PUBLIC MEETING AT GERALDINE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1187, 18 December 1883, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING AT GERALDINE.

On Saturday evening last a public meeting of ratepayers in the Geraldine district was held in the Oddfellows' Hall, for the purpose of taking into consideration the advisability or otherwise o£ extending the Orari Traffic Bridsje. There were about 150 persons present, and Mr Postlethwaite, as Chaitman of the Geraldine Rond Board, presided. The Chairman, in opening the proceedindgs of the evening, stated he had called* the meeting in response to a requisition he had received from Mr Angus Macdonald and several other ratepayers, and read his reply thereto from the Geraldine Guardian convening the meeting for tlint evening. Mr Maslin, after some marks, stated that the handrails of the Orari bridge were rotten and the decking in a state of decay, so that it would soon require re-decking, at an expenditure of from £ISOO to £IBOO, so that if the Road Bonrd decided to extend the bridge and make substauli ! protective works at the j nortli end there would he a much larger ! sum required for re-decking, etc. When they took ' into'consideration that in a short time the funds of the Geraldine Roid Board would be materially decreased what source were they goinc to look to. to supply the iipcssary amount that will ba required each year for thu nuint- nance of the bridge ? They saw aronnd them already that the ratepayers in the Levels and Teinukadistricfs \\ ere groaning under the burden of heavy taxation. They should remember that the annual rateable value of the Geraldine district was only some £1?00, and the repairs and maintenance of the Orari bridge would swallow the wholn of that amount. It had -been mentioned to him that if a bridge across the Orari was at all necessary they could obtain one at a much less coat than ifc

would take to repm'r the present traffic bridge, at a coat of £I7OO at the very outside. The Government would teWj cure that it xvas kept in proper and ferV ficient repair. That bridge wastlieboundai y "* between two Road Boards, Gera'dine and Temnksj and the latter would ghdlv pay their share. He would propose—'• That it is inadvisable forthe Geraldins Road Board to spend any more money in extending or protecting the Orari Traffic Bridge, at present, and that they endeavor 1 to nHIJFe the Oiuri Railway Bridge." y The resolution was seconded by Mr K. Brophy. Mr Flutmaii said that some time ago ho had heard tint Mr Maslin had had a capsize in the Orari river, when crossing with a load, and which nearly cost him his life. H« should like to know what were hit (Mr Maslin's) thoughts then in regard to the erection of a bridge across that river. Mr Ma<lin said he thought then as he thought now—that it would be a white elephant and out of the line of traffic. Mr A. 1). Macdonald remarked that he knew the Oiuri river quite as long as Mr . Masli". A traffic bridge was not required alongside the railway bridge, but was greatly needed at the site of the present bridge, wlrre a large amount of traffic was continually erasing it. Mr (Joltman would move as an amendtnent—"Tliiit (hi* meeting, having full confidence in the present members of, the Geruldiue Road Board, deem it advisable to leave the question of dealing with the Orari bridge to them." (Applause.) Hib reason for introducing lh* amendment *as simply from the tact that for many V. years past I lie Hoa-I Board electors returned nearly the same tn mbers to rppresmit \\\m on the (jetaldiue Road B mrd. nnd if ih'.so pre°ent that evening carried the resolution • efore ilt"m t was nmt.-imomit t> a want of colli lci.ee in ihose v ery cent It-men whr.m t iey had po ilerted.'- They slio'dd' all try to do the jreutest possible araouut of gtod ioi thi

greatest numbejfof people. If the. ratepayers of that district,'through their Road Board, employed an Engineer to look after the works required in the district and he was not competent, then they should get rid of him, but if the works carried out in the district were satisfactory then to dictate to the Board, was not the right thing to do. If the ratepayers have not confidence in their members on the Board then they should put them out. ' Mr Maslin would rise to a point of order. They were not called together that evening to discuss such a question as a wnnt of confidence in their present members of the Board, nor to criticise the public acts of anyone body. They were introducing matters in connection with the Road Board outside that for which tbiir meeting had been called. Mr Coltman : My remarks do not go outfido the amendment. v Mr Clark thought Mr Coltman had gono too fur.

Mr Tripp considered Mr Coltman was out of place, and his remark as a rap at himself. He (Mr Tripp) was one of the candidates at the last annual meeting of ratepayers, and he thought it a pity to introduce such matters at the present meeting.

