GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1378, 13 August 1885, Page 2

GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

The ordinary monthly meeting of this Board took place on Tuesday last. Members present —Messrs W. U. Slack (Chairman), R. H. Poatlethv/aite, W. Deßenzy, J. Kelland and F. R. Flatman. MINUTES. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. TENDERS. The Chairman reported that in accordance with the resolutions of the Board, tenders had been called for carting (lie broken metal from the reserve opposite Mundell’s on to the Orari Road, and for carting boulders, Woodbury weir. He had accepted (by lot) the tender of P. Burke at Is 2d per yard for the former work, and the tender of Thos. Corkery, £23, for the latter.—The Chairman’s action was approved. The following tenders were opened and considered: — Contract 162—Bui'ding Footbridge at Kakahu: B. Rae, £3l 17s 6d ; J. H. Dean, £2B 15s ; Best and Bennett, £25 ; Robertson and Langdon, £lB 10s (accepted). Contract No. 163 Broken metal, Raukapuka Bush—F. Dierck, 200 yards, £65 (accepted); C. Pickey, £64. Contract No. 64—Formation, Donkin’s Road, Waihi Bush: A Reid, £9O ; P. Burke, £74; Joseph Wharton, £65 10s; Hammond and Tiplady, £49 15s (accepted.) CORRESPONDENCE. The following correspondence was read and dealt with : From Mrs M. A. Cameron, Winchester, in reference to the rating of her property. From Mrs Tatam, Pleasant Valley, in reference co the same.—The Board held she was responsible for the rates. From Mr Fitzgerald, Timaru, asking the Board for compensation for the great expense he had been put to in filling up the plantations with new trees, replacing those destroyed by hares.—The Overseer was instructed to report at next meeting. From Mr Jesse Davis, Kakahu, and 16 others, petitioning the Board to shingle the road from Boutcber’s to the Kakahu Bush. —It was resolved that the Overseer report to next meeting as to whether shingle could be obtained from any of the petitioners’ properties adjoining, and to report on the quality of the limestone rock on the section of Crown land fronting this road, and to apply for a reserve of 5 acres of the same. From Messrs Scobie and Toomey, Kakahu, asking the Board to build a footbridge over the river at Toomey’s crossing. Considerable discussion took place on this application. Messrs Kelland and Deßenzy were of opinion that the bridge was wanted, but it was only for the benefit of two or three persons. It was a question whether the Boar 1 were justified in spending the amount it was estimated the bridge would cost. j

