GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1366, 16 July 1885, Page 3

GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

The usual monthly meeting of this Board was held in the Board’s office on Tuesday. Members present —Messrs W, U. Slack (Chairman), J. Kelland, R. H. Postlethwaite, W. Deßenzy and F. R. Flatman. MINUTES. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. TENDERS. The following tenders ware opened and considered : Contract No. 150 Maintenance of Rangitata Station road for a period of six months: —John Mulvihill, £52; S. Ellery, £4l; W. Scully, £4O ;M. Walker, £4O; P. Burke, £4O; P. Fanil, £34 ; J. Fiefield ; £3O ; W. Fletcher, £3O ; Thos. Pithie, £2B 10s (accepted) ; M. Brophy, £l3 (informal). Contract No, 157 Formation and Shingling near Scott’s, Orari: M. Lawlor, £8 ; Jas. Beckley, £7 10s ; Jos. Webb, £6 10s ; P. Burke, £5 (acaepted). Contract No. 158 Formation and Shingling Muivihill’a road : Geo. Hammond, £3B ; P. Burke, £3B ; Jos. Webb, £34 10s; M. Lawlor, £33 10s; John Mulvihill, £32; Jas. Beckley, £2B 10s (accepted); John Godwin, £2o(informal). Contract No. 159—Grubbing gorse and trimming fences —M. Quade, £lO (accepted). CORRESPONDENCE. The following correspondence was road and considered : From Mr Wigley stating that owing to his being in Wellington he had been unable to attend to the alteration of roads on the Opuha Estate, and asking the Board to hold the matter over till his return.—Granted. From Mr John Housen and others, asking the Board to place some apara on the north bank of the Orari river to protect their property.—The Overseer said those put in had done good service. There were still a few pounds in hand of the grant made by Government for the protective works. It was resolved that the request be granted. From Mr F. Brown, junr., Orari, in reference to a drain on the road adjoining his property—Resolved; “That the Overseer see the parties interested and request them to see to the work themselves.”

From Mr Tripp, asking the Board to instruct their Overseer to mike an estimate of the cost of removing the gorse growing in the riverbed in the district, with a view of laying the same before Parliament. —Members thought it was outside the Board’s duties to interfere with the question. It was resolved to acknowledge the letter and while expressing regret that the request could not be acceded to, suggesting that application bo made to the County Council. From Mr Jas. Qregan, referring to a crossing from the road into his property. —Letter acknowledged. From Mr Fussell, Land Office, Timaru, in reference to Rawstorn’s section at Eakahu. From Messrs N. Dunlop and Co., requesting the Board to remove the broken metal from reserve No. 755, leased, by them from the Town Board.—Tenders to be called for carting the metal on to the roads. From Mr W. Scott, Woodbury, offering 3s 6d per cord for stumps on the road near his place ; or, instead, to paint the footbridge in return for the same.-—Re-aolvod—“That the request be granted ; that the whole of the slumps be grubbed up before any are taken away, and half to remain until the bridge is painted. From Mr Scully, Orari, asking the Board to give him the use of part of the reserve adjoining the property lately occupied by Mr D. Guldan.—Resolved : “ That it be offered on condition that he pay a half-year’s rent in advance, and that he carry out ihe original agreement with Guldan."

From the Survey Office, in reference to the stoppage of roads. THE BOUNDARY ROAD. A letter was read from the Tetmika .Road Board, stating the resolutions passed at its last meeting in reference to the boundary road. After considering the letter, the following resolution was passed, on the motion of Messrs Flatman and Deßenzy;—“ That the Geraldine Rond Board do not approve of the proposals made re the boundary road by the Temuka Road Board, and will submit further proposals for the Temuka Road Board to consider at their next meeting.” The following are the proposals to be submitted to the Temuka Board :—“That this Board is of opinion that the whole of the cost of the boundary road should bo equally borne by the two Boards, and that a statement of cost be rendered annually for settlement by each Board ; that the Geraldine Road Board is agreeable to accept the maintenance of the Winchester end, and that any expenditure amounting to £2OO should be sanctioned by both Boards.” WAIHI BUSH ROAD. Mr Kelland moved in accordance with previous notice—“ That the resolution carried at the April meeting of the Board re the Waihi Bush Road be rescinded.” This was seconded by Mr Flatman. The Chairman did not think they could consider it unless anything fresh had cropped up in reference to the matter since the resolution was passed. Mr Kelland, speaking to his motion, said there was good reason why the road should be formed. A public meeting had declared the road was necessary, and he did not see that the Board should go beyond the opinion of the public. Apart from all this he thought the road should be formed. It would be economy to form the shorter road and abandon the other and he hoped there would no longer be a divided opinion among the Board. Mr Deßenzy said he was one of the three members of the Board who were against the road being opened, and he was still of the same opinion, but the other two members were supported by public opinion, and he considered they were the strongest party, and he considered it his duty to give way. Mr Flatman thought that if the members had seen the present road during the

