GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1185, 13 December 1883, Page 3

GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the above Board was held in the office, Geraldine, on Tuesday last, the 11th instant. Members present—Messrs Postlethwaite (Chairman), Slack, Kelland and Flatman. MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting were passed as read. TENDERS. The following tenders were opened and considered : - Contract No. 92—Formation and culverts, Stevenson's road, Jones' Gully : Joseph Webb, L 35 ; S. Courtney, L 23 ; F. Mulloy, L2l (accepted). Contract No. 93—Formation and culverts, McKenzie's road, Raukapukaßusb: S. Courtney, L 25 ; —Jones (Fyfield), Ll 9 ; A. McCool LlB (accepted). Contract No. 94—Formation and cutting at Redcliffe, Kukahu : S. Courtney, L4B ; A. Reid, L 45 ; 3. Mulloy L 44 15s ; J. Webb, L 42 (accepted). CORRESPONDENCE. The following correspondence received was read : From the Chairman of the Geraldine County Council, enclosing cheque for £ls Is, being amount due to tho Board out of the £IOO granted by the Council on account of Small Birds Nuisance. Mr Flatman considered the Board had made a mistake in giving a double price for birds. Boys found out the nests and waited till the eggs were hatched and then frequently they lost them altogether. The Chairman remarked that the Temuka Road Board was paying a penny less than themselves. Boys at Winchester instead cf going to Mr Austin and getting 2d per dozen went to Mr Doßenzie and got 3d. It was too late to make an alteration now. Resolved—" That the Clerk acknowledge receipt of same." From Messrs Frank Brown and others, stating that they do not hold the Board responsible for any damage that may occur through protective works which tbey understood the Board bad undertaken to do on the Orari river, and hoping the Board would carry out the work as soon as possible. From the General Survey Office, Wellington, in reply to note as to the proposed protective worlt3 at Orari, stating that what the Hon Mr Rolleston meant by an effective protection was that the work to be now done would, in the opinion of the Board or Council, be final and sufficient, and that the Government would not be cailed upon to aid in a work that was not complete, but involved further liability. The Overseer informed tho Board that he had written on the matter in his report, and suggested that he should meet the parties concerned on the ground. Resolved— ' 'That the Overseer see the parties concerned on the ground, and arrange matters." From Mr W. McClelland, asking for n small footbridge to be put from the road to the footpath nenr his residence, as it was impossible for him to get to hi.cottage in wet weuthtr on account of his le'nj; blind. Resolved—" That the road at present is undergoing repairs, which will in a great measure accomplish what is a.-ktd for." From Mr W. G. Campbell, Timaru, stating he understood, the Board w»i*> about to dam all overflow water from the orebk that ran through his laud, and hold-

1 ing the Board responsible should they do so. .Resolved—" That the Board will only take such action as is just to all parties." ! From Mr T. H. Wigley, stating that it was nearly a month since the Board decided to clean out the road drain opposite his station, and asking for it to be done at once. Resolved—" That the Clerk reply to the effect that the work had been arranged for." From Mr H. Elliott, Wellington, in reference to the money to be received for the sale of land on deferred payments in the Orari reserve, and stating that he would at once see to the same, Resolved—" That the matter stand over till next Board day." From Mr J. W. Jones, Kakaliu Bush, asking the Board to communicate with the Chairman of the Board of Education for South Canterbury re site for school on part of the road that his house was on. Resolved—" That the Board finds it has not the power oyer the land except for rjad purposes." From Mr W. Ellery, and others, asking that the road from Brown's road to Grimsey's be shingled, as in wot weather it was impassable. Resolved—" That the work be done, ten yards to the chain."

From Mr J. C. Whitaker and other residents at Waihi Bush, calling the attention of the Board to the state of the road running past sections 14200 t 0.934,.934, which is only formed, and the traffic thereon has so cut it upas to render it impassable.

