ANNUAL MEETINGS OF RATEPAYERS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1175, 8 May 1884, Page 3

ANNUAL MEETINGS OF RATEPAYERS.

TEMUKA. The annual meeting of the ratepayers in the Temuka Road District took place in the Road Board Office last Tuesday, at 2 p.m. Mr John Talbot, Chairman of the Road Board, occupied the chair. Ha read the advertisement calling the meeting, the clauses authorising the holding of the meeting, and the minutes of the last meeting, which were confirmed. Mr W. Wills, Returning Officer, attended, and read a list showing the following gentle men bad been nominated for election to fill the seats of Messis Quinn and Austin, rendered vacant by billot Mi J. T. M. Hayhursi, proposed by Mr Kirk, seconded by Mr I. Storey ; Mr Quinn, proposed by Mr T. Parke, 1 seconded by Mr A.Olyne ; Mr H. Nicholson,

propose! by Mr G. McS. Gentlemun, seconded by Mr A. Gilmour ; Mr G. Smith, proposed by Mr J. Aitken, seconded by Mr W. Ackroyd ; Mr W. R. TJprichard, proposed by Mr F. Storey, seconded by Mr H. Pauvel ; Mr J. A. Young, proposed by MrD. Inwood, seconded by Mr P. Coira. The Chairman then read the annual report, as follows:

“ Gentlemen, —You are called together in accordance with the provisions of the Road Boards Act, for the purpose of having submitted to you a report of the proceedings, and a statement of the receipts and ex penditure ot the Board for the past year, as well as generally to discuss matters of public interest to the ratepayers. There have been twelve ordinary and two special meetings of the Board held during the year. The Road Boards Amendment Act of last session provides for the retirement of two of the members this year. A ballot was taken to decide who should go out, and it fell to Mr M. Quinn and Mr J. Austin to do so. The three remaining members will retire next year, and in the year following the whole of the members go out of office, and a general election takes place. The past year has been remarkable for the number and severity of the floods we have experienced. A large expenditure has been incurred in making good the damage caused thereby, both to bridges and fords across rivers and croeki, as well as to the roads, which in several places suffered considerably from scour. The Board having arrived at the conclusion that the keeping of a horse and dray of their own was not altogether satisfactory in its working, decided to discontinue it, and in consequence the horse, harness and dray have since been sold. In order to dispense with day labor as far as possible, the Board has adopted as an experiment the plan of letting the maintenance of some of the chief roads by contract. Three of these contracts, involving in the aggregate the maintaining of about fifty miles of roads, have been let at a cost for one vear of L 174 2s 6d. It is not possible at this early stage of the experiment to say with any degree of certainty as to its ultimate success. The want of a new lithographed map of the district having been fslt for a long time past in consequence of the incompleteness of the old one, which was prepared in the time of the early settlement, the work was at length taken in hand. The Chief Surveyor having been applied to, offered to get the map prepared in bis office at a very reason able cost, and the offer was accepted. The Board would have prepared it on a larger scale than that adopted, viz., 40 chains per inch, but found that to do this it would have to be got up on two separate eheets, an inconvenience which it was deemed, would more than counterbalance the advantages to be derived from a larger scale, and the cost would, moreover, have been considerably increased. The greatest care has been taken to make it as authentic and complete as possible. The recent addition made to the district between the Orari and Eangitata rivers has been included. The total cost of prepaiing and lithographing 200 copies will be £63 a considerable portion of which the Board hope to be recouped from the sale of copies to ratepayers. The cost of maintaining the Opihi bridge has been taken over by the County Council, and steps are now being taken by that body to remove the old portion entirely, and to rebuild it with as little delay as