late rainfall they would see that those in li favor of opening Donkin's Road were trying to make the best road. They It would he clear of weather, and ot the . creek. He considered that as public o opinion was in favor of the work they s should carry it out. e Mr Postlethwaite did not think they would get clear of the water Mr Flatman mentioned. They would still have to keep up the lower road. He had been up there and in his opinion the new road was not required and the present one would meet all requirements. Mr Kelland said lie never could see why | the present road had been made. Ho thought it was a sheer waste of money, , The Chairman said they should consider the times and prospects of taxation, and to make roads that were not necessary was doing an injustice to the ratepayers. Let the present road be made passable. It was not a public question which affected the ratepayers of the whole district. It only interested a few who wanted to get a few loads of firewood out of the bush. If they were to spend their money in making roads not required, how were they to maintain their roads in the future ? The road would not increase the value of the bush property. When the firewood was all taken out,” of what use would the road be? If it was to an agricultural district it would he different. It would not increase the value of the bush land, but as the bush was cut way the land would be depreciated in value. He was still against the work being done, and was sorry to see Mr Deßenzy wavering. He thought they had been misled by tbs public meeting. The meeting was called, and those not interested did not go. Only those few who who were interested went, and they would mislead the Board. In reply to Mr Deßenzy, Mr Flatman said the meeting had been advertised. Mr Deßenzy wanted to know why those protesting against the road did not attend the meeting. They must have been afraid to give vent to their opinions. Mr Flatman said there was never any opposition or counter petition against the road being opened. How many miles of road had been made to paddocks of grain, and those paddocks ever since had been in grass and probably might never be sown with grain again ? He referred to an instance where land had very much increased in value by being cleared. The meeting was not got up privately. It was called publicly and those against the road being opened had an opportunity of attending and objecting if they had liked. As to patching the old road, ho thought it would be a waste of money, as it was literally a swamp. MrKelland thought the members’ duties were to consider which was best means of giving access to the bush. He would not be in favor of spending the money if he did not think the road was necessary or was not the cheapest and best. They could not possibly keep roads in order which were liable to be flooded. They were continually having evidence of this. He was quite as much in favor of economy as any oiher member of the Board and he thought he was studying it when he held opinion in favor of the road being opened. The resolution was then put to the meeting ; Messrs Kelland, Flatman, and Deßenzy voted for, it and it was there- i fore carried. 1 On resuming after the luncheon ad- : journment, Mr Flatman took the chair in J the absence of Mr Slack. ! DEPUTATIONS. , The Rev. Geo. Barclay waited on the t Board on behalf of the residents at the , Rakalm Bush, and asked the Board to provide a bridge or other means of giving , the children a way of getting to school.— Mr Barclay was informed that the Board 1 are about to build bridges over the river at the places mentioned. Mr J. Lewis waited on the Board, and | asked that something should be done to stop the flood water from coming on to the road below Bell’s.—lt was resolved . that the Overseer arrange with Mr Lewis to do the work : he to charge the Board with half the cost. Mr D. Guthrie interviewed the Board respecting the load leading to his house. ] A portion of it wanted fencing, and 10 f chains shingling.—lt was resolved to do ! the work, provided that Mr Guthrie ( either fences all the road, or keeps it in j repair so long as it remains unfencod. - KATE. ' Mr Deßenzy proposed, Mr Postle- ! thwaite seconded, and it was carried— , “ That a rate of one half-penny in the £ ! on all rateable property in the road dis- < trict of Geraldine lie made and levied for < the year ending March 31st 1886, the to be due and payable on the 20th August 1885 at the Road Board office. The Overseer stated that the amount i of the rate account was £930 2s <

