GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 3423, 17 September 1885, Page 3

GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The adjourned monthly meeting of the Geraldine County Council was held yesterday at their oflices, Messrs Maclean and Stewart's buildings. MKMDBRS PRESENT. Mr John Talbot (Chairman), and Messrs R. A. Barker, W. Moody, W. Balfour, and R. H. Postlethwaitc. COEIIEBFONDENCE. After the minutes had been confirmed, correspondence was dealt with as follows : — From Mr C. G-. Tripp drawing the Council's attention to tho gorec growing m the river-bed near his place, and requesting that tho Council should do something to destroy it. Tho Council decided not to take action m the matter at present. From tho Tomuka Road Board, offering to sell some timber to the Council. The offer was accepted, the rate to be as specified by tho Board. From Messrs Gray and Maslin, auctioneers, forwarding account sales of timber sold by them from the Opihi and other bridges. From Mr F. S. Guy, Beaconsßeld, applying for v license to slaughter on section 10261, Pareora district. Tho application was granted on the usual conditions. From tho Property Tax Department, re rates on Native lands. Speaking of rales, the Chairman said Mr Maze had made a statement to him about, tenants going away without paying them, and the Secretary said there were £122 12s of unpaid rates still outstanding. Tho Chairman and Mr Moody then went through the list of names of persons who still owed rates, and it was decided to proceed at law against somo of thorn. IRRIGATION WORKS. In accordance with notico given, Mr Moody now moved the following resolution : — " That m conformity with tho provisions of tho Counties Act 1876 and Counties Amendment Act 1883, relating to water supply for irrigation purposes, all that portion of the Levels Plains hereafter described and situato m the Grraldino County, bo constituted on and after tho 19th of Septombor, 1885, a district for tho purpose of carrying out irrigation works thereiu under the name of the Seadown Water Supply District." The Seadown district is comprised within tho following boundaries: — Commencing at the Junction of tho Main North and Mackenzie Country Roads, then south-easterly' along the Main South Road to tlie Washdyke Creek ; thonco following tho said creek to tho Waitarakao Lagoon ; thoneo following tho southern bank of tho said Waitarakao Lagoon to tho Ocean ; tlienco northerly along tho Ocean Boach to tho Opihi River ; thence following the southom bank of tho said Opihi River to tho north-wost corner of Rural Section 8853 ; thence following the west boundary of tho last-named section and of section lUIOO to tho road from Arowhonua to Pleasant Point ; tlienco westerly along tho said road to its junction with tho Mackenzie Country Road, and returning thence southeasterly along tho eaid Mackenzie Country Road to tho commencing point. Mr Moody'a motion was seconded by Mr Balfour and carried. In connection with this district Messrs Mitchell and Stevenson waited on tho Council and urged them to get. the irrigation works put m hand as speedily as possible Mr Moody furthor explained, on behalf of the deputation, that tho settlers m tho district were dosirous that the works should be availablo this season, if possible. After some discussion, howover, tho Chairman said the Act hoaring on tho matter muat bo complied with. Ho was afraid, therefore, a poll of tho ratepayers could not bo taken till live weekß henco. It waa then resolved " That it be ndvortiscd onco a week for four weeks that it iB tho intention of tho Council to borrow for the construction of water-races m the Waitohi Flat Water Supply District the sum of £2500 to bo socurcd by a spocial rate upon tho said district for lho'p<»T" 8 ° of meoting interest and principal, and that a mcotingof ratepayers bo called by tho Chairman immediately aftcrtho expiration of tho four weeks mentioned to consider tho said proposal m terms of tho Countios Act." A similar resolution was also agroed to concerning tho Seadown Wator Supply District. After some diicuiiien, members agreed

that tho Government Insurance Department should be written to and informed that as ■ soon as tho necessary 6teps have been taken, euch, for instance, as taking a poll of the ratepayers, etc., the Council will m all probability require a loan of £7500 for carrying out "irrigation works m throe separate districts, viz., Seadown, Rangitata, and \Vait"hi Flat, tho aggregate area to be irrigated being probably 50,000 acres, and that the preliminary Bteps now commenced will moat likely occupy two months. ACCOUNTS. After passing accounts amounting to £124 6s lOd, the Council.