TEMUKA ROAD BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1115, 7 June 1883, Page 2

TEMUKA ROAD BOARD.

The usual monthly meeting of the above Board was held last Tuesday. Present —Messrs Talbot (Chairman), Austin, Paterson, Barker and Ensor. ACCOUNTS. Accounts to the amount of £514.14s 5d were passed for payment. CORRESPONDENCE. A latter was read from Mr 0. P. McCallum complaining of some damage done by floods to bis land. The Surveyor was instructed to see to it. From Mr F. R. Oldfield, complaining that some of the workmen of the Board bad done injury to his land, and asking compensation for it. The matter was not entertained, as th« Board was not aware that any damage had been done. From Mr F. H. Barker, stating that a drain on the road near his land was overflowing, and offering to pay half the cost of cutting a drain to relieve it. Another letter, from Mr A. L. Barker, referring to the same subject, and stating that it was unsafe to take a threshing machine over the road, was read. The Overseer was instructed to see the parties interested, and if they agreed to pay half the cost to call for tenders for the work, From Mr F. H. Barker, stating that he was ready to hand the Board a cheque for £25, as agreed upon, as soon is the road had been shingledThe Board ordered tenders to be called for the work immediately. DEPUTATION. Messrs R. 11. Pearpoint, W. G. Aspinall, and VV Wills waited on the Board as a deputation from the Vestry of the English Church, to ask that the footpath from the corner ‘down to the parsonage might be kerbed. The Board decided to recommend the subject to the new Board. Mr Pearpoint also drew attention to the necessity of extending the footpath further up the road. One had no place to travel on but tho road, and on dark

nights persons were in danger of being run over by horses and traps. The Board decided to consider the matter, and after doing so instructed the Overseer to ascertain what it would cost to make the footpath in the gap bowteeen where it ends at present, and the new footpath to be made at Wheelband’s Nursery. He was also authorised to have it done if it did not exceed a certain sura.

Mr Pearpoint also stated that as reregarded the contract he had from the Board, some of the shingle had been taken away by the flood, and urged that he ought to be allowed for it. The shingle had been carted on the road, the overseer had certified that the necessary quantity was there, but before it was spread the flood swept some of it away. A similar request having been received from Mr F. Sugrue, contractor, the Board decided to allow something in these cases, but it was not to be taken as a precedent. The Board did not admit it was liable but allowed it out of pure generosity. Mr Ackroyd waited on the Board to point out that there was a large hole in the road up from Mr Meyer’s to his own place, and urged that it should be looked after. He also drew attention to the necessity of shingling the Epwortb road. The overseer was instructed to look after the matter. Rate. The Chairman said the next business was to consider what rate they should strike. Under the new system |d in the £ was equal to a shilling rate under the old system. Perhaps a rate of in the £ would be sufficient. After some consideration it was decided to strike a rate of §d in the £ on the fee simple valuation of the property in the district. overseer's report. The overseer’s report was read as follows : To the Chairman of the Terauka Road Board. Sir, —I have the honor to report for the last month ended 31st May. Some of the contracts have been finished since last month, and others will be done in a few days. Contracts 50 to 52 ought to have been finished last month, but are still at a standstill. Pratley’s ditch.—l would recommend that Mr Pratley’s application for a ditch to be cleared out, be granted, as it would do the road good. Ackroyd’s application.—The cutting has been made passable, but the river has deepened at the end of the road with last month’s flood, and the ford shifted further down. A good ford will not be had until the course of-the river changes. Oldfield’s application.—lt would take more money than could be spared to protect this land, as the river is inclined to cut into his side, and will most likely keep that course until it has a straight line.

The floods.—The damage done by the late floods have been mostly rectified, and will allow of traffic being resumed to most parts of the district.

New works. —I would recommend the following : —Main South Koad Rangitata, which is very bad and requres a ford to be made and the road raised for about three chains ; the ford at Cooper’s Creek, near Badhara’s, also requires making, and the approaches metalled ; stones on the Waitohi road to the Spur Hut require breaking, some of them are very large and dangerous to travel over.

