TEMUKA ROAD BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1124, 10 January 1884, Page 2

TEMUKA ROAD BOARD.

The usual monthly meeting of the above Board was held last Tuesday. Present— Messrs Quinn, Batker, Austin and Paterson. On the motion of Mr Quinn, Mr Barker took the chair. The Chairman intimated that he had a letter from Mr Talbot, stating he could not attend. MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. THE CONCRETE INQUIRY. After the minutes had been read, Mr Baiker suggested that they should pass the accounts. Mr Quinn suggested that they should go on with the inquiry first. The Chairman thought it would be better to hold the inquiry in Committee. Mr Quinn said the matter had hitherto been made public, and a certain 1 amount of interest was felt in it. He thought the public should have an opportunity of seeing who was right and who was wrong. He moved that the investigation be made in public. The motion was agreed to.

It was then decided to examine witnesses, and have the evidence taken down in writing. The following evidence was then taken :

F. Hooper, in reply to the Overseer, said : I was workinar at the approach to the Opihi bridge. There was no loose concrete thrown into the running water during ray time there. 1 did not hear you give any instructions to throw the loose concrete down in the water. The hole was filled to the level of the water with concrete in bags and boulders. I was in the hole turning the bags over, and putting them level. All the loose concrete was put in over the water level, but the water was on a level with the bags. The bou'ders were filled to the water level. lam quite certain no loose concrete was thrown in while T was there. I was there for the roost part of the day. I was there putting bags in after 1 o’clock. I was away about half or three quarters of an hour. I was away before the bags and holders were raised to the water level. When I came back the bags were level with the water. It was back water, like a whirlpool. The water could get in and out through the piles. I should say a stick thrown into the water would remain': there. Between 18 and 20 dozen bags were put in the re. I have seen concrete set when put in loose m similar places. I saw loose concrete put in above the water level, but not below the level.

" Mr Sinclair : Is Mr Quinn going to examine this witness as a member of the

Board or as one who has brought the charge against me ] The Chairman said he supposed Mr Quinn would conduct the inquiry as a private individual. Mr Quinn said he made the charges as a member of the Road Board, and he would conduct the case as a member of the Road Board. He surely could not be debarred from being a member of the Board. Mr Sinclair did wish to debar him from being a member of the Road Board, but in that way he would be the prosecutor, and sit in judgment on the case afterwards.

Messrs Paterson and Austin said that any member of the Board hud a right to ask these questions, and Mr Quinn could exercise that right. The Chairman said Mr Quinn had no doubt a but it would be a question of taste as to whether he would deal with the case afterwards.

Mr Quinn said that so long as he was the representative of the ratepayers he

would be a member of the Board, and they could not take that right from him unless he was kicked out altogether. It was decided that Mr Quinn should examine the witnesses, and the witness replied to him as follows : 1 was placing baes in the hole. I was not wet. It was 12ft ,tt>. 16ft from the level of the road to There •night have been 3ft oi 4Et of water in the hole. 1 did not place the bags. I helped to push them down. 1 did not see anything under the sheet piling. ■ The bags were placed against the piling. I I cvmot say whether any portion of the riverbed was washed away under the sheet piling. I did not try to ascertain whether it was or not.

Mr-'Quinn : How could you place bags in position in 3ft or 4ft of water without getting: wet? Witness : I said the bags were put down by being rolled off the end of the bridge, and of course I was out of water. I rolled them into the water. The half bags I put in at the points were not tied. Some of the bags had holes in them. I saw some of the bags burst. I cannot tell how many bags were placed the months of which were not tied. I put in three or four quarter bags that were not tied ; these I - placed in the points between the others. I saw Richard Juggins, George Hobbs and A. Spooner working at the concrete. I did not see Tom or Jim Davis there. The water was a whirlpool, where it was running. There was no current, but it was whirling round. A stick would whirl round in the hole. There were 2in. space between the planks of the sheet piling. There might be more or less. The river was in flood, and the water could play in and out. The, river was going down. The planks of the sheet piling might be 9in or 10in wide. Juggins and Hobbs were working at the concrete. 1 did not see concrete mixed. I refuse to answer where I saw concrete put into similar water. I have seen concrete put into similar water. It was put in for the purpose of making a foundation for a concrete bridge. There was boarding about it. There was no loose concrete put in at the Opihi bridge. It. was possible to throw concrete in while I was absent, I did not see any loose concrete in the water.

