GERALDINE TOWN BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1306, 21 February 1885, Page 2

GERALDINE TOWN BOARD.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of this Board was held in the Board’s office, on Wednesday evening. Member# present—Messrs R. H. Pearpoint (Chairmen), J. Huffey, T. Farrell, N. Dunlop, J. Mundell, and W. S. Maslin. The Overseer and Clerk, Mr 0. E. Sherratt, was in attendance. MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. The following outward correspondence was read; — •To the Canterbury College Board of Governors, informing them of the nature of the nuisance on their reserve. To Walter Kitson, Commissioner of Crown Lands, asking that a local ranger be appointed to protect the bush reserves within the Town District. Letters to the successful tenderers for the reserves, notifying the acceptance of their tenders, were approved. Inward correspondence was read as follows : From the College Commissioners, again asking the Board to inform them as to the n dura of the nuisance complained of on their reserve.—The clerk was instructed to refer them to his reply to their first letter. From the Treasury, Wellington, informing the Board that £3 had been remitted to them, being half the amount of fine# recovered under the 14th section o By-law No 2. f From Mr J. Cunningham, lessee of the Education reserve opposite Bank of New Zealand, drawing attention to the outlet for a sewer through the section, and requesting the Board to take steps to abate the nuisance, as it was rendering part of the land unfit for grazing.—As this matter was dealt with in the Overseer’s report it was allowed to stand over till the report was read. chairman’s statement. The Chairman reported that £l7 19s had been received during the month, and that the credit balance in the bank was £352 3s Bd. He had interviewed Dr Foster in reference to drawing out the leases for the reserves, and he had agreed to do them for the charge of one guinea, and contingent expenses. —On behalf of the Town Board, he with Mr Dunlop, had waited on the Road Board at their last meeting, but he was sorry to say very little had come of the interview. After a long discussion they had come to an arrangement which left the matter in the hands of the solicitor’s of the two Board’s to settle. Mr Farrell thought there must be something wrong in the way things were going on in regard to the Road Board. If they went on much further ho thought the Board should enforce the award. The Chairman said it would put them to a lot of expense. They would have to go to the Supremo Court, IN COMMITTEE. The Board, on the motion of Mr Huffey, seconded by Mr Maslin, then went into Committee to consider matters in reference to the reserves. THE BOARD’S RANGER. The following applications were opened for the office of ranger, to impound cattle and horses in the Town District:—Geo. Ward, Geo. Fox, S. Baxter, and W. G. Sherratt. The application of Geo. Fox was put aside aa informal, as it stated a salary the applicant was willing to receive other than the amount fixed by the Board. According to the 56th section of By-law No. 1, the Board are bound to fix the salary or allowance attached to an office before they proceed to appoint any person to fill the same, and the amount must be stated in the advertisement inviting applications. Mr Dunlop moved—“ That a sub-Cotn-mittee be appointed to consider the applications, to consist of Messrs Huffey, Mundell, Farrell, the Chairman, and the mover.”—Mr Farrell seconded the motion.

Mr Maslin moved as an amendment—- “ That the applications be considered at once.” In speaking to the amendment the mover said that to appoint a subcommittee would only mean a delay of a fortnight, and then the decision of the sub-Committee would not be final. It would have to come before the Board• Mr Huffey seconded the amendment, Mr Dunlop: We had better consider the matter of the appointment of Ihe most fit person, and bring something tangible before the next meeting.

Mr Maslin ; The Board decided to call for applications at a certain price. What did they want with a sub-Committee 1 The Chairman said they should all speak their minds. He thought that W. G. tSherratt was moat fit for the post, but be would not vote for him. Rather than have things thrown in their face and in the face of their Overseer as had been done, he would rather not see the Overseer’s eon appointed ranger. Mr Mundell thought Sherratt the most eligible person, but thought they should not do their Clerk an injury by choosing him.

Mr Maslin suggested that they should draw lots and so avoid all partiality. The Chairman said their object was to show the outside public there was no partiality. Mr Dunlop ; We have sufficient knowledge of Ward’s character, but do not know whether he would make a good ranger or not. Baxter I don’t think is a suitable man. Sherratt is certainly the most suitable, but after what has been said by the Chairman I don’t think we should appoint him. Mr Maslin: If there is no suitable tender among the lot, who did they expect would trader for the office ? If the members of the Board were not qualified to decide upon such matters they had no business there.

Mr Huffey: We have called for tenders and we should choose the most suitable person. Mr Farrell: It has been said there is only one suitable person. I think Geo. Ward could impound as wall as anyone else.

The amendment, “That the appointment of ranger be considered at once,” was then put to the meeting and carried, only the mover and seconder voting for the resolution,

Mr Huffey then proposed—“ That W. G. Sherratt be appointed ranger.”—This was seconded by Mr Mundell, Mr Farrell proposed as an amendment “That Geo. Ward be appointed.” —Seconded pro forma by the Chairman. Mr Maslin proposed as a further amendment—“ That the ranger be chosen by ballot.”—Mr Dunlop seconded this.

