TEMUKA ROAD BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1463, 4 February 1886, Page 2

TEMUKA ROAD BOARD.

The usual monthly meeting of the Temuka Road Board took place on Tuesday last. Present—Messrs Talbot (Chairman), Quinn, Browe, Hayhurst, and Smith. The Clerk? (Mr Bolton), and the Overseer (Mr Archer) were in attendance. MINUTES. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £l7B 12s were considered and passed for payment. THE SUBSIDY. A letter was read from Mr J. Sperrey, Wellington, requesting a copy of the resolution of the Board striking the general rate for 1885-6, and stating that oo its receipt a payment of 75 per cent, of the subsidy payable under “The Local Bodies Finance Powers Act 1885” will be made. The Chairman said in reference 1i this that all the figures thought to be necessary had been sent up long before, but now they had received this application for the resolution striking the rate. That also bad been sent up, but the money had not yet come. Evidently the Government were in no hurry to pay the subsidy, CORRESPONDENCE. From Mr Owen Carr, complaining that the rails he had been authorised to place across High Street, Arowhenua, to keep the cattle from damaging property cwned by him, bad been removed half-a-dozen limes, and asking permission to put a barb wire across the road.—The Clerk stated that Mrs Carr had complained to him of the matter, and the Board resolved—“ That Mr Douglas should be informed that if there are any more complaints the Board will have the whole of , the fences across the roads in Arowhenua township removed,” From Mr Geo. Bolton, reporting the collection during the month of 1210 dozen eggs and 398 dozen birds, the cost boing £Bl6s 4d. From Mr M. Dunn, applying for an extension of time, till after harvest, for gravelling nt Milford and Kakahu.—ln reply to questions the Overseer said the work was not urgent, but it ought to have been donp before. Mr Qunn, however, had been working for the Board all the time and always did his work well.— Thp Board decided to grant the application. From Mr J, H. Baker, Commissioner of Crown Lands, Christchurch, stating that a list of Reserves mentioned In a letter from the Board on the 13th Jan. had not been sent.—The Clerk stated he had forwarded the list. From Mr Edward Cooper, stating that as he had taken his account out of his agents’ hands in future he would pay his own rates, and that as the amount was small be should like to pay, say, three years In advance; it the Board could state

the amount. —The rates alluded to were very small, and it was decided that the Clerk should reply that the Board could not consent to the rates being paid in advance, as the rates are struck every year, and the amount varies. From Mr W. C. Beswick, the Deputy Assignee, notifying the bankruptcy of Alex. Mair Allen, a ratepayer. From Mr F. W. Stubbs, Clerk Geraldine County Council, requesting the Board to furnish an estimate of the cost of tarring the decking of the Tetnuka traffic bridge, it having been mentioned to the Council that it was desirable to have it done during the summer months.—The Chairman said he might remark that the Geraldine Road Board bad applied for the decking of the Geraldine Bridge to be tarred, and he had stated that if it was necessary for one to be protected the other should be also.—Mr Brown said he had noticed that the decking of the wharf at Lyttelton was tarred, and he understood that it was coated periodically.— The Overseer said he had forwarded the estimate, THE TKMUKA BRIDGE. The Chairman reported that after considering the imtter of the Temuka Bridge the Geraldine County Council had left the matter in his hands. He had got the Council’s engineer to report on the matter. The report was then read for the information of the Board. It stated that the damage had been caused by the passing over the bridge of a traction engine, a load which, as he had before pointed out, the bridge was unable to bear. The number of planks broken were stated to be about 70.

A long discussion took place on the report. The Chairman said he thought the best thing to be done with the bridge was to take up the damaged planks, replace them, and put the wheel guards down on the decking. The Overseer explained that planking had been nailed on to the stringers several times before, and this caused the latter to split, as they were very narrow, and consequently there was nothing now to hold tin planking down. Mr Brown thought it would be throwing money away to strengthen the bridge for traction engines while they had such an excellent crossing over the river. The Chairman said traction engines could not cross if the water was more than a certain depth. His idea was that if the damaged planks were removed, the wheolguanls put down, and lines drawn, so that the drivers knew where to drive to keep over the stringers, there would be no danger. In reply to a question, the Overseer said he thought in the end it would be cheaper to put in extra girders at once. At the end of four years, when the planks began to wear a little, they would be useless as they would all break. The fact was, the timber used (kauri) vas not strong enough, Mr Quinn asked whether the Geraldine County Council could not pass a by-law prohibiting traction engines crossing.

