GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 10306, 7 March 1922, Page 3

GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

:' f MONTHLY MEETING. "The jncmtMy meeting of the above Council Waß"held on Monday. Pre-. K. Mackenzie (chairman), arid Councillors M. McLeod, J. J.' Bills,' G.-McCuilough, F. V. Lysaght, R: Macaulay, and the County Engineer, fMr- .(>." E. Brmener, C.E.) Apologies . were received from Crs. F. ; R. Flatman and P. Mulvihill. '.'•' CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT. The ctiairqjan stated, that owing to' harvesting, operations, etc., he had not much to bring before the Council that day. . The Prime Minister (Hon. W. F. Massey) was visiting _ Geraldirie on. March 16th as the guest M.of. the..St. Patrick's Sports Associa 7 but he had no official notification of his visit. He did not know .that the Council had anything to bring before the Minister, unless it was the Bunion's Crossing Bridge and Knowles' Bridge—both small affairs; In' the former case, Mrs Burdon had offered £2OO at five per cent.., and they might ask Mr Massey assurance that if this was accepted the'work would be placed ori\ the Estimates, The St. Patrick's.' Sports Association had asked. I;he Council for a grant. towards the ex-: penses--of entertaining the "Primed Minister.-- .^-"v 11V ; -.""'■ --'_ \ i It was-agreed that the, chairman,, be authorised-^tp-.-assist the Associa-jj tiOß'iit,,. this manner;,, at "iis'discre-' tionV '■■"■": •■••'*--'■'■■- -;: .-.•..... Report. ..-, The niiante' 1 report. stated that .re-' ceiirts '-'since' 1 ' TSs'tr -meeting- amoiinted to £3#sH !,; i7s »d. The total rates levied'amounted to. £I2.SISM'Os- Sd, atld-'£i-6,9 i B4 I9s 4d had been cbllee'tedv having £lBBl 0s 4d to colv lect. .."The credit balance -at the ' bank Was!-#4G Ss 2d, .arid cash in- hand . amounted. tr>,!£7l 'ss v Bt3; total '£ll7: lis * v : TltF"liay sheet 'that duv. was^f6i; : -£l'i[>s7- 4s 9d.—The "report. was"-adopted. .'■••" : : ' •" ; REPORT. Engineer (Mr C. E. Brerijrfei , > reported as\follo\vs : / ; ;.;. TEMUKA RIDING. Teams in this riding reformed 1£ 'miles .of-Bush Gully Road, half-mile of - Stratford Road, graded four miles of Cowles' boundary road, reformed, one.'mile bf Grafflu Road, and of Smith's Hill; metal patched .flat of Cowles' Road and reformed .--a part of ' Maxwell Road. Water-Tabled parts of Westaway's and Cowles' roads and metal patched up" to "Gardner Bros., Upper Waitohi. They will also make certain urgent repairs 1 -to the tipper section of Me-Cabe-'s-''Road before leaving the locality.-- Many 'of these lines are overgrown with gorse so that proper drainage- is. impossible and applications should be to conditionally - : on the frontages being property cleaned-up before work is authorised; '■■■'■ ".-..■ lii the matter •'•' of ■ . Mr; Goodson'f! letter- 1 ¥e',drain cleaning; 1.-na-ve no .reof his- application and oil examination of the. ground there is of-any work having been done at-any recent date, •Mr -Basle's '-application.- Estimates of alternative timber and concrete proposals -were prepared and the ground was inspected by your Committee. -Tartieulars were duly for--w-arded'to-the'Secretary of the High School'' Board, -but so far there has been reply to the communication.' Reserve 1814, Badham's Road.— This was inspected and an estimate is a g4'reh- of the'cost-bf clearing and fencing Drake's boundary lines. The reserve is unfenced on any of its' boundaries. -I had arranged for an offer cleaningnip the reserve,, but jthis has not, turned up and in the meantime it may be as well to ascertain'tire" terms of Mr Tate's occupation"before taking further action. •Substantial''' improvements were made to the Kakahu River Crossings, irir-'vieKv ■ of. the • grain" car ting from - thtr'Lower Waitohi cropping areas. Rangitata-Island road -requirements wer©-"~also' examin«d : ' ftnd- necessary rep'atts- will shortly be put-in hand. The 'river fords received periodical attention during-the 1 month. With the Council's approval theboundary"lines of De Renzy Gravel Kesefve--will be'fenced as. soon as possible for the 'use of the Council's teamfrwheii required. ■■■■■"■'■ GERALDINE RIDING. A' 1 considerable amount'of work ■ was accomplished by the Council's teams-in/the month. Tripp Lower Road" has been repaired throughout Lloyd's r and-Orari Gorge Roads re-ceived-similar attention. Peckhain's protective works were finished ahd general resurfacing doiie on - the main-Vbad between'Woodbury Road junctions- and Winchester, One teamis'enlployed oil repairs at OranRafigitata - water supply intake, and when -finished -will return - to their Ridiiig-road Programme, On the OrarP Gorge Road extended culverts were placed on two main water race crossings and the approaches to these will shortly be completed. An'estimate'is given of Mr Ashby s application for a stock bridge near jteid'& r h-u't An estimate is also given for partly bridging the W-aihi River-at Biirdon's Crossing, Woodbury The river" occupies one channel except at'flood time's, and the pre-sent-proposal is to'bridge tins waterway and in a measure-" confine it here bv low - protective works. . During high floods it would spill over into the larger channel and possibly stop traffic Until the tbp-ot the flood subsided - " This would occur on comparalivtey fYarc- occasions and would • be of short duration and gin- little inconvenience. The adoption of this courUe would effect a saving of 141 feet of bridging and 2J chains ot netted. groynes and would. I think meet, the district's requirements toi manv years ahead. \ The estimated cost'-of fencing the boundary . of Upper Orari Bridge Reserve is given beV'the » rc;i enclosed-would be », acre" Parts of T?itts-Kakahu Road rnetai-'has 'been itightly blinded to raceftlio request of tin- Tiinaru Postal -Department's motor service. MT- PEEL RIDING. Further improvements were made i„ tbe-rock cutting : ,at Turn-again Point but the traction engine con-tr-ftor declined to use the length and the wool haulage was later arranued for by motor lorry. 'I he SSdIV tracks up the Waihi Gorge are out"of repair and labour has been engaged to deal with iniythiUK ot an urgent nature for the vrescnt -Ihroadman'KMirae has been chie.lv occupied in general repair*- tli.-ouulit.iit the Riding. GENERAL. The bridge staff have made ;iHer,itions,- etc., to bridges on Capes Vallev, Orari Gorge motor culverts; culverts, Woodbury back road, and bridge on Tripp Settlement road, and u number of small bridges hav been repaired throughout the County. They recently put in netted groynes at "Orari kiver water-race intake and have now Cooper's Creek stock bridge in hand, approache.-: to which will be built by the Mount Peel team. With the cliiii:-man , s authority a ton of 50ft. iron wne wjh ordered for protective netting. ;:ls.» some timber for bridge baud railings, the Council's supplies of but it ' having been exhausted. With the Council's approval culyertß will be extended to the full

