GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LIX, Issue 6871, 8 March 1883, Page 5

GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Ths monthly meeting of the Council was held yett**day io the Council Chamber, Timaru j present—MetinO. G. Tripp {Chairman), J. Talbot, G.F. Clulee, ATlltiwratt, W. Moody, sod J. Patterson,

uciveina imsotigk dispotb. The Secretary stated that state last ordinary meeting a special meeting had been called to consider the act of the Geraldine Boad Board in taking aetion in the matter of election of a Licensing Committee without consulting the County Council. He (the Secretary) had been appointed Beturning-Ofileer, but the Geraldine Bosd Board had inserted an advertisement signed by Mr 0.8. Bherratt, ap. pointing a different date for the election. The consequence was that two advertisement*, announcing elections of Committees on different dates, appeared. The whole affair clashed, and name* of the persons nominated had been sent up to the Governor for him to appojnt a Committee. The Council decided that their Olerk (Mr Stubbl) had acted correctly in the matter, and that the Geraldine Boad Board, not being the "local body" referred to in the Act, had acted improperly in appointing a Beturning-Ofileer to act in opposition to the decision of the County Council, a deciiion that had been supported by Government. - lEBIOATIOK Of IHK EDAIWB. The Chairman read a letter he had ad- < dressed to a North Canterbury Boad Board on the subject of irrigation and water supply. The result was that it had been decided the Boad Boards Act gave power to Boad Boards to construct special work* for irrigation purpose*. He thought it would be advisable to gel a legal opinion a* to whether Boad Boards would have the power to take water-race* through property, and specially rate, if some of the ratepayers objected. Mi* Moody said tie thought it would be necessary to obtain a special Act, authorising the taking of land, borrowing money, and levying special rate* for irrigation purpose*. Mr Talbot agreed with Mr Moody. He found, on reading the Acts, that the Ashburton district had special power* conferred on it for carrying on irrigation work*, taking land, &c Ho thought the people who detired water supply should nave a separate district defined for special rating purposes, and that an Act of the General Assembly should be patsed, empowering the local body to construct irrigation work*. A letter wot read from the Treasury Department, stating that the Council's application for a loan for irrigation works would be favourably considered, provided the amount was not too large, and that it was properly, secured by tpeoial rating power. A petition was read from a number of farmer* on the Level* Plains, asking the Council to construct a water-race from the Opihi river to tho sea, in the vicinity of Woshdyke, and consenting to pay a special rate to cover the interest on half the cost of the work. t It was resolved, on the motion of Mr Talbot, seconded by Mr Clulee—"That in reply to the petition of the settlers on the Levels plain* they be informed that the Council have no fundi to expend in irrigation works, and that property holders who are to be benefited by the proposed works will be required to consent to be rated to repay the whole of the cost of such work, together with interest." A letter was read from the Ashburton County Council, giving a large amount of information relative to the construction of wateMraoes in the 1 shburton County. After a good deal of discussion it was resolved, on the motion of Mr Moody, seconded fay Mr Bherratt—-"That as the success of watering part* of Canterbury hitherto deficient of supply has been amply proved, this Counoil is of opinion that a general Act for irrigation purposes (including the application of water to land for agricultural purposes as well as a minor supply) should be passed at. next session of Parliament, to include full power* for rating special areas for sinking fund, and for borrowing on. the most advantageous terms, and that the member* for South Canterbury be asked to forward this object, but in any case to make certain of power being obtained to proceed frith works j in this County." I It was further resolved, on the motion of Mr Clulee, seconded by Mr Talbot—■" That I the thanks of this Council be forwarded to' the Ashburton County Council for their exhaustive report upon irrigation operations in j that County." Mr Talbot, said in order that the petitioner* for the water-race on the Levels plains could j amend their proposal by next meeting, he should move—-" That the question of irrigation works on the Levels and Orari Plains be deferred till next meeting, and that in tho ] meantime the petitioner* be informed that in j the event of their being willing to be rated j for the whole cost, the Council will favourably entertain the proposal, and take pre- ! liminary steps for the carrying out of the works. rBMALK IMHIGBATION. A letter was read from the Immigration Department, Wellington, in reply to a letter from the Council on tho subject of the Government bringing out a number of j domestic servants. The reply stated that the Agent-General had been communicated with and instructed to send out 1000 single women (domestio servants), in addition to the nominated immigration. The first shipmeat of 60 single women had been sent out from the Clyde in January last, and other batches would follow at regular intervals. BLAPGHTBBISG M 085383. The report of the Inspector of Slaughterhouses was read. It drew attention to the faot that several licenses had lapsed for small premises, and a new ono had been issued during the month. A great deal of difficulty had been experienced in collecting the licensing fees. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr Moody, eeoonded by Mr Bherratt—" That the Clerk be instructed to proceed against any parties in arrears for slaughtering licenses, if not paid before March 20 instant." THB SKA£I> BIRDS HUISANCB. Mr Talbot moved, Mr Moody seconded, and it was carried—.'"J hat the Olerk apply to the different Boad Boards for a statement of the number of eggs and young birds paid for by them under the provisions of the Small Birds Nuisanoe Aot, with a view of apportioning the grant agreed to by the Council." BOG BBGISTBATIQH. Mr Talbot pointed out that the registrar* of dogs in the different parts of the County were'not attending to their work as they ought to do. They took their commission of one shilling per collar when people came to them to buy a collar, but very few of them went out and endeavoured to enforce the Act. He should move—" That the district dog tax collectors be informed that they are expected to take proceedings to summon defaulters under the Dogs Begistratiou Aot without delay." BOAM AND BBIDQBB. Mr Talbot pointed out that some provision should be made for the maintenance of bridges on main roeds. He considered that local bodies should be subsidised for what really were Colonial works. The subsidy could take tho form of a return of a portion of the Property tax, or from general Colonial revenue. With a view to ventilating tho subject and getting an expression of opinion, he should move the following resolution :- "That this Council is of opinion that some assistance should be given by Government to local bodies towards the cost of maintenance of large bridges and main lines of road. Unless they are so assisted, many bridges whieh are of more importance to the publio at large than to the districts themselves locally will be allowed to collapse altogether from inability of keeping them in repair or reconstructing, as the case may be, out of ordinary funds, in other words, out of rates, without doing injustice to other portions of the district. Such assistance should be at least a subsidy of £1 for «100 the amount actually expended or re-eon-.irnction, as the case may be , but that no local body be entitled to assistance unless a %S£l3*St not less than a half-penny in &*£Ujrl*rij wUected." Mr Moody seconded ths notion, which wMoarrisd. • Thsi^ottasathsos^joanatd,