Resolved—" That tlie Board doee not think the traffic on tho road justifies so great an expenditure a 8 asked for, but repairs will be done." From Mr John Fifield asking for an extension of time on his contract, on account of the bad state of the weather. Resolved—" That on account of the reason given for extension of time, it be granted." From Mr E. G. Wright, Ch airman of the Plantation Board, in reply to application from the Board in reference to a refund for moneys spent in plantations, and stating that the business of the phntatation Board was to devote all the funds at its disposal to increase the area planted, and has in no instance recouped any public body for monies expended of their own free will, even though expended on public plantations. He would point out that the Geraldine Eoad Board hal done on a limited scale what the Counties of Ashburton and Selwyn had done on a much larger scale for the general impiovement of their districts, and had neither sought for nor obtained any refund from the Plantation Board.

It was decided that the Chairman should reply.

From Mr D. S. Pearse and others askthe Bo a rd to take immediate steps to permanently connect the Waitohi road with Collett's road, it being of great importance to the farmers of the district and the public generally. The Overseer to report on same at the next meeting. From Mr E. J. S. Eckford, asking that his name might be placed on the rate roll as owner of lot marked 4 and 5 on deposited plan, No. 126 and part of U.S. 14599, situate en the road to Kakahu.

It was resolved—" That the alteration be made as requested." From Mr C. Leary, asking that the sum of LI 10s be paid him for damage done by trestles to his fence.

Resolved— " That the matter stand over for Mr Kelland and the Overseer to inspect. From the Registrar of the Canterbury College Estates Department, asking the B.mrd for a lithographed map of the district.

It was decided to forward one as requested. From Mr J. Murray, Manager of tho Orari estate, asking that, owing to stray cattle and horses being a perfect nuisance, the Board would instruct the Ranger to visit that part of the district. Resolved—"'That the letters of complaint be sent to Mr Andrews, and the Clerk to state to state that if any more complaints are received a ranger will be appointed." Resolved—" That the keeper of tho pound furnish the Board with a return showing the number of cattle, etc., brought in from the district named in the letter."

From Mr B. Trumper, asking that an alteration might be made on the rate roll re his property leased from Mr Thos. Bull, at Pleasant Vulley. At present he was rated for 100 acres, instead of which the exact acreage was 96 acres. The alteration to be made.

Fiom the Rev J. Preston, Mr Donkin and others, drawing the attention of the Board to the state of the loads round the Woodbury Church property, which after wet weather will become impassable for dray traffic. Resolved—" That the Overseer see to the removing of the water." From Mr Wm. Hawkes, drawing the attention of the Board to the creek near Mr Ensor's wool-scouring establishment. The water laying on the road made it impossible to get to the bridge. Resolved- " That the Overseer inspect the creek near Mr Ensor's wool-scouring works to see that the water is removed from the road:" From Mr A. Macdonald and othen requesting a meeting of ratepayers to be called on Saturday 15th inst., at*7.3op.m. 3 for the purpose of taking into consideration the advisability or otherwise of further extending the Orari bridge.

The Chairman stated that he had received the above since last meeting of the Board and had called the public meeting as requested. From Messrs Harman and Stevens as agents for Mr R. L. Holmes, referring to the proposal of the Board to cut a drain through the property, asking for a sketch showing the position of th i proposed works, and also for particulars of the rights that the Board would require, if any, of entering on the land in the future. Acknowledged with thanks.

From Mr W. Storehouse, stating that he had no interest in sections Nos. 36 and 38 in Maslin's paddock, the same having been transferred to Messrs Sutherland and Kruse, and asking for his name to be erased from the rare roll for the said properly. To be altered as requested. From Mr Tripp, suggesting that instead of putting up a bridge near Mr Evans' oyer the creek, as he heard the Board intended to do, it would bo better to »hingle the road and raise tha present footbridge 4ft higher and put a wire ropo on ouch aide.

