TEMUKA ROAD BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1363, 9 July 1885, Page 2

TEMUKA ROAD BOARD.

The usual monthly meeting of the Temuka Road Board was held last Tuesday. Present—Messrs Talbot (Chairman), muinn, Brown, and Hayhurst. MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. ACCOUNTS. Accounts to the amount of £ll6 190 lid were passed for payment. CORRESPONDENCE. The following correspondence was read and considered

From Mr James Watt, stating that the fence between his section and one of the Board’s cottages was broken down, and offering to pay half the cost of repairing it.—The Overseer said Mr Watt wanted a paling fence put up.—lt was decided to authorise the Surveyor to put up a post and rail fence, half the cost to be borne by Mr Watt. From Messrs Milesand Co., asking the Board to sign certain papers respecting land purchased for roads, as the papers were wanted for a Court case.—The papers were ordered to be signed. From Mr W. Hawke denying the statement made by Mr Bisset at last Board meeting, that he had stopped a culver'. He had only stopped a drain through his land. The culvert had no right to be there. — The Overseer said Mr Hawke was quite right, and lie (ihe Overseer) did not remove the dam made by Mr Hawke. —No action was taken in the matter.

From the Tsmuka B nevolent Society, asking for a donation.—lt was resolved to reply that the Bnard had no power to apply funds for that purpose.

From Mr W. Sbiers, asking the namea s ' of reserve lessees in the district. — Clerk said he was making out the return' *

From Mr Taylor, re Rangitata schoo I road.—As the matter was referred to in the Overseer’s report action was delayed. From Mr S. Buxton, on behalf of ratepayers on the Rangitata Island, asking some repairs to be done to the road leading to the station, as it was in a very bad state.—The Chairman said if the request had come from any other part of the district he would not have favored it, but so iitt'e had been spent in that district that tiiey could not well refuse it.—The work was ordered to be attended to.

From the Chief Surveyor, pointing out that whenever the Board wanted to close a road they were bound by the Public Works Act to forward plans to the Chief Surveyor.

From Mr W, Kitson, Survey Office, Christchurch, in reference to the dispute with the natives about the George Town Road, and stating he could find no receipt showing the money had been paid. Ha recommended the matter to be submitted the Native Office.

CLAIM FOE DAMAGES A letter was read from Mr Malarkey, enclosing a claim for damages done to hii lands to the amount of £36 l?s 4d. The Chairman said the Board could not allow it. The Surveyor considered if there was no drain there at all the water would flow on to the land. They could not admit that they were liable to damages, as if they did there was no knowing where it wonld end.

Mr Quinn thought it strange that the claim had not been made in time.

Mr Brown thought the man was entitled to something. The Chairman would not admit that they were liable at all. Mr Quinn said the damage had been done this time last year.

In reply to Mr Quinn, the Clerk said the first they heard of it was in April last. Mr Hayhurst thought Malarkey was entitled to something. The Chairman said if they entered into any negotiations they would be admitting their liability. A resolution passed on August 5, 1879, was read as follows “ That the sura of £8 be given to Malarkey, if found on enquiry to be a reasonable charge, and also that the Clerk draw up a letter, to be signed by the person through whose land the natural channel runs, and to keep the same open perpetually.” Mr Brown said the Board was to keep the channel open. Mr Quinn said it had been closed. The Chairman said the Board did not promise to keep it open, Mr Brown said that of course if the Board asked for leave it was intended it should be kept open. The whole question was : did (he Board keep it open 1

After some further consideration it was resolved—“ That the Chairman, Mr Quinn; Mr Hayhurst, and the Overseer visit the land, and sea what damages have been sustained.” DEPUTATIONS. Mr Fraser asked for a few pipes to put in a crossing at Epworth.—The request was granted.

Mr Oldfield interviewed the Board about the “arbitration racket” so long ago.

