GERALDINE COUNTY.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, Issue 17692, 5 July 1927, Page 7

GERALDINE COUNTY.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Geraldine County , Council was held yesterday. Present—Messrs K. Mackenzie (chairman), F.. R. Flatman, T. Lyon, M. Guild, J. J. Ellis, G. Tate, i C. Ley and J. M. H. Tripp. CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT. ' The chairman said that during the ' month, with Mr Flatman and the en- • gineer, he had met representatives of I the Highways Board, Public Works : Depar ) rent, and the Ashburton County Council, in reference to the Rangitata Bridge. The question of ! longitudinal planking, which was not favourably considered by the Geraldine Council, was considered, and after the matter had been thoroughly ventilated, it was seen that the method to be adopted was quite favourable. The bridge was going to be built on modern lines, and the planking was to be reinforced with asphalt and a wire netting covering. He could now see no reason why the Geraldine County should not be prepared to pay their proportion of the cost. Mr Flatman: “It will not be more than. £300.” FINANCE. Reporting on behalf of the Finance Committee, Mr Flatman said the receipts since last meeting were: General rate arrears £221/12/S; ten per cent, penalty £l7/2/7; water races £lO2/14/9; sale of firewood £72/5/; public trustee, Milford Hall and Rangitata £72/10/-; hotel license £25; sale of timber £ls/14/-; rents £l2/10/-; refunds £l9/1/1; Main Highways Board £7/13/3; motor drivers’ licenses £7/5/-; heavy traffic license £6/7/6; slaughterhouse license 10/-; poison grain 10/-; a total of £,580/15/10. The debit balance at the bank was £BB/1/-; cash in hand £lO6/7/4. That day’s paysheet make a debit balance of £llO7 15s amounted to £1126/2/3, which would lid. The expenditure in the riding account was as follows:——Temuka £823/18/8; Geraldine £733/6/2; Mount Peel £153/12/10. The report was adopted.

The notice of motion given by Mr Flatman at last meeting, was seconded by Mr Lypn, and carried. The motion was: “That under Sections 120 and 121, of the Counties’ Act, 1920, and also under the provisions of the Rating Act, 1925, the Council make and levy separately a general Peel ridings of the County on the rate' in Temuka, Geraldine and Mount capital value of all rateable properties appearing in the valuation rolls of the above-mentioned ridings for the time being in force, for the current year, commencing on April 1, 1927, and ending on March 31, 1928. Temuka riding Id in the £, Geraldine riding 1 1-Sd in the £, and Mount Peel riding id in the £, to become due on August 1, 1927.” It was decided, on the motion of Mr Flatman, to borrow by overdraft, a sum not exceeding three fourths of the total revenue for the preceding year. The same motion was carried in respect to the River Board.

ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES. A letter was received from the Ashburton County Council with regard to electoral bbundaries, stating that the chairman wished to solicit the Geraldine Council’s assistance in its endeavours to have the present electoral boundaries retained. It appeared that the electors of the Mackenzie and Levels Counties were averse to being severed from the Temuka electorate, and included with Waitaki, while the electors of Geraldine County were not satisfied with the proposal to include the southern half of the Ashburton County with Geraldine County, thus forming a new Temuka electorate. The Ashburton County was lodging objections against the proposals, and the chairman would be pleased if the Council would lodge the objections against the proposals as affecting the Geraldine district. It is understood that objections were being lodged by the electors of tlid Mackenzie and Levels Counties. The chairman said that they had supported the letter, but he did not think their objection would alter the lav,'. . PROVISION OF LIGHTS. The question of the provision of lights at Winchester and Raukapuka again cropped up. Mr Tate said he was strongly against the proposal. Mr Ley said the Highways Board had refused to subsidise lighting such as requested, and that should justify their refusal of the application, ' Mr Tripp said that if Winchester was given lighting that would be the commencement of numerous applications.

The chairman said that three lights at Winchester and four at Raukapuka should meet the requirements. He moved in this direction, this being seconded by Mr Flatman. Mr Ley: I should say that if this proposal is carried I shall vote for all further applications, no matter where they are. Members: Every case on its merits. The motion was carried, Messrs Tripp, Tate and Ley dissenting. The chairman: “Well, gentlemen, I hope that in future you will take each case on its merits.” Mr Tate: “We will.” (Laughter.) Mr Ley: “What’s fair for one is fair for another.”