formed width of the "main road at the Avater-race crossings between Geraldiii.e and. the ' Upper Oraa-i Bridge. The present narrow side tracks are dangerously abrupt and undesirable on. the main arterial road of the County. General sur-i face repairs have been made covering most of the main line between Winchester and the Arundel Bridge. Other calls on my time prevented ?.nn -attending the Engineering Conference held at Wellington, and as yet there is no reply from the P.'.V. Department regarding, plans, etc., of the County, River districts, copies of Which are required by the Council. The. Council's traction engine would require an overhaul, and 1 would ask autbotity to liave this attended to. .-"_.. | Orafi-Rangit.ata. -Water * District.— - The f . water ■ supply has been .veil maintained arid intake repairs already referred' 1 '" to .should prevent further trouble for'sbnie lime. The ranger's reports wilV.be read in due. course. "" 'I ■ Orari River District. —Your Committee inspected proposed works above Orari, and. expressed the opinion that they should be proceeded with as soon as possible. . Rangitata Island River District. — Works undertaken, by the settlers in the' north -bramvh were 'quite- effectual in restoring the river to, its old j course, and I would recommend -that these be completed as soon i<s. possible. The settlers are not eager to do more than they have already done and in any case vould not have the. necessary strength available tor

some months yet, owing to harvesting and other farmin-; oixvations. It was agreed to accept Mv Dobson's offer to clear Reserve ISM for ,CS, Cr McCullough, on behalf ol the Lower Waitohi settlers, thanked Mr Hrenmer for the excellent work he had made of the Kakahu Crossing. The matter of Mr Ashby s application for a stock bridge near Rcid's hut was held over in the meanwhile. The matter of Bunion's Crossing Bridge was also held over. It was stated the- Council had no authority to accept, .i loan en me bridge without holding a poll, and providing security. The Engineer was authorised to extend to the full width culverts at the water race crossings between Geraldme and the Upper Orari Bridge. It was also decided that the traction engine be overhauled. The report was adopted. I'UI'NnKKKTKKS' Kh'l'dKTS. Mr K. Gaby reported be b:.d im pounded from January Ist, Ist cattle. - 1 horses and H'" sheep, and since February Ist, Hi I cattle and

