TEMUKA ROAD BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1287, 8 January 1885, Page 3

TEMUKA ROAD BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Board took place last Tuesday. Present Messrs Talbot (Chairman), Paterson, Quinn, and Barker. # MINUTES. The minutes* of the last meeting were read and confirmed. ACCOUNTS. Accounts to the amount of £lO2 8s Id were passed for payment. INTERVIEW. Mr Inwood had an interview with (he Board in reference to encroachment of the river Waihi on a certain part of his property. Ho had foi the Lst 11 years been trying to grow willows to protect the land, but unsuccessfully, as before they could take root they were washed out. The bank of the river was very low at this part. He thought a very small outlay would now be sufficient to protect the land, and lie would be willing to bear a share ot the cost. It was pointed out that the Board had no authority to carry out works for the protection of private property adjoining rivers, and Mr Inwood then requested that the Overseer go and inspec! tiie plac<-, and if ho thought that anything could be done he (Mr Inwood) would be willing to bear the whole cost, supposing it were reasonable, if the Board would cairy out the work.— The Overseer was instructed to inspect the place and report. Mr Wareing waited on the Board and said that the Board’s drains running through his land had not sufficient outlet, owing to the mill creek being overgrown with watercress. The water was not doing any barm now but if a flood were to come the water would flow all over the land. A long discussion took place on the subject, and it was ultimately decided to refer Mr Dickenson, the owner of tiie mill, to a resolution passed on Dec. 7th, 1880, and inform him'that if he does not carry out the agreement the Board will stop the water. The following is the resolution “ That Mr Dickenson be informed that the Board hold to the right to put the water collected by Marshall’s and other drains into the Canal Reserve, bat are nevertheless willing to allow Mr Dickenson to take the water on sufferance, providing he puts in proper sluice gates to prevent flood water from getting into the mill creek and that he keep tiie mill drain clear of watercress and other obstructions, and do any other work the Board may at any time consider necessary to prevent injury to land owners in the neighborhood. Should Mr Dickenson not agree to this the Board will take steps to assert the right of dealing with the water.”

Mr Wareing offered, if the Board were willing, to lake the work of keeping certain other drains clear. It was decided that the Board’s Overseer should view the drains and report on the probable cost of (Iping the work supposing it were let by tender. Mr Wareing explained that he would not only clean out the drains but keep them clear. Mr Ilaar, of Rangitata Island, waited on the Board and made application that a certain road fronting his property, section 29155, might be closed. —The Board, after carefully considering the matter, informed Mr Haar tliat the road cnuld not be closed without the consent of adjoining owners, and advised him to try and make some agreement with his neighbors. Mr Wareing, and Mr Dickenson waited on the Board, Mr Wareing said that Mr Dickenson was under the impression that his agreement with the Board did not entail the clearing out of the creek.—Mr Dickenson said he was only bound to keep clear those drains in which he had put pipes. He had kept those clear.—At the request of the Chairman the Clerk read the resolution hearing on the matter passed by the Board on the 7th December, 1880. —Mr Dickenson said the resolution referred to tbe drains coming out of Clyne’s and Marshall's drains where he had put the pipes. Only a certain amount of water (thattaken by the pipes) could flow down as the drains themselves wero blocked up ; therefore the water could not do any harm,—ln reference to the watercress in the mill creek it was doing no damage. If a flood were to come the water would flow down the canal drain. He had large experience in water-races, and he was sure no damage would be done, and bis opinion was borne out by Mr Wills, Ho would rt* quest that the Board would send their Overseer down (he would pay the expense) and he felt sure that he would come to the same conclusion, —Mr Barker said that it would be beUcr for the Overseer to inspect the drain. If the work were necessary Mr Dickenson must do it. —Mr Dickenson said that he would not remove tbe watercress from the creek. He would rather that the Board should divert the water than clear it out. He had cleared it out three years ago at a cost of £SO and it had been of no benefit either to himself or anyone else-,—Mr Dickenson was informed that the Overseer would inspect the drain during tiie montli and report at next meeting.—Messrs Dickeuson and Wareing then withdrew.

