GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1405, 15 October 1885, Page 3

GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

The usual monthly meeting of this Board was held cm Tuesday last. Present—Messrs W, U. Slack (Chairman), W. Deßeuzy, H. R. Flatmau, J. KelUnd, and R. H. Postlethwaite. Mr W. Shiers, Clerk and Overseer, was in attendance. MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. TENDERS. The following tenders were opened and considered - Contract No. 169 : Bridge at Limekiln Flat, Kakahn—W. Fletcher, £29 (accepted). , No. 170—Fords and drains at Belfielo, Orari : W, Gaiger and Co., £22 Is 6d ; Jonas Fielield, £2O 15s; M. Luwlor (informal) ; Jas. Tetheridge, £lB ; Jas. Buckley, £lB (accepted by lot) No. 171— Building crate at Woodbury Weir : Huffey and Pizzey, £7l 10s ; Desm and Fiefield, £64 15s (accepted). CORRESPONDENCE The following correspondence was opened and considered : From Mr R. O’Neil asking the Board to dose McCool’s road c.u Runkapuka D owns . —The Overseer to ascertain the owner of the seclion to which the road leads, with a view to getting consent to the road being closed. From Mesars Robertson and Langdon, stating they were obliged to throw up their bridge contract, as they could not gel teams to cart the timber in time to finish the contract according to agreement.— Their deposit to be forfeited. From Chief Commissioner of Crown Lands, asking the Board to furnish him with a survey of the piece of laud applied for for a stone quarry at Kakahu, when he would recommend the Government to set it aside for the purpose required.— The survey to be made. From Messrs Harper and Co., Christchurch, asking what had been done by tho Board in regard to taking the land from the Opuha Estate for road purposes. —Proposed by Mr Fiat-man, seconded by Mr Deßenzy, and carried ; —“ That Mr Wigley be respectfully requested to submit to this Board the piece of land required for road leading to Duncan’s, as arranged with the members at the interview held on June 15th, 1885. From Mr M. Fitzgerald, Timaru, asking the Board for compensation for loss sustained in planting the Reserves through the trees being cut down by hares. —The Overseer to reply, and state that after Mr Fiizgerald lias been through the plantations in the spring the Board will give the question of compensation a favorable consideration. From the Steward of Education Reserves, in reply to the Board’s application for two acres of Education Reserve No, 1101, for a gravel reserve, stating that the land can only be acquired under the “ Public Works Act 1882,” with compensation to those whose rights are affected by the compulsory taking of it.— Resolved “ That the Overseer make an offer of £7 per acre and enquire what title would be given for the land.” From Messrs Hammond and Tiplady, asking for an extension of time of two weeks on their contract, having been delayed through unforseen circumstances. —Granted.

From the Property Tax Commissioner, forwarding list of lands included in substituted Valuation Roll of Crown Lands, which are not rateable for the year 1885-6. From Mr C. G. Tripp, forwarding list of numbers and acreage of his sections whiclqare partly in the Mount Peel Road District, and asking the Board to have the rate roll altered accordingly.—To be attended to by Mr Templar.

overseer's report. The Overseer's report for the month ended Oct. 13 was read as follows “ I have tiie honor to report for the information of the Board as under : Very fair progress has been made during the past monih with the various contracts in hand. The time allowed for completion has, in one or two instances, been exceedd, but the work is not very important. The undermentioned have been completed since last Board meeting, viz. : Mulvihili’s Read and Guthrie’s Road. Pleasant Valley; blues tone metal, Raukapuka.—The work at the Woodbury ford not having been finished in a satisfactory manner by the contractor, I have had to complete it with the day men. This should be charged to the contractor, and neducted from the balance in hand.—l have had piles driven, and a footway erected at the Maori Gully, Rhubarb Plat.—Belfield Bead :—I have written to one or two of the owners of sections, with a view to obtaining a piece of land for a shingle pit. Mr Watson Willie offers four acres at £6 10s per acre, the Board to securely fence off the same. The owner of the section opposite is, I am told, away in the North Island. I have therefore been unable to get a reply from him as yet.—l have made application to the Steward of Reserves, for two acres for a gravel pit on the Education Reserve near Templar’s.— Gapes’ Valley Roac.—As instructed, I forwarded a tracing to the Chief Surveyor requesting that five acres of Crown Land should be reserved as a stone quarry for road purposes,—Hammond's Road ; I have inspected the road and drain applied for by Mr R. Hammond, To do the necessary work and cut an outfall drain through Mr Davie’s property, would cost say £ —, I have written to Mr Davie requesting his permission, but have not received any reply.— Poisoned grain : During the month I have issued a large quantity of poisoned grain, and fiom reports I believe it has done good service in the destruction of small birds. —Rates : I have received on account of general rate the sum of £769 Is 7d to date. This leaves £l6O omsanding. Rates ate coming in very slowly indeed.—ln reference to the application of Mr J. D. Jones for exchange, or a lease, of shingle reserve adjoining his land, he intends to 'interview the B> ard on the subject this day.—l am. etc., “ William Shieks. “Overseer to the Board,” The following resolutions were passed on the report : lie the Woodbury Weir.—lt was resolved that the balance of the contract money in hand should be forfeited. Ee Beltield road.—The matter to be deferred for the present and further enquiries to be made. Ee Hammond’s road.—Mr Davie’s consent to be obtained. INTERVIEWS. The 3on. T, H. Wigley waited on the Board and asked that a portion of the Road batween tha Opuba homestead and

Beautiful Valley be shinned. — Resolved that the Overseer report at next meeting. Mr <l. D. Jones lia<l an interview with the Board in reference to leasing the reserve adjoining his properly at Winchester. He was willing to pay 5s an acre and put up a fence if the Board would find material, or he would find material and put up a fence if the Board would give him the reserve free.—Resolved, that the Board find material, and Mr Jones to put np the fence to the satis faction of the Overseer, aud to pay £1 per year. RATES. A ballot was taken of the names of 20 persons by whom rates are due and 10 were drawn, against whom proceedings will be taken at the next Court day. The remainder will be sued on the following Court day. THE GORBB NUISANCE, The Overseer handed in a list of persons who allowed gorse to grow on tho roads adjoining their properties. The names of the following ten persons were drawn ;—Thos. Bales, S. Gould, Jas. Townsend, A. Irvine, 1). Qregau, Jas. Qregan, G. Pis key, L. Wilcox, P. O’JRaw, and A. M. Clark, Proceedings will he taken against these forthwith unless steps are taken to clean the gorse. MISCELLANEOUS. It was resolved on tho motion of Mr Flatmau seconded by Mr Postlethwaite “ That in future per cent, he deducted from all accounts amounting to £2 aud over, paid monthly by the Board.” A motion, of which Mr Keliand was the mover, and Mr Deßeuzy the seconder, to tho effect that tenders be called (to be in by next Board day) for a simple kind of footbridge over the Kakahu river at Toomey’a was put to the meeting and lost. It was resolved to pay the same price as last year tor small birds’ eggs and young birds. It was decided to meet on tho first Tuesday in November (the 3rd day of the month). ACCOUNTS. Accounts to the amount of £487 i 4« 5d were passed for payment and the meeting terminated,