TRAPPING RABBITS. Mr R. W. Allard wrote requesting to trap rabbits on the Rangitata Island road. Mr Tate said there was a bit of a “hubbub” about this matter. Allard had gone to him (someone having removed the traps to his paddocks),, and “like a bull at a gate” had asked him what they were doing there. Mr Flatman: “That’s characteristic of the Island, though.” (Laughter.) It was decided that the Council had no authority to grant the request. DEPUTATION. Messrs Maxwell and McMillan (Clandeboye), waited on the Council with a view to having a road near their property, which they said was in a bad state, re-formed as soon as possible. The engineer was instructed to re-‘ port on the advisability of re-form-ing the road. CONCERNING A DRAIN. Mr .1. Nolan, Temuka, waited on the Council, stating that he had an agreement with the old Road Board to assist in the cost of clearing out a drain on his property. He had been cleaning the drain, and the Council had agreed to pay half of the cost. He had cleaned out the drain last year, but the Council had intimated that they were not prepared to pay their full share. He did not intend to do this, and considered the Council were responsible. The chairman: “Supposing we clean it out and charge you for the work?” Mr Nolan: “I.have had legal advice and was told to do the work and as per the agreement, send you an account for half the cost.” The chairman: “We won’t pay it, Mr Nolan.”

Mr Nolan: “Well, supposing we have a little friendly lawsuit, we’ll still be as good friends afterwards?” The chairman advised Mr Nolan to consult his solicitor, and the Council would get in touch with theirs. APPLICATION FOR WORK. A letter was received from Captain J. Kerr, Geraldine, acknowledging the Council’s communication, in which it was pointed out that the manager of Mount Peel station had brought under the Council’s notice that a drain had been cut between Rata Peaks and Stew Point. It was necessary to cqt this drain to carry off the surplus water from Rata Peaks station, as it unavoidably crossed the bridle track. He quite agreed with the Council that a bridge was required to be built. He trusted that the Council would have this done at their expense as soon as convenient. The chairman said he had interviewed Captain Kerr, and had come to the arrangement that if the Council sent up some of the planks of the old Rangitata bridge, he would erect the bridge. It was decided to supply the timber, providing Captain Kerr paid the remainder of the cost.

Mr Hy. Hill, Geraldine, wrote reminding the Council of the danger of the river opposite the head works. The river was coming over and doing a lot of damage to the Board’s and private property, and if it encroached further, it would mean the provision of a new embankment. A few pounds would put matters right.—Engineer to investigate. A letter was received from Mr J. W. Miller, Raukapuka, stating that during the work of putting in the water pipes, the contractor ripped up the crossing in front of his section, leading to his garage. In so doing all the pipes were smashed, and now, during wet weather the water in the water tables banked up and flooded the section. If the Council could not see their way to replace the crossing, it was requested that the pipes be granted and the writer would install them himself. —Agreed to. A letter was received from Mr G. B. Mathieson, Waitohi Flat, stating that there was an open drain across the road in front of his property which he would like shifted 100 yards farther away. If the Council would supply the pipes, he would find the labour. —Engineer to investigate.

Correspondence was received from F. T. Claydon, Peel Forest, asking the Council to put a drain down on the road between Wooding Brothers’ and his property. This would prevent his land from being flooded, as he had already suffered some loss through the water. Mr Tripp said that the case was a deserving one, as the applicant had had some anxious times.

Mr Flatman endorsed these remarks. An expenditure of £lO was all that would be required.—Left in the hands of the engineer. Mr R. W. Allard, Rangitata Island, applied to have the road from Buck’s to his place shingled as it was in a very bad state. —Referred to engineer to investigate.

GENERAL. It was decided on the motion of Mr Ley, seconded by Mr Tate: “That the Council recommends to the favourable consideration of the Main Highways Board the substitution of the Gapes’ Valley Road between Borrell’s and Cochrane’s roads junctions, for the present route via Hil r ton and Kakahu Valley on the Main Geraldine-Fairlie Highway. The grounds for this recommendation are that the Gapes’ Valley Road is the more direct line is two miles shorter and carries the bulk of the local and through traffic of the district.” The Town Clerk, Temuka', wrote stating that the office records had been searched without success to ascertain if there were any agreements relative to boundary stz-eet lighting. The last amount paid by the Council was £29 3s Id, and not £54 3s 5d in the Council’s letter.

The chairman said they could write letters for weeks, and still get no further. The best way to get over the difficulty and get down to finality would be to meet the Borough Council.

It was resolved that the Temuka members and the chairman investigate the. matter, and confer with the Temuka Borough Council. The question of planting the Council’s reserves, was discussed, and it w,ss decided to invite a forestryexpert from-the Department to accompany Mr Ellis around the reserves to discuss the most suitable method of planting. The South Island Motor Union wrote asking the Council to favourably consider and support the appointment of another motorists’ representative on the Highways Board. The chairman said that at the conference the matter had cropped up, and the county representatives were of opinion that another representa-

tive for the motorists was unnecessary. The Highways Board have been in existence for three years, and had only been feeling their way. He was of opinion that the Board as at present constituted was doing good work and no alteration was warranted.