possible. The County Council have also been requested by the Board to take over the Temuka bridge, but the request has not yet been acceded to. The question of taking over the whole of the large bridges on the main country roads is, however, under the consideration of the Council, and may be decided at the next meeting. This proposal seems to be a fair one, as it is a manifest injustice for our ratepayers to bo called upon to keep up the bridges on the main country roads which happen to be in their district and at the same time be rated to assist in paying for other costly works altogether away from us. The Temuka bridge urgently needs re decking, and has done so for some time but pending the solution of this question the Board are replacing planks as they give way. A movement has been on foot for some time past to get a stock bridge made alongside and in connection with the Rangitata railway bridge. The proposed work, if carried out, would prove of great advantage in the passage of stock across the river, it being a much more direct route than by the Rangitata traffic bridge. The work it is estimated would cost about £llOO, of which it is expected the Government would contribute a portion, besides undertaking the future maintenance of the work. This Board has been asked to contribute a share of the east, and has agreed to do so to the extent of £l5O, A larger amount would readily have been agreed to had the state of the funds permitted it. The small birds nuisance has received the attention of the Board, a sum of about £llO, inclusive of the cost of collection, having been expended in the purchase of eggs and young birds. A portion of this outlay will be recouped to the Board by the County Council. 102,135 eggs and 18,728 birds have been collected and destroyed. The neighbouring public bodies are also vigorously carrying on a war against the pest, but notwithstanding these efforts a considerable amount of damage is sustained by farmers, and it is doubtful if the measure* already taken are sufficient even to keep the nuisance in check. The balance sheet was issued with the local newspaper this morning, and no doubt has been examined by most of you. It will be seen that the receipts from all sources, including £3511 3s in hand from last year, has been £5109 7s, and the expenditure £4llO 19s sd, leaving an available balance of £998 7s 7d, A rate of | of Id in the £ was struck during the year, which would produce £1237 5s 7d. There has been collected £962 14s 2d, leaving a balance uncollected of £274 lls sd. The outstanding liabilities amount to about £3OO. “ Some of the works done during the year are about 708 chains road formation, 605 chains shingling, and 839 chains of drains cleaned out or made. The Main Road has bean much improved by digging out the large stones and breaking them. The large amount set down, nearly LSOO, for surfacemen and labor, is in a great measure the result of flood damage, men and teams having had to be set on after each flood to make the roads and bridges passable. Before closing this report, it may not be amiss to shortly revisw our present position and future prospects. Our credit.balance has bean annually getting less until it has now virtually disappeared, and the question now is, can we bring our expenditure within our income, and at the same time avoid stretching our rating powers to the utmost limit, namely, three farthings in the £. An endeavor ought to be made to do so, and with this object in view, all applications for expenditure will haye to be very carefully considered, and only entertained in cases of positive necessity. A rate of a half-penny in the £ would produce L 1663 on the present valuation, which stands at L 798,309, This with the amount now in hand, and a little revenue which may be anticipated from other sources, would give us for expenditure about L2OOO a year for the next three years, which ought to fairly meet our requirements, provided we practice tbs strictest economy and are relieved of the maintenance of the large bridges. It may be pointed out that we have nearly all our roads made that are likely to be of much public utility, and that bridges and culverts which were at first built of timber are now almost

