GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2746, 4 December 1894, Page 4

GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The Geraldine County Council met on Saturday. Present —Messrs J. Talbot (chair man), Mackay, White, and Quinn. OKDINAEV BUSINESS. A number of letters were read containing complaints of the condition of the Rangitata races, some of the lower branches being dry owing to the upper parts being choked. Mr Talbot said that he had been written to directly, and he asked Mr Marchant to go out and see what was the matter, as the council were responsible notwithstanding that a committee was in existence. Unfortunately the committee had taken umbrage at his action. The ranger wrote that the blocking of the races was partly due to the winds blowing stuff in. Mr Murray, chairman of the committee, wrote complaining that the ranger had ignored the committee, and that Mr Marchant had been out and set men to clear races without the committee being consulted. He recommended that the ranger be given two weeks’ pay in lieu of notice in order to allow the contractors for cleaning to get to work oa the Ist December. A letter had been written explaining the matter to Mr Murray, and the chairman said the races were now most oi them running, he believed. Mr Murray waited on the council and explained that as chairman of the committee he had not neglected fcis duty. He had inquired into the several complaints. The* ranger said part of the complaints of shortage was due to new loop races wasting a lot of water fcv soakage, and part from the races not being cleaned, and the occupiers said they would not clean them because they were to be cleaned by contract. Mr Murray was distinctly of opinion that the races are not large enough to curry enough water for all the branches that have been made. He felt annoyed at being ignored in the engineer being sent out without reference to the committee, when he had instructed the ranger to do what ho could, and for the rest insist upon the occupiers cleaning the race, and so fur as ho had heard the committee would have done as much as had been done, but of course they did no more when the work was taken out of their hands. Mr Murray conferred with the council on several other matters, and the council thanked him for his explanations. The clerk was authorised to procure the necessary supply of dog collars for 1895 in the usual way.

ANNUAL MEETING,

The chair nil'll said he had seen that there would be a difficulty about electing representatives to the Titnaru High School and the Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards, owing to the severance of the county, and he therefore consulted the council’s solicitor on the subject. His opinion he had received iu writing. (Letter read). Mr White stated that as the powers of the Geraldine County Council as a council had not been altered, they must as heretofore appoint four members to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board and two to the High School Board. Mr White pointed out that as under the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act, 1885, the South Canterbury hospital district comprises the counties of Geraldine, Mackenzie, and Waimate, and all the boroughs therein, and as the same Act provides that the hospital district shall be altered to follow any alterations in the county boundaries, tho severance of the Levels Riding had the effect of excluding the Levels Riding from the hospital district; and as nothing had been done in regard to the new county, the Levels County has as yet no right to representation on the board, it not being now within tho boundaries of tho hospital district, and as a natural consequence it cannot bo called upon to contribute to the funds of the hospital

board. Probably before the election in 1895 the Levels County would be included in the hospital district. The same considerations applied to the High School Board. Mr White also advised that the council as at present constituted must elect a chairman, without waiting for the election of additional members to the council. At noon the clerk, Mr Stubbs, took the chair for the election of chairman. Mr Mackay moved that Mr Talbot be chairman. Mr Quinn seconded the motion with much pleasure, being sure that Mr Talbot would ably sustain the position. Mr White endorsed the remarks of proposer and seconder, and the motion was put and carried. Mr Talbot said he would have been better pleased if they could have waited uutil the full number of the council could , be present, but their legal adviser made it clear that they could not do so. If, however, the developements of the election seemed to require it, he would give another opportunity to choose a chairman. ' Mr Mackay sincerely hoped there would be no alteration in that matter. Messrs Quinn and Mackay moved that Messrs Jackson, Talbot, Moore, and White be re-elected the county representatives cm 4he Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, andTSfeesra Talbot and White to the High School Board.—Carried. The chairman eulogised the services rendered on the former board by Mr Jackson, and Mr Moore was also -a valuable member. Himself he looked upon as representing Temuka and Mr White Geraldine. The position of a member of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was a very responsible one, in which it was hard to please oneself. There were the ratepayers’ interest on one side to consider, and on the other there were the claims of the distressed. Distress must be relieved as adequately as possible, whilst at the same time economy must be observed on behalf of the ratepayers. As to the Old Men’s Home a good many improvements had been made in inside comforts by public subscriptions, and in outside arrangements by the board. He did not like the boarding - out- system adopted with orphans and deserted children, but the system he would prefer would be more expensive. He feared that some day a scandal would arise which would cause public opinion to put a stop to boarding out. Mr Talbot warmly eulogised the hospital management, and then spoke .of the question of charges. At present the charge is fixed at the average cost per annum. It was proposed at the Titnaru Borough Council that those who could pay promptly should get a reduction. This did not commend itself to him at all, as it would mean that those who bad money to pay in full would be let off and those who had not must pay in full. He would.say make a charge and collect as much of it as possible, and if a man could not pay he should not be pressed. Unfortunately chose who were in the best position to pay, single men, were the worst: they go away and cannot be got at, and themselves seem to forget their duty. The board might gain advantage by the reduction for prompt payment system, but he did not like the principle. Such questions would be carefully considered by the board, and the board must do the best they could with them, after hearing the pros and cons. Not one member could expect to go there and carry his own opinion ; that would be too egotistic. • In regard to the High School members Mr Talbot begged to be excused, but as no one was prepared with a suitable alternative nomination, he consented to accept the seat. It was agreed that the council should meet again as soon as possible after the additional members are elected.