Mr Flatman thought that in cases like this, where a work was required by a few people, and not for the benefit of the general public, that they should contribute something towards the cost. The Overseer said that £4O had been spent by the Board on a bridge over this crossing which he did not agree with at the time, and which had been carried away. In his opinion a bridge would be a costly affair, as the bank against which the river runs, was only composed of sand and was continually scouring away, and therefore the bridge would often want lengthening, Mr Postlethwaite did not think it right that the Board should spend the aum estimated for the sake of two people. It was resolved that the membera of the Board and the Overseer should meet and inspect the place. From Mr Duncan, Kakahu Bush, asking permission to erect a fence and gate across the road near his place,—Granted on the usual conditions. From Mr D. Mcllraith, asking the Board to lease him the gravel reserve near Pratt’s.— Mr Mcllraith to bo informed that the reserve is required by the Board. From Mr R. Young, slating that be had applied to the County Council for a license to slaughter cattle on section 19428 at Kakahu. —The Board saw no objection to the license being granted. From Messrs Meason and Marchant, Engineers, etc., Timaru, forwarding business circular,—To be acknowledged. From the Timaru Herald Company, asking for a share of the Board’s advertising. From the Temuka Road Board, forwarding resolutions passed at their last meeting in regard to the boundary road. Mr Deßeney said be had spoken to one of the members of the Temuka Board, and it seemed they had misunderstood fhe Geraldine Board’s proposals. It was resolved that as the difference between the two ’proposals was so slight, this Board again suggest that their proposals bo carried out. From the Manager of tha Bank of New Zealand, Geraldine, forwarding fixed deposit receipt for £5700, and stating that interest accrued bad been placed to the credit of the Board. From the Manager of the Bank of New South Wales, enc’osing deposit receipts for £SOOO and £SOO respectively. From the Unde-rSocretary of the Mines Department, Wellington, stating that the Minister for Mines would be glad to receive collections of the products of the mines of the colony, to be forwarded for exhibition at the Colonial and Indian Exhibition in London next year,—Tha Overseer was instructed to write to Wellington and ascertain the quantities allowed to be sent Home, and to inform the public that any specimens sent to the Road Board Office will be forwarded. DEPUTATIONS. . Mr R. Brophy waited on the Board in reference to rates. He was charged for sections which he did not occupy.—The Overseer was instructed to attend to the same. Mr R, Rawstorn waited on the Board in reference to land taken in the formation of the road past his section at Beautiful Valley.—A letter was read from the Survey Office, stating how the road line had been altered.—The Overseer stated the road had been formed before Mr Rawstorn had purchased the section, and tha Board therefore declined to take any action in the matter. Mr R. Hammond interviewed the Board, and asked (1) that Rhubarb Flat Road be shingled ; (2) that a footbridge be put over Cox’s Creek ; (3) that a drain on the road leading to Walker’s Bush be' cleaned out; (4) that if the Board were willing he would stack the stones which he intended to cart off his paddocks on to the road side, to be broken if required.— Resolved that Rhubarb Flat Road be shingled ; two planks to be put over Cox’s Creek ; permission to be granted to stack the stones on the road side; and that the Overseer inspect the drain and see if an outlet could be got through Dawe’s land, and report to next meeting. Messrs B, Bailey, R. Taylor and A. Sherratt waited on the Board, and asked that the road leading over the down* from Taylor’s farm to Geraldine be improved ; the grades wanted easing and the road shingling. — As the cost of carting shingle cm to this road would be very grea l , the Overseer was instructed to ascertain whether shingle could be obtained from the adjoining properties, before the application could be entertained. overseer’s report. This report was read as follows : [ have the honor to report for the month ending August 11th, as nn ler : Owing to the very broken weather experienced during the month the works in hand have been considerably delayed, and one or two of the contractors have exceeded the time for the completion of their contracts. The works are not, however, important.— The river crossings have since the last fresh required considerable attention. They have been j put in good order with the exception of one or two, which will require considerable expenditure, owing to the river having changed its course.—l have arranged with Mr J. Lewis, and a contract has been let to prevent the overflow of the flood water from the Waihi on to the Main Road, Mr Lewis to pay half the cost of the work, —Poisoned Grain; As instructed, I obtained a quantity of strychnine and poisoned a few bushels of oats as an experiment; the grain has been given away to the farmers, and from all I can gather has been successful.— Rawstorn’s Section : The Chief Surveyor has forwarded a tracing which shows this road to have been laid off by the Government Surveyor, the quantity cut off being 23 perches, as reported by me last month. Geraldine Road : This road requires shingle repairs, and sides filling in where scoured out by the late flood.—Patricks Ford : To build a concrete culvert at ford, 8 feet wide with timber decking, would entail an expenditure of £—. The great coat is owing to the ford being at the angle of the road, which necessitates the culvert being of a greater length than would be otherwise necessary.—Tenders ; Two tenders for urgent works were accepted by the Chairman daring the T month. —Rates ; I have issued the whole of the notices, and have receiyed on general rate account to date the sum of £l2B 8s 4d,—Timber: The contractor for the redecking of the bridges on the Main Road having a few planks more than he required offered them to me at a reasonable rate. The Board being in want of this class of timber I accepted ~ his offer, —Pipes: A fresh supply of pipes

for culverts will be required, also a few casks of cement.—l am, etc., Wm. Skiers, Overseer to the Board. The following resolutions were passed 0n the report;— Be Geraldine Boad—The work to be done. . , Be Patrick’s Road—Planking to be used to stop the scour. Be Pipes— A supply to be obtained. The Overseer’s action re obtaining timber was approved. Mr Postlethwaite asked the Board to let him have about 30 yards of the broken metal now being carted on to the Orari Road. He was willing to pay the Board for the same.—The request was granted, ACCOUNTS. Accounts to the amount of £164; were passed for payment and the Board adjourned. _