The Chairman said he did not remember exactly what it was. The Clerk read Mr Dyson’s award on the subject. It appeared that Mr C. Bourne and Mr Dyson were appointed arbitrators, and Mr Bourne held Mr Oldfield was entitled to £2 damages and costs of arbitration while Mr Dyson held he was not, and so they disagreed. The Clerk said that the arrangement had been made that the Board should pay £1 a year and pay for a fence. The Chairman said another arrangement had been since made, by which another right, of way was found. Mr Oldfield said that was all right, but he wanted something for the expense ha had been put to. He was awarded £2 by Mr Bourne, and he had to pay Mr Bourne £3 3s for the coat of arbitration. The Board offered to give Mr Oldfield the £2 2s awarded by Mr Bourne, and £2 2s for cost of arbitration. Mr Oldfield accepted this and retired. Mr T. Parke came to see about a drain on White’s road which was choked up and likely to destroy his turnips. — lt was decided that the drain should be cleared, provided Mr Parke paid 25 per cent, of the amount.—Mr Parke asked to hire the work done at once, and the Board consented to this plan. Mr H. Mills asked for a road to give access to his land.—The Board promised him that the Overseer would see the place at once, and if it did not require a large sum tenders would be called lor it.

overseer’s report. The Overseer's report for the past month was read as follows :

“ To the Chairman Temuka Road Board,

“ Sir,— -Tenders have been called for the works authorised by the Bmrd. The contract for shingling Studholme Street has been completed. The contract for drain, Main South Road, is not yet finished, but the cheque may be passed for payment, to be held till the work is done.

“During the past month there has been a heavy flood in the Rangifata river and some of the fords of the Knpnnatiki Creek were damaged by it. They have since been repaired. 1 had also to repair the lower ford of the Rangitata, as Slengar did not get on quick enough with the work. The cost of repairing this ford I have stopped from moneys otherwise due to Stengar. “A new culvert lias hern put in at the entrance to the Railway station, Orari. About uine chains of Denmark Street lias been formed with the view of taking the surface water from the corner near Frew’s house.

“The top of a wooden culvert near the railway crossing on the road between Mr Paterson’s and the Main South Road gave way. I repaired it temporarily and as I found that the railway authorities maintain one chain of any road the line crosses, I informed them and they have since repaired it. “ If the Rangitata school road is to be formed this is a suitable time for doing it. This is the work that was let and thrown up last year. “If the planks over the creek between The Sitimps and the Orari river were fixed so that sheep could cross, it would be a great advantage to people who drive sheep that way. “ Having been authorised at a former meeting to obtain some 6-inch pipes. 1

have taken 223 feet from J. Hulleu at ■—per foot delivered in the yard. “] have been over the boundary road with the Overseer of the Geraldine Road Board, and I submit for the approval of the Board a proposal for the readjustment of division of boundary road.—l have, etc., Frank Archer. It was agreed that the creek between The Stumps and Orari should be done as recommended. It was also resolved in reference to Mr Taylor’s letter —“ That the applicant be informed that as the coat of the formation is as great as £BO, and the work is apparently not very necessary, it is decided in the meantime to only repair the worst places ; the plough furrow asked for will be acceded to.” THE BOUNDARY ROAD. The following report cn the above was read : “That as the piece of road between the Geraldine road and the railway has never been formed, any expense incurred on the said road ba borne equally by the two Boards. ‘ 1 That each Board maintain an equal length of the remainder of the road, subject to the following : “That the cost of the undermentioned works be borne equally by the two Board : (1) Re-building any bridges on the boundary road, or building any other bridge that may be required thereon ; (2) the first shingling of any part of the boundary road that has never been shingled. “Both Boards to consent to any expenditure in which they are jointly concerned.” After some discussion, it was resolved —“ That the basis of arrangement for future maintenance of the boundary road as submitted by the Overseer be approved of, and that a copy be sent to the Geraldine Road Board for their approval; and further suggesting that the Geraldine Board take the Winchester end.” TENDERS. The following tenders were opened : Contract No. 35 —Repairs, Epworth road ; M. Dunn, 9|d per chain (accepted); W. Lewis, Hd. No. 3G—Repairs, Badham’s road : W. Lewis, lOd per chain (accepted) ; M. Dunn, 10|d. THE lOCAL BODIES BILLS. The Board then considered the Local Bodies Bills now before Parliament.