TEMUKA ROAD BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1051, 4 January 1883, Page 2

TEMUKA ROAD BOARD.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Board was held in their office on Tuesday last. Present—Messrs Talbot (Chairman), R. A. Barker and Austin, Mr Ensor took his seat later on.

MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting wore read and confirmed.

DEPUTATION*. Mr M. O’Connor waited on the Board and asked for an extension of time to complete his contract. He also asked for a progress payment on the same contract*

It was resolved— ‘ That Mr O’Connor b* given 14 days to complete the work and failing to have it completed within that time the Board have the work done at his expense.’

Mr S. Burrows waited on the Board and requested that the road should b» formed from Essery’s corner to his section. In wet weather it was now impassable. The Chairman thought it should be done, and Messrs Barker and Austin concurred. The work was ordered to be done. Mr Barker brought before the Board the fact that it wet weather water laid at the junction of Upton's road and the Main South Road. The Overseer was instructed. to attend to the matter. THE LATE MR MENDELSON. The Chairman thought that the Board should express ira regret at the untimely end of Mr Mendelson, He was very intimately connected with the welfare of the district, and both in his public and private capacities was well spoken of by ad in the district. He would move—- ‘ That the Board desire to express its regret at the untimely death of Mr Julius Mendelson, fully appreciating that in him the district has lost an able, energetic and upright man, both in his public capacity as well as his private business. The Board farther offer its deep sympathy and condolence with Mrs Mendelson in the loss of her lata husband.’

Mr Barker and Mr Austin spoke in complimentary terms of the deceased

gent’eman

The Clerk was instructed to forward a copy of the above resolution to Mrs Mendelson. CORRESPONDENCE. From Mr H. Thornton, Chairman of the Christchurch Hospital Board, stating that the Colonial Secretary has requested the Hospital and Chari* table Aid Board to devise a plan whereby funds might be collected by the public for charitable purposes to supplement the vote which Parliament has placed at the disposal of the Government. The Board having considered this decided to convene a meeting of representatives from Counties and Boroughs for January 31st next and requested the Temaka Board to send a representative thereto, Tiio-Ghairman was requested to attend if it was convenient for him to do so.

From Mr W, J. Tencent, Secretary to the Timaru Harbor Board, stating that it would be necessary for the Board to hold an election on Monday die 12th day of February next for the purpose of electing one person to represent the district on the Harbor Board,. The matter was left to the Chairman.

j From the Secretary to the Geraldine Road Board in reference to rates collected between the railway line and Main North .Road, and stating that the amount would be paid to the Temuka Board when all was collected. REPAIRING THE OEFICES. The Chairman thought that it was advisable to have the offices repainted. It was some years since it was last done and . it was now looking very dingy. It was generally advisable tohave wooden buildings painted every few years The other members of the Board concurred, and the Oversell- was instructed to have the work done, and the roof painted with hematite ; also to have a • picket fence put up, and in so doing nso up as much of the old material as possible. THE MAIN ROAD. Mr Barker brought before the Board the fact that a number of large atones were now showing through the road between Winchester and Temuka. It was getting dangerous to vehicles. The stones either wanted removing or breaking. The Surveyor was instructed to call foe tenders for the work, til© same to. be continued along the Main South Road. EXTENSION or TIME. Mr M Dunn wrote asking for a month’® extension of time to complete his Contract on Hie Mill Road. Granted. A similar application wits received from Mr M. O’Connor, Levels Plains, but th® matter had been dealt with previously, accounts. Accounts to the amount of £497 9s 2d were passed for payment. THE DEPOSIT ACCOUNT. From the Manager of the Bank of Now Zealand stating that the Board’s deposit of £2OOO was now falling due. The Board decided to deposit a sum of £IOOO for 12 months and £SOO for three months, and carry £SOO to the general account. ANNUAL STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS. The annual statement of accounts, was laid on the table. It showed the revenue from all available sources to have been . £3171 Is 2d and the expenditure £3042 5s lOd. THE OPIHI BRIDGE. The Ohihi Bridge was again discussed. The Chairman said that since the last meeting he had seen Mr White and had got his opinion in reference to the re construction etc., of the Opihi bridge. At the last meeting of the Geraldine County Council the mutter was held over t® enable Mr Moody and himself to enquire into it. The Act of last session ..was not

appi'Crtble to this work, the Act being merely framed to enable districts who had no funds to construct bridges by borrowing money from the Government The money bad to be repaid in fifteen . years with interest. \ Mr Ensor thought that a few of the ▼try rotten planks might be taken out, and new ones replaced, and that this would meet present requirements for foot passengers and sheep. The Chairman said that he understood thsib the under flooring was the worst. It was dropping away. In reply to a question, Mr Lewis stated that there was nothing to Sjpike the now planks to. The nails would not penetrate farther than the second floor. Mr Barker was ot opinion that the Board must either patch the present flooring or build a now bridge. The piles were not good enough to put a new super* structure on. Mr Ensor thought that the bridge conld be kept open some time for foot passengera and sheep. The ford was a good on®. They might even place a rail across the bridge, and so prevent heavy

traffic. The Board decided that the bridge must bo kept open, and the Surveyor was instructed to mend the bridge where re- - quired, and keep it in working order till further arrangements were made. All heavy traffic across the bridge is now at the owner’s risk. An opinion was read from Mr J W White, solicitor, Timaru, in to the Opihi Bridge. He was of opinion that failing the Road Boards continuing to maintain and keep the bridge in good repair the County Council of the County in which the bridge was situate could do the work, and might recover the coat of the same from the road districts on either side of the river. The Roads and Bridges Construction Act of last session did not bear upon the matter. THE TEMUKA BKIDSE. The Chairman stated that at his request Mr Lewis had drawn up a report oa the Temuka Bridge In this it was stated that the under flooring of the Temuka Bridge was pretty sound, but the upper one was gone. ■y In reply to a question, Mr Lewis said that the bridge conld be easily repaired. THE KATES. it was resolved—' That the Chairman be authorised, and is imperatively instructed, to fiue for all rates not paid within a fortnight from this data.’ SMAM. BIRDS. A letter from the Levels Road Board, about the payment for birds’ beads and eggs, was read, but the Board decided to adhere for the present to the existing scale. NEW ROAD. Mr Austin stated that the settlers about Winchester were anxious to have the railway crossing at Winchester opposite the Railway Boarding House kept permanently open, and he unders’ood that the railway authorities were willing to dedicate the road if the Road Board would be willing to take it over. It was resolved —‘That the Resident Engineer ef Permanent Way bo written to, informing him that if the said road line be fenced by the Railway, and dedicated free of cost, the Board will take the road over, and hereafter treat it as a public road.’ gorse on roads. A letter was read from Mr White giving his opinion as to removal of gorse on roads. He was of opinion that the occupier of any land from which the gorse had spread on to a public road could be sued for the cost of removal. If the land is not occupied the Board might proceed against the owner. TENDERS. ' No. 45— -Building two small bridges on Cox’s drain roadCouniban, £23 10s ; Malcolmson, £l4 (accepted,) No. 46 —Formation footpath, Wilkin street :F. Mulloy, £lol4s 6d ;M. Dunn, £9 15s 5d (accepted.) No. 47—-Shingling Waitohi road : C. - Flynn, 4* 5d per chain ; Puff and Shea, 3s lid ; Mulloy, 3s lid (accepted); M. Dunn, 3s 10|d. REPAIRS. It was reso’ved —‘ That the road near Mr Greenaway’s land, on old Railway Reserve, be improved by filling up the gullies in it, and that the Surveyor get i fc done at once.’ The meeting then terminated.