Mr Coltman said he never thought of Mr Tripp either at that meeting or before. Mr L. Grant seconded the amendment. The Chairman here called on any perion to speak to the amendment. Mr Tripp remarked that no one wished for a moment to doubt the ability of the present members of the Geraldine Road Board to conduct their business. It was quite right that the ratepayers should be called together to consider so important a question as the advisability of lengthening the Orari Traffic Bridge, but there was no necessity for the Road Board to spend anything upon it, for in the Geraldine County Council it had been decided by resolution to take over the roads and bridges in the County under "The Roads and Bridges Conatruction Act" of 1883. He had advocated for some time past that the maintenance of the bridge should not be in the hands of the Road Board at all. If it were, it would soon drain the pockets of the ratepayers. He considered that money in tho hands of Road Boards should be devoted purely to maintaining roads within the limits of their districts. The County Council was the prober body to whom they should look to keep their bridges in repair. The Oraritraffic bridge was on the main line of road between Christchurch and Dunedin. He went j across it only now and again, but he could see it was a great convenience to people, especially to those who were in the habit of driving stock. It was a great thing for them to know they could drive stock •cross the Orari river safely by means of the bridge, and it would tend sometimes to depreciate the value of stock if it had to be driven through the river. About six months ago he met Mr Balfour, manager of the Meat Preserving Works "»t the Washdyke, who told him that the Bangituta bridge not being open at that time entailed a loss to him of £2OO. A large portion of the Geraldine district was on the other 6ide of the Orari »iver, and if they abandoned the present bridge, should they desire to cross it to go to Geraldine they would have to go round by the Orari Railway Station. They should leave ihe matter re the maintenance of the Orari Traffic Bridge to the Geraldine County Council. At one of the meetings of tlmt Council he had suggested to Mr A. Sherratt to ask the County Council to take the bridge over, and he did so, but Mr Talbot said the consent of the Geraldine Road Board must first b 6 asked. The Board was asked accordingly but that body replied that they preferred keeping the bridge in their own hands. If they put it in the hands of the County Council it would relieve the ratepayers considerably. It would not do to close the bridges, for if ih«y had a broken thread along the line of road it would give the district a bad name. Mr Maslin had told them it i would cost so much per year to keep the bridge in repair, but he would ask if they had a house or other property, did it not cost them something every year to keep it in. repair ? He had seen bridges in the North Island protected by means of trees suspended in the rivers and thought the same could be done in regard to protecting the Orari bridge.

The Chairman wished to point out to the meeting that he lad that day had an interview with the rewiy-eppoiDted Minister of Public Workp, at Timaru, and, in view of thai meeting, had asked him that in case the Counties Act was suspended in the Geraldine district, and the Road Boards agpin became the ruling powprs, could the latter lay claim under " The Roads and Bridges Construction Act" for the maintenance of their bridges 1 To this question he replied that they could, just in the same way as the County Councils. Be (the Chairman) thought It was only right he should point that out to the meeting so that they might know what position they would be placed in, inthe event of the Counties Act being suspended in the district. In regard to the Orari bridge, he might state that he was on the Committee in the House of Representatives when the proposed Roads and Bridges Construction Act was before them, and the whole of the bridges along the main line of road between Christchurch and Dunedin were placed on it; the Orari bridge amongst-the .number. By that Act, should the bridges require repair in «ny way, thrfe-fourths of the cost is paid by Government and one-quarter by the ratepayers, but they had ten years to pay their share in. As long as that bridge remained on the face of the Act the ratepayers were iu the same position as if the Counties Act were in force. He had also sounded the Minister of Public Works in reference to the converting of tho Orari Railway Bridge into a combined bridge for traffic, and he obtained a half promise that the Government would consider the matter. If they represented the question to Government they might get a combined bridge for railway and traffic purposes,

Mr S'ack said that us a member of the Geraldine Road Board he considered it their chitv to grapple with the Orari Truffle Bridge difficulty, He could not iigree wi'h Mr Tripp in regard to the County Council interfering with it, He was in favor of extending the bridge. It was an old established bridge and of importance to the whole of the district, and bo leng as it required to be repaired they fihfnild da an. There were two meanß of obtaining the nioney'for keeping it in repair. One vaa that ihey could get the money ?«nder ibe " Kouds and Bridgea