He thought it would be the best way of showing there was no partiality. Mr Farrell withdrew hi* amendment, and Mr Huffey the original resolution, and Mr Maslin’s amendment was made the standing motion. This was put to the meeting and carried. The three names, Geo. Ward, S. Baxter, and W. G. Sherratt, were then put into a hat and one drawn, it being that of W. G. Sherratt, who was thereupon appointed. THE board’s NEW OFFICE., The following tenders were opened for the erection of an office for the Board, in either brick or stone Clinch and Lloyd, brick, £231 13a ; John Delaney, brick, £239; W. Berry, brick, £202 12s; Dierck and White, stone, £269 14s. Most of the members were in favor of having a stone building, and were sorry to see such a difference in the price. Mr Dunlop suggested they should build a public hall in connection with the Board’s office. It would be a source of revenue to the Board# The Chairman and one or two others thought that they were in their infancy yet, and it was too soon to think of such a step, Mr Maslin did not think the revenue to be derived would amount to much, even if they could legitimately spend their money in that way. Mr Dunlop thought the cost of a hall would not amount to much. Mr McKenzie, who was in attendance, in reply to the question said £l5O more would build a suitable hall. Mr Dunlop did not wish to press the question, but thought the revsnue would pay interest on the whole cost. Mr Maslin moved that Mr Berry’s tender of £202 12s for an office in brick be accepted. Mr Huffey seconded the motion. Mr Mundoll proposed that Messrs Dierck and White’s tender of £269 16s for an office in stone be accepted. Mr Farrell seconded the motion. - Mr Mundell in speaking to the amendment said it was a well-known fact that a brick building faced with stone or composite soon got out of repair. The sun and rain would deteriorate a brick building in a short time. A stone building would stand for years. He would be in favor of a stone building, which would be a credit to the town. The Chairman said he had had some experience with brick building* and he neyer knew one that would keep out the damp. His store had had several coats of oil on the sou’-west side but that did not prevent the damp from coming through and .damaging the goods. Mr Maslin said they should put up a building in keeping with the buildings in the township. There was not a stone building in Geraldine at present. They should not spend £67 more on a stone building, and the proposed building was quite large enough. In a place like Tiroaru they might go in for a larger building. He would like to see the best and cheapest, and £67 was a large difference. Strict mpervision should be exercised in regard to the class of bricks used. If they were thoroughly burnt very little damp would ever come through. Mr Farrell: Mr Maslin has not shown in any way how we are going to save money by accepting the tender for a brick building ; it will always want repairing. In reply to a member it was stated that plastering and painting the sou’-west wall would cost about £25. Mr McKenzie was asked and gave his opinion on the two classes of building. He was always in favor of stone, and instanced some buildings in Christchurch of brick with composite facings which were simply falling to pieces. He explained that Mr Berry’s tender was for a 10-inch wall and that the specifications were for a 14-inch one. 12 weeks were allowed for putting up the building, with a penalty of £5 per week over the time. The amendment was then put—“ That Messrs Dierck and White’s tender be accepted, for a stone building.” The Chairman, and Messrs Dunlop and Mundell voting for if. For the resolution —“ That Mr Barry’s tender for a brick building be accepted," Messrs Maslin, Farrell, and Huffey voted. The voting being equal, the Chairman gave his casting vote in favor of the amendment. The FOOTPATHS BETWEEN HUFFEI’S AND Mcliraith's. The Chairman suggested that as winter was coming on some shingle should be put on these footpaths. Mr Farrell did not see the advisability of putting on shingle just now. Work was plentiful and they should leave it over for a time. The Overseer said it was only required here and there, as the path? were nearly all shingle. The Chairman said that if the footpaths were not shingled they would have to be re-formed in the winter, Mr Dunlop said that in wet weather the mud on some parts of the paths was over one’s boot tops. It was finally left for the Works Commute to report upon with power to act. THE RESERVE NEAR THE WAIHI BRIDGE. As this reserve bad been let for a high rental, which, the Chairman thought, was by reason of it being fenced, he would suggest that the Finance Committee value the fence and award Mr Mundell a fair remuneration for it. Members concurred in the suggestion and it was decided that the Finance Committee should report at next meeting. RE THE COT7NTT ROADS. The Chairman said that during the time the Hon. W. Rolleston was in Geraldine he pointed out to him the unfairness of the County Council having control over the County road*, simply for the purpose of rating, and refusing to maim tain them. The County roads through the Geraldine Town District were the Main Hoad and Dr Fi*h’* Road. With the Clerk he had turned up the Counties Act Clause 210 (which was now read) stated that in the event of any dispute arising between the ratepayers and the Council the matter was to be referred to the Governor, his decision to bo final. The ratepayers in the Levels district were endeavoring to form a County, which would leave nearly all the bridges in the Geraldine County) for which rates would have to be Ipvjed to keep them in repair. A committee qhoqld be ap r pointed to collect evidence and send it to IBs Excellency and see whether the County Council, as they could rate the town, could not be made to maintain the Main road.

It was resolved on tbe motion of Mr Farrell, seconded by Mr Mundell—“That the Finance Committee work up all

matters in reference to the County road* in the district, and submit the evidence to the Governor.” It was also resolved to ask the Temuka Town Board to co-operate in the application, as it would strengthen their hands. overseer's report. The Overseer reported that applications had been received from various townspeople for between 700 and 800 yards asphalt to be laid on the footpath in front of their premises. The Overseer’s report on the work* in progress was read, and the following resolutions passed.— Be work required at Huffey’s corner : To be left to the Works Committee. One dozen more dog collars to be procured. The Clerk to bring forward at next meeting the names of those person* having unregistered dogs in their possession. Sixty-one dogs have been registered. INSPECTOR 01 NUISANCES’ REPORT. This report showed that the sanitary condition of the township is considerably improved. A long conversational discussion took place on the water-course running through the Education reserve opposite the Bank of New Zealand, and through the little park. The Clerk was instructed to reply to Mr Cunningham that nothing could be done until a reply is received from the Canterbury College Board of Governors- in reference to the drain proposed to be cut through this reserve to bring down a flow of water to sluice out the water-course. The Clerk was also instructed to give Messrs Tasker and Co. notice to keep their drain clean.

This being all the business the Board adjourned.