GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2577, 4 November 1893, Page 4

GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

An extraordinary meeting of the Geraldine County Council was held on Thursday to wind up business before the council expires. Present —Messrs W. Balfour (chairman), Barker, Quinn, j Talbot, and Howell. engineer’s report. Messrs Meason & Marchant reported as follows: “ Opihi bridge, main road: This work is progressing favorably. It is desirable that some definite time should be fixed for the completion of the contract. — Drawing piles, Oxford-Temuka railway bridge: The contractor had drawn 15 1 piles when we last visited the work, and we understand from him that he will be unable to complete the work for the price tendered. It is, of course, for the council to say what shall be done under such circumstances. We think that, seeing the experimental character of the work, that it is successful and will pay the council handsomely when completed, some arrangement should preferably be made with the present contractor rather than closing the contract and calling for fresh tenders.—Diversion of Tengawai river: This work is now completed. It is strong, of full contract dimensions, but the earthwork is roughly done. The total cost of the work, including rails, has been £249 10s Bd, for the length of 40 chains. Given moderate floods for a couple of years, until the willows get well rooted, we think that the work then will be thoroughly satisfactory.” A letter was read from Mr Franks, contractor for the lifting of the piles, stating that he was losing heavily by the contract. The process employed is an amply powerful one, but too slow. Be, had drawn 15 at a cost of 31s each. He. could carry on the work at 35s each, or ; he would hand over the contract and his; appliances to someone else. He had: made a mistake in supposing that once, started the piles would lift easily, but this was not the case. The iron shoe, and sometimes a bend, makes it a heavy drag for at least a third of the length they have, to be lifted. Mr Franks waited on the council in support of his application.—lt was resolved to accede to Mr Franks’s request, and allow 35s each for the piles instead of 255. (The next lowest tender was 465). The question of fixing a time for the completion of the Opihi bridge contract was discussed—the contract time expired on October 14th. It was resolved on the motion of Mr Talbot—“ That Messrs Philp and Hall be advised to proceed with their contract to its completion with all the dispatch possible, when the Council ■ will take all the circumstances into couL sideration in dealing with the question of imposing any penalties for non-completion ; within contract time.” ; Mr Philp waited on the council to ask , for further progress payments, but after I the council had consulted their solicitor, I Mr White, they decided that they could not go beyond the 75 per cent, on the i amount of labor and material, the new Act providing for that amount. water-RACES. The ranger on the Seadowu district reported that a complaint had been made • to him that a settler had been washing dirty sheep in the race-well towards the headworks, and, on making enquiries, he was given information by a neighbor that supported the complaint. He had also > been told that the same settler was seen emptying chamber slops into the race.— The complaint of the ranger to be sent to i the alleged offender, Mr Barker reported on the steps taken in respect of the Four Peaks water-supply district, and it was decided that the poll of the (two) ratepayers on the question of raising a loan be taken on the 15th L instant. SMALL BIRDS. The clerk to the Geraldine Road Board wrote on October 23rd that he thought it inadvisable to continue further the - poisoning of birds. He noticed that the birds were not taking the poison . as readily as formerly, no doubt on account of there being more green food available. “We have, however,' thinned them out very considerably in this district.” The clerk to the Mount Peel board wrote : “ I consider the poisoning to have i fepen thoroughly successful in my district. The birds die in the hedges and are not jeen. 1 have just returned from a trip througu tlie Raiocliff district, and am glad to say tha* 6ver^ oue ie convinced that the poisoning has successful. The hedges are simply iu„ °* dead birds.” It was stated that there were about 60 bushels of poisoned wheat to hold over till next season. It was thoroughly dry, and would keep all right. THE WATER-RACE CASE. Mr White reported, by letter the result of the suit against the Bank of Hew Zealand. Mr Clark gave evidence that there was an abundance of natural water on the bulk of the land, and he objected to having the races there. The law provides that an owner or occupier of land haying a natural supply is not liable to be rated unless he applies for a supply of water to such land. Under these circumstances the bank was exempted from payment, and all objections were over-ruled. He had advised the council that land supplied with natural water could not be rated under the Act of 1891. Since the judgment was given he bed been given to understand that there was a doubt whether the land is supplied with natural water or not. If the evidence that the land is not supplied with natural waler was strong enough, he would recommend the council to apply for a rehearing of the case, as it was solely on that ground that the magistrate found for the bank. Another conference was held with the solicitor. In reply to Mr Howell, Mr White said the district was constituted, but no rate had been struck, before the Act of 1891 came into force. Mr Howell insisted that the exemptions of the new Act could not affect arrangements made under the old one. The money was borrowed on the security of all the lands in the specified district, and the rate was calculated on the whole, and as the Government jvas the lender it must see that the alteration in the new law does not affect their securities,. H& moved and it was carried —“ That an opinion be obtained from Mr Hagget as to how far the new Water Supply Act can override j the old Act, where obligations had been already incurred.” MISCELLANEOUS. It was resolved that the old timber at the Opihi bridge fee sold by auction. Accounts amounting fo £250 were passed for payment. A hearty vote of thanks to the ohafpgian for the way he had conducted the business / of the council during bis term of office was passed on the motion of Mr Talbot, and the meeting terminated.