GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1290, 15 January 1885, Page 2

GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

Tlio ordinary monthly meeting was held in the Bounds Office, Geraldine, on Tuesday. Members present—Messrs W. U. Slack (Chairman), 'F. R. FJatrnan, R, H. Postlethwaite, and J. Kelland, the Clerk, Mr J, Shiers, was also present. MINUTES. The minutes of lust meeting were read and confirmed. TENDERS. The following tenders were opened and considered : Contract No. 144 Shingling Pye’s Road, Rmikapuka Bush. The tenders were considered too high, being over the Overseer’s estimate, and fresh tenders were ordered to be called. Contract No. 145, Cuttings and Fords, Coppin’s Road, Beautiful Valley; M. Lawlor, £23 10s ; M. Brophy, £2O ; Jos. Webb, £2O ; VV. Coppin, £lB 10s (accepted on condition that the tenderer sign proper form of tender). Contract No. 146—Formation, Fords, etc., Geraldine Flat.—P. Burke, £6O ; M. Lawlor £59 ; Jos. Webb, £46 10s ; D. Gregan, £42 10s ; Thos. Corkery, £33 (accepted.) Contract No. 147 —Concrete culverts, Hilton Road : A. Coles, £94 ; F. Uierck, £9l 19s; Thos. Corkery, £9O; Huffey and Pizzey £79 19s (accepted) ; W. Fletcher, £75 10s, THE POUND. No tenders were received for the public pound and office of poundkeeper and ranger. A petition, signed by a large number of the ratepayers in the road district was presented, asking the- Board to retain the present poundkeeper, Mr Andrews. Mr Kelland thought that to appoint a ranger to scour the country for straying cattle would be a harsh measure, and would be likely to cause much unpleasant feeling. Mr Postlethwaite was of opinion something was necessary to be done, ns cattle now straying in the roads were doing a considerable amount of damage; and were also a source of clanger (o anyone riding or driving along the reads at night. The Chairman agreed with Mr Kelland. The most unpleasantness would be caused among small settlers living together who agreed among themselves to allow their cattle to graze on the roads. Mr Flatman said people took advantage ot the easy way in which the impounding was carried out to keep more stock than they otherwise would, and run them out on the roads. The Chairman did not think it was right, on the face of the petition, that they should do anything in the matter till the annual meeting of ratepayers. If they did anything they had better get the Clerk to piepare an agreement for Mr Andrews to sign, compelling him to carry out the Board’s instructions. If Mr Andrews refused to sign before next meeting, he should be called upon to resign. The matter was left to the Chairman, he to try and make the above arrangement. CORRESPONDENCE. The following correspondence was read and dealt with : From M. Lawlor, asking for an extension of ten days on account of bad weather, on his contract neurOrari bridge. —Granted, From Hr P. Burke, asking the Board to reconsider their decision to inflict a penalty of £lO for his contract on Cooper’s creek road. From Mr Longney, Winchester, in reference to some planking required in the roadway near his place.—The Overseer to see to it. From Mr Wigley, acknowledging the Board’.-, letter of the 4th ult. in reference to the proposed alteration in the road near the Kakalm Bush, and refusing to agree to the proposals of the Board, as lie considered it would damage his property to ihe extent of £IO9O. —Mr Kelland moved, Mr Postlethwaite second, and it was carried—“ That the Boaul regret Mr Wigley declines to give the land asked for, for Road Board purposes, at the Kakahu Bush ;• and seeing that a road made where proposed would not only be a great saving to the Board but would prove a convenience to the travelling public, Ihe Board feel it thmr duty to take immediate steps to acquire the necessary portion of land under “The Public Works Act.” From ibe same same, in reference to a letter sent him by the Board re clearing gorse off ihe roads, stating that the letter hud been mislaid. He further wanted to know mnler what Act and Clause the not ce had been given and why he had been twic- selected lo bo notified to cierr the gorse off his roads, while some of his neighbors hail not.—The Clerk was instructed to inform Mr Wigley that his name was drawn ; and that he was the only ratepayer in the district who bad neglected to comply with either notices or advertisements from the Board. From the same requesting permission to erect a gate on the road in Beautiful

