TEMUKA ROAD BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1187, 5 June 1884, Page 2

TEMUKA ROAD BOARD.

The usual monthly meeting of the above Board was held last Tuesday— Present —Meaara J. Talbot (Chairman), R. A. Barker, J. Paterson, M. Quinn, and R. Smith.

MINUTES, The minutes of the previous meeting wets read and confirmed. The minute* of the special meeting were also confirmed. The Chairman regretted he was abient from the special meeting. He understood the meeting would have been held at 2 o’clock instead of 11 o’clock. He felt thankful to the Board for re-electing him Chairman and would always try to do his duty. r«rvß t? ircpn>JTHi!vnic.

From Messrs Hawke, Bissott, snd Murray, intimating that they would hold the BoarH respon»ible for any damage done by cuttings on the north side of the Orari river. Read. From Mr Bisaett, stating that bia application wag not to cot down, but to fill in, the approach on Hawke’s road. From Mr J. Robertson and several others, also complaining of tha aam« place on the south side of the river. Mr Barker said it was of no use to cut the place on the south side down. It would be washed away again. Mr Smith said there was 12 feet of a terrace there, and to cut it down would only make it more dangerous. The Chairman si id in that case they could do nothing with i'. Mr Smith said something could be done lower down. The Overseer was ordered to report on the matter comp'ained of by Mr J. Robertson and others. The Overseer reported as regards tha north side that the work had been done in the only way practicable. To fill in the hole would not do my good as it would be washed away the first flood. The report was approved. From the Chief Surveyor stating he had no information with regard to the road from George’s Town about which the natives had complained. Mr Bolton said it was probable the road was included in the purchase made by Government when making the railway. The Overseer reported he had seen Mr Mackay, and he told him that it was probable the Government had taken it at the time the railway was made, Mr Mackay promised to look into the matter.

It was decided to write to the Public Works Department asking if when compensation was paid to the natives the ro«d referred to was included.

From the Overseer to the Geraldine Road Board enclosing particulars of tbe construction of Sharp’s bridge, and claiming half the cost. —The amount was passed for payment. From the Geraldine County Council enclosing the resolution passed re sheep bridge on the Rangitata Bridge and asking how much the Board would contribute towards it,—The clerk was authorised to reply that the Board would contribute £l5O towards it. From the Colonial Treasurer’s office, stating that the revenue from sales of had in (he village settlement of Arowhenua was net subject to the charge of one-third going to the local body, and therefore there was nothing going to the Board on that account. From Mr W. G. Aspinall, stating that he was instructed by Mr Deßenzy to say that the works done on the road near Hon. -Spencer Lytelton’s property were liable to cause damage, and that tha Board would be held responsible for any damage done. The Overseer said that he erected scour dams on the road side, which, however, could do no harm. Mr B. Smith said the dams were not so high a# the centre of tho road. They would de neither good nor harm. He ■aw it with Mr Deßenzy, who seemed satisfied. The letter was ordered to be acknowledged. From Mr Wightman 'asking that Campion’s road should be levelled. The Overseer said the matter had been attended to. From Messrs White and Smithson calling attention to the damage done to Mr Haar’s property on tho Rangitata Island, and asking that the road should t© closed. The Overseer explained that Mr Wright objected to it, and gave some other information on the subject. Mr Quinn said he owned tli© land once and sold it to Mr Page, who sold it to Mr Wright. He thought it all arose out of a grudge between Miessrs Wright and Ilaar, The best thing was not to interfere. —It was decided not to interfere in the matter.

From the Returning Officer re expanses of election.

On the motion of Mr Quinn, it decided —‘ That in future all ratepajeis’ rolls for election purposes be furnished gratis io returning officers.’ From Mr Lewis, late surveyor to the Board, asking the Board to send him the cheque for £2O 16s 8d passed at the time he left office, and refused by him. He promised that if this money were given to him he would forego hi* claim on the Board. After some further discussion it was decided not to pay the amount. POISONED WHEAT. A" letter was read from Mr Brook*, Kaiopai, stating he was prepared to supply wheat, poisoned on an improved principle at 15s for one bushel, 12a 6d if 8 bushels were taken, or 10s if 50 bushels were taken. Tha Chairman said he believed they would have to supply wheat free. Some people bought it, and their neighbors banafitted by it. After some further discussion it was decided to get 8 bushels of wheat from Mr Brooks to test its efficacy, and B bushels mor* from Mr Bolton.

