GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13834, 20 February 1909, Page 6

GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Geraldine County Council was lield on Thursday. Present—Messrs G. J: Dennistoun (chairman), Armitage, Grant, Metcalfe., Mac Donald, and Aelman. A special meeting was first held, at ■which it was resolved that the interest and sinking fund on. the loan of £BOOO recently raised, shall be paid out of the general fund (instead of collecting the special rate). This resolution will be confirmed at the next month's meeting. The county engineer (Mr Marchant) reported that Messrs Hall, contractors for the reinforced concrete bridge over the Opihi had about 40 piles made, about Jialf the boulder stone metal required had been broken, and the forms for moulding concrete were well forward. At the Hanging Rock bridge the contractor, Mr W. J. Black, had driven about 30 piles, the protective works were completed, one of the approaches was nearly completed, and ail the iron and timber delivered except a few pieces. A progress payment- of £350 was now due. Mr J. Todd was also making satisfactory progress with the Hanging Rock road, and a progress payment of £l2O could be made To him. Mr Tubb. contractor for the Raincliff bridge, had all the timber on the ground, and was making good progress. A progress payment of £IOO was due on this contract.—The report was adopted. Reports were received from the water-race rangers. One or two complaints were received regarding the Orari-Waihi race, and some of the Rangitata branches had run short, owing to horses trampling down a gauge, and there had been some interference with the main south race. The committee hoped to get information on which offenders would be proceeded against. Mr Mac Donald said there was too much tampering with races, ar'l something should be done to stop it. The clerk, Temuka Road Board, wrote th;> t the payments for small birds' Leads and eggs were being reduced. He recommended that the Council cease purchasing eggs at 3d per dozen, as the birds continue laying after their nests had been robbed. Tt would be better to buy feathered heads and nests. W. Resian. who bad been in charge of six bird trans last season, reported + b;it he shifted them from farm to farm and set them, and each farmer then worked the trap and sold the The number sold in 1906 was 22,835; in 1907,.18,605; in 1908, 5808. Mr Jas. Kelmnn wrote that the sheep yard at the north approach to the s'ock bridge over the south branch of the Rangitata is too small, as it would Tinr, hold more than 200. An enlargement costing £6 or £8 would be a great convenience.—-Mr Metcalfe said the crush-pen served local requirements, but- not those of people travelling large mobs. —It was agreed to enl«r<*e the vard. at a cost not exceeding £lO. ' j A circular embodying draft reguht-'

tions under the Motor Regulation Act was received from the Government. A communication from the district surveyor, regarding removal of survey pegs by a contractor was referred to the engineer. Mr Gillespie, returning officer, submitted a list of polling places for the election of a Licensing Committee. The preliminary expenses would be about £3O, and if a poll was required this would cost about £l5O more. —The clerk suggested that an arrangement should be made, if possible, to limit the number of nominations and so save a poll.—The chairman said this Council would have all the trouble, they having been appointed the controlling authority, and members generally expressed their disapproval of this arrangement. It was resolved that the clerk prepare a list for the next meeting of ratepayers who had not paid their rates on* 20th December last, and amount due by each. The circular from the Auckland City Council protesting against the new law requiring all sinking funds to be invested with the Public Trustee, was approved, and it was resolved to request the local members to try and get the Act amended. Mr C. E. Sherratt was appointed dog tax collector for Geraldine riding. Accounts, amounting to £656 were passed for payment.