TEMUKA ROAD BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Volume I, Issue 93, 6 November 1878, Page 2

TEMUKA ROAD BOARD.

A meeting of tjiis Hoard was held yesterday. Present : Messrs Talbot (Chairman) Hayhurst, Barker, and Quiuu.

Minutes of the previous meeting were road and confirmed.

Mr Nicholson interviewed the Board in reference to their former decision re the opening and transfer of a new road through his property on the Waitohi Downs, as to the cost of transfer, &c. The Board stated that they would take the matter into consideration. Subsequently it was considered just that each party should pay their own costs in the transfer.

Mr Benbow applied to be allowed to take a few loads of gravel out of the river bed. The application was granted.

A long list of accounts were then examined and passed for payment, the total amounting to L 1505 2s Bd. On one of the items for a payment for the concrete bridge over the Arowhenua Creek, a discussion took place on the propriety of making stricter rules regarding the quality of work done by contractors. Mr Hayhurst urged strongly that bad work should not be paid for as if it were good. To pay for bad work as if it were satisfactory was unfair, both to ratepayers and to other contractors. If an ignorant person chose to uuclcrtake a difficult work, he, not the Board, should suffer for his miscarriages. The Chairman asked to be allowed the sum of L 7, amount of expenses incurred in attending the Conference of Chairmen at Christchureh. The amount was, of course, allowed. Messrs Seaton and Young, Yfaitohi, waited upon the Board to request that about one mile and three quarters of the road known as Seaton's be formed. Mr Hayhurst reminded his colleagues of the resolution passed at the last meeting, to the effect tiiatso long as labour remains as scarce as it is at present none but really necessary works should be undertaken.

The application was received, but the carrying' out of the work was deferred for the present. Mr Job Brown waited on the Board to request that Davie-street in the north part of the township should be formed. The application w r as granteu. Correspondence was read as follows : "From Mr Williamson, Mr EL D. M'Pherson, and Mr J. R T. Walsh, asking to have their names placed on the roll for properties lately obtained. All these requests to be complied with. From Mr E. Wood, complaining that a former letter of his, and the Board's reply thereto, were not published, as especially requested by him. The Clerk was instructed to reply that the letters had not been published through inadvertence, and it was agreed to publish them.

From Messrs Thornton and Bull, stating that the new map of the district was finished, and in the hands of tho Survey Department-, and would .be down in a few days. Another letter from the same stated that there are six sheet-*, each 6ft by 4ft Gin. From Mr S. D. Barker and others", asking that a creik running near Mr Barker's wool-shed be work not being considered necessary "£ov road purposes, if was decided that She Board could not have anything to do with it. From Mr S. Phillips, asking' the Board to take steps to abate the nuisance caused to himself and others by Mr \\ heelband allowing cows, horses, and drays, to remain upon the bye-road running past his house. The road not being under the control of (he Board, they agreed that they cou'M not interfere. From the Treasury, Wellington, stating that the sum of L 2102 Is 7d had been remitted to the credit of the District Fund account. This sum is the district's share of the sum of L 55000, surplus land revenue of Canterbury to 31st December, 1877.

From Mr A. Find'ay, Lower Ferry, Ilangitata, asking to have a road on the north side of the island improved. Overseer to attend to the subject. Fiom Mr C. Bowker, Timaru, stating that he had sold certain sections specified, and requesting to have his name removed from tho ratepayers roll in respect to those sections. Clerk to reply that the request will be made on instruction to the valuators.

From Mr J. P. Jameson, complaining that he hail been rated for 180 a.vcs, instead of 94, Ids proper acreage. It was resolved that the complaint be received, as the complainant bad not received notice of the liability. From Mr A. W. Hornbrook, objecting to the alteration of road on the Arowhenua. Mr Hornbrook to be informed that any proceedings taken with reference to the a'tcration will be an accordance with the law.

From Messrs Grim wood, thanking- the Board for granting an extension of time, and asking what kind of timber wonlil be required iirst. The Clerk stated that he had replied to the letter. From Mr J. Pago, complaining of being rated while he holds no lands in the district.

The Overseer's report was rend. It recommended (1) the obtaining of working sections of the Spur Hut Road (Agreed to.) (2) The plastering inside of idie stone culvert on the Kakahu roa 1, and the putting down of another one beside it. The Board preferred taking up the old culvert, and putting down a new and larger one. (3) That certain small works be "carried out on the Lower Orari. MiBarker complained that some of these had been ordered to be done some time ago, but had been neglected. These works to be attended to.

Mr Hayhurst moved the following resolution : "That a sum of money not exceeding L4O be voted for the purpose of purchasing a complete set of the Acts passed by the New Zealand Parliaments since 1862." The resolution was carried.

Mr Hayhurst also presented the following proposition as a recommendation to the special meeting to be called to consider the duties of Overseer and Clerk : "That the plans and specifications of worlcs bo laid on the table for one month before lenders are called for the same."

Mr Barker brought forward a series of complaints against the manner in which various small works had been neglected by the Overseer. Some of these were ordered to be attended to a good while ago, and were still undone. In some places in consequence of this neglect, in-

jury had accrued to roads and property. The tenders received were then conssdered. The works Nos 120 and .121, two bridges, were deferrea for fresh tenders. For No 122, filling at Arowhenua Creek bridge, the tender of Martin Dunn, 143; was accepted, and for No 123, making approaches to bridge on Lower Swamp road, the tender of M. Dunn for L 47 9s was accepted.