Construction Act," and if the Govi-rn-ment refused to let them have il tlv re was plenty of money in the coffers of ihe Geraldine RoaHJioard. -;' The closing of a bridge was a thing never oone before in the district, and they would be looked upon as a shabby body if they did so in this instance. (Applause). Mr Flatman, as a member of the Geraldine Road, felt flattered that that meeting was expressing its full confidence in the members of the Board, and he thanked them for it. He thought there would he a very serious hue and cry raised against them if a mob of some 10,000 sheep were being driven the road from Dunedin to Christchurch—l ! or there were some parts of the year when it would not do for sheep to be driven through water—aDd it was found that the Orari Bridge was closed. Then, again, there was the school near the bridge, and if it were closed, the children could not attend it, and therefore the school would be useless. Lots of people had land on either side of the river, nnd reapers, etc., and in the evejit of the latt'.r being required on the opposite side to where ihey were placed for the purpose of cutting down ripening crops, the crops might be spoiled through having to wait for the machinery to he got to the ground, He thought it would be very selfish of anyone that evening to vote for the closing of the bridge because he did not cross it once in three months. There was an extensive traffic across it, and if it were not used the plank 3 constituting the decking could not be worn out. As a member of the Road Board he was in favor of keeping the bridge open and makiDg it passable for traffic. (Applause.) Mr Middlemass remarked that there were several ptrsons residing near the bridge, and ho should like the whole meeting to act as was best for the whole of the district. The meeting should not coincide with people who only use the bridge about once a vear. If the bridge were extended three bays it would be a definite cost, instead of as at present being continually repaired, and being a constant drain on the funds of the Board. The way to get the money was very favorable. If the bridge were not extended there were two roads which the Board would be compelled to keep in repair. He would ask the Chairman if the Board was obliged to purchase land for this. The Chairman : The Board has power to take land under "The Public Works Act." Mr Middlemass : I am in favor of the bridge being extended and kept open. MrFarrell did hot think Mr Middlemas had asked the question in the proper way. He would ask that if the bridge required to be extended is the Board bound to purchase the land 1 Chairman : Yes, but if an exorbitant price be asked the Board could deviate the line right or left, but they ntust keep the roads open. MrKellandsaid it had been suggested to him as to whether it would not be wise to let the matter stand an open question so as to see if the Counties Act would be suspended or not. In his mind, if the Ac be not suspended, lie bslieved the Count, Council would take the bridge over. I', would be a retrograde step to ab»ndon the bridge as it was of much Wni'fit to the district. As a member of ihe Board he would not like the idea to go abrond that the Board had been asked to pull it down nnd they had consented to do so. He looked on the bridge as a white elephant because it cost so much at various times. He thought they might guide the water to the middle of the shingle bed. It was a well-known fact that when bridges were most required they were useless. Mr C. E. She.i'att, as a ratepayer, desired to say a few words en the question. That meeting seemed in favor of keeping the bridge open for traffic, and the question was which was the wisest course to pursue, to extend the bridge or confine the water to the middle of the river bod. He would refer those present to a little work that had been done some years ago. When he was Overseer to the Board he went and inspected some work done by Mr T. S. Tancred which he had constructed in the Orari river, but he thought it was not strong enough to stand. He, however, constructed a similar woik at the southern end of the Orari bridge, namely, stopped up one and a half bays of the bridge, and that little work stood intaot at the present day and cost but little. Rivers in New Zealand ran from north to south and yet that little work was the means of the river again encroaching on the southern end of the bridge. He would therefore ask, would it not be the wisest policy to stop up. say, three bays of the northern end, and thus send the water to the middle of the bridge. It would bo inexpensive to the method proposed of extending it. It would cost from £450 to £SOO per span, but if they adopted his idea it would only cost some £3OO altogether. Mr Kennedy asked if Mr Sherratt would be inclined to stop up these ba3 7 s and thereby turn the water on other people's property ? Mr C* E. Sherratt replied that it would not do so.