overseer’s report. The Overseer’s report was then read as

follows : —_ “The contracts in hand have made good progress, and aia about finished. The drain applied for to be cleaned out by Mr Wood bead, I would recommend to be done. The creek through Parke’s land requires to be done, in order that the water from the road may get away. The culvert might be left for the present as it will have to be replaced by anew one at some future time. The raising of the road might be let next Board da)'. 1 As Messrs Brown and Parke are agreeable to pay half cost of pipes from the Winchester to the Beach road, to take the water into Parke’s creek, I would recommend the acceptance of the offer. Re Mr Bissett’s complaint about water being stopped in the ditch at Orari, I would recommend the filling up of the ditch, as it diverts the water from the creek and original course on to the road, and the ditch is quite useless being so dirty ; but on the low side of the road, it does not injure the road. The drain along the Lower Swamp road from the Upper Swamp road ..to Mr Pratley’s, requires to be cleaned out, and pipes put across the road. The road from Winchester bridge to Mr Deßenzy’s corner has been much damaged by the late floods, and to remedy this, flood-gates should be placed at the water course, three in number, and the water allowed to take the natural channels, and if the flax and shingle at the entrance of the creek were removed it would remed y the evil complained of. The scour dams complained of in Mr Deßenzy’s letter will not injure the property in any way. We will soon require some shingle, and 1 think a pit could he opened near Mrs Swinton’s sheep yards without doing an damage to any one. The roads over the .Downs from Mr Sharp’s requires to be improved, this could be Hone at a cost of £ , and if not Hone soon it will require more to do it. The diversion of the water at the Middle Swamp road will require *n expenditure of £—. Tenders should bo called for the work. The culvert at the railway crossing, Orari, is rotten. 1 would recommend that it be taken out and a ford made, which will suit bettor. The wooden culvert at Mr Young’s, late Bnsor’s, Kakahu road, has caved in. and I have had the same taken out and i ford put in, as the culvert was too small in time of flood. I have had severa drains along the roads under m dntenanca cleaned out. Mr Thomas and others havt been askad re contributing towards cost o ' cutting drain on Penny’s road, as in structed last Boa-d d«y. < There la _ i culvert on the Waitohi xoao, near Llkis a which will require to be replaced, as it i

•fine in some places. It was decided that Mr Woodhead’s drain and Mr P-oko’s drain should be done. The offer of Messrs Brown and Parke rt half cost of pipes was accepted, and it was decided that no action should be taken aa regards the matter Mr B aselt complained of. The drain; along the Lower Swamp Road waa ordered to be cleared out. With regard to that part of the report referring to the road near Mr Deßenzy’s Mr Smith reported that he ad seen Mr Harman who had promised

to write offering to pay half the cost of floodgates. Mr Harman not having yet written the matter was deferred, The shingling of the same road was ordered to be done, provided it could be got in the place indicated. The road on the Downs was deferred for the present. The diversion of the water at the Middle Swamp Road was ordered to be done by a bridge across the ditch. The suggestion re culvert at Orari was agreed to. Tenders were ordered to be called for tbe culvert at the Waitohi road near Slkis s.

TENDERS. vContract No. I—Ackroyd’s road: M. bunn, £6 3s (accepted) ; F. Molley, £lB 7s fid ;E. Counihan, £lB 10s, No. 2—Shingling footpath : M. Dunn, £1 14s fid (accepted). No. 3—Pirke’s drain : P. Broderick, £7 19s 3d (accepted) ; T. Small, £8 14s 9d ; C. Bateman, £9 5s ; T. Bourke, £lO 11s fid ; M. Flaherty, £11; W. Cox, £l4 15s ; J. Roddick, £l7 12a fid.

APPOINTMENT of OFFICE

The Board then went iu'o Committee as regards the appointment of officers, and aftar considering the question at some length passed the following resolution—- ‘ That as the funds ot the Board are very low, the. expenditure for the future will have to be on # greatly reduced scale, and with a view of re-organising the official staff and placing It on a more commercial footing, the present Overseer be informed that his services will have to be dispen*ed with, and that the Chairman be requested to give bim three month# notice in terms of his agreement.’ A notice of motion was also given ‘ That the Board at the next meeting take into consideration the advisability of calling for applications for the post of working overseer, at a salary of £l2O per annum ; also, applications for the position of clerk to tli# Board, at a salary of £3O per year.’ Mr Smith was the author of both the resolution and notice of motion. NOTICE OF MOTION, The following notice of motion was given by Mr Smith —‘ That notice bo given of the Board’s intention at its next meeting to strike a rate of a in tbe £, on the rateable value of the district. ACCOUNTS. Accounts to the amount of £206 15s were passed for payment, and the Board adjourned.