To the Overseer ; I was filling shingle while away. There was no shingle on the board when I left it. I think tne shingle I tilled was taken to the board. There were three loads of shingle put on the board. Tom and Jim Davis could not have been working at the concrete while I was down in the hole fixing the bags.

To Mr Austin : There were some men at the other end of the bridge. A. Spooner, in reply to Overseer, said ; I was working at the concrete after the last flood. 1 did not hear you give ordere to throw loose concrete down. I saw concrete thrown down. I cannot eay whether I went into the water or not. I was on the hoard all the time. There was some concrete tied in hags, and then loose stuff was thrown in afterwards. Boulders were tipped in from drays during the time the hags were put in. There were three drays carting boulders There was no loose concrete put in until about half past three or four o’clock, . I have no idea how many bags were put in. There were three casks of cement th u ro. It was ail used. The greater part of i t was thrown in loose. I did not see any of it thrown in loose. It was boiling up underneath the sheet piling, hut it was steady on top. 1 cannot say whether it continued to boil after the bags were put in. I helped to put one bag in a position io the hole The hole was ch efly filled with boulders. Loose concrete was put in above the water.

T© Mr Quinn : Frank Hooper, Tom Davis, Jim Davis and George Hobbs were working on the board. Dayis was throwing the concrete into the hole a part of ihe time. Hooper was] down in it. I-was miKing the concrete and passing it over to the two Davis’s. This was befoia dinner. The Davis’s were not there long. There was a good deal of water used in mixing the concrete. There was a good drop of water in the hole when the Davis’s were shovelling it in loosely. The bags were put in first. The Overseer w-as present most of the time, and saw what the men were doing. He went to the other end of the bridge. I heard the O'eneer telling the man to throw the concrete here and there. I could not say whether the concrete went into the water or not.

Tom Davis: I was working at the concrete at the Opihi bridge. I helped to put bags in. I helped to roll seven or eight bags over. The Overseer told me to throw concrete in the whirlpool between the bags The boulders were put in at the same time. The hole was soon filled. The concrete was thrown in against the sheet piling, and the boulders were thrown in amongst it. Both were going in together. The concrete was thrown f-nm end to end against the sheet piling. The water was running between the piles in one place, and running out in another. It was like a little whirlpool. There was no concrete put in until after dinner. You gave me instructions to throw the loose concrete between the bags. You could see a hag here and there. Ido not know the depth of the water between them.

To Mr Quinn: Hooper was down in the bottom placing (he bags. Jim Davis was with me putting in the concrete. If Hooper said t was not there while he was placing the bags, he told an untruth. It was by order of the Surveyor that we threw concrete in. The Surveyor was present while we were throwing the loose concrete into- water between the bags.