The Main South Road near Lee’s requires metalling from the bridge to Quinn’s hotel. The fences on the plantation reserves at Winchester and Waitobi have been broken down by the floods, and require repairing as cattle will destroy the trees and shrubs within Ihem. Tenders have been called for clearing drain at Orari, and Spur Hut, and forming and shingling footpath in the town, which are for your consideration to-day. I have arranged with Mr Wright re Opihi bridge and the work is in hand. —I have, etc., P. Sinclair. It was decided to have Pratley’s ditch done, to leave Ackroyd’s application to the new Board, to call for tenders for the work near Mr McLellan’s, to bieak the stones on the Waitohi Road, and to put the fences of the reserves right. TENDERS. The following tenders were received : Contract No. 58 Cleaning 100 chains drain, Spur Road, Waitohi. Tender informal. Contract No. 59—Clearing 45 Chains drain at Orari, No tender. Contract No. 60—Forming footpath in Temuka. W. Hopkinson, £2l 7s 6d (accepted) ; J. Mulloy, £22 7s ; Charteris and Co,, £6B. Contract No 61— Cleaning Opihi bridge. M, Melville, £5 19s (accepted) ; —Lewis, £8 ; Westably £9los 6d ; Chartris and Co., £ll 4s, Hart, £l6 ; G. Gibbs £36 ; A. Gibbs, £39. The meeting then terminated. TEMUKA LICENSING COMMITTEE. The annual meeting of the Temuka Licensing Committee was held last Tuesday. Present—Messrs John Talbot (Chairman), John Paterson, John Meyer, R. A. Barker and A. W, Ensor. NEW LICENSES. Mr J, A. Young, through his Solicitor, Mr Perry, applied for a license for a new hotel, built by him at Winchester. Mr Hamersley said that he appeared with Mr White to oppose the license. Mr Perry objected to their appearance, as they were not residents of the district, and if they wanted to represent any one no notice of their objection had been given to the applicant. Mr White said they appeared for Mr Swinton under Clause 59, which gives power to any adult, male or female, resident, to appear without giving notice, Mr Perry said Mr Swinton should appear personally. He could not appear by counsel unless he had given notice of Ins objection to Mr Young. Mr White argued, that in every .Court of Justice a man was allowed to appear by counsel, and urged at some length that there vyas nothing in the stitute to the contrary. Mr Perry said that Messrs White and Hamersley had no locus standi in the Court. Mr liamersley also spoke at some

length to the effect that it would be absolutely absurd to prevent Mr Swinton appearing by counsel, but after some length y argument the Committee held that they could not allow Messrs White and Hamersley to appear, as,due notice of the objection had not been given. Mr Swinton must appear personally if he had any objection to make.

Mr Perry then applied for the license, Mr Young had been 25 years in the district, 18 of which he had held a license, and during that time no complaint had been made against him. No man was better fitted to conduct a hotel than he was. The house for which he was asking a license was certainly first-class. It would do credit to a large city. It was built of brick, well plastered, and contained 17 rooms besides the accommodation necessary for the family. Every householder in Winchester, excepting one, had signed, and the auctioneers who frequented the Winchester Fair had also signed a memorial, showing h«w necessary the house was to them. He then called Mr Young to give evidence.

J, A. Young stated be had been 25 years in the district, and had held a license for J 8 years. No complaint had ever been lodged against him. Mr Swinton : Did you send your son-in-law, Mr Dunnett, to me, stating that if I did not sell out to you for £SOO you would build another hotel ? Witness : I did not.

Mr Swinton : Do you say you did not 1 Witness : Before I accepted tenders 1 asked my son-in-law, or gave him permission, to offer you £SOO if you would give up the lease. Mr Swinton: Do you get your rent promptly when it becomes due 1 Witness : 1 do.

Mr Swinton : Have I not always been a good tenant, and why should you build another hotel in the place when you know two cannot live there ? You know well that my takings are only £2 15s a day, How long is my lease to run ?

