GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 10361, 5 September 1922, Page 3

GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING

The monthly meeting of the above Council was held on Monday. Pre- . sent—Col. K. Mackenzie (chaL-nmi: and Councillors F. R. Flatmar., F. V. Lysaght, P. Mulvihill, G. MeCuliough, M. McLeod, R. Macaulay, and the County . Engineer (Mr C. E.

Bremner, C.E.) An apology was 4*t received from Cr. J. J. Ellis. owiMg "■ to ill health. CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT. The chairman stated they had received the resignation of their assistant clerk, Mr L. J. Collins, who had received a similar appointment with the Waimate County Council. The chairman expressed appreciation of Mr Collins's services, and said it would be necessary to advert.i3e for • a clerk to fill the vacancy. THE POWER BOARD.

The chairman stated that since their last meeting a petition "had been lodged at the Council's office, that a Hydro-electric Power Boaid be set up. It was possible that a counter petition would be set up, as had been the case at Timaru, but he hoped if this was done no Geraldine people would sign it. He did " not think himself tnat it would be wise to depend upon electric power from Lake Coleridge, which would be in Timaru in a few months, and every effort should be made to push forward the d Power Board. Those elected on such a Board would be reasonable minded men, who would not rush into a scheme that would not pay. It would be one of the duties of a Power Board to raise the ... necessary money to go in for a larger scheme, and before raising a loan it would be necessary to calculate a rate over the area which would provide interest to meet the loan. This would be deducted from the rates when the scheme became revenue bearing. - Under the present circumstances, Coleridge cur- ' rent would be taken straight to Timaru, where it would be broken down and would have to be sent back to Teniuka and Geraldine from there. Neither Temuka -and Geraldine was ready to take the current at present and Timaru would get the whole of the 500 h.p. If the men , in charge of the Timaru Harbour Board had taken the stand some men in Timaru were taking now, and had looked at the Harbour scheme in * the same manner they were looking at the Power Board scheme, it would have been disastrous for South Canterbury. If a Power Beard were not formed to handle the reticulation of Levels, Temuka and Ge'ral- ' dine, it could not be done. It was a mistaken idea that men who were elected on a Power Board would rush into an extravagant scheme,. Further would the Christchu-*3h City "'Council be spending £SOOO, to obtain the advice of an America-i engineer to report on obtaining eleea-'c pow.r from the Waimakariri Riv«r, If they were not looking for further services of power. It was because they knew that Coleridge power would ... not be sufficient for their own requirements.' It was well known that ✓ .the Government had cut down, and 'restricted power users in Christchurch in every way in /the use of electricity. Cr Flatman endorsed what the chairman had said, and said hie arguvment in regard ' to the Harbour Board applied quite rightly in this -case. Honestly, he believed they .wanted a Power Board, for Temuka and Geraldine would get no power unless one was formed, for Timaru would collar the lot. Cr. Mulvihill favoured the Power Board. Several ratepayers had spoken, to him, being afraid jof having to pav a crusting rate. His opinion was that even if the scheme did not pay at the start, industries would be able to start up, and then property would become more valuable. Even if it did not pay for five or ten years it would be a good thing for the district, which would reap the benefit in the future. ENGINEER'S REPORT.

' The County Engineer, Mr C. E. Bremner, C.E., submitted the following report on progress made with works in the County during the month:

Temuka Riding

The following operations were ■completed by the Council'-s teams in ihis period: Grading and metal patching Belfield roads: forming and metalling, footpath, etc., at Winchester Soldiers' Memorial, and repairs to township's streets, and re-grading M.S. Road, Sugrue's to Rangitata River.

Contract No. 9, Cone's and other roads (metalling;—This included metalliun Cone's, Pearce's. Budd's, and Milton's roads, and was satisfactorily iinished a few days ago, and as stone-breaking and other details are well performed, I would recommend that it he taken off the contractor's bands. Cartwrighl ('.range Farm Roads.— Metalling and formation, let by contract, are satisfactorily done. The "balance of the incompleted work -v : ll lie reported on when finished and performed in accordance with !b(! Council's requirements. Calbraitb's Drainage was finished a fortnight ago and is now in good v. orking order. A eontraci has been arranged tor fencing Res. 1811, Badham's Road, the necessary materials for which are alreadv on the ground. Motor traffic notices Tor the Bramwell Booth Hoys' Home are ready, and will shortly be erected in suitable positions. Old stumps on Milton! Koad have

been removed, and it is hoped to have the protective works well m hand at an early date. The ! Lagoon Association decided to leave the execution to thS 1 Council's staff, and pay their contribution in terms of the arrangement made with the Council. Geraldine Riding. The teams during the month performed the following work: Grading and metalling repairs, Priddle's Road, and metal repairs Hilton Road, and are now banking the low fiat at Smith's Waihi River crossing, after which necessary protective works will be undertaken at Belfield crossing of the X)rari River. Contract No. 11, Te Moana and Waihi bridges (Government grants). —Tenders for this closed at noon on Saturday last, and in terms of these grants can only be decided after having been referred to the Public Works Department, for the necessary sanction to proceed with them. In the matter of Mr Clayton's application at last, sittiug it would be necessary for him to comply with the provisions of sections 5 and 6 of the Drain Crossings By-law, 19 21, .before any action can be taken by the Council. A very large part of the month has been occupied in surveys, designs, and execution of works for fbe different River Boards, and no opportunity has therefore offered to deal with plans and estimates for proposed bridging at Hilton School, or the estimated annual costs of upkeep of the Hilton-Winchester Road, consequent upon the extraordinary heavy traffic on that line. These are therefore deferred till later, when time can be found to deal with them. An entrance to the new Upper Orari Public Hall will be arranged for' when pipes can be got to the site. Mt. Peel Riding—The surfaceman's operations have been in the nature of general surface work on a number of roads in the riding. General, Work of the bridge staff for the month has been making repairs to a bridge on tieraldine-Orari road, the balance of the time being occupied exclusively upon River Board works in the Raugitata Island district. The inferior' quality of local gravel available for repairing the stretch of low-lying main road, a mile north of the Borough boundary, suggests that it would be wise to tret 200 to 250 c.y. of Opihi River shingle for this length, and I would recommend the Council later on to get tenders for this for making repairs in the fall of the year. ■;. Orari-Rangitata Water Supply District.