To the Chaiiraan: I was ten minutes ■hovelling loose concrete into the water before we came to the level. I think we ■hovelled a dray load of loose concrete in. The Overseer said he had another witness—James Davis. He wished tho Board to understand he placed no reliance on him, however, as he always found h’m an unreliable man. Mr Quinn said this should be said m the presence of the man. ... The Overseer said he said this for the Board’s guidance. MrQuinn ;It was a mean, cowardly ■nd unmanly thing to run a man down like that behind his back. He ought to say what he had to say before his face. The Chairman said the remaiks ought to be made in the presence of the man. The Overseer said he would elect to hear his evidence first. Mr Quinn said if the Overseer did not Bay before the man’s face what he said behind his back, he, Mr Quinn, would say The witness had entered the room at this time, and the Chairman explained to him what the Overseer bad said. James Davis, examined by the Overseer, ■aid ; I was working at the Bridge. I was not there in the beginning. The Overseer told me to throw the concrete in. I did not hear you speak of water, but you told us to throw it in and in it went. The concrete was thrown in loose with the shovel. The water was flowing over the top of the bags. The water was running in a whirlpool. The boulders were thrown in ; some of them went into the hole and some of them remained on top. The concrete was thrown in on top of the bags while 1 waa there. I have seen the concrete since. I went with my fellow working men four days af.erwards and it was not set at all. I mean above the water. None of it above the water. 1 did not look at it under the W To r kr Quinn : P. Hooper was working in the bole fixing bags while I was ■hovelling in concrete. Tom Davis was ■hovelling it in along with me. Hooper was bound to see us while he was fixing the bags, as we were shovelling in the concrete. I saw some of the bags put in. They were old bags. I was shovelling the loose concrete in for half an hour. The Overseer was present the whole of the time, and must have seen what was going on. All the work was done under bis instructions. The water was coming in on the upper side, running across into a whirlpool. It certainly was not still water. I did see dry shingle and cement mixed up together and thrown loosely into the water. There was no water used in mixing them. This was done by tbe order and instructions of the Overseer, There were ten or a dozen men in the work. 1 have worked eight years for the Board. Until about 12 months ago I was working constantly. 1 have helped to fill in a great many approaches to bridges during that time. I have never seen concrete used in repairing any of the damaged approaches. To'the Chairman : I have never seen concrete set in similar water. I have seen a few buckets full of water used in mixing the concrete. During the half hour we put about half of it in wet and half dry. The order was, ‘ Now then, put som© of that dry stuff in, and some of the wet.’ 1 could not tell how many barrels of cement were used, but I think about three. About a couple or three 1 tads went into the water. lo the Overseer: I have not complained to any workman about being badly treated. On my sacred oath what I have said is correct. To the Chairman : I saw two bags put in without being tied. It was wet concrete. DEPUTATIONS. This concluded the evidence, and after the luncheon adjournment, a discussion took place as to whether deputations would be received or the inquiry continued. It was decided to admit deputations, and Mr Totton waited upon the Board for the purpose of pointing out the desirability of building a foot bridge, for passengers and sheep along tbe Rangitata Bridge. People are not allowed to walk ■cross the bridge, and it was certainly useless. They could not walk across to catch the train or go for their letters. He also handed the Chairman a letter from Mr Postiethwaite intimating what he had done in the matter. He considered it would be a great boon. If the Boards interested would assist there would be no difficulty. He would bring the matter before the Geraldine Road Board. A telegram from tho General Manager of Railways was read estimating cost at £584 for the north and £550 for the south bridge, total, £llsO. The Government desired to know how much the local bodies would contribute.

Mr Quinn thought the work greatly needed, but after some remarks suggested to wait until a conference was held between this and the Geraldine Board, He would be in favor of con tributing towards it. Mr Totton though the Geraldine Road Board would give £350. ' Tbe Chairman thought as they were one short they could do nothing. Mr Quinn} gave notice that at next Board meeting he would move that a sum of, say, £IOO be contributed towards the erection of a foot and sheep bridge over the Rangitata Railway bridges. Mr 0. Nicholson, senr., had an interview with the Board, and stated that on the 6th December he was with his wife driving into town when he had a capsize in the middle of the road, owing to some metal, being left uhspread. The accident had put him to considerable expense, and they had been under the doctor’s care. His wife was nine days in bed and had to have attendance. He wished to know what the Board intended to do in the matter. Would they pay him what he claimed or would they prefer to be sued ? In reply to questions Mr Nicholson stated, that the loads of metal were thrown roughly about in any shape or form. The time the accident happened was about half-past nine. He was not near sighted and the way the accident happened was that he was watching some very large boulders which were lying in the road, and while avoiding them ran into the loads of shingle. There were nine loads of shingle lying in the road. Six had been placed there that morning and. three the night before. His expenses up to the present, caused by the accident, were about £2O, but if he sued he should claim something over £IOO. The Chairman said that that was the usual way. After a few more words, Mr Nicholson

thanked the Board and withdrew, it being understood that he would send in his c aim in writing next Board day, and the Overseer was instructed to report on the matter.