Resolved—" That thn Overseer write to Mr Tripp, thanking him for his suggestion." DEPUTATION. After the usual adjournment, Mr W. Moore had an interview with the Board asking for certain works to be done on the road near his property in order to take the water away. It was decided that the work be done. PROPOSED MEETING KB ORARI BRIDGE. The Chairman asked the members to be present at the meeting of ratepayers to be held in the Oddfellows' Hall, on Saturday next, to which they consented. At the same time it was decided not to take action till after the meeting. BRIDGING THE KAKAHU. Mr Kelland brought before the notice of the Board the necessity of a footbridge being erected over the Kakahu ut Hilton. He would propose—" That tenders be called for a substantial footbridge over the Kakahu river at Hilton, suitable for driving sheep and riding over." The motion was seconded by Mr Slack. Mr Flatman would like the matter to be held over till a full meeting of the Board. Mr Kelland said he believed that if Mr Deßenzy were present he would support the resolution. In reply to another question from Mr Flatman, Mr Kelland said the site of the proposed bridge would connect the post office with a large portion of the district, as it was near the proposed site. The resolution, on being put to the meeting, was carried. Mr Kelland aßked what position the Board wa«i in, in regard to the bridge over the Kakahu at Sharp's, on the boundary road. It was considerably damaged during the recent freshes in the river, and it would certainly topple over when the next one came. It was decided that the Overseer should inspect the bridge and report thereon at next meeting of the Board. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £428 7a lid were passed far payment. overseer's report. " Since last meeting of the Board we have had some very heavy rains which have considerably affected the progress of the works under contract, and, also, upset the whole of the river and creek crossings ail over the district. As there are about fifty of these crossings to be kept in order, every fresh entails a considerable expense, and necessitates the employment of a large amount of day labor. As we have four rivers running through the entire length of our district we are always liable to this expenditure if the river bed crossings are to be maintained in the same order as they have been hitherto. "The only serious damage has been the washing Sown of the shingle approach to the North Orari Traffic Bridge. This was filled in and opened for dray traffic, when the wing piles gave way and again let out the shingle, rendering the work done useless. The extension of the bridge on to Mr Hewson's freehold has now become a necessity if the bridge is to be kept open for traffic permanently. " The contractor for the Rangitata Station road is making very alow progress, and will be considerably behind if more men are not put on. He is iust about completing the upper section of road. "The drain on Smugglers' flat is finished. I have not had an opportunity of visiting the work but will do so at an early date. '•Mr Brown informs me that he lias tried to obtain the signatures of the parties most concerned in the protective works, and as there appears to be a great difference of opinion as to how the money allocated should be expended, I propose meeting the settlers on the ground and discussing the matter, as I think it will be difficult to erect a work of any service without encroaching on private sections more or les3.

" The Opihi river has again encroached considerably on the flat at the head of the Waitohi. Communication by the road line proper is now cut off, owing to the depth of water at the end of the road where it strikes the river terrace, and as the land is fenced freehold on both sides people are obliged to trespass to cross the river. I have made temporary crossings to allow people to get on to the river bed, but Mr McCormick may stop them at any time. " 1 have inspected the bed of tho Waihi river, between Hawke's road and Peckham's road and find that the late floodi have considerably improved the channel in places. It will, however, be still liable to overflow on Quinn's and Hepworth's .sections in times of heavy freshes. " The parties interested refuse to sign a' guarantee should the Board interfere with the watercourse by diversion or otherwise.—l am, etc., " W. Shiers." The following resolutions were adopted on the report : " That the question re extension of the Orari Traffic Bridge stand over for Saturday's meeting." "That the Overseer report at next meeting on the Opihi river encroachment." - " That the matter ru Waihi river stand over till next meeting." INSPECTOR OF NUISANCES' REPORT. " At the risk of repeatiug the same tiling every month, I have again to state that there is no nuisance calling for any special remark since my report (13th Nov.) Seven births have been registered in this district, while the deaths have been five, and were as follows:—Three from whooping cough, v'z., an infant of five months at Orari Flat, one of two years at Kakahu, one aged one year at Orari ; an infant of four months at Geraldine from pneumonia, and an adult male at Geraldine of phthisis;—l am, etc., "W. O. Andrews." MISCELLANEOUS.

One of the tenants of the cottages belonging to the Board to be written to intimating that the rent due must be paid prior to next Board day. Otherwise he bo required to wait on the Board to explain reason. The meeting then terminated.