The Chaiiman thought they were Bomewhat diverging from the subject they had met to discuss, viz., the erection or otherwise of the Orari bridge. The mode of doing it would be in the hands of the Board. Mr C. E. Sherratt remarked that if the bridge were kept open for traffic and extended, the question was, would not the river follow such extension ? Mr A. Sherratt said he wanted to hear all he could before he addressed the meetfng. They were not there that evening to discuss the qualifications of their Overseer, or of confidence,in the Geraldine Road Board. There Were two or three things he would like to mention re the Orari bridge. The County Council had already agreed to take over the bridges situate on the main line of road. It was singular that it had taken over one or two, but when he asked the members to tak9 over the Orari bridge they refused to do so, by five against two, and he thought that was the principal reason Mr Tripp had resigned as a member of that Council, if he only spoke the tru'l.. They all saw his position during (lie las; meeting of the Council. The Orar bridge was built for the benefit of the wlmin of the country both north and south, hut the south would not contribute one penny towards its maintenance when asked to do so. He would l'ke'to see the bridge kept open for traffic, but it was a question as to where the funds were to come from. He ngrepd that it would be a retrograde step To close it. Ho thought Mr Maslio's

resolution the right, one—not to expend any more money on the repairs of the bridge till they saw whether the Counties Act was suspended or not. The bridge was a great boon to the' public in the district, and also the whole countiy at large, but the maintenance fell on that district 1 only. There was no bridge oyer the Hae-hae-te-moann, and yet' the people crossed the river safely. It made no difference to him whether the bridge was closed or not. There were arguments that could be used both for opening and closing it. If a new bridge were proposed to be erected over the river at the present lime they would sll oppose it. Could they not do without the bridge for a month or so ? He knew they could. He would like to see those who used the bridge most put their hands in their pockets and assist in its maintenance, for he did not see why the burden should fall wholly and solely on Geraldine. There was the interest on the money to be paid in some form or other, which amounted to £IOOO a year, which was more than equal to a lOd rate aH over the district. In regard to maintaining the bridge for traffic from grunts under “ The ’loads and Bridges Construction Act,” it was his impression that it would take the ratepayers seven years to get even £7 of what would be required, for there were already applications from various bodies for grants for ten times more money than the fund would amount to at the end of the year. It was like putting their hands on something rotten. (A voice: Lika the handrails). If they were determined to keep the bridge open and extend it they would soon find that the few thousands of pounds of the Hoad Board funds would be gone and it would take something like a6d rate to keep up the wear and tear of it, and would the other 6d rate to keep the roads, etc, in repair? Ha would answer‘•No,” Ho did not think the people in the Geraldine district wanted the bridge any more than those who crossed the Hae-hae-te-moana and it would be better for them to keep the little money they had and judiciously expend it on making and maintaining the roads. (Applause), Mr Coltman said there was one remark made by the last speaker that he should like to reply to. Mr Sherratt had said it was not fair that the Geraldine Road Board should keep the bridge open for the v/hole of the country without other districts contributing towards its maintenance. He would ask was it fair for the Levels and Terauka Road Boards to' keep the Opihi and Temuka bridges open for Geraldine ? It cut both ways, for those bridges must be maintained and kept open for the use of other districts, and the Orari bridge should be also. (Applause). Mr A. Sherratt did not recollect saying anything of the kind. Geraldine was placed in a very different position to the Levels and Terauka districts. The County Council decided by resolution that the Levels and Temuka Road Boards should he recouped for moneys they had expended on the Opihi and Temuka bridges during the past twelve months. He objected to this course because the Council would not take over the Orari bridge. The Chairman here interrupted Mr Sherratt, who he thought was going heyond the question they had met together to discuss. He would point out that there were two clauses in the Amendment Act of last session whereby they were enabled to make a application fora grant for the bridge. They were not debarred from getting money from the special fund. He had been informed that under the provisions of “The Roads and Bridges Construction Act,” no less a sum than £823,15G had already been applied for, and there was only £200,000 appropriated for such works in the whole colony for the year, Mr Maslin in reply to previous speakers said that it seemed to Mr CoUman that his (Mr Maslin’s) resolution inferred a want of confidence in the present Road Board. But he was sure they had too much good sense to take his resolution as an insult because he ventured to offer them a suggestion. They need not act on it unless they liked. Mr Flatman seemed to think that by not extending the bridge children could not go to school, but the bridge could be repaired sufficiently for passenger traffic for a fewpounds. He had brought forward his resolution conscientiously. Extend the bridge, and wbat guarantee had they that they would not have to do it again? The Amendment was then put to the meeting, when 45 voted for and 12 against it. The Chairman declared the amendment carried, and the original resolution was therefore lost. The usual vote of thanks to the chair terminated the meeting.