THE CHARGE AGAINST THE OVERSEER.

The Chairman then said that as there was no more deputations they would conclude the charge partly heard that morning against the Overseer. The following letter was then read : ‘ January 24th, 1881. ‘ The Chairman Temuka Road Board.

‘ Sir, — 1 have been asked by Mr Sinclair, Overseer to your Board, to give an opinion of the temporary. work executed by him after the flood, at the north end of the old Opihi bridge. I find that the river in the late flood had scoured under the sheet piles, causing the filling behind them to wash out, and making such a gap in the approach that traffic was suspended. With the object of making the bridge passable at once Mr Sinclair commenced filling the gap with bags of concrete and boulders ; but unfortunately, the liver again rose, and part of the work was thrown away. Of course, unless some means were adapted to divert the river from the point at which the scour took place, the filling, of whatever nature it might be, would only have lasted until the next flood, and in this case bad the river continued to fall, instead of rising again, Mr Sinclair’s work would have answered thia temporary purpose well enough. A cheaper method might have been adopted in a work of such temporary nature, although in this case the difference of cost would have been very slighr, and the plan carried out by Mr Sinclair was very expeditious.—l am, Sir, your most obedient servant, G. Laing-Meason, C.E.’ Tbe Chairman then commenced to road a letter from Mr Wright, Messrs Quinn and Paterson objected, as tbs letter was not addressed to Mr Talbot as Chairman of the Board.

The Chairman held that Mr Talbot intended that the letter should be re \ otoerwise he would not have forwarded wi' 1 i the other correspondence. Mr Quinn : It might bo cut and dried. The Chairman : You must recollec. that you said it was a most ridiculous thing for the Overseer to do ; and no doubt Mr Talbot wrote to get further information.

Mr Quinn : Is it in the minutes 1 He produced a Temuka Leader and said it contained a verbatim report of the proceedings of last Board meeting. The Chairman said he would read the letter, and they could make what Uo3 of it they liked. Hs read the letter as follows :

‘ Timaru, Dec. 31st, 1883. ‘ J. Talbot, Esq., ‘ Dear Sir, —I am in receipt of yours of the 18th, stating that Mr Quinn had objected to the way Mr Sinclair bad dealt with the damage caused by tbe late floods to the approach of the Opihi bridge, and asking me to state what I know of the matter. In answer thereto Ijnay state that, expecting a flood, I went to the Opihi on Sunday morning and found both approaches had washed away and could not get a horse over the north side. I saw that nothing could be done in the then state of the river, beyond fencing it off and fixing a light at “night which I arranged with Mr Garland, of the hotel, to do, and advertised the bridge as uncrossable. On Monday morning I went by train to confer with Mr Sinclair. I found he was already at work filling in tho north side with bags of concrete and boulders. We then went to the south end and I suggested that a temporary structure should be put over so as to admit of light traffic, ns I did not think it was wise to attempt anything further until the river had gone down, and that I would come out again in a day or two. I wrote to the Chairman asking if he with Mr Sinclair would meet me on Wednesday. He did not get the letter in time, and consequently did not meet me. I raw Mr Sinclair on the following day when he told me that he had to abandon the filling up owing to the river being so high it undermined and sank down. He had put a temporary structure at both ends, and I then advised that the temporary work should be widened and strengthened, and & strong hand rail put up, as 1 thought it probable it would be some time before anything permanent could be done. Th 8, so far as I can remember, is all that took place between us.— l am, etc., Chas. Wright, Overseer Levels Road Board,’ Chairman : A very safe letter. Mr Quinn wanted to know what the letter contained bearing on the concrete question. As far as he could judge, it had nothing at all to d i with the matter. The Chairman : It does not bear very much on the matter.

