TEMUKA ROAD BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 925, 9 March 1882, Page 3

TEMUKA ROAD BOARD.

The usual monthly meeting of the above Board was held yesterday. PRESENT. Messrs Talbot (Chairman), Paterson, Austin and Ensor, MINUTES. The miDutes of the last annual meeting were read and confirmed CORRESPONDENCE. The following correspondence was read and considered : From Mr W. Henderson stating that the creek between the south town creek and the middle road needed cleaning. The Overseer was instructed to look after the creek, and if necessary call for tenders for the work. From the same, asking whether the Board had any objection to a slaughterhouse being erected by hinj on section 4232.

I The Board had no objection. From Mr James Bradford, Waitohi, asking that water-ways be made across the rnatl" Opposite to his land. The work was.ordered to be done From Mr Thomas Calcutt, stating that he was in a, position to offer to the Board the six acres of railway reserve. He could have got £1 per acre for it, but he was authorised to let it to the Board at a yearly rental of £3 The Chairman said that it was apiece of land which it was thought advisable to get to put the horse on- Ke had told Mr Lewis to apply for it and this was the answer received with a. request to state promptly whether the Board would accept it on these terms. As he thought : t would be worth £3 to the Board he had told Mr Lewis to reply accepting it. Mr Lf wis said ho had done so and that he received a reply stating that the Board could take possession of it at once The action of the Chairman was approved by tie Board. THE OPIHI BRIDGE. The Chairman said that it would be remembered that they agreed on last meeting day to pay Messrs Thomas and Hill, contractors for the Opihi bridge, for the timber in full. He had received lettersshowing how the case progressed. A letter from Mr J. W. White stated that he telegraphed to Mr Stringer, Mecsrs Thomas and Hill's solicitor, making him an offer to that effect and had received a reply declining to accept the offer. Ha (the Chairman) called upon Mr White who said that he was of opinion the Board would have to pay costs, and suggested as the case was corning on for hearing to pay into court the amount together with costs. To this also a reply was received refusing to accept. The case bad since been heard in Christchurch with reference to which he had received a letter from Mr White also covering a letter from George Harper who conducted the case in the Court in Christchurch. He read the letters as follows : '•John Talbot Esq. "Chairman Teuiuka Road Board.

" Dear Sir. —On the other side I send you copy of a letter received from Mr G. Harper showing that the Board was unsuccessful in the action, and the reason why from the newspaper reports it appears that the defendant swore that it was risky to attempt doing any maintenance works whilst the tarring and painting was being done, and if men will swear recklessly and to the point they sometimes succeed in gaining their ends at all events temporarily. Mr Stringer has written for £l6 10s 4d, and solicitor's fee one guinea, and 12s hearing and judgment feet which I will send. —Yours &c. "J. W. White." " To J. W. White, Esq. " Thomas and Hill v. Temuka R-ad Board." "DbakSir, —The case was heard today, and judgment given for £l6 10a 41, and one guinea solicitor's fee, upon the ground that the evidence given by plaintiffs as to the tarring and painting interfering with the bridge so as to prevent them from properly carrying out Mr Meason's instructions was uncontradicted. His Worship said he could not do otherwise than believe the statement of the witnesses. I pointed out that the plain, tiffs had not appeared or been crossexamined before Mr Meason gave his evidence, but His Worship said that that was the fault of the Act, and could not be helped. I pointed out that the evidence as to the interference with the work was absurd, but he said that as it was not contradicted by Mr Meason he could not reject it. I thought you would not wish for an adjournment, so I did not apply for one. No question of law was raised as to the contract being taken.— Yours truly, " Geokge Harjpkr." So the Board came off second best in che case for the present, but he (the Chairman) thought they had very good ground to have the case tried again. In the meantime they could not do more than pay Mr White's account—£42 16s Id.

The account was accordingly passed for payment. Mr Laing-Meason reported re tarring and painting the Opihi bridge as follows : " Sir—l reported at last monthly meeting of the Board that the above work had been completed, with the exception of the painting of the top chord, and a resolution was passed by the Board directing me to inform the contractor that if the work was not completed within a reasonable time it would be done at his expense, X wrote to Mr Latimer to this effect, and he reported to me about ten days since that the work was done. On inspecting it to-day, however, I find that although h 9 has done something to it it is still in hardly a satisfactory state. Perhaps the best course to adopt would be to pay Latimer half the amount still in hand and retain the remainder till next Board day, I could in the meantime see or write to the contractor, telling him what remains to be done. —I am, etc., *' G. Laing-Meason. C.E " The suggestion of Mr Meason was adopted, DEPTJTATIONS. Messrs Ollivier and Coira waited upon the Board, to ask the Board to make some slight alterations in Vine street to take away the sewage. Mr Ollivier, who. aoted as spokesman, said that they had come to ask the Board to make some improvements in Vine

