported as follows. " Opihi bridge repairs.—This contract is proceeding satisfactorily. „ All the iron-bark timber is delivered, and taken as a whole is an excellent lot. The temporary road across the riverbed provides satisfactorily and conveniently for the traffic using it. We have consulted the Chief Surveyor concerning the acquisition of a piece of the Maori Reserve on the north bank of the Opihi river for road purposes. We think that to acquire a title under ( The Public Works Act' is about the only way of getting the matter settled.

" Tengawai Protective works. — Thiß contract iB progressing well, and should be completed shortly. Mr Cook has now agreed to the terms offered, and the work is being proceeded with on Mr Cook's freehold. We ask the Council to say if a title to this piece of land shall be acquired. We have executed the necessary survey to enable this to be done. " Drawing piles, Oxford-Temnka railway bridge.—Seven piles have now been drawn from a very hard and tenacious stratum. We think the contractor deserves credit for his ingenious and effective arrangements. " Waitohi water-race district;. We inspected the head-races and gave the ranger instructions concerning a few amendments required about it." Mr D. Dwyer, Temuka, wrote that he would ask compensation for damage done to his land by the contractor drawing the piles of the Oxford-Temuka railway bridge by making holes dangerous to the sheep, and loosening the ground so that it would easily be washed away by floods.—Mr Marchant said the actual done was a mere trifle, and the danger from further damage by floods was a mere guess. There were three or four rows of piles on his land, the Government not having acquired the land before they built the bridge. As, however, the owner of the land had certain rights, it might be well to offer him a few pounds.—Mr Dw> er waited on the Council to enforce his claim. He laid most stress on the loosening of the ground by the drawing of piles, making it more liable to damage by floods. He claimed something for the trespass, and asked for a fair offer to save him going to any legal expense about it. He wished the Council to make an offer, not wishing to ' commit himself ."—The chairman said the Council could not be responsible for any future damage, but they would be willing to allow him something for trespass. — Pressed to name a sum, as the demand came from him, Mr Dwyer mentioned £5. —After he had retired, the Council agreed to give him £3. In reply to Mr Barker, Mr Marchant stated that the contractor, Mr Franks, was making fair progress with the drawing of the piles, much better than he had expected, and the piles were as good as new. The cost of pulling was 25s each. There were 108 of them in the bridge.

A good deal ofcorrespondence was read from the executors of the late Mr T. Henderson, contractor for the Opihi bridge contract, from his sureties, Messrs J. Philp and E. Hall, who are carrviug on the work under authority of tho executors, and with the consent of the Council, new sureties being offered, and from the Council's solicitor respecting a transfer of the contract from the executors to Messrs Philp and Ball, desired by both parties. The solicitor advised that the present position being a perfectly safe one for the Council, it would be wise to maintain it.—Mr Quinn did not see why the parties could not make an agreement among themselves, and allow the formal contract to stand. Mr Marchant said Messrs Hall and Philp were fully expecting that the Council would agree to transfer the contract. — After a good deal of discussion the members concluded that the matter was rather one for a private arrangement between the parties, and it was resolved—" That *-h<3 Council having considered the matter of the Opihi bridge coutract in respect to the'transfer * the same-to Messrs Philp and Hall, resolve >* * 1B "°l e T + to relieve the executors' < e late Mr T. Henderson." ~ The water-race committees' Andranger& reports were read. The Seadowri ranger reported the races all in order and the water supply good. He asked if the Council would pay a man he had put on in his place whilst ill for some days from measles. He mentioned a piece of race that requires deepening. Mr Quinn mentioned a crossing which is bad for getting sheep over, arid suggested that a few planks be put over. Mr Marchant said he had that ii'i view, and they would now have plenty of planks from the Opihi bridge. The Orari-Waihi Committee reported that the races were in good order except a flume in Mr Hatman'apaddcck that was leaking ; they had given instructions to the ranger for its repair. They had inquired into Mr Flatman's complaint and found that he was not given notice to clean out his race before the council did the work at his expense, and they found that neither Mr Flatman nor any other ratepayer had received notice.— it was agreed to refer the matter to the committee again for them to decide whether the individuals are to pay, or the amounts to be charged against the whole district.

The Geraldine* Flat Committee reported that the ranger had not done his work properly, and they recommended that his wages be not paid until the work is done.

The Waitohi Flat Committee reported that there was nothing unusual to report. They asked for the engineer's opinion about a complaint of one of the ratepayers, but the letter omitted to state what the trouble was.—A long discussion took place in committee respecting the lawsuit against the Bank of New Zealand (Arowhenua estate) for rates, and the contra suit for damages through defects in the race.

Mr A. McLean, Orari-Waihi, complained that he had been charged 0s for 1£ days' work for cleaning his race, when he had not received notice that the rac • needed cleaning, and when all the work done could have been done in an hour and a half.