Mr Quinn : Does it refer to concrete in or out of water 1 The Chairman : No, The Chairman then said that was all they had to bring forward on the matter, and

Mr Quinn said that now the proper way to proceed was to give the Overseer a chance to. explain the evidence that had been heard, and then for him to reply to it. He believed this was the proper way to proceed, and he thought he was perfectly justified in replying. He had hnd much experience in enquiries, and in meetings, with all due deference to those pressnt, conducted much better than their Road Board meetings, and this was the practice followed. He would suggest that the letter from Mr Laing-Meason should bo pinned on th* evidence taken. Mr Paterson objected.

The Chairmaa assented, and directed that the letters should be handed to the reporters.

Mr Sinclair said he had intended to ask the Board to adjourn the case to a full meeting of the Board, without any disrespect to the members present. But that he would leave to the Board. With reference to the evidence of J. Davis, it was nothing but a deliberate falsehood, and he was considerably taken aback by it. He was biassed against him (the Overseer), arid had tried to give him a friendly lift. [The Chairman : An unfriendly one, you mean, j That was what he meant. Hooper and Spooner had tried to do fairly, but he did not think that the Board fairly understood what Hooper meant. [Mr Quinn did not like to interrupt, but Mr Sinclair must not make false statements.] Mr Quinn had jumped at conclusions, and he (the Overseer) had a right to draw his. [Mr Paterson interrupted.] In this case it had been said in evidence th*t the concrete had not set (Mr Paterson again interrupted), but the bagi of concrete were still to be seen.

He did not wish to equivocate. He had never wilfully done so, and would not do so now. The concrete was there now, and could be seen by the members of the Board. Whether it waa a mistake or otherwise he left it for the Board to decide. The Board’s share of the coat would be £4. The whole amount waa only £B. He claimed that he had told the truth. Davis waa was the only man that had spoken about the concrete being thrown in dry. There were about two barrow loads left, and ho told them to make it up. As to dray loads, there were none—they were only barrow loads. He was not immaculate. As regarded the concrete he considered it his masterpiece. He had brought evidence to show that his plan had acted perfectly, and that he was right in acting as he had. Mr Quinn said the facts of the case were simply these. When certain accounts came up for payment at last meeting he spoke of the repairs to the Opihi bridge. He said that he had heard that loo'je concrete had been thrown into the river and the Overseer then got up and said it was not correct. [Mr Quinn here read from the Temuka Leader that portion of the report of last Board day’s proceedings referring to the Overseer’s doings at the repairs to the Opihi bridge.] He asked whether it bad not been shown to their satisfaction by the evidence taken that day that dry concrete had been thrown into running water. Not standing water, but running water, and he held that the evidence bore this out. [Mr Paterson: Into a whirlpool.] He (MrQuinn) then stated that he doubted the Overseer’s competency, and be did so now. Noth? "ig had occurred since to make him niter his decision. [Mr Quinn then again quoted the Leader, and read that part of the report stating that the Overseer said that Mr Langridgo might have caused the concrete to be thrown into the stream while he was at the other end of the bridge. The Overseer: Mr Chairman, that part of the report is not correct ; that was not said. Mr Quinn : CLn you bring any evidence to the contrary ? Mr Sinclair : I will take the woid of the members of the Board present at that meeting. The Chairman asked Mr Quinn to read that portion of the report again, which he did. On Mr Austin being asked whether he recollected it he said ho did not, while Mr Paterson bore him out. The Chairman asked why Mr Lan;, idge was not present to give evidence. The Overseer stated that he could not have said it, as he with Mr Langridge the whole time, and, therefore, he could not have done so. That was why he did not call him. Mr Quinn said that when the Overseer closed his case that morning without calling Mr Langridgo, he did not wish to be hard on l.im and so he did not ask that Mr Langridge should be called ; was Ilr Sinclair’s memory as fresh on the nr -ter as what was contained in that paper ? and yet he objected to that part referr* ’g to Mr Langridge, and to that part only. The Overseer said that he wished to vindicate Mr Langridge. The Chairman s id that the Overseer had tried to put the blame on Mr Langridge. Mr Quinn : It was trying to put the blame on MrLangridge’s shoulders.] MrQuinn ' en summed up the evidence given by the witnesses. In the first place Hooper was now working for the Board, and that might have something to do with his evidence. It was shown that it was impossible that he could have been present without seeing that the concrete was put in by the men. It was also proved by Spooner that it was thrown into running water. Then again had Davis not proved that they had shovelled loose concrete into the water for fully half an hour ? [Mr Bolton said that about a dray load was stated. Mr Quinn said he believed it was more, Mr Bolton said it was one ; the evidence of the two Davis’s differed very materially ] Mr Quinn continued : He had proved that concrete had been thrown into running water by the orders of the Overseer. In bringing this charge he had nothing to lose and nothing to gain. He did not care one jot. He held that the Overseer had told the most deliberate falsehoods for the sake of saving his own back, and he asked whether it had not been proved by the Overseer’s own witnesses that cement had been thrown into the water loose. It had also been proved that dry cement and dry shingle had been thrown into running water. He maintained that it was a most useless expenditure of material. There was plenty of gorse, flax, and boulders near the spot which would have made a first class job. It was disgraceful for a man to act as the Overseer had, and it proved his incompetency. He had no faith in tho man. He had seen bis work and felt that he was not the right man in the right place, and in the interests of tho ratepayers he should move that he be discharged, in moving this resolution he said that he had no ill-feeling against the man, but he was not qualified for his position. Ho then moved—‘That in accordance with hij agreement with the Board, Mr Sinclair, the Overseer, receive three months notice, and that at the end of that time his service* be dispensed with.’ The Chairman asked Mr Quinn to put bis resolution in writing. Mr Austin moved— ‘ That it be held over till next Board day.’ The Chairman said the resolution must be seconded. Mr Paterson said he would second Mr Quinn’s resolution, , The Chairman asked if there was any amendment, Mr Austin said he had understood that Mr Quinn was going to hold the matter over.

