GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14523, 19 August 1911, Page 3

GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL

This Council met on Thursday. Present—Messrs G. J. Dennistoun (chairman), Armitage, Grant, Matinan, Macdonald and Metcalfe. Mr. Billings reported that the Waitohi protective works would bo finished iu a day or two. He had inspected the Upper Orari protective works, and at the corner of Hewson's paddock the river was washing away the bank, getting too close to /the corner of the productive wcrkfij being now about two chains away. The water was very deep at the bank, , and with another | fresh, or two the river might get through. It looked verv dangerous at ! present. At the Temuka bridge. the last fresh scoured pretty deep on the south side, so he would have to put boulders and wire-netting to prevent further scouring, with the Board's permission. At this bridge tho piles were [only 24ft. long, and something would ! have to be done to prevent any furI thfir scouring.ORARI PROTECTIVE WORKS. Mr Hewson waited on the Council, ! and asked that something be done to protect his property, and the Orari river embankment, which at nresent he was protecting, _ That morning the. water was within four inches of the top of tha bank. Nina or ten chains of work were needed.—Mr Flatman said thai ifi tho water overflowed! it would go down past the school, and would affect the Temuka River Board. Sir Billings said a willow fence and bank would bo -needed. Tie cost would be about £l2 a chain. Mr Hewson said he would cart gorse

for the work, and allow a half chain track to save carting a long distance. Ho then, withdrew.. Mr Grant thought Mr Hewson and the River Board should each, pay a third of the cost. Mr Flatman said the danger was tnat the river would overflow on the other sido of the protective works, for now it was within four inches of the top, and there was not a big fresh. Mr Macdonald suggested tbat a committee, might be set up to apportion "the cost. It seemed to him that tho matter was urgent. | The Chairman agreed, but Baid they could do nothing while tho river was up.-- ; It was resolved to write and ask the ' River Board to contribute a third l of the cost, and to ask Mr.Hewson to contribute to tho same extent. It was agreed to proceed with the work recommended at Temuka bridge. WATER RACES. Mr K. Mackenzie, chairman of tihe Orari-Waihi Water. Race Committee, reported a little trouble last month with frost blocking the races, and later with floods in the river. The Committee decided that the loon race asked for by Tripp settlors, be declined. Considering the porous luatura of the soil in the district, and the trouble the Committee have already had to supply water to all the ratepayers, It was unwise to court further trouble by granting this loop race. Mr William Hide, chairman of tie Waitohi Water Race Committee, repojted that during last month heavy l-juus had caused a good manv slirs oil tha Terrace, and they had to employ two extra men, at a cost of £5 to clear them. The racee were in good order aj*nla,

CORONATION SUBSIDIES. The Minister for Internal Affairs , wrote stating that 'applications tor Coronation subsidies were closed on 21st Juno, and the Government b.ad decided that no later applications could be entertained. Tho Council's appli- _ cation for additional subsidies for "Woodbury aJid Orari public halls was ■ therefore too late. Yv'itb. regard to the confusion that had arisen relative to i the applications of the Geraldiiie Road • Board, and the Temuka Road Board ; overlapping, lio stated that he advised Mr Kelland, of the Geraklino Road ', Board on July 14th, that tin's Board : should confine itself to the Woodbury application, and tho Tcnuika Road , Board to tho Orari application, and i these Boards would have a grant from i the Coronation subsidy fund of £75 each, on completion of the public buildings approved in their separate 1 areas. Mr Giant said this had been altered now. Mr Armitage said the amounts were i to he pooled, and "Woodbury and Orari were each to receive £f>o, and YYin- . Chester £3O. Tho amount had not i been fired, only by the word of a i Minister, and that was never stable. 1 SMALL BIRDS. ■ Mr J. "W. Joynt wroto stating that 1 he noted the new arrangements for 1 the purchase of small birds. Ho did net think there would be much chance ■ of getting through in two hours in the ' busy season. Ho' had paid out £.cl 93 6d during the Inst four Saturdays. ' or an average, of £lB 2s 4d a week, ■ and would requiro £l-10 to meet these payments, and to carry on till the next meeting of the Council. Mr Flatman said one settler was contending that the birds should not be .destroyed. Tho Chairman said bird destruction cost them. £940 last year, and Mr Macdonald thought it would he cheaper to employ men to destrov birds than to continue the present method. The Chairman said they could not alter the system at present. AGRICULTURAL INSTRUCTOR. The Education Board acknowledged uhe receipt of £lO towards tho cost of the Eoard's agricultural instructor, and stated that the Board was glad that ..Ir.Brown's services were being appreciated by the farming community THE DEFENCE FORCES. General Godky, in a. lengthy letter, aflietl for co-operation and assistance in the training of the .Senior Cadets and Territorials particularly in the way of Placing halls rooms, or sheds, at the disposal of the Department lor indoor instruction of those being trained J,,11= Wa? * tn ™V { y thafc drill halls exist at Geraldiiie aid Temuka R™^ 6C v m ;^ n< ? lns that the Education W «\ suaUcp places. .WAIIUI SCPPLY at pleasant ~ _, . VALLEY. Mr Flatmaaisaid.th.it the meeting call- ! had had a meeting at which th"v c'-c-ded to have, nothing to do with the before they could have closed th^meSl n,l 31 "" 1 - I,,jne then Wanted in their names as objectors. The Chairman said Messrs D. Finn, YV . YYebh, Grccuall, Brophy's Tnwea, Vueetxli, Lysaght/p. Bropiy and Gale (under certicm circumstances) had lodged written objections Mr•Metcalfe asked who was going to pay tie expenses they wore being nut to. The Chairman said tho applicants undertook to pay the carts, but thev then appeared to be unanimous and ho read the petition which was ' sinned 'amongst others, by four of the present objectors. ■ Messrs Skinner, "Wilkinson. WcUs and Earl waited on the Council, and Mr bkanner said their desire was to -d'-ow the Council that their actions had been quite above board. Mr Wilkinson read tho minutes of the nuKtmgs they had held and Earl and Wells -also smoke, tha hist mentioned handing in a* letter in which lie sfated that if compensation was given to any other than Mr Kun, he should withdraw his consent to the construction of the race, which he outv consented to in tho interests of ijs neighbours, having ample water himself. The Chairman said that some were working for the public weal and had taken a gcod deal of trouble Mr Skimi-jr said he believed some of tho objectors were more anxious fcr water than they were, and that the better course would be- to leave things alone for a time. After some further remarks it was stated that they all considered that Mr Finn was entitled to compensation. Tha Chairman said lie could state that thoso present did not'influence the Council. Tha deputation thanked the Council and withdrew. The Council then held a special meeting to consider the matter, .and a legal opinion was read, after which tlw Cuuneil resolved to adjourn the .special meeting till the ai-t o!' SeotcmV>r PROPOSED WOODBURY" BRIDGE A report fr„m Mr Dye,- relative to ! tho i>roix::';'cl bridge w.i.s tli-aii [( ., ( |- j with estimates, and intimated that"]./, i had applied to the. Government ior a 'i giant. ACCOUNTS. Accounts wero passed for £213 16s lOd. O.PUHA ROAD DISTRICT. In connection with the severance of t!>. a Omiha District andiis juviinir the M.ickc-nz'e Counlv. tlia C'W'c wa" -'u- i structod to se>> ! infovivafi.'.n as ta'ciinditions on which Ihr> f, :;.,,a| -, v ..iiM { agi-ee to consider tha iian-fer. The jCouncil then adjourned, ' " '