13 horses. Ho had registered 3G5 dogs. , , I Mr W King reported for the last six week's he had impounded 210 ".cattle, and 19 horses. ■ CORRESPONDENCE. The Under Secretary for the DeIDurtmcnl of Internal Affairs -frrote, .acknowledging receipt of il, t.ue ; Council's contribution to Princess Vlarv's wedding gift fund.—Received Mr' E. Uden wrote complaining that altstock on the roads were devouring biis vegetable's.—Noted. ■ • Mr IT. Cooling, Woodbury, applied ! -for permission to place a ram in the | i water race to provide water for | i household purposes. —Granted. Mrs E. Dennistoun wrote thanking I'the Council for its message of condolence with herself and family in* ■ Hhe loss of her husband. She also ! referred to the request of members ;for an enlarged photograph ot the I "late Mr Dennistoun for hanging in itthe Council Chamber, stating that ! -it would be a great pleasure for her wo do so, and would she was sure .je lan accordance with his wishes. —Re*CGIVCCi. i The Audit Inspector (Mr E. B. i.Jordan) wrote drawing attention to i the unsatisfactory position of the [rents due to the Council, by reason '■of the absence of leases, etc.—Received . (:' Messrs W.' Waift, W. Heney, W." pß'. Barker, and J. Heney wrote petitioning the Council for a better ! bridge than the existing footbridge, hvliioh was dangerous and got washed law ay when it was most wanted at "floe »d time. The footbridge was over

i.i . , .-. . Barker'; tin-' hcutsfourn Crock at made ii Crossing.—Provision to la 1 v ' )t the Estimates for the wori naki Engineer said the only nay . . jj 0( j ( a job of this was a liridg" abo\ ll!Vl ' L leav .Air Le Mesurier applied for o an j to cut willows at the back of j v OH of N'.S.W.—Granted, work to be <. under the Engineer's supervision. { Mr T. D. Burnett telegraphed 1 \ pleasure that the Ceraldine Couin Rivers Hill had passed all stage; through the. Lower Mouse.— Rceeiv. ed The Minister for Public Works wrote that be would give consideration 10 a request for £f>o supplementary grant for Peckham's Bridge.— Received. The Society for (Ik; Prevention of Cruelly to Animals wrote asking for subscription towards expenses ■>!' in-ius]ivi-l.nr. No' entertained. Tie- s»'i-r"tar> . Titnaru High School Board 'Mr A. <".- Martini wrote for f informal hm in regard to cost of a ' brid;;>; to give access to Mr Petvy { Bale's property fit Arowhenua, for 'which his Hoard was asked to pay

half cost. He also drew attention to a dam having been erected by Mr Dale in the road drain, which was having a bad on properties adjoining, asking that the County Engineer insist oii its removal. —The Engineer stated "that estimates of alternative timber and; concrete proposals were prepared and the ground had been inspected, and particulars duly forwarded to the High School Board. No reply had been received. The Department of Internal Affairs wrote that the Geraldine County River District Act comes into force on April Ist 1922. The river district comprises the County of Geraldine, but does not include the Borough of Geraldine, and provision in Section 6 do not apply in that Borough. If it wished to include the Borough this must be effected bv a petition from a majority of ratepayers, and the Board if it considers land within the Borough derives benefit from operations of the Board, may present a petition for the inclusion of such lands in the river district:—Received. The Council agreed to support a Napier Borough Council resolution asking Government to introduce legislation providing that credit balances on other accounts as regards

payment of interest on the latter accounts. , ■ The Otago Hospital Hoard asked the Council to endorse their protest aeainst the increased fee charged tcr audit, which was now £3 3s a day of seven hours or 9s per hour. The previous rate was £2 per day of six hours.or Os Sd. per hour. —The Coun- t cil supported the protest; { PLEASANT VALLEY HALL. { The chairman stated that the J, Geraldine Road Board some years e ago promised to contribute £SOO to ; the above hall from the funds of tlv> l } Hobson Trust, as money came toy hand The settlers of the Valley : were to find £IOO. They hud now c £1.70 in hand, so had done their share. The Council had endorsed this and they had .to settle that day j how much they could give thorn. There was £271 in credit of the Geraldine Hiding at present. —It was decided to pay £IOO on completion ( of the building and eight instaiinei.ts , of £SO each. ( GENERAL. , The Engineer reported damage done on the Kakahu Road from ( Pleasant Point, to Gardiner Bros, by heavy traction engine traffic. In ( oiie case #n engine with two trailers had drawn a heavy load on one) trailer onlv, cutting the road up very l badly. Cr. Lvsaght drew attention to the carting of heavy electric power poles to Orari, which had done a gvcc' deal of damage.—lt was uecided that Mr W. Double he appointed an inspector under the heavv traffic by-laws. Cr. J. J Ellis complained that a certain work had been effected without a resolution having been tabled authorising its being done. T'te chairman explained that the work was an urgent one, and the Coiuu'l had approved of it. Cr Ellis urged that the matter was an important I one and a resolution should Ime been recorded on the minutes. The Countv Clerk said that ho had not, entered the matter in the minutes, as no resolution had been passed. Members agreed that the Council had approved of the work. *>■ ANONYMOUS LETTERS. The chairman said he had received an anonymous letter signed ratepayer, and had consigned it to the proper place for such documents--the waste paper basket. 1 eopl" should not writ*- anonymously when thcv wanted to make complaints, for tin-*Council was always ready to hear any complaints from ratepayers at the Council table, which was the proper place to bring anything forward Another thing was that notkuowng who tin: writer is—it is impossible to make any investigations into the complaint The Council had iio wish to stoi\ discussion on any subject—on the contrary they always welcomed full discussion. Councillors expressed their opinion that no notice at all should be taken of anonymous letters, whu-n should be put in the waste paper basket.