Mr Quinn said there was a majority of the Board present and thought they could deal with the matter.

Mr Austin asked, if they thought the mistakes made were sufficient grounds for the resolution ?

Mr Quinn had a very high opinion of Mr Austin as a roan. He knew he was always actuated by conscientious motives, but he thought Mr Austin ought to propose something before he spoke on the subject. The resolution was then put to the meeting, when Messrs Paterson and Quinn voted for it and the Chuitman (Mr Barker) and Mr Austin against it. In giving his casting vote against the resolution, the Chairman said that he had thought the matter very carefully over. He beiieved that Mr Sinclair (the Overseer) had made mistakes. He had shown much cowardice. He should have stood up for his actions. But he did not think that there weresnffi cient grounds for dismissing him. The Board had not suffered to any great extent Looking at the matter from first to last, he should give his casting vote against the

resolution. While doing so ho did not mean that the Overseer was free from blame.

Mr Quinn : \nd you swallow your own words as expressed at last meeting. He held that a man who had made such statements as the Overseer hid was not fit to held his post. The Chairman said he did not hold him free from blame, but he did not think his faults were so grave as to entitle him to dismissal. Mr Quinn ; Falsehoods.

The Chairman : Well, falsehoods ; still he did not think they ware so grave as they had been made out. The Chairman then said they would go on with the other business, and tne accounts were then gone into. At this moment it was stated that the men who had given evidence in the morn iog were still outside, and wanted to know whether they could go. The Chairman asked why were they there. They bad been told before dinner that they could go. The Overseer said he had not asked them to come again, and the men were then dismissed. ACCOUNTS. While the accounts were being considered, Mr Quinn asked why the extras charged for on Mulloy’s contract were not included in the first contract of Mulloy’s, The Overseer stated that he had gone to work the cheapest way. Of the metal put on the road, one half would bs boulders which would be covered up by the shingle. It was no use putting clay on the road. Mr Quinn : And that is the cheapest way of making a road ; to pay men bs a day to bieak the atones. The Overseer said it was.