The Chairman said the Council could pass a by-law prohibiting loads over a certain weight crossing. Mr Brown said it seemed to him that it only meant the expenditure of a little more coal, as there were two good crossings over the stream, but the Chairman said it was not only that, it might sometimes be mouths before they could cross, as the engines could not cross if the. water was over a certain depth. The Overseer bore out the Chairman’s statement, and suggested that a by-law might he passed making it prohibitory for traction engines to cross without the leave of the Board. Then they would have to come to him, and he could see that they went over the stringers, when there would be no danger, Mr Smith said it was a very good suggestion, The By-law drafted for the County Council by Messrs While and Co., Solicitors, dealing with the weights of load and engines allowed to cross the bridges was read. It provides that no traction engine shall be allowed to cross the bridges within the County of Geraldine between sunrise and sunset weighing more than 12 tons, and the load drawn by the same is limited to 2 tons. If, however, the load is separated from the engine a distance of not less than 40 feet the weight may be 12 tons. The weight of any engine crossing between the hours of sunset and sunrise is limited to 6 tons, nnd the weight of the load to 2 tons. The pace is limited to two miles per hour. Mr Quinn pointed out that while the By- ! aws allowed 12 tons to cross, the Engineer said the bridge was uot safe for more than 6 tons. The Chairman replied that they must remember that if the engine which had caused the damage had been crossed at the right time, and care had been taken to keep over the stringers, the bridge was safe for not only 6 tons but 16 tons. The engine was taken across in the night tune, whei the men could not see where they where going, and that was the reason the bridge was damaged. In reply to a question the Overseer said it was quite certain if the engines were kept over the stringers the bridge was quite safe. Mr Quinn asked if it would be much double to separate the engine from ihe combine when crossing.—The Overseer replied it would not. It was resolved—-‘That the County Council be advised that the draft B3 r -!aw would be suitable for application to the Opihi Bridge, and would advise its being passed for that bridge. In the case oj the Temuka Bridge, however, the Board recommend, in the face of the Engineer’s report upon its strength, that no weight above 6 tons be allowed to cross except special permission be obtained from the Temuka Road Boad to do so.” INTIRVIETT. Mr E. Oounihan, who was behind time with two of his contracts, then waited on the Board. It appeared that by the specifications of hjs contracts Mr agreed tq deliver a certain amount of shin'glp pep day, which was to be spread by an etor ployee of the Board. Mr Coupihap fiid not supply fie amount of shingle specific!, and thp goapd vyere pqt to th§ exppnse of employing a spreader for a much - longer period than they would had he faithfully carried out bis contract. The extra amount incurred was charged to Mr Couniban, Mr Cgunihan urged as reasons for the non-enforc. j meut of the claimn, that ho had to cart the shingle a very long distance, that he had got it carted ns quickly as ho posdbly coulH, and that the shingly

was of such good quality that the Board ware recompensed for any slight loss they might have sustained. The Overseer said the shingle was certainly good, and the measurement was also full. It was resolved—“ That half the amount of extra expense incurred through the applicant not complying with the specifications be deducted from the amount duo to him on the completion of bis contract.”—The amount deducted will be a little over £4. In the course of the discussion Mr Brown suggested that it should be arranged that the man spreading shingle should also break the large stones.The Overseer said he did not think it would be satisfactory. He had tried it, and found that little, if any, saving was effected. BOARD OF HEALTH. The following are the recommendations of the Committee ; 1. That a Local Board of Health be formed by a combination of the Temuka Road Board and the Temuka Town Board, each Board electing three of their members to form such Board. Three to form a quorum at meetings of such Board of Health. 2. That any expenditure incurred by the said Board of Health be equally shared by the electing Boards. 3. That the Board of Health appoint a Medical Officer of Health at such remuneration as may be agreed upon. The report was signed by J. Talbot (Chairman), K. F. Gray, G. J. Mason, J. T. M. Hay hurst, and Job Brovyn. The recommendation of the joint Committee of members of the Road and Town Boards on the question of taking steps with regard to the formation of a Board of Health and the appointment of a Health Officer for the district were read and considered in Committee, and they were unanimously agreed to. THE CLERKSHIP. Seven applications were received for the appointment of Clerk to the Board, and after due consideration Mr Geo. Dyson was selected as the most suitable candidate. It was arranged that Mr Bolton should continue to collect small birds and eggs till the end of the season. overseer's report. The Overseer’s report was then read as follows;

