GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1276, 11 December 1884, Page 3

GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Board was held on Tuesday, at their office Geraldine. Present—Messrs W. U, Slack (Chairman), K. H. Postlethwaite, J. Kelland, F. R. Flatman, and IV. Deßenzy. The Overseer, Mr W. Shiers, was also present. MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. TENDERS, The following tenders were opened and considered ; Contract 142.—Building stock-bridge over the Kakahu River, near the Bush : R. Rae, £B6 ; Hulfey and Pizzey, £73 15s,— Mr Kelland said that as a bridge was being built over only one stream of the river it would be almost useless. —The Overseer said that a footpath would be made s round the bend of the river under the terrace. —In,reply to Mi Kelland as to whether a footpath could not be taken under the Public Works Act, the Chairman said it was a question on which he could not give an opinion.—Mr Kelland said it was a matter worth enquiring into. A footpath would be less expensive, and there was always danger of the floods damaging the bridge. He further said, in reply to Mr Deßenay, that if the footpath were obtained the bridge for which tenders were now called would not bo required.—Mr Flatman thought if that was the case the Board should make an effort to obtain the footway.—The Overseer read a letter he had written some time ago to Mr Wigley, owner of section 33989, through which the footway would run, asking him to grant a footway to the Board, but he replied that he would cot grant it.—The Overseer was instructed to write again to Mr Wigley on the subject. —The acceptance of the tender for the bridge was deferred, till it was seen whether a footway could not be obtained. Tbe tender of Messrs Huifey and Pizzey to be accepted at their option if the bridge is to be built. Contract 143. Shingling road near Ashby’s : Thos. Markham, £SO ; Fiefield and Cook, £39 3s (id ; Jos. Webb, £36 , D. Gregau, £35 10s ; A. Reid, £35 ; R. Burnett, £3i ; G. Piskey, £33 ; D. Guldan, £3l (accepted). CORRESPONDENCE The following correspondence was read and dealt with : From the Overseer to the Mount Peel Road Board, stating the Board would pay half the cost of the new jaws for the stone crusher if they fitted the machine. From the same, since date of former letter, stating the jaws were entirely useless for the purpose for which they were supplied. Before crushing ten tons of metal they were completely worn out. —ln reply to a member the Chairman stated that the jaws had been paid for,— It was resolved, on the motion of Mr Deßenzy, that a copy of tbe lust letter be sent to Mr Anderson, the maker, Christchurch.

From Mr A. Rosa and others, requesting; the Board to form the road between Mr Burke’s and Mr Wilcox’s, as in the present state it was unfit to drive milk carts over. —Resolved that tenders be called for forming the road.” [Mr Slack here requested leave of absence to attend a meeting of the Licensing Court, and MrFlatraan was voted to the chair.] From Mr Jos. Webb, asking for an extension of time on his contract on Sullivan’s road, near the Opihi—Resolved—“ That the extension be granted, the work to be completed by next Board day.” From Mr D. McKenzie, enclosing account for £1 Is, for valuing the Board’s timber at the request of the Arbitrator, Mr Oliiyier.—Passed for payment. From the Geraldine County Council, stating that they required the signatures of two parties to the road-closing application.—The Overseer stated the matter had been dealt with.

From Mrs Pearson. Christchurch, in reference to the road being closed through her property, and declining to give her signature.—The Overseer was instructed to further write to her on the subject.

From Messrs Matthews and Trezise, in reference to the notice sent re the gorse growing on the road adjoining their farm.—The letter to be acknowledged. Prom Messrs White and .Smithson, in reference to exchange of roads, and also stating that Reserve 1191 was taken under the Public Works Act 1876. —The Overseer to communicate with Mr White. From Mr J. Murray, Orari Station, acknowledging memo, from the Board re deepening the drains in paddocks facing Brown’s Road, and stating that nothing could be done at present. —Resolved—- “ That a copy of the letter be sent to Mr Brown.”

