MOUNT SOMERS ROAD BOARD.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1533, 6 May 1885, Page 2

MOUNT SOMERS ROAD BOARD.

Ratepayers’ Meeting. p t. The annual meeting of ratepayers of the Mount Somers 'toad District was held at v the Board’s office, M >unt Somers on w Monday at 1p m There were about I twenty ratepayers present, and Mr W O Walkor, M H R.. o’iairman of the Road Soard, occupied the chair. The notice convening the meeting, and i the minutes of the last two meetings of t ratepayers having been read, the Chair- c man submitted the fallowing report . ( ANNUAL REPORT. i The Board, in laying the ba’anco sheet of the year ending March 31, 1885. before the ratepayers, beg to submit that the ] balance shown to the credit of the Board, ] L 8 17a Bd, is increased by the further 1 collection of rates since then to the satis- , factory amount of L 404 10a 2d, Out of last year's rates, total amount due L 1,277 lls 7d, L 1,138 9s lOdhas been collected, leaving L 139 Is 9d still to collect. The Board has been, tor the last year, work-, ing under considerable difficulty, as two portions of the district have separated under the provisions of the Ac 1 .; and also considerable discussion has taken place with regard to economical local government, and the Board has been obliged to manage its affairs on such a footing as to feel ready to fall into any arrangements possible under altered circumstances. As the balance shows, however, the management has not proved extravagant, but may fairly be claimed to bel economical. Out of a total expenditure of L 921 17a sd, salaries amount to LIOB 10s ; the Clerk’s salary to L 63, about equal to 5 per «ent. on the rates ; office expenditure, Ll 5 Is lid ; incidental, including elections, LBl lls 9d; leaving L 716 13s 9d spent on i roads, drainage and other works The Board, therefore, trusts that this statement will be deemed satisfactory by the ■ ratepayers. . BALANCE-SHEET. 1 The balance-sheet was read as follows : —Receipts—Rates, 1832 3, Ll 7 0a 9d ; ditto, 1883 4, L6O 14s 9d ; ditto, 1884-5, I L 733 19s 8d ; sale of theodolite, Ll 4 19a ; Ashburton County Council, half-cost storm-water channel, L6B 6s lid ; sale part of Boyle’s road, L 8 16s 6d ; contri- » buttons storm-water channel, Ll 5 ; De--3 posits on contracts, L 7 7a 6d ; rent of r reserves, LI; gorse cleaning, L 3 ; remov- • ing dead beast, 10a—total, L 930 15a id Expenditure—Contracts and labor, L 716 i 13s 9d ; elections, L2O 8s 6d ; insurance, 1 legal, and interest, L4I 3s lid ; advors rising, Ll 9 19a 4d ; stationery, etc, Ll 5 0 Is lid ; clerk, LG3 5s ; overseer, L455a ; - Bank balance, Ijß 17a 81—total, L 930 15s d Id.

On the motion of Mr Macfarlane, seconded by Mr Hood, the report and balance-sheet were adopted.

•NEW BOARD. Mr Easton asked whether, under the new arrangements, the local body would be a Road Board or a County Council Mr Macfarlane replied that the Board thought it would be wise to see the new Local Government Sill, proposed by the Government, beforejdeciding the matber referred to by Mr Easton.—Mr Hood pointed out that the opportunity to form the district into a County might pass away. ASHBURTON ROAD BRIDGE. The Chairman said he thought a misapprehension existed as to how the balance of money requ ral for the erection of the Ashburton r ad bridge was to be raised. He did not expect that any special or general rate would be levied, but that the comparatively small amount required would with ease be provided from ordinary revenue THE board’s EXPENDITURE.

Mr Herring, on behalf of the Alford Estate Company, protested against the heavy rate levied by the Boar* The Company he represented had spent L 5,000 per annum of British capital—money not made in the colony—and they were burdened by harsh and unnecessary taxation. There was no need for the heavy expenditure incurred by the Board ; he understood it was maintained simply to support a few cockatoos and contractors in the neighborhood who had lived on the Board for years by what he might term “sucking the bottle." He had repaired one road and would repair all his own roads if he were freed from rates. Some roads in the district, notably that to the coalpits, were in a disgraceful condition. Mr Macfarlane thought the remarks which had fallen from Mr Herring were quite un-called for. The works of the Board were let by tender, and even a capitalist fresh from England could take them if he chose to offer low enough.

Mr Edson said that if contractors residing outside the district could offer to do the work cheaper than those living in the district, they would have it. The Board had the expenses at as low a point as possible, and he could assure Mr Herring the rate pressed much more heavily upon the small than upon the large proprietors He (Mr Edson) thought, the reflections cast upon the Board most improper. Mr Herring had accused the Board of complicity in “jobs” and of a wholesale breach of trust. He should withdraw his remarks or formulate soma motion to put before the meeting. Mr Hood concurred with Mr Edson. If his (Mr Hood’s) position in regard to the question justified it he would be disposed to take Mr Herring very severely to task for his remarks. The Chairman said he was sorry Mr Herring had seen fit to make remarks which were distincty unworthy of that gentleman, and which in cooler moments Mr Herring would admit would have been

better unsaid. It was utterly absurd to state that a Board, constituted as they were, existed merely to provide ocoupa-

tion for their neighbors and friends. The Board could not put all the roads in a thorough state of repair at once, but even the Coal-pit road specified by Mr Herring was quite equal to the traffic upon it. Early settlers had had to put up with a much worse state of affairs, but Mr Herring, being a new comer, had failed to recognise the difficulties they had to overcome in dealing with roads through broken country subject to frequent damage from floods and storm-water. Mr Herring said that if his remarks were distasteful to the Board, or inaccurate, no one would be readier than himself to withdraw them, but statements had been made that the expenditure of the Board was largely top the purdose he had represented He could not ref rail) from expressing the regret he felt at having to live in the district. Mr Herring proceeded to express in no measured terms his opinion of the district and its inhabitants