entirely replaced with concrete or pipes, and the cost of maintenance is therefore reduced to a minimum.

“ The accounts and books of the Board have been duly audited by Mr Olliviev.and certified to be correct. He has requested that the practice of keeping a separat* rate account may be discontinued. Mr G. J. Mason complained of the balance sheet not haying been circulated before that morning. The Chairman stated that it was his intention to have it circulated last Saturday morning. The Clerk had instructions to that effect, but owing to some misunderstanding the balance sheet was not issued before that morning. Mr Bissett asked what the charge for extra clerical assistance was for. The Chairman explained that it was for work done by Mr Bolton in the interval of time that elapsed between Mr Lewis leaving and Mr Sinclair taking charge. Mr Kirk noticed there were items set down for eurveyor, clerk of works, clerk, and extra clerk, besides the Oyerseer’s salary. The Chairman said Mr Langridge was appointed surveyor pro. tern, when Mr Lewis left. Mr Langridge asksd to whom the L4O Is for a clerk of works was paid; He felt sure he had nob received half that amount. The Chairman said Mr Chartsris was employed on one job. Afterwards it appeared that Mr' Chartoris received four shillings, and that the balance was paid to Mr Langridge, who expressed doubts as to whether he had received so much. After some further questioning concerning the balance sheet, Mr Talbot moved the adoption of the report. Mr G. J. Mason called attention to the large amount that was set down as wages, and asked to have it explained. The Chairman explained that it was due to the floods of last year. Day men had to be employed. Their principal work would in future be road maintenance, and as that was work that could not wall be specified for tendering it was likely the item referred to would in future be large. Mr Bissett asked whether all the thistle cu ting was charged to thr Winchester district. The Clerk replied that it was equally divided amongst the districts. Mr Bissett wished to know whether it was by the mile the contract for thistle cutting was let' He asked this because the contractor had gone over ground he had no occasion to. The Clerk said if the thistles were thick in some places and thin in other places the contractor took them all together. After some further questions were asked Mr Kirk seconded the adoption of the report and balance sheet, which, was carried. The Chairman said now was the time for candidates to express their views. Mr Kirk apologised for Mr Hayhurst’s absence. He was called out of town by an urgent telegram. Mr Quinn said he had been a member for the last twelve months, and also five years previously. It was now for the ratepayers to say whether he was fit to be on the Board or not. If elected he would do his duty as he had done in the past. (Applause.) Mr H. Nicholson said his policy would be to keep the roads in repair, and not repair them after people had been half killed, the same us the present Overseer had done. If elected he would do his best to improve on last year. The work of the Board was not satisfactory last year, and if elected he would try to alter things. He was quite disgusted with the way things went last year, and a change was quite necessary. No other candidates being present the proceedings came to a close. Mr Storey proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman, but no one seconded it. GERALDINE. The annual meeting of ratepayers of the Geraldine Road District was held in the Road Board office on Tuesday at noon, there being about 40 persons present. Mr Postlethwaite, the Chairman of the Board, presided, and read the advertisement inserted in the Geealdinb Guardian convening the meeting. MINUTES. The minutes of the last annual mesting were read and confirmed. The Chairman read the auditor’s certificate in regard to rhe correctness of the accounts of the Board. He also read the following ANNUAL REPORT. “Gentlemen, —It has again devolved upon me to draw up the annual report for the past year, which 1 do with great pleasure As you all know it has been a year unprecedented in the memory of the oldest colonist for htavy floods, which have had a great effect over the whole of our road district, on account of the numerous river crossings, as well as large bridges and culverts. Now it may not have occurred to many of the ratepayers that there are over 50 crossings to bo kept and placed in good repair after each flood, and it must be apparent to each one of us that this work cannot be done in one day, but must take some little time, which probably, may cause some little inconvenience to some of the settlara, but I ask those settlers to take a trap either into the soath of this island, or into the North Island, and then I feel sure, on their return, we shall hear no more complaints as to the state of their roads. During (he year there have been 56 contracts let, 40 of them are completed and 16 are in a forward state towards completion. They consist of miles of road formed and re-formed ; 5| miles have been newly shingled ; six etone and concrete culverts have been built, and a groat number of pipe culverts have been laid down ; miles of drains have been made. In addition to the foregoing works, many of the foot and stock bridges have suffered materially, and have had to he either extended oi repaired, and in one instance a new bridg# had to bs built. Perhaps it may ha necessary to particularise the Orari bridge, which has given a groat amount of trouble and anxiety to your Board owing to the course of the stream pressing hard upon the North bunk. Your Board has in consequence of this been inducad to try some inexpensive protective works, which have now been completed, and although there has been a flood since the work has been commenced the protective works Invo had the desired effect of diverting the stream to the fifth span of the bridge, and causing a great amount of shingle to bank up on the north side. The bridge is now open for traffic, at a cost of L3lO 5s Bd. In regard to the state of the roads I may «ay that I have travelled over a great portion of the district, and can testify that I found all in good and efficient repair. In regard to finance, you will remember that at the close of our last financial year we had a balance in the bank of L 21,789 19s sd. In addition we have received the following sums ; —From Goveinment, L 324 15s; arrears of rates, L 74 3s 41; interest, L 1072 10s, and from other sources, L 319 15s Bd, making a total of L 23,581 3i 7d.

