GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 4979, 11 April 1889, Page 2

GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The following is a continuation of yesterday's report:— THE LOWER PAREORA BRIDGE. The Surveyor-General, wrote under date Wellington, 6th April, 1889. re the Lower Pareora bringo, as follows: —“ With reference to the proclamation of 2nd July last, vesting the Lower Pareora bridge in your council, I am now requested by the Minister of Lands to inform you that a memorial signed by a very largo number of persons residing in Waimate and Geraldine counties has recently been received by the Government. The memorial sets forth the present deplorable state of the bridge, and the fact that although it was vested in your council with power to collect a moiety of the cost of repairing it from the Waimate County Council, still no effort had, up to the time the memorial was sent, been made by your council to repair it, and make it safe and fit for public traffic; and it is alleged that the neglect of the council in the matter has occasioned serious loss and inconvenience to the public generally. I am, therefore, to request that you will kindly state why the council has not exorcised the powers conferred upon it; and lam to add that, unless the bridge is repaired by the SOth inst.jOr, if that be impossible, unless substantial repairs have been put in hand and are actually being done by that date, the Govirnment will then consider the desirability of the Minister for Public Works undertaking the necessary repairs in terms of section 8, of the Public Works Act Amendment Act 1887, in which ca"o the cost, charges, and expenses incidental to his doing so will be recovered by the Government from tho local authorities, in the place of whom the Minister may be acting.” Alter the letter had been read, Mr Mackay remarked that they should let the Government do the work. They had heard a lot about it, but he questioned if the opinion of ratepayers of tho whole district was taken whether a majority would be found in favour of making tho bridge fit for traffic. The chairman differed from Mr Mackay, in re letting tho Government do the work, and for his part thought the council should move in the matter, lie thought it was clear from the section of tho Act quoted that tho Government had power to repair the bridge and charge the councils interested with (he cost. By this matter tho whole question of bridges was opened up, and they must take one stand or the other. Ho was assured by the engineer that the Pareora bridge would cost between £4OOO and £5009 to repair, and before any decisive action was taken he suggested that they should confer wilh the Waimate County Council on the subject. Mr Mackay then raised the point as to whether they would be justified in spending money on the old bridge or erect a new one at a more convenient spot up the stream.

Mr Barkov said if the latter wore done some of the petitioners might not be anxious to have the bridge erected at all. To this it was pointed out that the present site being on tho main line of road was most convenient for all parties.

Mr Moore said the letter before them was of a most peculiar nature. Firstly they were asked their reasons for not having repaired the bridge, and before they could reply to this they were peremptorily told that they must have the bridge repaired before the 3Dth inst. If they did not do this, steps would bo taken by Government and the councils charged with the cost. On the whole ho thought that the Government were not in full possession of the. whole facts about the bridge. Ho suggested that they should write to Mr Tescheraalier, who was chairman of the meeting at Otaio that carried a resolution in opposition to the bridge, informing him of the steps taken. He (Mr Moore) understood there were many ratepayers opposed to the work, and if time wore allowed they might possibly get up a petition showing that a majority were against the bridge being repaired. 'iho chairman said that it appeared to him to be their duty to repair the bridge, for if they did not do so Government would ; but then arose the whole question of the bridges. He again suggested that they should meet the chairman of the Waimato County Council and discuss together what steps, should be taken.

Mr Moore again remarked that it seemed to him that Government had only got the views of those who were strongly in favour of the bridge being renewed or repaired ; they had nothing from the people who were as 1 strongly opposed to it, and who ought now, Ihe contended,have an opportunity of express* ing their opinion. All he wanted was to have I the whole matter fairly and squarely examined on all sides, and all round. He then moved : “ That the Government bo informed in reply to their letter of April 6th that the Lower Pareora bridge has not been repaired by this council because they consider that the large expenses incurred by such repair are greater than the benefits will warrant, and that they believe that large numbers of the ratepayers are averse to incurring such expense, and that further they consider that no steps should be taken to commence repairs until those ratepayers opposed to the expense have an opportunity of expressing their reasons to the Government, and also of ascertaining whether a better site cannot bo obtained in the event of the works having to be done.” This was seconded by Mr Barker and carried, and it was further agreed that this council have an interview with the chairman of the Waimatc County Council on Wednesday next. VVAITODI FLAT, Mr J. Fraser wrote on behalf of the settlers at Waitohi Elat, forwarding a resolution requesting the council to take a poll, and other steps, for a supply of water to the district named. In rep’y to the chairman Mr Marchant said that ho would not have much to alter in his report of 1886. Since that year the Counties Act had been amended, making it much easier generally for the council to move in the matter of water supply. LICENSE. A slaughterhouse license was granted to Mr M. Buckley, of the Oran, subject to the consent of the Temuka Koad Board, and after passing accounts the council rose.