The Timaru Harbour Board wrote advising that the Board had fixed the amount of the contributions to be paid by the Council (including the boroughs of Geraldine and Temuka) towards providing interest on the harbour loans for the current year at 1-8 penny in the pound on the total rateable value of all rateable property in the Geraldine County as now constituted.

The secretary of the Geraldine District H. S. Committee, wrote thanking the Council for their offer of a section for tree planting, but were of opinion that under the circumstances it would be better for the committee to purchase land of their own for planting. Correspondence was received from the Commissioner of Crown Lands advising that the sum of £4B which was owing by a ratepayer at Orton, could not possibly be paid by the Department. There would be a deficiency on the season’s workings. If the Council were willing to accept half of the amount, the Department would pay that sum.—Agreed to. Mr H. G. Naylor (secretary South Canterbury Hospital Board), wrote stating that Mr E. one of the members representing Geraldine County Council on the Board had tendered his resignation. Mr M. H. McLeod, Temuka, was nominated for the vacancy. Letters of congratulation on the occasion of the jubilee of Geraldine County were received from the Mackenzie County. Council, and Mr C. H. Tripp. Mr H. Stratford, Factory Road, Temuka, wrote asking permission to cut willow firewood in the reserve at Waitohi near Pleasant Point, of which he was at present lessee. He was prepared to pay a royalty of 5/per load. It was decided to call tenders for the wood. An application from Mr M. A. Knight, Woodbury, for a slaughterhouse license was granted. TENDERS. Tenders for the alterations of the county offices were received as follows:—J. W. Miller £39 10s, L. J. Bennington £46 15s, E. Riches £54 ss, A. M. Fyfe £5 5, and F. Trott £62 10s. The first tender was accepted. The secretary of the Woodbury Water Race Committee wrote advising that three tenders had been received for the position of water race ranger for the year commencing July 7. The committee decided to accept the lowest tender, that of A. D. Fergusson, at £2l 19s.—Approved. Tenders for Australian' hardwood timber were received as follows: Messrs Richardson and McCabe, Wellington, £714 15s 6d, Phillips and Black, Christchurch. £715 0s 4d, Wallace and Co., Wellington, £744 4s. Duncan and McLean and Co., Greymouth, £755 Ss 4d, Rosenfieldt and Co., Wellington, £784 10s lid, and Reese and Co., Christchurch, £SOO 7s lOd. The tender of Richardson and McCabe was accepted subject to the deposit of £3O being duly forthcoming. Five tenders were received for contract No. 48, Ruddenklau’s Road. They were as follows: —G. F. Hooper £B6, Armstrong and Richards £8 6 14s, J. Small £9O, J. Donohue £9O, and W. Tate £9 5. The lowest tender was accepted. POUNDKEEPER’S REPORTS.

Mr F. Gaby, ranger, reported that during the month he had impounded 42 cattle and 12 horses. Mr J. R. Bradshaw, Temuka, reported that he had impounded 38 cows, 16 horses, and one bull. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer (Mr C. E. Bremner) reported on the month’s working. A plan and estimate for the proposed new public pound for the Geraldine district towards .the construction of which some of the materials in the present pound would be made available was presented. Officials of Main Highways Board had inspected lengths of the main north highway proposed to be treated with bitumen. All sections excepting a few chains of the line fronting Raukapuka were found satisfactory and necessary strengthening of this defective length would shortly be effected. Plans and other particulars of Beautiful Valley Creek Bridge were in the hands of the Public Works Department for approval, and work could be put in hand upon their acceptance by the Department as the necessary materials were in stock and labour was available to start at an early date. The report was adopted.

RIVER BOARD. The Council then sat as a River Board. A letter was received from Messrs Joynt and Walker, solicitors, Temuka, on behalf of Mrs M. Fitzgerald (Clandeboye), stating that the Board’s men had been cutting willows. In her opinion, she would in future suffer serious damage to her land and property, and she had instructed them to inform the Council that she would hold the Board responsible for any loss occasioned. She also required payment for any timber removed from her property. The trees being cut down, Mrs Fitzgerald said, were planted by her some 20 years ago.—Engineer to investigate. Mr J. Rennett, Temuka, wrote asking for permission to cut timber, especially for river protection, on his property.—Referred to engineer. Mr J. Wade, Temuka, applied to cut a few loads of willows for firewood on his frontage to the Waihi River. —Engineer to inspect.