GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13649, 17 July 1908, Page 7

GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The usual monthly meeting was held yesterday. Present—Messrs J. Talbot (chairman), G. J. Dennistoun, A. Kelman, B. B. Maodonald, W. Wright, and J. Metcalf. The chairman said that since last meeting considerable anxiety had been felt for ■the bridges in the county on account of the phenomenal rainfall. All the conditions for a very heavy flood were present, and from his previous experience of similar conditions before the training walls were erected, some thousands of pounds worth of damage would have been done, • whereas £l5O would cover the damage on the Opihi. It was also lucky that the Orari was restrained. Both publicly and privately the county had got off with comparatively little loss. Mr F. \V. Marchant Teported on Ids visit of inspection to the protective works at thfc Orari, Temuka, and Opihi rivers durJSig the flood, and found that the bridges and walls had all stood fast and no damage to speak of had been done beyond some 20ft of the approach to the new Allandale bridge. The overseer reported a lot of slips in the Orari-Waihi water race. The upper Orari protective works required some more willows. (It wa.s decided to have the matter attended to.) The flood had done some damage to the protective works at Arowhenua, nud ho had been busy with repairs. The chairman referred to a report from the Levels County Council that a traction engine with a heavy load had gone over the Raincliff bridge, and made the excuse that- this was necessary as there was no ford. Mr D. McFarlane, who was present, expressed the opinion that the expense of the upkeep of a ford would be unwarranted. There was also the difficulty of properly supervising the traffic at this place. A3 even though a ford were made passable the engines would still go over »h» bridge unless there was some ona standing watching it. The bridge too was an old one, and it was questionable if it were wise to spend much in strengthening the bridge, which was quite strong enough for normal traffic. After consideration it was decided to ask Mr Marchant to inspect the bridge and report. The chairman Orari-Rangitata Water Race Committej reported that everything was going smoothly though they had had a. lot of trouble with the main race running short of the beach road. Mrs Fitzgerald would be quite as well served with a loop race, plan of which was submitted, anil Mr Tait was willing to construct! the proposed loop. Mr Metcalf explained the position and the proposed alteration. Mr Macdonald was deputed to interview Mrs Fitzgerald with the view of arranging the matter in accordance with the recommendations of the committee. The Waitohi Water-race Committee reported several slips and recommended that Mr CNiel be granted the water for 40 acres at the usual rate. Accounts amounting to £9 12s had been passed for payment. Mr F. R. Flatman wrote stating that he had made recommendations to tho Government with regard to the advisability of importing some small German owls for coping with the small birds. Some misunderstanding had arisen in connection with the fencing and gravel pite on the new Allandale-Clayton road. Mr McFarlane, for the Mount Peel Road Board, explained that the original agreement had been to buy a gravel pit on land which had since changed hands, at £ls per acre. Mr Wilson now asked £ls for a section on his property. He also stated that the majority of the standards had been driven in side ways and bent upwards, and the result was very unsatisfactory. H e had consequently withheld the balance of money due to the contractors and now suggested that they be compelled to reinstate the fence as originally agreed upon, and as the first 40 chains had been done.—The Council instructed Mr McFarlane to see that the work was properly carried out to his satisfaction before paying the balance of the money. The Secretary Department of Roads wired that the Council could rely on receiving £750 towards the Hanging Rock bridge.—This was considered satisfactory. On the motion of Mr Talbot, seconded by Mr Dennistoun, jt was resolved to 3trike a general rate of id in the £ on all rateable property in the county. The Levels County Council wrote in rep'y to a letter on the matter that tenders would be called for the bridge over the Opihi without further delay. Three tenders were received for the position of ranger for the Orari-Waihi Water-race Districts and that of Mr G. Peterson of £6O was accepted. The other two were for £7O and £BO respectively. Ihe Council decided that tho head works be put in order before the ranger took the races over. It was stated that it would cost a considerable sum to put the cutting at the headworks in proper order. Eventually it was decided to get tho Council's overeer to put the cutting in order as cheaply as possible. Mr B. R. McDonald reported having inspected the proposed loop-race at Mr Jonias' and approved of the site.

Messrs J. Kelland and P. Mulvahill, reiwesenting the Geraldine Koad Board •waited on the Council to place the Board's views before them -with regard to the altered conditions of dealing with the small birds* nuisance, as adopted by the late conference of County Councils. Mr Kelland said the new conditions liad upset the Board's business. They had, in accordance with the practice followed for some years past laid in a stock of poisoned grain for free distribution to fanners. They further thought that it was a mistake to discontinue the distribution of poisoned grant and thought that poisoning and trapping were best carried out in conjunction with each other. Mr Talbot said the conference were unanimous in their decision against the distribution of poisoned grain, and in favour of encouraging trapping by increasing the payment for birds' heads. At present t!he Boards found traps and poisoned grain and bought the birds indiscriminately. Mr Kelland said the practice of selling poisoned birds heads was not carried on to any serious extent. Mr Talbot said there Lad been a lot of poisoned birds sold in Temuka. Mr Kelland said the man they employed regularly for the trapping (Mr Ragan) would throw up his contract if the proposals were carried our, and they had no other man so reliable available. Mr Mulvahill said in the first place bad they got value for the money spent , in the past? Personally he thought they had. The Board had followed a system which they desired continued, and made provision for carrying on the work. Would it not have been better had the Council advised the Board of the conference so" that they could have refrained from pur : chasing the grain until the conference had arrived at a decision? Some farmers were careful with the tiraps, and others were careless, and in their hands the traps would soon get out of order. Mr Talbot said th* object of the conference was to secure ffiiformity and prevent overlapping. Personally he objected to pokonmg, and ir was moreover a dangerous practice. In Temuka they thought trapping much . more satisfactory than poisoning. 'Hie man had made wages last year at 9d per dozen. He was sorry they did not know of the conference, bull it had been in tho papers. Jf the- birds wer« so plentiful the. man would have no difficulty in making good wages at jh per dozen. In any case it had only been decided to try it for one year. In reply to a question by Mr Mtilvihill Mr Talbot said lie knew of a case at Smithfield where some horses had been poisoned by the wheat. After a further discussion it vrne decided to. leave tho matter to Mr Metcalf tio arrange with Mr Dyer, clerk to the Geraldine Road Board, and employ Mr Kagan for three days a week at the traps and distribute the grain on hand. Accounts for £955 2s 2d were panned for payment, and the Council rose.