Tho Woodbury Committee lot warded a resolution in favour of triennial elections of committees, and triennial contracts with ranger... They reported that the ranger had taken over all races but one.

Mr Marchant stated that the Maoris would not let them go on th.ir reserve on the seaside of the main road at the north end of the Opihi bridge; they even stopped him from clearing off gorse. When the north section of the bridge came to be closed for repairs, as must presently be tho case, a road must be had to the riverbed, and for that purpose land must be got from the Natives.' It would tuke a good, many years bsfure-the land, gpuld

be got by agreement with the Natives,,! and it would be an interminable job to find all the owners. The simple and sure : way was to proceed under the Public Works Act.—lt was agreed that the engineers should proceed to obtain a, roadway as they recommended. A memorandum was read from Mr J. Cook, giving the Council permission to construct the Tengawai diversion fence 1 upon his freehold, on condition that he was given a number of pointed iron rails for the protection of his bank, to which Mr Talbot had agreed on behalf of the Council. —Mr Marchant asked if the Council would proceed to acquire a title to the land, which might be said to have been paid for by th® value of the rails.— It was agreed that the Council should take steps to acquire a title. Mr B. O'Rourke, of Pleasant Point, waited on the Council to ask for a refund of 2s 6d he had paid for registering a dog some time ago. He registered it as a sheep dog, it being a sheep dog, and afterwards was fined 10s and costs, in all 28s 6d, because he had not paid 10s. He killed the dog the same evening.—Mr Stubbs said Mr O'Rourke is not entitled to register a dog as a stock dog as he is neither a farmer nor a drover. The assistant clerk took the registration, and when Mr O'Rourke said he lived on the Levels and wanted to register a sheep dog, Mr Cabot naturally took him to be a farmer. The application was not entertained. A letter from the Geraldine Road Board covered a resolution stating that the board considered they had been unfairly treated by the Council, as it seemed as much the duty of the Levels Road Board to protect the Tengawai bridge as for the Geraldine Board to protect the Orari bridge.

A remark from the chairman on this letter gave rise to a discussion on Road Boards v. County Councils. The council, Mr Balfour said, had taken over the main road bridges, and it was becoming a question whether they should not also take over the main roads.— Mr Mackay protested against such a proposal, as it would leave nothing for the road boards to do.—Mr Balfour said that the whole question of the dual work should be considered. He was informed that the expenses of the Waimate County Council, for office work and oversight of all the roads and bridges was only £4OO, and the rate valuation about two millions. In Geraldiue county, with a valuation of about three millions, the combined office and engineering expenses of the county council and the road boards were £2OOO. That was too great a difference.

Mr Barker asked for information as to the next step to be taken in forwarding a proposal to form a water-race district and construct races at Fairfield. He had done a good deal of work about it, and now it seemed as if he must start again.' He asked if a clear statement could not be printed of the steps necessary to bo taken. At present there was so much confusion that one never knew where he was and what to do next. —The chairman agreed that there was a great deal of trouble about it, and promised to send Mr Barker full instructions. Mr Baiker also asked what were the powers of objection possessed by landowners below a proposed water supply dis rict. It was proposed to turn the race water into natural channels that lower down flow through some swamp lands, and the owners of these threatened actions for damages if the water were turned upon them.—Mr Marchant said the water would not do any damage as anticipated, and the chairman did not think the proposed objection could be upheld if the water was put into natural ch nnels. Correspondence was read from the Road Board offices concerning the issue of poisoned wheat, and also complaints that tho wheat was sent out too damp so that it decayed, and contained too many weeds. The Geraldine Road Board wrote asking if the Council intended to purchase eggs and heads this season. The chairman said that the Mount Peel clerk recommended the purchase of legs instead of heads, as a collection of heads soon becomes a nuisance. —It was agreed to hold over the question till next meeting.—Mr Ainies, the poisoner, reported on the work ho had done.

Mr Mackay recommended that oats should be tried in place of wheat. He laid down two lines of grain, wheat and oats, and every grain of the oats was shelled before the wheat was appreciably reduced.

, Accounts amounting to £277 0s 8d on ordinary account were passed for payment. A certified progress payment of £355 17s on'accouT* of the' Opihi bridge contraot was reduced by £IOO, section 12 of the Contractors and Workmen's Lien Act requiring 25 per cent of the contract price being kept in hand till 30 days after the completion of the contract; and the payments already made with £355 would exceed 75 per cent.

Electric Lighting.—The plant of the New Zealand electrical syndicate at Wellington, is being tested, and at the end of the present week many business establishments and private "residences in the city will be lighted by electricity. The station contains five dynamos, each capable of supplying electricity for 2000 incandescent lamps of 8 candle power. The total expenditure of the syndicate up to thepre-ent has been fully £50,000.