Witness : Eight years. Mr Swinton : What rent do I pay 1

Witness ; £250 a year

Mr Swinton : Don’t you think that ought to be sufficient for you? You know that my rooms are all unoccupied; no one knows it better. Have you any stables, or is the hotel finished ?

Witness ; Not yet. Mr Swinton ; Do you think it will be finished within 21 days. Witness : The architect can tell that.

Mr Swinton : All I can say is that there is more than sufficient accommodation in the place, and that you. will have a white elephant on your hands before long.

Constable Morton opposed the license on the ground that it was not necessary. Mr Swinton said he had recently spent £SOO on the house, and that out of 26 beds he had seldom more than three of them occupied. He would ask the Committee to go and see for themselves whether the house was necessary. He hoped the place would go ahead, but he believed it would not.

After Mr Perry had briefly replied the Comraitte retired, and after being absent for about 10 minutes they returned. The Chairman then stated that they had decided to grant the license, Mr Perry applied to make it a 11 o’clock license, but on the recommendation of Constable Morton the Committee granted the license for 10 o’clock only.

Mr F. Storey, by his solicitor, Mr Aspinall applied for a license for the Wallingford Hotel. Supporting the application was a petition about six yards long signed by almost every man in Temuka, also a second petition about half the length signed by commercial travellers, and a third memorial signed by Mr Storey’s boarders, all praying the Committee to grant him a license. Mr Aspinall did cot think it was necessary for him to say much as regarded the house: it was certainly superior to any in the town. The applicant had conducted it on temperance principles for the last 12 months, in a manner that was found advantageous by the many who had boarded with him. There was no objection against him except that of Constable Morton, and, as Mr Perry had pointed out, he was a Good Templar, and it could be seen that he was actuated by no ordinary feelings. Arrangements had been made by which the boarders could escape in case of fire through (he windows. Constable Morton objected on the ground that it was not required. The ! ouse bad been conducted extremely well by Mr Storey, and as a temperance hotel it was all that could be desired. It would be very inconvenient to the boarders if a license were granted to it.

Mr Aspinall replied that the boarders had signed a memorial praying for a license to be granted to it, and urged strongly on the Committee to give due consideration to the wishes of the public. The Committee retired, and on returning the Chairman said that they fully concurred in the opinion that no more hotel accommodation was required, but the manner in which the hotel had been conducted and the very strong representation that had been made to them must be given due weight to. The Committee was sorry it could not be conducted on temperance principles, but it was stated that it would have to be shut up it a license wore not granted, and as it was shown that that would bo an inconvenience

to many the Committee had decided to grant the license. The announcement was received with manifestations of approval by those present in Court. .RENEWALS. An objection was lodged against Peter Coira, of the Royal Hotel, by the police, to the effect that ha had been convicted three times during the last twelve months. Mr Hamersley appeared for Mr Coira, and stated that there were extenuating circumstances in the matter of the con« victions.

Constable Morton stated that there were three convictions against the applicant, and that rendered him liable to have his license cancelled. The two last convictions were for selling drink on bunday, but as the two offences had been committed at the same time it might be said that there was only one conviction, and he would not ask for the license to be cancelled. The constable then made a long speech on the evils of whiskey-drinking, and said that frequently men used to b e seen about the town drunk on Sundays, and that was what made him take steps in the matter,

After due consideration the Chairman said the Committee had come to the conclusion of renewing the license, but Mr Coira must be very careful, for if any more convictions were recorded against him his license would have to he cancelled. He might say that Mr Barker was in favor of cancelling it at present but the majority of the Committee was in favor of the renewal. The Committee fully approved of Constable Morton’s conduct in keeping down drunkenness on Sundays. The licenses of all the other hotels in the district were renewed, no objections having been raised by the police. The license of the Winchester Hotel was changed from an accommodation to a hotel license, for which the licensee will have to pay £ls a year more. The meeting then adjourned.