SMALL BIRDS NUISANCE. Mr Kelland drew the attention of the Board to the supply of poisoned wheat, required tor destroying small birds. The Overseer stated that he would supply it to any one applying for it. It was resolved that the Overseer poison some oats as an experiment, and distribute the same with a view of testing whether it would be better than wheat and if so to supply the same to farmers. LOCAL BODIES, ETC., BILL. It was resolved on the motion of Mr Postlethwaite, seconded by Mr Kelland —“That this Board desires to express its disapproval of the ' Local Bodies Finance and Powers Bill,’ brought forward by the Hon. Sir J. Vogel.” FINANCIAL. On the motion of Mr Postlethwaite, seconded by Mr Kelland, it was resolved “That the £5,700 deposit in the Bank of New Zealand falling due on July 19th be re-deposited for a period of twelve months, the interest from this deposit to be paid into the current, account with the Rank of New South Wales. The £SOOO deposit falling due on 14th inst. in the New South Wales Bank be TO deposited for a period of twelve months, the interest from this deposit to be paid into current account. Also, that a sum of £SOO be deposited in the Bank of New South Wales for a period of six months.” overseer's report. The Overseer’s report was read as follows ; “lhave the honor to report for the information of the Board as under : “ The heavy rains during the past week have upset the whole of the river crossings—in several cases the course of the streams have been very much altered. No very serious damage has been done.— At the Woodbury crossing the river has for some time been gradually carrying [ away the shingle from the lower side of

the vv;»re. The result is that the river during the bale flood worked under the timber work and scoured out a deep channel in the ford. To prevent this in future 1 should advise that an extra crate be constructed on the lower side. This would, 1 think, render the crossing permanently secure. “ Cooper's Creek.—As the reserve fence on the lower side of the bridge collects all the debris and rubbish and backs up the water so as to render the ford dangerous to cross in time of flood, 1 would suggest that the fence be run across the end of the reserve and the creek channel left free from obstruction. “ Boundary Road.—Since last meeting I have, in company with the Terauka Board’s Overseer, been over the Boundary Hoad from the Geraldine Road to the Waitohi Flat. I understand the Temuka Board will submit a proposal for the Board’s approval in reference to future maintenance. “ Orari Bridges.—l have patched up the deck, and side rails of the Orari traffic bridges, and as the decks of those bridges require constant attention I would suggest that the Council should be requested to grant us the beat of the old timber lately removed from the deck of the Geraldine bridge for this purpose. “ Rawstorn’s application.—ln reference to Mr Rawstorn’s letter claiming compensation, I have visited his section at Beautiful Valley and see no reason why any of his land should have been taken for the road, as it could have been made qnite as well and at a less cost by keeping to the original line. The corner cut off amounts to about 23 perches and in no way injures or prevents access to the section as seated by Mr Rawstora. “ Bush Road.—l hare used the whole of the broken metal on this road, and would advise that a further quantity be procured for repairs.

“Culverts.—An old timber culvert on the main Kakahu road near Findlay ’s has broken through. This will require to be replaced by a concrete culvert of larger dimensions as the old one was too small. I have had it repaired temporarily. A stone culvert on the cross road adjoining also requires taking out and a larger one of concrete substituting in its place.—l am, etc., William Skiers, Overseer to the Board. Bt Woodbury Weir—lt was resolved to make the road passable ; the extra crate to be tendered for at next meeting of (he Board. Be Cooper’s Creek—The vork to be done. Be Boundary road —This had been dealt with. Be Orari Bridges—Mr Postlethwaite to see the Council and arrange. Be Kawstorn’s Application. Further information is being obtained from the Hurvoy Office. Be Bush Road—Extra metal to be broken. Be Culverts—Work to be done. ACCOUNTS.

Accounts to the amount of £lB4 Ils 9d were passed for payment, and the Board adjourned.