Yaliey between sections 20083 and 24875. —Granted, subject to usual conditions, From Mr Taylor and others, Belfiold, asking the Board to ease terraces on the road from Taylor’s to Rangitata and to clear thistles off from Taylor’s to Burke’s. —Resolved—“ That so long as the land is not fenced the surveyed road is not required.” From Mr John Jackson, Timaru, offering 50 casks of cement to the Board at 18s lOd per cask.—The Clerk was instructed to accept the offer. From Messrs White and Smithson, in reference to stopped roads sold to Messrs Allan Macdonald and L. McCormick, and stating matters pertaining to them were completed. From the Secretary to the Timaru Harbor Board, informing the Board that it will be necessary to hold an election on Monday 9th February for the purpose of electing one person to represent the Geraldine Road Board on the Harbor Board, From Mr Hamersley, in reference to Mr Wigley and the gorae question, From Mr 0. G. Bradley, asking the Board to form the road leading from Geraldine toTemuka road through Hilton as the road has been transferred to the Board. Resolved—“ That on the plans and transfer being before the Board the work will be considered.” From Mr C. G. Tripp, asking the Board to clear the track in the Waihi Go'ge, and drawing the Board’s attention to several other repairs needed on roads through his property. He also asked the Board lo form a few chains of the road between section 21482, and Donkin’sland. —The Overseer said the Waihi Gorge track had been attended to. The formation asked for to remain over till after harvest., INTERVIEWS. Mr P. Burke wailed on the Board in reference to the penalty of £lO inflicted on him last Board day for not carrying out the specifications of his contract. The infringement was for burying tussocks under the formation instead of chipping them off. Mr Burke said they had been cleared off with the exception of a few small ones. He was not always with the men on the work.—The Overseer said tho specifications were plain, and ho had made tho penalty heavy so that notice would be taken of it.—After he had withdrawn the Board agreed to remit half the penalty in consideration of the work being well done. Mr Guldan Waited on the Board and asked for an extension of time till next Board day to fiuish his shingling contract on Ashby’s Road.—As be had only just commenced the work the question of inflicting fines for non-completion was held over till next Board day. Mr McLean interviewed the Board in reference to watei overflowing on to his land.—The Overseer to see to the matter. Mr Pearpoint, Chairman of the Town Board, waited on the Board with the view of coming to some arrangement in the matter of the division of funds between the two Boards.—After the interview the following resolution was passed, on the motion of Mr Flatman, seconded by Mr Kelland—“ That £6OO, with interest on this sum to date, be paid to the Town Board, and that tho Chairman be authorised to arrange for payment of the balance of award.” overseer’s report. The following is the Overseer’s report for the month ended January 13th, 1885 : “ I have the honor to report for the information of the Board as under : “Owing to the very broken weather experienced during the past month, and the holidays, the various contracts in hand have made but slow progress. The contract time has expired from some of works, and two of them are just on the point of completion. The undermentioned have been finished during the month and passed for final payment Shingling Love's Road ; formation and shingle Hammond’s Road; shingling Clark’s Road, Geraldine Downs, and Sullivan’s Road, Opihi Downs.—l have interviewed Mr Findlay in reference to the creek diversion through his land. He is agreeable to have the creek diverted, but will not consent to haye the upper ford closed ; all fences to be made good at the Board’s cost.—The late freshes have upset tho fords at nearly the whole of the river crossings, the one on Peckham’s Road will require some large blocks of stone on the lower side of the scour board, as the embankment has forced the water into on® narrow channel, causing a heavy scour. The other crossings have all been attended to.—l am, etc., “ W. Shiers, “ Overseer to the Board." Resolved, in reference to the diversion of the creek through Mr Findlay’s land, that the work be done with Mr Patrick’s consent. In reference to Peckhani’s'crosfl'ng, the work was ordered to be don#. MISCELLANEOUS. Mr Kelland said that Mr Findlay had spoken to him about the ford on the cross road near his house. The ford required to be lowered, as the water flowed back on to his land.—The Overseer to see what was necessary (o be done. The Clerk was instructed to obtain prices for a new safe to keep The Board’s documents in. ACCOUNTS. After passing accounts to the amount of £538 5s 4d the Board adjourned.