GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 5031, 12 June 1889, Page 3

GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of ths Geraldine County County Council for the month was held to-day. Present—Messrs W. Balfour, (chairman), W. B. Howell, It. A. Barker, It. Mackay and W. H. Moore. THE SIICOCK CASE. The chairman stated to the council the result of the suit Silcoek against the council. Ho attended the trial. The council’s engineers admitted that the contractor was entitled to receive £238 more than been paid him, and the single issue placed before the jury was how much the contractor was entitled to receive, ho asking for £7OB. The jury seemed to ha’-o“split the difference” and gave him £iGQi There was still the question of penal-

ties, a question of law, to be argued. If the full penalties were allowed they would amount to more than the jury awarded the contractor over and above what their engineers agreed was duo to him. It was impossible to say bow the argument would end. Tho expenses would bo very considerable, probably £3OO at any rate, and tho council would have to come to some decision soon as to how the money needed to pay tho expenses would be raised. It must mean a general rate he supposed. It would not bo fair or legal to make tho water race districts bear the expense of a Supremo Court action. That, however, was a matter for tho solicitor. SEADOWN RACES Mr J. Hay wrote requesting payment of £l2 on behalf of B. Counihan, and £ls 10s on behalf of T. Brosnaban, these being the amounts adjudged) by Mr H. Ford, as tho council’s valuer, to be fairly due to tho claimants for injury and annoyance through the making of the Seadown head race through land in their occupation.—Amounts ordered to bo paid. OntARI —WATTII RACES. A letter was read from Mr Tripp’s solicitors sotting forth, at length twelve conditions under which ho would allow the head-race to be constructed through his land. (I) His private races not to be int erfered with ; Mr Tripp to be supplied with water from the lace for paddocks not supplied by private races ; (3) to bo allowed to erect a turbine, and use the water in tho race if he desires, so long as he docs not appreciably affect the flow of water ; (4) all surveys to be at the expense of the council; (5) he to be at liberty to sow what grass seed he pleases on the race laud and spoil banks and collect the seed ; (6; Mr Tripp not to be liable for any water ratesjfor charges; (7) tho races to be formed and kept entirely at the council’s expense; (8) no trees or shrubs to bo cut from Mr Tripp’s property without his consent; the work on Mr Tripp’s land to bo all completed by the end of October, and no dogs allowed on his land ; (9) The council to bo liable for any damage to Mr Tripp’s p roperty caused by the race ; (10) the council to erect such fencing along tho race, where required, as might be considered fair and proper fence by three ratepayers, named ; (11) wherever the race goes under a fence some means to bo applied at once to prevent sheep going along the race beneath the fence ;J(12) Mr Tripp would not claim any compensation for land taken up to 4i acres, if more than that was taken, then £l2 an acre for tho excess.

Mr W. Postlethwaite waited on the Council on behalf of the ratepayers interested to urge that the work be pushed on as rapidly as possible. They were content to accept the condirions laid clown by Mr Tripp, a list of which they had. Mr Trip was very anxious to have the work completed before the end of October, before his shearing commenced, and tho ratepayers were desirous to meet bis views in that respect. The ratepayers wore also anxious to get the water by that time. Mr Postlethwaite urged that the council should put the work in band at once without waiting for the completion of tho period of formal notices, as the ratepayers were nil willing, and would bo ready to give any proof of that.

Mr Postlethwaite having retired, tho council considered the matter, and seemed to find some difficulty in meeting the view of the ratepayers to go on with the work before the formal steps had been taken. Eventually, however, it was resolved —“ That immediate slops be taken to proceed with the WaihiOrari vmter race.”

Mr Marchant said ho could go on with the surveys and plans, which would lake about a month. As a result of further conversation it was resolved that the promoters be asked for a guarantee for expenses of survey and any other outlay that, may be incurred previous to tho legal authorisation of tho loan by them.

[The continuation of the report is crowded out. 1