Whafpira (a Maori) waited on the Board and applied for payment for a certain road running through tire Maori Reserve, He was informed that as soon ns ho gave a title to the road which satisfied the Board’s solicitor, Mr Espinal], the money would bo paid. Whatuira said there would be no difficulty about the title. CORRESPONDENCE. The following correspondence was read and considered From the Native Lands Office, We!= lington, in reply to a letter from the Board, giving certain information in reference to the road running through the Native Reserve to George Town. Fiora the Secretary to the Harbor Board, notifying that in accordance with the Timaru Harbor Board Act it wjll be necessary tp hqrd an election op Monday, the ‘Jib February, 1885, for the purpose of ejecting one person to represent the Temuka Road District on the Timaru Harbor Board. From Mr Geo. Bolton, collector of small birds and eggs, enc'osing a monthly statement. 36,522 eggs and 1,743 birds were collected, at a cost of £l3 17s lOd. from Messrs IJenry Hul)en, ; junr., John Keenarf, Tlios. McAteer, and Hi and C. Nic|m!son, ? requesting the Board fp open tip reitO tFt-fffßrl and 'tlm ipiu ! ft* 4 ** ~ form 'h§§ud Q , T,' u ! an m, ■».- j .oing the Spur Road,—The decichd to form the cpd joining the Spur R'&d, bqt did pot deem the qthep work applied for of sufficient pul} o ucci ssity to justify the outlay. From Mr J, G, Ruddenklau, accepting the Board’s offer re protective works near

his property, although ho did not think the amount granted sufficient. From M. A. D. Austin, Engineer, Christchurch, stating that the Government could not offer any other work to the unemployed except that on the Wainu-Kaikoura road. From Mr W. Fletcher, offering to sell or hire to the Board a horse and carl. —Not entertained. TENDERS. Tenders for No. 26 Contract, building concrete culvert at Waitohi, were opened, but the Board decided not to accept any at present. overseer’s report. “To the Chairman Temuka Road Board. “ Sir, —I have to report that as a large wooden culvert on the Waitohi and Point road lias fallen in I have invited tenders for a concrete one which will be before you for your consideration to-day. “ Finding I could not let the cleaning of the creek through Arowhenua township in sections us ordered, as only one party could work at a time, tenders were called for 113 chains of it, from Washington’s to Dyson’s bridge, and it was let to W. Cox at Is per chain. He has since completed it. “ The shingling of North Oruri road is done. 244 yards of shingle for this work I obtained from Mr Angus Macdonald’s land at per yard. This, effected a saving of —. “ The shingling Main South Road is also finished subject to me seeing it again. “The contractor for footpaths, Main South Road, has only just started the work. “ Counihnn is making slow progress with the bridge, Waitohi road. The time allowed by the specification for this work is np to day. As it is necessary some one should be constantly looking after concrete work I engaged Mr Langridgo for this purpose. “Fletcher’s contract (maintenance Waitohi and Kakahu division) is now just about completed, “1 have had most of the timber in the yard re-stacked as it is getting rotten from laying too close together. The remainder I intend to have turned over at once. “ There is a small job at the Rangitnta that requires doing at once—namely improving the creeks and part of the roadway between Robiusou’s and the Rangitata creek. With the Board’s permission I will offer this work to Mr Robinson or someone living about there to do. About £— will do what is necessary. “A few chains of tbe road next the north approach of the Opihi Bridge requires shingling. “The contractor for the approach to the bridge offered to do this for per yard. “My attention has been drawn to the state of the mill creek. I find it is overgrown with watercress in places and requires cleaning. “ The creek near Mrs Johnston's, Oran, requires to be cleaned out.— I am, etc., “ Frank Archer. “ J nnuary 6th, 1885,” The Uverseer was authorised to carry out his suggestion re improving creeks and roadway between Robinson’s and Rangitata creek. The shingling of the road next the north approach of the Opihi Bridge was authorised, the contractor for the approach to be offered the work. With regard to Counihan’s contract for building bridge Waitohi road the Overseer was instructed to draw the contractors attention to the penalties attracting to non-completion of work in the proper time. The work is causing great inconvenience. miscellaneous. The Chairman drew the attention of the Board to the new Impounding Act, and pointed out several parts in which the now differed from the old Act.—The Chairman was authorised to take any necessary steps. Mr Barker stated that there was a vacancy on the Orari Board of Conservators, and requested the Board to take the necessary steps for filling the same. The Clerk was instructed to write to the manufacturers and obtain quotations for large drain pipes. The Overseer reported on Mr Ackroyd’s application. He had gone and looked at the place when the river was in flood, and ho thought the suggestion iiiado by one of the members at last meetr in’g-.might be carried out at a small cost. —The Board authorised the Overseer to undertake the work. The Overseer reported that tbe creek near Mrs Johnston’s, Winchester, requires cleaning out, but the Board decided to let the matter stand over, TheCvprseer reported that the water on the foad between the railway crossing and Winchester could be easily drained if Mr Inwood would consent to a dnin being cut'through his property under the mill race yto.the creek;k .The matter was loft to thelOverseer to deal' with, and the Board adjoti.rned, ;