TEMUKA ROAD BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 337, 6 January 1881, Page 2

TEMUKA ROAD BOARD.

The annual meeting of ratepayers for the Temuka Road Board District took place in the Road Board Office, Temuka, on Tuesday last, at noon.

Mr Talbot, Chairman of the Board, rend the advertiscme; t calling the meeting, and explained the object for which the ratepayers were called together, viz., to elect three members in the room of Messrs Quinn, Ensor, and Paterson, who go out by rotation. He then read the names of those nominated, as follows : Mr A. E. Ensor, proposed by Mr Blyth and seconded by Mr Paterson. Mr John Paterson, proposed by Mr Gray and seconded by Mr Quinn. Mr P. Wareing, proposed by Mr Paterson and seconded by Mr Ensor. Mr J. H. Dickenson, proposed by Mr Hayhurst and seconded by Mr Woodhead.

Mr A. Empson, proposed by Mr Badham and seconded by Mr A. Grant.

—He might state that although the Road Board Ordinance did not require the Board to call a meeting of ratepayers for the purpose of making a statement of its past proceedings, yet the Board were quite willing to do so. The first business, however, was to elect a chairman. On the motion of Mr P. Wareing, Mr Talbot was unanimously elected to the chair.

The Chairman then read to the meeting the Annual Report, which we regret being unable to publish to-day

The Chairman remarked that a work of great public necessity was in a state of progress, viz., the Opihi Bridge. He related the history of the Board’s uegociations with the Geraldine County Council regarding it, and stated that the Board had agreed to pay £IOOO towards the erection of a suitable bridge over the Opihi, the County Council to pay the balance. He considered the terms good for this distiiot. A committee composed of members of the Council and the Board had selected a plan, and tenders for the erectiou of the bridge would likely be called for soon. In the report it would be seen all the items are pointed out, and the different districts named, where the expenditure had taken place. It has been contemplated by the Board to have a plant of its own, to have a dray and horses and a few men to cany out repairs and alterations, as it is found very difficult to get some of the work done by contract. Wooden bridges and culverts for instance, which had now to be replaced by concrete, was often very awkward things to deal with, and as the Board had always considered it its duty to study economy, it might be found cheaper to employ day labour than enter into contracts for such works. In cases of emergency, such as washing away of culverts or part of bridges, the men would be at hand to replace jthem at once. He need not go into further particulars, but would now call upon any ratepayer who wished to address the meeting to do so.

Mr Bod hum asked the Chairman if it was right to take the ratepayers’ (money to pay for the County Council's work. He would also like to know who paid the expense of the plan, &c, for the Opihi Bridge.

The Chairman said it was not the Council’s work. The County Council had not taken control of the road or the bridge, but he would read a clause in the County Council’s Ordinance to show that the Council have power to agree with any Road Board for any works within the County. The expenses referred to would be placed as a part of the expense of the budge. Mr Bodham asked if the County Council would not have paid for the whole of the bridge if the Board had declined to pay any part of it. He said he considered other parts of the district was entitled to a share of this money. The Chairman said he did not believe the Council would have gone on with the work unless the Board contributed. Indeed they expected the Board to contribute one half, and he considered they were lucky in getting a work of public utility done so cheaply.

Mr Bodharn asked for the names of the Board who voted for the £IOOO being granted.

The Chairman said the Board were unanimous about it.

Mr Hayhurst said he thought it should be the ratepayers who should decide for or against the voting of this money. It was a large sum to take from the funds of the Board for one particular district. The Chairman replied that it was virtually the ratepayers who voted it by their representatives. If they had not confidence in them, they ought to call upon them to resign. The matter had been in the public journals a long time, and an opportunity was given to object if the

