GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13678, 21 August 1908, Page 2

GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

'the usual monthly -meeting war, held yesterday. PresenL—Mr J. Talbot (chairman), Metcalf, McDonald, and Kelman. Apologits for absence were received from Mc-siu Wright and Deimistomi. CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT. The cliaiirua'n said that the preliminary arrangements for the erection of tlie Hanging Rock bridge wt-ie- now complete, the contract signed and the tinibtr ordered. From -Mr Marehant's report it appeared that the damage done by tlie flood was more than he had considered when speaking at 'the last meeting, i'einr fnrcemiiit of earth wcrk at Temuka bridge would cost £SO, and £6O or £BO at the Opihi bridge. The recor.titructiori of tlie Rangitata bridge was finished and it was pleasing to note that the cost was lets than the estimate by £SOO. With regard to the 'Orari-Waihi water race it would f-«i £35 to put the headworks in order, at which price the present ranger wws prepared to undertake tlie work. (It was agreed to have the work done.) With regard to the Opihi bridge contract tenders would be considered but he thought it b.st, that 110 tender be fk-iinitoly accepted without inibmitting it to the Lew's c.f.unt y. .* ENGINEER'S REPORT. Mr F. W. Marchant reported that, since the recent flood subsided lie had' ir.-spected the Temuka bridge and found that when at its height the water had come 9 inches light- c-ver-the top of the protective works-. No damsge.'.was- done,' bit t it would be absoiiitelyineceGsary . bliat- the .-bunk, be raised before another- flood. 3 lie river was evidently raising its bed - coßGiderably above the main road bridge. Some more expensive and perm.'iivont works would be required: at t-he Maori Pah'/paddock where the stream .tabs a right,, angled-: turn. Tenders were called for! the: erection of the' earthwork, that of 1!. Rii.hiiivi« a- t Is per yard being,.the iowavl .tvau -accepted,' and "the work put in hand.- iMr Mar- < haul's action in the matter was;'approved.) Mr •Marchant. M !3O. reported cii the advisability '.of 'Strengthening the Rainclitf bridge, -so as. to...make, it . .safe for heavy traffic, and lie was' of opinion that itxottld b.- much mere satisfactoiy than opening a ford, 111 oi'der to make it available for'fraction engines it would be necessary to>s6t: tVv.o jarrali or ironbavk girders under ithe -wheel- tracks and block them hard up: against the. underside'ot the decking. . The cost would be under £4OO. The Cotmcii were, in favour of liaving the bridge;'s'trengthtlied, and the chairman w;.f> authorised to )jave r tenders called for the work. >

'Mr Marchant, further reported having iiuqiected and approved of the suggested repairs to the Oiari-Wahi headworks. He estimated the cost- of substantial repaiis necessary at; the Temuka river at .under £l5O. The main road Opihi bridge wss again tinder repair, and would require a let- °;f such" until the new bridge could be built. The protective works at the Opihi above the l'leaisaut Point bridge performed their wotlc well, and 110 damage whatever was done by the late flood'. Jt now required £2O worth of maintenance work in replacing some _dead \yillows. The '. arioti; works .were recommended :,s ii.tclsj.'irv 10 be carried out. MISCELLANEOEUS, The Clerk of Works' repotted, having visited Allandale, Arowlienua, ißauicliff, and Temuka bridges, lie -had spent 14 days at the Arowlienua protective works atid'. planted willows on the south bank of the Temuka river. ' Mr J. C. Rolleston; chairman of the Orari-Rangitata Water-race Committee, reported no serious complaints and a. good supply of water in the races that had now been cleared out. With regard to

Mr Tait's application for a loop ra c Jj committee held a meeting at. which Mr B. It. McDonald was present and gave the result < f his interview with Mrs iitz-o-arald, and after hearing ' his • explanation resolved «to adhere to. its former recommendation to the. Council—that it supply Mrs Fitzgerald and Mr Tait, by diverting the whole race across the road and through tlie two sections owned by them and back again into the main race, tlie committee were anxious to get- the matter which had been a. constant source ot tiouble definitely settled.—lt was resolved that Mrs Fitzgerald be informed of the vv-ctimmendaiioii of tlie committee re tieviation of race as suggested, and that as it had been found impracticable! to keep the water running through the old race, it will be cud off altogether. The chairman. Waitohi Water-race Committee, reported thai: the races were in good order. The river had scoured out • a. big hole close to the box, at the. head works, which they had filled with boulders and netting. They recommended trees in a email plantation belonging to Alis Hullen being topped as otherwise they might fall over and damage the race. "—xhe owners (o be requested Io remove or lop the trees. Willi reference to- tlie reserve at Ariuidel, which the Council had applied to ■have vested in them, a letter-was received from the Land Board stating that the • reserve would remain the 'property of the Board. After some discussion, it was resolved that the Minister of Lands ba written to, asking hiin to have the reserve vested in tlie: Geraldine County, it being on their side of the river, and they being the hodv most interested.

FINANCE. The county balance-sheet was returned rl'om the Auditor-General wiih thiee "tags" referring, to technicalities of accountacy which the Council, however, thought immaterial and the balance-sheet, was adopted. Accounts amounting to £560 wete paused for payment. I'f'iCKHAM'S CROSSING. During the month the chairman slated that a. letter had been, received from All' Flatman stating that if the Council. would sanction it he thought it possible to get a vote of JB2CO, or more for a bridge at . Peckham's crossing. He did not do anything iii the mattc-r because he wished to place it before the Council first, and that personally he thought if the grant were issued 1 , . they would need io ask the ratepayers for another £6OO or £BOO before the work could ,be finished, and he did not see how it could be done on a farthing rate.,. Again it brought, up t.hei whole question of new bridges, and on- that account he thought it best to let the matter stand over for he present. . Other councillor*. concurred with this view with .the exception of Mr Kelman, who said there was only 0110 other similar bridge that would be required. Another letter from Mr Flatman expressed his willingness to get a grant towards widening the Rangitata stock bridge was also shelved for tlie time lie-