Mr Quinn said the Overseer was introducing so many new things into the Board that they did not know how things were going on. Why in this special case should the Board break the stones 1 The Chairman asked whether the specification did not stale that the contractor should break the stones.

Mr Quinn said it did not. The Overseer said that in that kind of metal it was best for the Board’s men tt break the stones.

Mr Quinn : Would it be possible, do you think, for the contractor to put these stones in unbroken without you knowing it 1

The Overseer : It would. The Chairman siid there was no occasion to have any more about it. An argument then took place as to the practical utility of certain waterways ho had made on the downs, Mr Quinn contending that the work done was worse than useless, while the Overseer held that they would fulfil the purpose intended. The waterwaj’s go down some very steep hills, and it was held that the scour of the water running down them would undermine the road. The Overseer held that a few boulders placed here and theie would prevent this. This matter was then dropped, and exception was taken to the account of W. Lewis, the contractor for the maintenance of certain roads.

Mr Quinn wanted to know what the money was for, and asked the Overseer where Lewis’ contract began on the main Milford road.

The Overseer : About the Cemetery.

Mr Quinn : I presume that this would be about what you thought would be the boundary of the proposed borough. The Overseer : Yes, about that. Mr Quinn : How long is it since you were up that road ? The Overseer : On Christmas day.

Mr Quinn : Do you recollect meeting me and my drawing your attention to a hole in the road near Mr Barker’s woolshed gate, and stating that it was dangerous to life and limb 1 The Overseer said he did. Mr Quinn : When was it filled up 1 The Overseer: On the following morning. Mr Quinn : It was four feet deep near Mr Barker’s wooisbed gates ; and I can prove it is there now. He it disgraceful that a man who was drawing a screw for contract work should also be employed as a day man. He believed he was single, and yet he was kept at work, while married men were sacked. Mi Sinclair said he employed him because be waa a good man. Mr Quinn heard of it four weeks ago. Heap came to him and told him that he had come to grief in the hole, and spoke of coming on the Board for damage done to himself and his horse. He spoke to him and reasoned him out of it. It would be a month ago on the following night. He had seen the place often since, and it was there yet. After a few more remarks, Mr Quinn concluded by stating that he presumed Mr Sinclair had his own reason for keeping the man on while the others were sacked and aent about their business. The Overseer said that he had been charged with not knocking about enough. He could prove that on the morning after Mr Quinn had spoke to him about the hole he hud sent down to have it filled up and he believed it was then filled up. If it was not then filled up he did not know where it was. The Chairman remarked that it was not in the road. Mr Quinn said it was at the side of the road.

The Overseer said that if Mr Quinn would give his assistance and speak to him when things wanted doing he would try and carry out his wishes. Mr Quinn said that ho had done so, and he could not always be running after the Overseer. He wanted to know whether it was a fact that this man Lewis had been kept on as a day man. The Overseer said yes, it was ; because the man was the best stone breaker in the district. He employed him because he always foil ad him do a fair day's work. Mr Quinn remarked that he must have found him a very honest man when he discharged bim. He thought it very wrong of the Overseer to employ that man when others had tried to get work from the Board and were refused, The discussion then reverted to the utility of Hie Board paying a man for spreading metal on a certain road, while only one cart was carting it. The Over seer claimed that he had saved the Board £3 5s by the way he had had the work done.

The discussion then drifted to the hole in the Milford Road, and from that again to the employment of Lewis as a day man. Mr Quinn wanted to know whether he was still to be kept on as a day man. The Overseer said that was a question for the Board to decide.

The Chairman said that * member

could propose a resolution on the m Her and he would put it to the meeting, Mr Quinn hero left the meeting, stating that it was no use for him to bring anything forward, and so he would have nothing more to do with it. Mr Austin said the Milforn road was getting in a very bad state, and that after harvest it would take two man to keep it up. It was strange that Lewis should pay two other men to clear out some drains on his contract, while he worked for the Board as a day man.