The expenditure has been aa follows On main roads, £ISOO 15s 6d ; roads and bridges, L 3595 Os lid ; incidentals, L 137 8s 2d ; salaries, L 330, leaving a balance to the credit of the Board, in the bank of L 18,017 19a. This amount has been placed as follows :—ln the Bank- of New South Wales, LIO,OOO, and current account, L 905 8s 6d. This sum will be reduced by LBl7 19a by outstanding cheques, and L 7,200 has been placed in the Bank of New Zealand. Total, L 18,017 19s, Having shown tha expenditure, aa required by Act of Parliament, it may be desirable to show how and where the suras have been expended, and I think you will agree with mo that the Board has expended the money wisely, and without fear, favor or affection, which is a duty devolving uoon every local body which has the dispensing of large auras of money :—Raukapuka and Geraldine, L 424 12s 6d ; Waitohi Plat, and Kakahu, L 651 16* 6d ; Woodbury and Rangitata, L 1212 10s; Gapes’a Yallcy and Pleasant Valley, L 483 10s and < )rari reserves, with Geraldine road, L5lB 5s 7d ; making a total of £2772 Bs. Your Board considers it a fit opportunity to point out why the expenditure at the Rangitata is so excessive over the other districts. The long dispute existing between this Board and the Mount Peel Board, lam pleased to say, has been finally arranged, and the agreement has been cancelled, which was done after the arrangement entered into had been carried out, which was, that the road in dispute should be placed in thorough good repair, and the expense be shared equally by the the two Boards. So that now the road lying between th* . railway station and the Rangitata Traffic Bridge will be maintained at the entire cost of your Board. Your Board, seeing that the staff in the office could be curtailed without detriment to the efficiency of the office work, and be of advantage to the finance of the Board, has given the clerk notice that his services will not be required after the new Board comes into office, and the Board trust that this action will meet with the approval of the ratepayers. As Chairman I should like to suggest to the ratepayers a policy which could be based on sound priciples, Seeing that you have netted L 1072 10s by interest during the year, which is equivalent to a rate of tenpence in the £, 1 would suggest that if a small rate were struck annually it would assist materially in the future prosperity of your district. It must be apparent that if the present policy is pursued without a rate, and the capital becomes exhausted, the rates will then become so burdensome that it will be telt a hardship, because, granting that the rateable value of the district in five years had increased 25 per cent., it would then require a rate of 3a fid in the £ to carry on the present expenditure. With these few remarks I now beg to move the adoption of the report. W. POSTLKTHWAITE. Chairman. Mr Angus Macdonald seconded the motion.

Mr Maslin asked at what meeting of the Board it had bean decided to dispense with the services of the clerk, and who were the members present |at that meeting 1 The Chairman replied that Mr De Eenzj, Mr Slack and himself were present. Messrs Flat man and Kelland sent letters agreeing that economy in the internal working of the Board was necessary. A meeting was called for the purpose of discussing the matter, but it was held over till the next meeting of the Board to decide what should be done. Mr Maslin said it was strange there was no report in the papers in regard to the matter.

The Chairman remarked that the Clerk had to attend a meeting of the Licensing Committee, and the local reporter left the room also to go to the same meeting. It was not always necessary that what transpired at their meetings should be reported. Mr Maslin asked that the minutes of that meeting should be read, and reasons assigned for dismissing the Clerk. Mr C. E. Sherratt read that part of the minutes in which it was decided to dispense with the services of the clerk, and that the clerical work be performed by the Overseer in future. Mr Maslin said in the report of that minute no proposer or seconder were mentioned. He would ask if it were usual to record names of proposers and seconders of resolutions 1 The Chairman said it was not, unless the resolutions were of an important character. Mr Maslin asked if the dismissal of the Clerk, who had served the Board for 13 years, was not an important matter 1 He would also ask if the resolution were carried unanimously or not, or did the Chairman have to record his vote ? Mr De Henzy remarked that it was carried unanimously. Either Mr Kelland or himself moved the resolution, and one or the other seconded it. Mr Maslin would express his opinion as a ratepayer that the Board had not acted wisely in their decision. He remembered a discussion that ensued on the subject some years ago when it was stated that it was necessary to have two officers to transact the work of the Board, and that it was absolutely necessary to have one officer at the office whilst the other performed all outdoor work. He remembered also the way they dealt with the Overseer’s salary, who had tendered to do the work for £2OO. Within six months after he represented to the Board that he had to keep two horses, and that oats had gone up considerably in price. The Board granted him £SO for that year for forage allowance. That had been continued ever since. He had tendered to do the work for a certain sum, and the Board liberally gave him more than he contracted for. It would have been more in accord with the spirit of economy if they tried to retain the services of the two officers at a reduced salary. If the Overseer was paid his original amount and £3O taken ofi the salary of the Clerk, would not the interests of the ratepayers be better served 1 Mr Coltman was surprised to hear Mr Maslin make such a statement. Became to him (Mr Coltman) about two years ago and asked him to urge the Board to do what they were now doing. Proposed by Mr Maslin, seconded by Mr A. Sherratt pro forma— ‘ That this meeting suggests to the members of the Geraldine Hoad Board that it would be to their interests to retain the services of the two officers at reduced salaries, instead of dismissing the Clerk as proposed.’ Mr Flatmau remarked that the (Jnair- , man came to him and spoke in regard to