street. He had gone through the place that morning, and found that in some places there was five inches of water, and two inches in other places in the drain. The cause of this was that the drain in being cleaned was made lower than the drain pipe*, and might be remedied by the drain feeing raised so that the water would flow through the pipes, The Chairman suid if that was all that was necessary it could easily be done, but the question was whether a good flow of water could be got. Mr Ollivier said it could. The Chairman promised that the matter would be attended to, and the deputation withdrew, Mr G. Levens waited on the Board, and presented a requisition from residents in the north end of the town, asking that footpaths might be formed on both sides of the road, or drains made to prevent the water from the road from going on the sections. Mr Levens further explained that the water was flowing from the road on several sections, and that the people there expected something done for them. The Chairman said that it was outside town, and they could not form footpaths there. Mr Ensor pointed out that the residents in the township of Winchester were calling out for tootpaths to be formed for them, and though it was necessary, it was not done yet. After some further conversation, Mr Levens was promised that the case would receive consideration, and he withdrew. It was afterwards agreed to defer the matter for consideration at a full meeting of the Board, Mr Lewis in the", meantime to inspect the place, and see what was necessary to be done. Mr John Lawson, poundkeer, waited on the Board with an account sale of two horses, and a cheque for the amount realised, less pound fees, etc. Mr Lawson said he wished to bring a matter before the Board. Mr Twomey, the proprietor of the Temuka Leader, had asked him for the pound advertising, and he wished to know from the Board whether he was obliged to advertise in that paper. The Chairman told him that wd,s a matter for himself to consider.

Mr Ensor thought that iu order to comply with tbe ordinance it would be necessary for him to advertise. The ordinance having been produced, it was agreed that before Mr Lawson could legally sell any cattle, etc , impounded, he should have advertised in the local paper, Mr Lawson said that a gentleman up town who knew a great deal about laws, he meant Mr Mendel son, told him that he need not advertise in the local paper. Mr Mendelsonhad told him that Temuka was not a tovn at all, that it was only a road district, and no place was a town only where there was a Mayor and borough councillors. Mr Ensor said that was a borough, and that Temuka was a town. He would advise Mr Lawson to advertise in both the Timaru Herald and Temoka Leader. It often happened that horses from Timaru were ..impounded and it was necessary to advertise in the Timaru Herald so that their owners might know it. Mr Paterson said that owners of cattle might feel very well satisfied to find them in the pound and pay for the advertising. Mr Austin said that it would be best to give the fullest publicity to the impounding of cattle. Mr Ensor said it would be better for Mr Lawson to be accused of advertising too much than too little. Tha Chairman said that Mr Lawson had taken the pound and was expected to comply with tbe ordijance. The Board had nothing to do with him, he could advertise as he liked, but if Mr Lawson wanted advice from the Board it was clear that he was bound to advertise in the focal paper, and in order to avoid any difficulty it would be better to advertise both in the Temuka Leader and Timaru i Herald.

Mr Lawson then withdrew. Mr Blissett waited upoa the Board and presented an account for £7 9a for night work done at Winehester. It appeared that the Board had guaranteed Mr Blissett the sum of 10s per 1 week and that the amount he received from the householders in that district for night wark was £7 9s short of the amount of the guarantee. After Mr Blissett had withdrawn it was agreed to pay the amount claimed and to give Mr Blissett notice that the Board would withdraw the guarantee. Mr I'avis waited upon the Board to ask where lie could put the Dight soil, as some one was fencing in the reserve. The place was the most suitable he could get and it would last for the next ten years. Mr Davis was told to make the best arrangements he could. Mr Davis said that he understood that a resolution bad been carried at last meeting to the effect that he would be " sacked" if any more complaints were made against him. H& thought it would not be fair to a man occupying his posi tion to " sack" him without giving him an opportunity of defending himself. There would always be complaints, but there had been no complaints since lie got the new cart. One party complained two days nfter the place had been cleaned. He was in the habit of cleaning the place once a fortnight but was told he need not do it only once in three weeks. He hoped he would not be " sacked" without getting an opportunity of defending himself. The Chairman said the Board had good reason to believe that he had neglected the work, but at the same time .would get an opportunity of defending himself. The best thing he could do was to, give no reason for complaints. Mr Davis then withdrew.

. NEW WORKS. It was resolved to offer Mr Wareing pipes to put in the drain opposite his house at Milford ; to shingle Wheelband'x road ; and to form the new street opposite the Road Board office. SANITARY. An account for £lO from Er Hayes, for reporting en the sanitary state of Winchester was JpassedJ|for payment, and it was resolved—" That Dr Hayes be written to, asking him if he would be willing to act as honorary nealth officer to the Board." 'rates. A statement was submitted by the rate collector, showing that £863 15s 7d had been collected for rates for 1881, and that £52 3s 3d was still uncollected. The Clerk was instructed to close the account at once, and sue for any outstanding rates, ACCOUNTS Accounts to the amount of £l6O ljg were passed for payment. TENDERS. The following tenders for shingling Spring's road were received ; —Mr C. Flynn, Is 4d per chain (accepted); Mr F. Molloy, Is 5d ; Mr J. Wilkinson and Messrs Butler and Devane, Is Bd. ADJOURNMENT The moeting then adjourned.