The Overseer was instructed to see that the work was properly curried out, and it was decided after some more consideration to pass the account, the cheque to be kept back till the contractor satisfied the Overseer. Luring the passing of the accounts Mr Paterson also left. On Mr Quinn returning, accounts to the amount of £404 16s were passed for payment. FINANCIAL. Mr Barker said that they had to deal with a £IOOO deposit, which fell due that day. They were overdrawn to the extent of some £5, and they had to pass £3OO or £4OO that day, and perhaps it would be advisable to pass the whole amount to the current account. This was agieed to. CORRESPONDENCE. A petition was read from a number of residents in Orrnshy street, requesting the Board to fill up certain holes in the same.- r lho Overseer was instructed to report.

A letter was read from Mr Murray, for the trustees of the Orari estate, asking that the drains on the road known as Hawke’s road might be cleared out and deepened, as the water overflowed and kept the road in a puddle.—The Overseer to report. From Mr C. Bissett re drains on Penny’s road, and asking whether the Board allowed their drains to be made a receptacle for gorse clippings,—The matter was left to the Overseer to attend to. From Mr W. Hawke re drains on north side of Orari, near section 26697, from the river to cross road. They; wanted deepening, and were now blocked up with watercress. He offered to pay half the cost of a part of the work, or do the part for £2. —The Overseer to report. From the Overseer to the Geraldine Road Board to the Overseer of the Terauka Road Board, re strengthening of certain bridge. From Mr H. Nicholson, Waitohi Downs.—The Overseer stated that the matter had been attended to.

From Mr Inwood, stating that the nightman at Winchester had declined to act, and asking that immediate steps should be taken, as serious results might result.

When this was being discussed Mr Quinn again left, and the matter was finally held over. TBNDBBS. Tenders were opened as follows : Contract No. 98—M. Flaherty, 14s 9d per chain (accepted) ; R. Latimer, £1 ss. No. 99- M. Dunn, 4s ll£d per chain (accepted) ; E. Counihan, 5s 8d ; M. Flaherty, 7s 6d. No. 100—E. Counihan, £9l 11a 8d (accepted) ; F. Muiloy, £ll3 15s.

overseer’s report The Overseer then read his monthly report as follows : ‘The Chairman Temuka Road Board,

‘Sir, —I have the honor to report for the month ending Bth January, 1884 :

‘ Most of the contracts on hand have been completed during the month.

‘ I received a letter from Mr Shiers the day I inspected the Kakahu footbridge, stating that the Geraldine Hoad Board had taken steps to repair the damage done by the late flood, so 1 have not done anything further in the matter. ‘ During the month one of the tenants have left the cottage of the Board which is still vacant. ‘Tenders have been called for three contracts, which are for your consideration to-day. ‘ I would recommend after the matter is settled that the north approach of the Opihi bridge be filled up, and the temporary crossing be taken away. * The rates are coming in very slowly. Over £SOO is outstanding yet. Notice has been inserted in the papers that proceedings would be taken after the 12th inst

‘ A letter waa received last Board day from Mr Twotney, containing a host of charges against me. Amongst others of using my position in keeping printing and advertising back from him, and stating that he did not get his share. Since then I haye gone into the matter, and found he lias received for same ordered by me since Ist April to December Ist, 1883, the sum of £37 15s, against the sum for the same time to the Tiraaru Herald of £23 3s, Amount paid to Temuka Leader from Ist August to Ist December, 1863, £8 2s 9d ; amount paid to Timaru Herald from Ist August to Ist December, 1883, £8 Ba. The above figures will speak for themselves The rest of the charges are so spiteful, that they are not worth my time replying to, but I would like to have a chance io future of replying to anything of the sort, as in this instance I had not, as the letter was put in after the business of the Board was commenced,—l am, etc., P, Sinclair. ’ After the report the O'eraser handed in n detailed list referring to the last part of his report, and the mei-ting adjourned about 630 p.tn. Several matters beside# the consideration of the report being left over for cimoderation till next meeting,