GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1352, 13 June 1885, Page 1

GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the above Council was held on Tuesday. Present —Messrs John Talbot (Chairman), B. Mackay, VV. Balfour, R. A. Barker, and R. H. Postlelhwaite.

The minutes of last meeting having been read and confirmed, the Chairman said there would come in in the course of the meeting certain correspondence between the Council and the Government relative to a reduction in the valuation of a property in the County. £20,000 bad been deducted by the Property Tax Department which, if would mean a loss to the Council in rates of about £2O, and about £4O to the Levels Road Board. The mutter was,not yet settled, as the last communication from the Council had not yet received a reply. Correspondence was then read;— From the Mount Petl Road Board r« gorge growing in river-beds, asking cooperation in destroying, what , was birboring rabbits, and enclosing copy of letter from Inspector of Sheep and Rabbits on the subject.—-The Clerk was instructed to acknowledge the receipt of the communication, but the Council did not see that they could interfere with the matter, nor did they think there was any necessity to "make‘any recommendation on the subject.

From Mr W, H. Lodge, applying for a license to slaughter on R.S. 10459, near, Geraldine.—Granted, subject to usual conditions.

From the Mines Department, in reply to letter from the Council, asking for the loan of a'drill for use in the Kakahu,, district, stating that Government had! sold the two diamond drills they bad introduced into the colony, one to the luangahua Coimty Council, and the other to the Springfield Coal Co. Mr Barker said he had been 'communicating with the 1 latter, and he had been informed that they had two drills for sale. They would be willing to hire the ordinary drill tor £2 per week. Re would bring the matter up again at a future meeting. Mr Rolleston and several other influential gentleman had taken an interest in the matter, and petbaps a company might be formed fo take it up. From Mr Luckie, of the Government Insurance Association, in reply to an inquiry from the'Council re obtaining a loan for public wbrks purposes (irrigation, <S;c.), ‘asking at 'tvha( rate 6t interest it would be required. From' th e G o verhmen t ri gazetting extension of Main road frbra Fairlie Creek 'to-pbirik'by asking for further infbririatiom—The Chairman suggested that Mr'Messon should be instructed to prepare attacin'g of the road, which w,duld"include the Tengawai river. 1 Frdiii ‘ the Ashburton County Council acknowledging cheque of £2 4s, as share of costs of repairing Raogitata bridge. From the Proyerty Tax Commissioner, Wellington, acknowledgingsreceipt of the Coimcil’s letter of thd 13th inst., and pointing but that Section 29 of the Act of 1879 declared void all agreements under which tenants might have bound themselves to' pay property t«, and stating that the recommendation of the Council re appointment of assessors’would receive due attention, and that every effort would be made to secure I the appointment of capable 'and trustworthy! assessors ; also asking for detailed information, as to the deduction ofr£2o,ooo from the value of property ißs fixed at the last assessment, “ without the usual course of appeal.” This letter had been answered, but no reply bad been received to it. *n<?ineer!s.»eport. Mr G. L. Meason, C.E., reported that nearly all the timber for there-decking of fhe ( HGoraldine t»rid^e f had arrived, and had been cairted" on to the ground. The conwill commence work on Monday next, ’the' material' ‘for re-decking the Temuka byidge had not yetjcqme to hand, but, as. the vessel has left -Kaiparu, it cannot now be long delayed. , After examining,tbe'plans of proposed roads to be stopped' in the ’ JVTount Peel Road Board District, thei following resolution was passed oh the motion of Messrs Balfour and McKayThat,, the Chairman be authorised to, confirm the decision of the ratepayers of the Mount Peel Road Board re stopping certain roacjs in their district,, plans of which have been deposited with the C°uncil, on receipt of the requisite declaration from the Chairman of the Mount Peel Road Board tfiat the requirements of the Public Works Act have been complied with.” Accounts having been passed, the meeting terminated.