the more economical working of the Board, and they agreed that there should be a reduction in reference to t he clerical work. He never attended the meeting or took any part in it. The Chairman said that Mr Flatman did take part in it in acquiescing by letter. MrDeßenzy remarked that in dismissing the Clerk he was given to understand that the clerical work would not interfere with tha outdoor work. Mr 0. E. Sherratt said he was interested in the matter. When he was Overseer and Clerk to the Board, the sura of L 13,000 was spent in one year, which was not the case now. If in this case the meeting thought that a reduction in the salaries was necessary he was agreeable to take LSO instead of LBO a year, and there would be no injustice done to the Overseer to bring his salary down to the amount lie tendered for. The Chairman remarked that he had more trouble in carrying on the correspondence of the Board for the benefit of this district than in any other public body with which he bad been connected. After eight years’ experience he felt that the time had arrived when the work could be more economically carried out. All correspondence should be kept in the Road Board office, instead of which it had been kept in the Courthouse. Ha was sure the work could be done efficiently by one officer, and would instance the Mount Peel Road Board, where Mr Irvine did all the work. He had heard that a gentleman had been round the district for signatures to a petition to the Board asking that Mr Sherratt’s services be retained, and that it had been numerously signed. Where was that petition 1 It should be presentsd then and there, and laid on the table for the ratepayers to see, and then the question would in a great measure be settled. Mr C. E. Sherratt said that in reply to the Chairman he would state that only one letter had been left over in the Courthouse, and it appeared as though the Chairman had some personal feeling against him on account of the opinions he had expressed re Peckham’s road and the Orari bridge. He would say that it was not true, as was stated in the report, that the protective works at the Orari bridge had been a success. The Chairman would lea^o it to the ratepayers themselves to see that one half of one of the beams was covered with shingle which had risen at least 8 inches. Mr A. Sherratt contradicted the statemeet of the Chairman in regard to the work of the Mount Peel Board being done by one officer. He had been a contractor under that Board, and a person was appointed to look after the work in the back part of the district simply because one overseer ceuld not attend to it. Mr Irvine visited him once a month. Mr Flatman said in regard to the Orari river protective works he never believed in them, neither did their Overseer, but he must say the Chairman advocated them in good faith. The Chairman said he simply brought forward plans, thinking them desirable far the district, but, as he said at the time, he left the matter in the hands of the Board to say whether they could have them tried or not. Mr Slack remarked that the Board were unanimous in their resolution dispensing with the services of Mr Sherratt. They must not look upon it as a personal matter but for the benefit of the district. It was better to keep one good man than two bad ones. Mr C. E. Sherratt would call Mr Slack to order. Mr Slack would not say that either of the officers were bad ones. Mr Sherratt had done good service and a good officer, but although he had done good service they were not bound to keep him. He considered it would be advantageous to the district to retain the Overseer at his present salary. Mr 0. E. Sherratt said he always considered Mr Shiers was a good officer, but he should not take all the credit for the good roads now in existence. The foundation of the roads in the district was done before Mr Shiers came into the district. Mr Shiers remarked that when he first came to the district he found all the outlying districts neglected. After be had been round the district, the Chairman asked him about the roads. He replied they were in a regular mess, and it would take six years to get them into shape. It took him 15 months to complete the old contracts. Mr C. E. Sherratt said that Mr Shiers had as many thousands as ho had hundreds of pounds to perform his work. Mr Flatman thought that enough had been said on the subject, and asked the Chairman to put the resolution. After some further discussion the motion was put, seven ratepayers voting for and twelve against it. The Chairman therefore declared it lost. Mr A. Sherratt raised the question in regard to dividing the district into wards. It had been mooted before. He had been told that it was legally divided, but if so, where was the necessity of having polling booths at Woodbury and Hilton ? The Chairman said that Mr C. E. Sherratt was the Returning Officer, and the whole matter was in his bands. The Board had nothing to do with it. Mr C. E. Sherratt said he was not to blame, for he spoke to Mr Slack, in the Chairman's absence, it the same time saying he thought the one polling place (Geraldine) was sufficient. Mr Slack said lie had better consult the Chairman. He did so, and the Chairman said the polling places should be as formerly. Re suggested to him to have the polling places at Woodbury and Hilton, and he carried out the Chairman’s instructions. Mr Maslin asked why the road asked for by residents at Stragglers’ Flat had not been formed 1 The Chairman explained the action of the Government in not grunting the Board one-third of the proceeds of the sections sold there on deferred payments, and said that was the reason why the matter had been deferred. Mr Macdonald proposed, and Mr K. Brophy seconded a vote of thanks to the Chairman. The Chairman replied, at the same time proposing a vote of thanks to the two officers of the Board. The motion was seconded by Mr Maslin. The meeting then terminated.

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