GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1466, 11 February 1886, Page 2

GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

The monthly meeting of this Board was held on Tuesday. Present—Messrs W. U. Slack (Chairman), R. H. Postlethwaite, and J. Kelland. A letter of apology waa read from Mr Deßenxy.

MINUTES.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

RANGER.

Applications for the post of Ranger were opened, and a discussion took place in regard to the appointment.. Mr Postlethwaita thought that if the Impounding Act were read in a common* sense way, it would be seen that the Road Board were bound to keep the roads clear of stock. If a person met with an acci* dent through stock on the roads (he Board wore liable for damages, and the Board would then hare to seek their remedy from the owners.

The Overseer said Mr Elatraan was in fayor of letting the appointment of a ranger stand over, and either call a public meeting to discuss the matter or leave it uatil the annual meeting.

Mr Postlethwaue considered that if they held the appointment over they would be simply shirking their duty, and trying to put the responsibility upon somebody else. The Chairman, in discussing the terms of the ranger’s appointment, said he was in favor of paying a conscientious man from the Board’s funds, rather than that anyone should only receive the driving fees as remuneration.

Mr Kelland was in favor of letting the appointment stand over either to a fuller meeting of the Board or to a public meeting. Mr Postleth waite was against this view. They were appointed to do the work of the ratepayers, and if matters were left to the ratepayers themselves nothing would bo done. The Chairman was not in favor of a public meeting to discuss matters of this kind, as they were generally “packed,” and whatever resolutions were proposed were carried. He was sorry such an important matter should have to be decided by so small a Board. As to the amount of money the Board would spend on the salary of a ranger, ir would be nothing In comparison to what they would probably have to pay in case of an accident. The stock running on the roads were certainly a source of danger to people passing, especially at night time. As the meeting was a small one, perhaps it would be better to postpone the matter. It was then resolved, after some further discussion, to defer the appointment of a ranger till next meeting of the Board.

Mr Postletfawaite dissented from the decision.

A petition, signed by D. Guthrie and GG other ratepayers, was read, dissenting from the proposal to appoint a ranger.— The Board expressed an opinion that as a proof of the absurdity of this petition tvo persons had signed petitions for and against the proposal, and the majority of tlie names on this petition wore written by the same person.

CORRESPONDENCE.

Correspondence was read and considered as follows; —

From the Wairarapa East County Council, forwarding memorandum on the subject of local government. From Mr W. Deßenzy, stating that ho had applied to the County Council for a slaughterhouse license tor section No. 7319, near Winchester, and g the consent of tho Board to the same.— Granted on condition that tho slaughterhouse is five chains distant from the road.

From the Geraldine Town Board, forwarding valuation of Board’s property in the Town District.

From Mr H. Rawstorn, Timaru, asking the Board to make his land good which had been nsed as a road on section No, 27134, at Beautiful Yalley,—To be attended to.

From the Treasury, Wellington, slating that the sum of £lB7 10s, on account of subsidy under “Local Bodies Finance and Powers Act 1885,’’ had been remitted to the credit of the account of the Board. —The Clerk to apply for the balance. From the Geraldine County Council, forwarding copies of letter and by-law in reference to traction engines and their loads crossing bridges (to be named) in the County, and asking for an expression of opinipii on the matter,—lt wpg re? solved on the motion of Mr Re}laqd (

seconded by Mr Postlethwaiie—“ That after this date the Board will not be responsible for any accident which may occur to traction engines in crossing any bridge or culvert within the district, and would warn persons travelling with such engines that there are probably bridges in the district which are not safe to carry the heavy weight.” From the General Crown Lands Office, Wellington, informing the Board that an Order in Council will be prepared, vesting the reserves applied for in the Board, excepting those belonging to tha Board situated in the Town District.

From J. Spvrrey, Property Tax Commissioner, forwarding statement of values proposed for each rateable property in the Road District.

overseer's report,

The report was read as follows ; - tf I have the honor to report for month ending 9th February ; This being the harvest month I have endeavored to have as little work in hand as posible. The whole of the daymen with the exception of one have gone away harvesting or to other work ; the roads are all in very good order, and until the weather breaks, or a flood takes place, their services will not be required.—Gates ob Roads : There aie about 40 gates and one or two slip-panels erected across the public roads throughout the whole of the district, but in no case has the Act been complied with in respect to having n notice board fixed on the gates, Mr Walker’s and Mr Tripp’s gates are properly bung and easily shut and opened. Many of the others are very badly fixed, rendering it difficult for persons to pas* through. They are, however, situated in out-of-the-way places, or on roads where there is little or no traffic—Boundary Road ; Mr Smith has applied to me to have an old timber culvert on thia road taken oat and the drain at each side deepened, and across tha swamp on tha upper side ; the old culvert to be replaced or a new one built. —Mr Shaw’s Application ; On inspection of this road 1 find it is at present in very fair order, but no doubt the track gets cut up considerably in the winter months. The distance from the cross roads to the Rangitata Bridge road is 187 chains ; to form thia 33 feet wide and make the necessary fords would coat, say £ .—Ford near Chapman’s; I have taken a few levels at this crossing, and find that to prevent the flood water running down the Geraldine road past McKenzie’s the ford at the road crossing would require deepening, widening, and ■traightening to allow the flood water to escape. Nearly the whole of the water on the Raukapnka Downs crosses the road here, and when the lagoon inside the reserve gets full it overflows a short distance inside the fence. I have obtained permission from Mr W. Budd, the tenant, to deepen the old water-course inside the fence, and as the lagoon is now dry it would be a favorable time to carry out the work, the cost would be about £ . Subsidy—The Paymaster-General has remitted £lB7 10a to the Board’a credit, being 75 per cent, on account of subsidy under the Local Bodies Finance and Powers Act. —I am, etc., “William Shier,s, “ Overseer to the Board.” The following resolutions ware passed on the report;— That notice be given to those persons who have gates not properly fixed to rectify the same. Re the Boundary road, Mr Kelland to give his opinion at the next meeting. That Mr Shaw’s application be decided at the next meeting. the ford near Chapman’s, tenders to be called for the work.

APPLICATION TOR GATB. Mr Slack applied for permission to «rect a gate across a road leading to the downs near his house. - - Application granted on usual conditions.

ACCOUNTS. Accounts to the amount of £lol 3s 6d were passed for payment and the Board adjourned, __________