JFrom Mr Thomas Markham, asking the Board to take some steps with reference to the creek running through his property, the water being rendered unfit for domestic purposes through wool being scoured in it. —After some discussion the Board considered it was a private matter, and therefore they could not interfere. overseer's report. The Overseer’s report for the past month was read as follows : “ The various works in hand have made fair progress during the past month. The following have been completed and passed for payment; (1) Channel at Peckham’s Crossing ; (2) Stock-bridge at QaMao’s Creek; (3) Drains on Mee’s Road, Four Peaks.— The time has expired for the work on Sullivan’s Road, Opihi.—l have declined to pass the shingling on Love’s Road, as I find some of the large stones have been thrown off into the gorse fences at the sides of the road instead of being broken.—The contractor for the Cooper’s Creek Road has also rendered himself liable, according to the specification, to a penalty of ten pounds (£10) through not cleaning the tussocks from the line of road.—l have taken off the top of the old temporary bridge near the old sawmills to prevent accidents. There is apparently no dray traffic on this road, consequently the Board would not be justified in erecting a new bridge, the cost of which would be out of all proportion to the benefits to be obtained. X should advise that a track be made under the, terrace with footbridge over the gully, which I think will serve all purposes at present. The cost would not exceed. £—.To make the road passable, as applied for by Mr Coppin, would cost about £ —, The work consists of creek crossings and fords which might easily have been avoided when the road was laid out originally.—l have inspected the line of road applied for b} Messrs Matthews and Maxwell and find it to be a succession of swampy gullies and spurs, the road line crossing the latter at right angles. The ground is very much broken and in the distance applied for to reach section 28656, of 52 acres, (about 70 chains), 12 pipe culverts will be required. The cost for a track 20 feet wide, including material, will be £—.l would draw the attention of the Board to the necessity of living the roll revised before a rate can be levied, as owing to the severance which has taken place, a large number of names appear on the mil which ought to be struck off. There are several persons who own property in both Road and Town districts, those properties require to be separated.—l am, etc., “ William Shiers, “ Overseer to the Board.”

It was resolved—“ That the Overseer’s action in reference to the shingling on Love’s road be approved ; the contractor to put the stones on the road and break them, and that a fine of £1 be enforced.” The Overseer said he had underlined the clause in the specification of Cooper’s Creek road contract referring to the removal of tussocks off the line of road before it was formed, but the contractor had not taken notice of it. It was resolved _“ That the penalty be deducted off the contract price.” Tenders to be c-dled for the work, as suggested by the Overseer, to be done near the old sawmills. The work applied for by Mr Cooper at Beautiful Valley to be carried out also as suggested. In reference to Messrs Maxwell and Matthews’ application for s, road, the Board did not think they would be justified in expending such a large sum to benefit one individual, especially as the road would be an endless expense owing to the slippery nature of the ground. The Overseer was instructed to write and ask the Commissioner, Mr Sperrey, to have the necessary alterations made in the rate roll. TOWN BOARD DEPUTATION. After the luncheon adjournment, all the members being present, u deputation from the Town Board, consisting of Messrs Pearpoiut, Dunlop and Maslin, waited upon the Board to come to a settlement re the late award between the two Boards.

Mr Pearpoiut said they were willing' to accept the amount of the award, £1753 18s Gd with interest at G per cent, from the date of the proclamation of the Town District, the 19th June ; and to purchase the gravel reserve of 5 acres near Pratt s at the price settled by the arbitrator, viz., £3 10s per acre; and they would give the Board a clear receipt, Mr Flatman said Mr Pearpoint was making some mistake in tbe rate of interest mentioned.

Mr Pearpoint said he understood that was the rate the Board was getting.

The Chairman said the Road Board had decided to pay over the amount of the award, with interest from the date of the award; but that they had no power to convey the reserve to the Town Board. The reserves had not been conveyed to the

