GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XL, Issue 2943, 28 February 1884, Page 6

GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

A meeting of the Geraldino Ooonfr OouDcil was held on Thursday. Present— Messrs J. O. MeKerrow (Chairman), J.Talbot, R. Maokay, A. Bberr»tt und W. Moody. OOBBBBPOWBENOB. The minutes of the previous muetingiiaving been oonfirmed, correspondence wan read aa follow* i — From the Mount Peel Bond Board, asking the Oounoil to remit the tax on rahbiters' dogs;-— Deolded that the request oduld not be complied with. ■ ' From the Department of Justice, relative to the Baukapuka lioenaing dittriot, stating lhat the Committee luring been oleoted, the name would not bo ohanged, aa bad been requested, as that Would nooeisitate a fresh election. From Menrs White and Bmithton, giving opinion on the right of the Oounoil tooolleot rater from the Titnaru Borough Council on the water race roiorre, their opinion being that the Oounoil has auoh right | but the point was a nioe one, and they aoggdUiil that they <bs allowed to con»ult 6tber oouniel. After a little ditoueaion, it wan rnaolved to dirfer further consideration ol ! the mottor till next meeting, pending the maolt of the action being taken by the Levels Bood Board on a fimilar claim.

From the Levels Boad Board, regarding (he stoppage of certain roads m the Levelß district. The uinil steps had been taken by the Road Board to secure the consent of persons interested, no objection had teen made, and it was rnsolved to oonnrm tho notion of the Board and close the roade. A similar communication from the Tern uka Road Board was informal, no proper plan of the roads to be dealt with being sent. BLIUGHTBBHOrjSES. A long discunsion took place ou certain oommunicationii that had been reoeived with reference to a complaint that arunholoer m the County had been selling meat without having a liocnaa. Some membors thought the evidence available would be quite insufficient to secure a conviction, eipeoially as the perßon who made the complaint refused to render uny asßiet'inoe. This person's conduct was strongly commented ou by some of the members. The alleged offender denied that he had lold any meat. It was agreed that if no better evidence could be obtained than at present offered, the matter must be allowed to drop, but the Inspector was direoted to make some further inquiries.. smrcr, bibds nuisance. Proposed by Mr Talbot, seconded by Mr Moody and carried— " That a subsidy of £ for £be made to tho different Road Boards m the County on their expenditure re small birds nuisance, uuoh expenditure to bo hised on' an uniform price paid for eggß and young birds of 2d par dozen m each case, and exclusive of any cost of collection." OPIHI aUIDttE BXIBHBIOIT. A. letter was read from the Publio Works Department intimating that £2988, ths num upplied for under the Roads snd Bridgen Oonutruction Act for tbe reconstruction of the old portion of the Opihi Bridge, had been granted, and the Council was cautioned ugaiust spending; any portion of the money on any other workrt than bridges. Full directions were sent for taking a poll of the ratepayers to determine* whether a special rate should be levied to provide for the repayment of the money, and the directions for striking- the rate if agreed to. On the question whether the whole County nhould be made liable, or a portion should be specially rated, it was decided to rate the whole County. Mr Moody remarked that the terma of repayment were very easy, and it was n cheap way of getting bridges built. He would like to see a few moi'o bridges undertaken ou the earns footing. Ha congratulated the Council on obtaining tho grant. They were me> very different position from the Bruoe County, whioh bad applied for £60,000 and got about £700, after eptrding £780 on plans, etc. The Chairman was authorised to tab; the neceißavy steps to have the poll takon, and any other requirements of the law complied with. Mr Talbot, m accordance with notice given, moved, and M? Moody seoonded, that the siim expended by the Temuka and Levels Boad Boards on the maintenance of the Opihi bridge since Deromber, 1882,' be refunded to those bodies. A rather warm, discussion took place on this motion. Mr Hhorratt strongly opposed it;, as he had done bal'nre, because the Oounoil had refused to take over the Orari bridge front the Geraldino Road Board. If the proposal vrere made to apply t) s.ll bridges on main roads he would vote for it, but he must protest against the propoFal as it stood. It was the expenditure of 40 much money m that one luoality that had caused so much talk about euspnnding the Act, acd if the motion was curried, the poll on the special rate to secure tbe grant for tbe same bffidge would be strongly opposed m tha Geraldine district. If the Council had an; money to distribute among Road Boards, it should: be divided among them all. : Mr Maokay spoke iv the same strain. Tbe Chairman reminded the members for Geraldiae and Mount Peel Ridings of the amount paid and to bo paid on account of the Rangitata bridge. They replied that the bridge was only used for stock, and was much more' usnd by stockowners m Temuka and Levels districts than by those of Geraldine or Mount Peel. Mr Moody painted out that the principal part of the cost of the Rangitata bridge, and of all works paid for out of rates, must come from tho Temuku and Levels Ridings, and Mr Talbot that the fund out of which tho giant he proposed would be paid, came principally from dog tax and lioonse fees iv those two Ridiags. Mr Talbot suggested, and Mr Moody lioncurred with him i that if there was to be any opposition to tha rate for the grant promised, the JL/evsls and' Temuka districts might lake the responsibility of it themselves, and lei; all other districts do the same by their works. Mr Sberratt slid Geraldine would be quite willing to aoctf.l. that principle rather than see moneys voted as proposed by the motion, on no principle at all; The motion was lost, the mover and seconder voting for it, and tbe other three members against) it. AOOOUHTB. Accounts to the amount of £63 7t 8d were passed for payment. An account from Messrs White and Smithson, for opinions given to Mr Clulee as to his right to sit on the High School Bourd iv the representative of the Council after the separation of the Biding for which he was membor, was ordered to be returned, as the Council bad not authorised tho expenditure. The Secretary stated l.bat tbe Bank aoOoiint was m'< oredit £220 on general account and £584 on spßoUl 'rate account, and that, about £1000 of the rate wm still outstanding! H03308S OP MOTION. The following notices of motion were given for next meeting i — By Mr Talbot — " That this Council lake over the maintenance of the bridges on main roads m tbe County." By Mr Moody — " That eaoh district bear its own epeoial rate for works oarried cut m it under the Rojida and Bridges Construction Aot." By Mr Sherrtl t— " That a sum of money, equal to tho amount spent by the Uoad Boards m the rctimtenanco of bridges m, iiach district last your, be reoouped to fiaoh Board." The meeting then terminated.