“To the Chairman Temuka Road Board. “ Sik,—l have the honor to report for the past month aa follows “ Contracts Nos. 39 and 43, shingling Boiling Down Road and Middle Swamp Road, are completed ; No. 52, forming road to George Town, is nearly done; No. 50, shingling Beattie’s Road, is completed ; No. 46, shingling Waitohi Road, is done with the exception of breaking the stones ; No. 49, shingling McNair’s Road, is nearly finished. The balance of money due on this contract is passed for payment, but as the contractor has allowed stones to be thrown off the road into the ditch and fence he is liable to be fined according to a resolution passed on June 2nd, 1885. I must ask the Board to instruct me aa to enforcing a fine, and to fix the amount thereof.—Martin Dunn has two contracts on hand yet, viz., shingling Kakahu Road, which requires about 70 yards more shingle to complete, and shingling part of White’s Road, which is not yet commenced.—With the permission of yourself, Mr Quinn, and Mr Brown, I have increased the contract price of Hppkinaon’s job at Rangitata, on the condition' that he supplies pit shingle instead of river-bed shingle. The pit shingle is well worth the extra money, viz., 4d per yard.—The cleaning of the Arowhenua Creek, let during the month, is nearly completed. The repairs to the Geraldine Road have been done, with the exception of a few loads. If a good growth of grass can be got on the sides of this road before another flood comes, I believe it will stand. There is one place where the water goes through Mr Deßenzy’s fence, that requires a scour board putting in,- -I have had the drain cleaned on White’s Road (applied for by Mr Christmas) at a cost of Is per chain. The road fronting Mr Parke’s house is at present in a good state, but during the winter months I have no doubt it is bad. Ho offers shingle from his paddock to shingle 5 or 6 chains by his house. It would probably cost per yard. There is a good clay road from the culvert near Parke’s to within a mile of Milford corner, from and there it is a metalled road to Temuka, the distance, however, is about 50 chains more th*»n by White’s Road. There are about 60 chains of the east end of White’s Read that has been formed on the north side, only about 20 chains of it are soft in wet weather. To form this road would probably cost about —per chain.—There are about 8 chains of the Main Waitohi Road, near Smart’s farm, that is unsafe on account of the sides being scoured away, leaving only 18 feet in the centre that vehicles can safely travel on.—l am now having the thistles cut on the various roads.—l am, etc., “ F. Archer, “Overseer to the Board,” With regard to contract 49, the Overseer said if Hopkinsou did not know he was liable to be fined he must have known that he was not supposed to throw the large stones in to the ditches.—Mr Brown said there were two evils in the matter : The person’s property adjoining was dajpaged. and the Board lost the benefit of part of the shingle carted. —Mr Quinn suggested that Mr Hopkinson should be requested to remove the stones and have them broken, and informed that if he does not do so the Board will have it dona at his expense,—The Overseer explained that it was the man employed by Hopkinson to break the stones who had thrown them into the ditch.—Mr Smith having pointed out the nuisance the stones were ?vhen the fences were being cut, it was decided to adopt Mr Quinn’s suggestion. • It was resolved that the road by Mr ‘ Parke’s be attended to after harvest, and the repairs to the Main Waitohi Road, near bmarts farm, were also deferred till softer harvest; . THE DAYMEN. The Overseer requested instructions re the rale of pay of the daymen during j^ryest. of expressed themselves in favor of granting the usual increase of wages daring harvest, 2s per day, and the Overseer was instructed to do with as little day labor as possible. This being all the business, the meeting terminated.