The Chairman briefly explained why other districts, eulogised by B£r Herring, were in a batter position than Ashburton. Geraldine had secured 25 per cent of her land fund, and Coleridge had also been exceptionally treated. Consequently these districts were in a better position than those between the Rakaia and Rangitata, Mr Hood suggested that a public meeting should be held to give the candidates for election to the Road Board an opportunity to explain the'jr' views.

The Chairman thought the candidates would be happy to meet the ratepayers. Mr Edson would like to see Mr Herring occupying a seat upon the Board. It would give that gentleman an opportunity to examine ihp grievanpea believed by him to exist.

Mr Herring said her had not offered hitpself as a candidate, as he felt there was no probability of being successful. Messrs Macfarlgne and Easton thought Mr Herring would receive support. On the invitation of Mr Edson, Mr Herring consented to be nominated for election as a member of the new Board.

On the motion' of Mr H '<>d, seconded by Mr MoOlimont, votes of thanks were passed to the Board and Chairman for their past services.

The Chairman in acknowledging the votes, expressed a hope that Mr Herring would be elected a member of the Board.

Board Meeting.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the I Mount Somers Road Board w*s held at I ‘ the Board’s office, Mount Somers, on Mon- j “ day last. Present—Messrs W. O. Walker I P (Chairman), W. Rdson, T. B. Mcßae, and J * A. Macfarlane. I overseer's report. I I The Overseer’s report was read as fol- 1 c lows : —Since last meeting S. McOlimont j * has finished his work on Peaohe’s road. I 1 The floods last week proved that the side I drain on this road is not large enough yet I to carry all the water in flood time. II ' would recommend that a catch water I j drain be made somewhere near the oaves. I The cost would'not exceed L 7, and this! would save the road from any further I ! damages.—Ford and Newton road: A. I Hardy has finished his work on this road, I The total coat of the work up to the pre- I sent time is L 39 lla 3d.—Rutherford a I Crossing: I have had this crossing re-1 .paired at a cost of LI los.—Wuolnhed I Creek and Deep Jreek Crossing : I have I had these two crossings repaired at a cost I of L2 10s. Pound Fences; I estimate the I cost of putting the fences and gates in j good repair at L 6 10a. —Taylor’s Stream I Bridg"; I would recommend the Board to | urge upon the County Council the neoea- I sity for some protective work at the I southern end of this bridge, some three I or four yards of the bank having been I washed away during the last freshlet. I Boyd’s road crossing, Hewson’a road I crossing, and Rutherford’s crossing want I repairing, the cost for the three would be I LI 10s —McLeod’s Flood-water Channel: I For a distance of about two chains the I bank wants making up. About fifteen I yards of boulders are also wanted at the I foot of the double fall. The cost would I bo about L2 Kh. The falls sustained no I damage during the last flood.—Gorge I Road: It is reported that the Gorge road j 1 is impassable in several places, but I have not had time to inspect it since the late ; floods. ■ PEACHe’s HOAD. It was resolved to send a copy of the j Overseer’s 'report upon this road to Mr ' Peache, and to request that gentleman to p clear out the creek or make a catch water ; drain. > WOOLSHED and deep creek. 5 % The Oveisaer was directed to have * crossings on these creeks repaired at once. THE pound. i The Chairman explained that the 1 County Council would baud to the Board L 5, due to Mr Fergus, to effect repairs to pound fences, a The Overseer was directed to arrange 1 with Mr Fergus for the repairs, and to - obtain his signature to the new agreo--1 ment. t It was resolved to reduce certain pound a fees, and to advertise the alteration in r both the local papers, i tatlok’s stream bridge. a The Clerk was directed to send a copy s of the Overseer’s report on this bridge to the County Engineer. ROAD CROSSINGS. i- It was resolved to repair Boyle’s road, Hewson’s road, Rutherford’s road and the a flood water channel crossings. 3 BDOCLEDCH ROAD. y It was resolved to repair the ford on I, Buocleuch road at a coat not exceeding L 5. t CCITING INTO RIVER, d The Overseer was directed to have the cutting in o the north branch of the Ashbarton river made safe. J FORD AtID newton's ROAD. 3 The Christchureh manager of the Bank 0 of New Zealand wrote offering to con* ) tribute LlO towards shingling Ford and t Newton’s road, . The Clerk was directed to apply for the sum promised. ALFORD FOREST ROAD, i. On the motion of Mr Macfarlane, t seconded by Mr Mcßae, it was resolved to e request the County Council to make ap(j plication, under the Road and Bridges .. Construction Act, for a grant to construct 0 the Main road to Alford Forest, recently 8 gazetted. a The Board then adjourned.