ratepayers were not satisfied ; but he believed two-thirds of the ratepayers had hailed the arrangement with pleasure. For his own part, he considered it a work of public necessity, and be would rather resign than give way to a section of his district, should they object to it. (Cheers) Mr Hayhurst said going back a few years they embiaced an expenditure of £20,000 for bridges. He questioned very much the utility of such expenditure. He also thought, if the district had been consulted, it would not have consented to this expenditure on the Opihi Bridge. He was pleased to hear the Chairman, in his opening address, say that the Board intended to study economy. This was, in his opinion, much needed. Last year we had something like £3590 got by a fluke, and also another £7OO special which would not happen again. He saw by the statement that we had £7OO by a special rate. It was more than possible that we may have a special rate for this Opihi Bridge by and bye. The expenditure last year for salaries, &c., is over £IOOO. As subsidies must fail, the land fund being gone, he could not see where in the future the Board was to find £IOOO to give for any other work equally important with the Opihi Bridge. He believed himself that all the work could be done with horse teams on this bridgo for half the money. (Cries of No, No.)

Mr Quinn, who rose amidst cheers, said he was astonished at Mr Hayhurst. He felt sure that if the district was consulted two thirds or more would support the action of the Board. (Mr Badbam No, No.) Why did not the present objectors object before.

Mr Badham said he never heard of it until now. (Cries of Question, Question.) He never knew what part of the money was to be paid unt'l now.” He did see something about a £IOOO in the public papers, but could not understand it. The Chairman said he was still of opinion that the Board had acted wisely. (Cries of Hear, Hear, from all parts of the room.)

Mr Wareing here proposed a cordial vote of thanks to the Board for their action in the matter.

Mr Hayhurst said he did not wish to put a stumbling block in the way of the Board, but he would not submit one or two members burking discussion. This was the only chance ratepayers had of discussing matters, and he for one would speak till morning, if need be, before he would be sat upoj by any ratepayer. He gave the Board credit for the report produced, as it opened up many matters, which before they knew nothing about. Some of these he would now refer to. £lls 2s 8d for collecting the rate was, in his opinion, a very large sum for that simple work. He thought'this could be reduced. Again over £IOOO expenses to disburse about £9OOO was, in his opinion, a very large proportion. It was therefore not fair for Mr Wareing, Mr Quinn, or any other member to try to hamper discussion on such subjects.

Mr Quinn said, if his memory served him right, Mr Hayhurst approved of bridging the Opihi when he was a member of the Board, and that he was one of a deputation appointed to confer with the Levels Road Board to devise means for its construction.

The Chairman here said that Mr Hayhurst was always, in his opinion, a better member for the ratepayers out of the Board than when in (Cries of Hear, Hoar.) To.day he had given another proof of it. Mr Wareing here proposed, and Mr S.Currie seconded, “A vote of thanks to the Board for their action in the matter of the Opihi Bridge.” Carried almost' unanimously, only four hands being hold up against it. . / I

The Chairman again read over., thd\ names of the candidates, after which Mr; Hayhnrst remarked that it was right that' each district should be represented "by a member residing in it. For that purpose he would support Mr Dickenson, who he believed would make a good member.

Mr Dickenson said if the ratepayers elected him they might rest assured he would go in for economy. Mr Wareing said he had no intention whatever to deprive Mr Hayhnrst of an opportunity of expressing his opinion of the doings of the Board, He was very sorry that he should think so.

Mr Ensor said he came forward partly to represent Kakahu, but would do his duty to Milfoid as well. Ho had intended not to become a candidate again, but several gentlemen had asked him to come forward, and he had consented. He was in favour of some day labour for urgent works aud works that could not well be contracted for. As to the expense of collecting the rale, the proportion would not have been so great had the rate been higher ; but he thought the Board bad acted wisely in striking a low rate. He left himself in the hands of the electors If elected he would do his duty in the future as he had done in the past. Mr Paterson said he would not make a speech. He did his beat for the ratepayers the short time he had been on the Board, and if re-elected he would faith fully do his duty. Mr Storey, before the meeting closed, would like to ask the Chairman how the £6OO that last year was to the credit of the town, but this year only £4OO had been expended on the There wa?

also an item of £49 expended on the pound after an expenditure of £560 last year for its erection.

The Chairman said that the £49 was for sheep yards, much wanted ; the £560 was cattle pens alone.

No other questions being asked, the Chairman declared the meeting at an end.