GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1133, 31 January 1884, Page 2

GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

The usual monthly meeting qf the Board was held on Tuesday : last. Present—Messrs Postlethwaite (Chairman), Flatman, Deßenzie and' Kelland, MINUTES. ' The minutes of the.previous -meeting were read'and confirmed. TENDERS. 71 Prior to' the opening ql the tenders, rMrsPlatman spoke in regard to'Contract No. 99, re constructing a floating dam at Orari bridge. He did not wish to sit as a'member of the Board and vote for any work as it were blindfolded. He wished for some information .on the matter. The proposed work might answer right if the water floated the booms, but he could not see how they would act when so near the shingle. The Chairman . stated he saw a similar work,in the river Hutt and had asked for a plan of the same, which he afterwards obtained, as he thought it would do for a similar work to be tried in the Orari river at thetraffic bridge, and it struck him it would be very suitable. He was not wedded to any , plan, but wished to see works carried out that would be for the benefit of the whole district. The Hutt river was a similar one to the Orari—a shingle river. ' Mr Flatman considered that the water would not lift so heavy a boom as proposed. A lighter spar would be better, and he thought it would be better to have the work done higher up the river. Mr Kelland remarked that the work was. only an experimental- one. If it answered, well and good, but if not they would not lose much money and they would gain experience.. He would like to see the channels scooped out and the streams kept in their places. The Overseei said that if a big fresh came that might do good. He tried it in two instance*, but in both it was found no good, as twrv small freshes came and filled Them m again.

•Mr Deßenzie said that as their Chairman had seen the work and that it was successful, and as; the river was similar to the Graii, they had hotter try the experiment.

The Overseer here stated that Mr Williams had just informed him that the channel in the Orari had again altered and was now running under the middle of the bridge. Tenders were then opened for

Contract No. 99—Pile driving and constructing, a floating dam at O.rari bridge : J. S. Derby, £136 Ils 6d ; Dean and Hammond, £l3l 10s (accepted). Contract No. 100—Formation and culverts near Collett’s, Opihi : 8. Courtney, £9B ; J. Webb, £B7 10s ; F. Mulloy, £75 ; G. Crozier, £63. Crozier’s tender was the lowest, but he was disqualified owing, to his not completing his last contract. The tender of F. Mulloy was accepted. COiIKBSPONDENCB. The following correspondence wps next considered : From Mr Fifield, dated January 28th, asking to have a small bridge erected over the blind creek on the Woodbury and Rangitata road. Resolved— ‘ That the Overseer two planks as requested.’ From Mr G. L. Meason, dated 25th January, informing the Board that.the road was formed on Mr Bailey’s section .No. 20461, and if the Board decide to have the same corrected he would make all necessary surveys at a reasonable cost.

From Mr R. Glass, dated 21st January, asking permisvsion to erect a verandah in front of his shop. The request was granted.

From Mr D. Bcanned, dated 10th January, asking to have Mr Knubley’s name placed on the roll instead of his own. Resolved— ‘ That Mr Keannell explain his request more fully.’ From Mr S. Bates," dated 6th January, asking to have Mr Win. Bell’s name placed on the roll instead ofhi& own. •

The Clerk was instructed to attend to the same. Fro xi Mr R„ Sharp, dated 28tb January, asking to bare willows re-

moved out of the river-bed, planted by Mr John Godsell. Resolved— * That the. Overseer inspect and report what steps can be taken to remove the willows.’ From Mr L. McCormick, dated 19 th January, offering to sell his land for Road Board purposes for £lO per acre. The same was read and approved. From Mr C. B. Shaw, dated 24th January, with reference to certain information regarding a supposed road on reserve 389, which does not really exist. From the Chief Surveyor, dated Bth January, advising the Geraldine Road Board that plans were necessary showing the exact area planted in each reserve. Resolved —‘ That the Overseer prepare and forward plans showing quantity of land planted in each reserve.’ From Mr W. Bailey, dated 28th January, with reference to the encroachment of a road on his land ; also drawing the Board’s attention to the crossing of the creek near his place ; also asking for £241 due to him. Resolved —‘ That the Chairman write and fix a day with Mr Bailey to adjust matters ; ako, that a cheque be drawn for £241 for him,’ From Mr James Dillon, dated 7th January, asking to bare planks placed over the creek on the road between Mr Ensor’s woolshed and Winchester. From Mr W. Bailey, dated 29th January, asking to have his name inserted on the roll, instead of Mr J, P. Wilson. The Clerk was instructed to attend to the same. oveeseek’s eepoet. The following report by the Overseer was read and acted upon : “ Sir, —Since the last meeting of the Board fair progress has been made with the works in hand. Some four or five contracts are on the point of completion, and would have been out of hand had it not been for the very unseasonable weather we ha ye experienced.

“ The undermentioned have been passed for final payment;—McKenzie’s road, Raukapuka ; Racecourse road, Orari ; and Stevenson’s road, Jones’s Gully. ‘ Re Collett’s road—l have seen Mr Collett and arranged with him for a new line of rpad through his section. I also offered Mr McCormick the price fixed by the Board for his land. I have a reply accepting the same on condition that.the land is fenced on both sides. I therefore called for tenders for the new line of road, which are due this day. I should like instructions from the Board as to the fencing.

4 Rangitata Station road I have received payment from the Mount -Peel Board for the upper section of this road, The lower section of the road will be completed this week, ‘ Stock bridge, Cooper’s Creek—l have made an estimate for a bridge at this creek suitable for crossing sheep in time of flood. To be of any service when the creek is high, the bridge would require to be 60ft in length. The cost for labor and material will be £ — ‘ Redcliffe road —This work will be completed during this week, and as no suitable gravel has been met with in the cuttings the roadway will be required to be shingled as soon as possible. I should advise that tenders be called for the work by next meeting.

‘ Floating dam, Orari bridge—Owing to the difficulty in obtaining logs 50ft in length for this work, I have had to niter the plan by reducing the length of the booms to 40ft. As this takes six more piles and two extra booms, it increases the cost considerably, which I now estimate for tabor and material at £ —

Peckbam’s crossing—l have examined the riverbed at this crossing, and find that to divert the stream under the .bridge would require a channel to be cut 120 yards long, to average 3 feet deep. The cost of this would be say £—, and the utility of the work very doubtful when done. I am, etc,,

“ William Shibrs.” Re Collet’s road—Lett to the OverBeer to arrange.

Re Rangitata Station road—This was deemed satisfactory. Tenders to be called for stock bridge over Cooper’s Creek.

Re Redcliff road—The Overseer’s suggestion to be carried out. The matter re Peckham’s crossing to ttand over. DEPUTATIONS. Mr John Bell waited on the Board with reference to the water being let on his land off the Geraldine Main Road. It was resolved— * That a deputation of the Board inspect the place and see what is best to be done.’ Mr D. Guldan interviewed the Board requesting an extension of time on account of harvest. Resolved —‘ That ho be granted an extension of six weeks.’ ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £527 15s lOd were passed for payment, and the meeting then terminated.