| Roar) Board and were only held in trust | for th“ Government. Mr Mislin said the reserve was only a secondary consideration. He would be unwilling to lake anything also limn the amount of interest since the date of the proclamation. Mr Pearpoint said the Town Board would abide by the award in the matter of interest. The Chairman said the Arbitrator had exceeded his duty and acted illegally. Mr Pearpoint said they were willing to give the Hoad Board £l7 10s for the reserve, and take no receipt as the Board had no power to give a tide. It would be better to settle the matter amicably than to go to litigation, which would only mean a loss to both Boards. The Town Board had taken a legal opinion, and they were prepared to stand or fall by it. Mr Dunlop said he was in favor of the Road Board keeping the reserve, and allowing the Town Board to take shingle as required. In answer to the Chairman, Mr Pearpoint said they were not prepared to forego all claim to the gravel reserve. MrFlataian said it was not right for the Road Board to give everything, and the Town Board to lake it. For his part he would be willing to meet the Town Board half way : to pay the interest from < ate of the proclamation, and they forego ail claim to the reserve. Mr Maslin said there was a resolution passed at a meeting of the Town Board to have the reserve near Pratt’s, and that left no discretionary power to the deputation. The deputation then withdrew to allow the Board to consult, and on coming in again the Chairman said the Road Board had resolved to give the Town Baard interest from the date of the proclamation, and allow them to take shingle out of the reserve as required. Mr Pearpoint said they could not accept those terms, and ha would have to call a meeting of the Town B 'ard and place the matter before them. He suggested that the Road Board should give them a hill or promissory note for the money, payable when their deposits matured, so as nor to upset the arrangements with their bankers. Mr Pearpoint then brought the matter of the Pound before the Board, and the Chairman stated they intended giving the present poundkeeper notice and calling for tenders for the pound. .The deputation then withdrew. Mr Kelland said he would rather see the deposits broken up, than that they should give a promissory note. He did not think it was a proper arrangement between two public bodies. It would be better to pay the money and have done with it. Mr Postlethwaite said that by so doing they would lose 1 or 2 per cent. The following resolution was then put in writing and passed That this Board offer the Town Board the amount of the Arbitrator’s award, with interest at the rate of 6 p’er cent from the 19th June, in consideration of the Town Board abandoning any chum to the Road Board reserves. The Town Board to have the right to take shingle from reserve 1299.” It was further resolved—“ That on ihe acceptance of this offer the Chairman and two members be authorised to set tie the whole matter with the Town Board.” INTERVIEWS. Mr John Pyo interviewed the Board and asked them to shingle the road as far as his gate. In the winter time it was almost impassable. If it were done it would be of great benefit to tho*e living in that neighborhood. The.y would only be half a mile from the township, whereas now by the nearest dray road it was about three miles.—ln answer to the Chairman the Overseer said about 20 chains required to be done.—The Board resolved to ' all for tenders for the work. Mr Thflw waited on the Board and asked them to shingle about 1G chains of road near the Orari Gorge. —The Overseer to report upon it and call for tenders it necessary. THE POUND. The Overseer was instructed to giv« Mr Andrews notice that his services would no longer be required as Poundkeeper and Inspector of Nuisances, and to »all for tenders for the Pound. CORSE QUESTION, The Chairman stated that all those per sons, with the exception of Mr Wigley, upon whom notices wore served had cleared the gorse from off the roads adjoining their properties. He then read r lie clause of the Public Works Act bearing on the question of gorse, etc., growing on toads, and as it seemed rather vague ha thought it would be better to get a solicitor’s opinion before proceeding against Mr Wigley.—Mr Kelland was deputed to see Mr Hamers[ey on the matter, MISCELLANEOUS. Mr Kelland drew the attention of the Board to a gully across a private road in the Hilton tow ship. The neighbors used it as a sort of cesspool, and stables and piggeries were draining into it. There was no outlet for the water.—The Board thought that as it was on a private road they had no power to move in the matter, and requested the Overseer to mention the matter to the police.

Mr Kelland also mentioned that the crossing over the creek at Skiunei’s needed something doing to it, as it was almost impassable during the late rains. —The Overseer said that to cut away the flax on the lower side of the ford would cause the flood waters to scour the ford away.

Mr Blatman said that Mr Jos. Webb had received no answer to his application for a road near Mr Donkin’s, Woodbury. —The Board after some discussion thought the work unnecessary.

The Ovetseer was instructed to give Mrs Millard a week’s notice to vacate the Board’s cottage ; and to see what arrange.' ments cculd be made with Mr Wigley re obtaining shingle from bis section. ACCOUNTS. After passing accounts to the amount of £457 4s 6d, the Board adjourned.