The supply has been well maintained during the month. The Ranger's usual monthly report will bo read later on. The proposed

race from Rangitata railway tp.. Sugrue's'was examined, but as the intervening property holders oppose the project there is no alternative than to abandon it. The line by the Road reserve- presents obstacles which in this character of ground, would be difficult and expensive to deal with. RIVER BOARD. RANGITATA RIVER DISTRICTS. During the month, in -addition to inv own' time, three-fifths of the County labour staff has been off the County roads dealing* with river protective works in these and '..the Oari River district. Works at the Island side of Sug: ue's Crossing on Ruddenklau's land were finished on the 30th ult., and some of the,men moved to. the Hawkes' Rest to finish incompleted work in that locality. ' Works on the river banks at Edgar's and Mc- : Lennan's frontages wer.e finished.■ on i the same date, and Mr Luht arrived on the 29th to undertake his work on Edgar's Bank.' - ■ ~| Arrangements are now in hand to deal with Messrs Wade and Black's application, which would, be started to-dav, and Other recommendations at the division of the'•North and j South ..branches .will be.put in hand -when the Council.teams can be made , available for. the purpose. Messrs 1 Hearn Bros, will finish their section of protective work a little later on, i probably in October. -• -'| Netting supplies authorised - duly ' arrived, and were worked up and ap- i portioned to .the various centres as required: ' Some"additional netting 'will be ordered for Hearn' Bros., work .-when this becomes necessary.

A detailed statement will be furnished at the" Board's next sitting, particularising the' several works which have been -completed -up to date .and givmgvthe ;eqsts of- each respectively. - .- ■ The report" was adopted: FINANCE REPORT, -,-.-;

. Cr. Flatnian, chairman", of th,e Finance "Committee, reported that receipts since last meeting, amounted to £318.1 Ss 6d, The "balance at the. Bank of New South Wales shoved a credit of £l2B 15s. 3d, and the Bank of New Zealand credit at Temuka avas £G3 -10 s 6d. Cash -i.ti hand amounted to £76 6s.' That; day's pay sheet amounted to £IOO2 Is lid, which made the debit balance £733 10s 2d. There was also: a cheque paid from the antecedent account, amounting with interest added to,'£loo9 ,6s ,2d,, therefore the

debit balance including this account was £1742 16s 4d. The Riding ex peiiditu'r,e to August lUst.was.as fol-lows:—Teii-aka Riding £SOS as,' Qej\aldine Riding £lui>i< 6s sd, Mount Peel Riding £21,3. .J 5 s lOd, The report was'adorn'?.!. E. Mrs W. M. Patrick, Gapes. Valley, asked that repairs be ma.de to the main road leading to her residence. Mr. F. Gaby, poundkeeijor, reported he had impounded i/2 cattle aarl 13 horses during August. The C»unty solicitor wr. ote that there. was no provision - under the Counties' Act to enablo r he County t'? take action to. extend its bouudaiies to* include par:-; a a town dietXTct or borough. ui a borough tne provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act might be used to give effect to a proposal. Mr P. E, South, on behalf of the Orari Bridge Hall Committee, wrote inviting members, the Engineer and County.. Clerk to be present at the

opening of;the new hall on September 6th. /. . Ci\ Flatman favoured the acceptance of the invitation, pointing out that the setters had taken upon themselves both the. financing of the building and had for nearly a month held working bees and had built the hall. They deserved credit for their self-reliance. As many members as can-, go will attend the meeting. ' .The Department of Health wrote that the further contribution to the expenses, "of inspectors was to be an amount mutually agreed upon by the Department and Council. —Considered satisfactory, The Temuka poundkeeper. (Mr W. King) reported he had impounded 141 head of mixed cattle and 13 horses during the month. the Geraldine-'p:o'undkeeper, stating i hat it had been reported that 11)0 iread of "cattle had -been grazing -en a iarm : at Beau'tiftil Valley, of which They were "trustees, and asking the ponndkeeper "to take tlie necessary steps to : liave them -removed r Cr.- Mulvihill askd if a poundkeeper had life right-to enter private property for the purpose of impounding cattle.. ' "The chairmaii'-stated that a-poaud-%'eep\:!i:: in his : Official capacity bad no risriit to do so. If he was required -in execution of his duty as a ranger to enter private property the "as.? would be on a different footing. ;; " ■ '• DEPUTATION.. "''Mr 'MacDonnell' waited on the Council asking that a small bridge he built over a' water race on the Orari Gorge old boundary Peel Forest-Woodbury Road. — Engineer to report, and Council to find timber, all other work to be done by Mr Mac Donnell. Mr Mac Donnell also asked that a leak on Eugene's Road, Tripp. Settlement, be repaired. The Council agreed to report and made arrangements with Mr MacDonnell, if found necessary to do the work.