GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1503, 8 May 1886, Page 2

GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

A special meeting of this Board, previous to the .meeting of ratepayer s was held in the Board's office on Thursday at 9.30 a.m. Present—Messrs W, U. Slack (Chairman), R, H. Postlothwait*, J. Kelland, F. R, FI at man and W. Dettenzy. MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. Correspondence was read as follows - From Mr Baxter, asking for a footbridge over Baxter's creek for the benefit of the school children. The Overseer was authorised to get the work done. From Mr Wigley, slating that he would be present at the next meeting of Road Board to support his application to erect gates across certain roads, and asking the Board to invite the objector, Mr Mcßeath, to meet him there ; also asking that the Board’s Overseer might go over the road. —MrFlatraan waa not inclined ~ to allow any gates to be placed on the roads.—Mr Kelland asked if it was in the power of the Board to grant Mr Wigley’e application in the face of Mr Mcßeath’e objection? —The Chairman read that portion of the Road Board Act of 1882 which gave the Board that power.—After some little discussion as to the advisability of taking legal advice upon 4he whole question of gates upon roads, It wse decided to refuse Mr Wigley’« application, ; unless he can satisfy the Board by legal opinion that the Board would bp in no way responsible. From Mr Tripp, complaining that the . footbridge over the creek near Mr Donkin’s was on the lower side of the ford,.. and asking that it be removed to the upper side of the ford, as any person being washed down the stream during flood time was likely to strike heavily against the bridge, as a son of his had done the previous week.—The Board considered it safer to have the bridge on the lower side of the ford, as a person being washed down had then the opportunity of catching the. wires. ■ „ , From the Clerk of the Temuke Ro»d Board acknowledging the receipt of the Board's letter re the Boundary Road, by Budd’s, and informing the Board that at the last meeting of the Temuka Road Board it had been decided that the road be opened and made passable as a bridle , track. --The Overseer stated that the. work would coji about £ —j and , it was decided to call for tenders for the work. From the Registrar-General asking the . Board to forward statistics for the year ending March 31, Clerk stated that this had been attended to. From Mr J. Sperrey, Property Tax Commissioner, advising the Board that the. Valuation Roll for the district hud been forwarded. From Mr Brooke, Kaiapoi, offering, to supply the Board with poisoned wheat at 18s per bushel, or strychnine at 6§ per ounce.— A sample of the poisoned grain was laid on the table, and the quantities of poison per bushel were also stated.. It was decided to allow the letter to stand --, over for the new Board. overseer’s report. The Overseer’s report was then read as ■ follows■ “ To the Chairman of the Geraldine Road Board. • “ Sir,— Owiug to the heavy rains, and, the short time that has elapsed, very little work has been done since the last meeting of the Board. The contractor for the concrete culvert near Patrick’s • has not yet made,a start, and, as it is DOW impossible to put down the foundation of one culvert owing to the lagoon being flooded by the late rains, 1 should advise that this contract stand over until ,tho spring of the year. The only damage done by the late freshes has been confined to the various river crossings and fords, which have all been more or less altered or scoured out, necessitating the. employment of three or four extra day men to put them in order. —Boundary road ■> through Budd’s land: The road- on the east side of the river is intersected by *' several creeks and gullies, and for several chains is subject to overflow by the river after heavy rains. The road, as far as 1 .-j can see, would be of little service for 1 dray traffic, and expensive to keep in order, but a bridle track is, I think, all that is necessary to give access to the Geraldine Road, If this were done I > would advise that it be ma le passable oh ; the east side to the Main South Road.r" Thoßoundry Road between Sharp’s and > the Hae-bae-te-moana requires shingling repairs, and also a short diversion in the riverbed at the crossing.—The Kakaho \and Main Road 'also requires repairs be-* tween the limekilns and the Opihi' station.—The Bridge near Lysaght’s : 1 have " examined the bridge, and as the old decking is about worn out, I should recommend that it be taken up and new ;, I decking laid. The bearers, so far as I can see, appear to be fairly sound, and the, old decking can he used iu constructingtwo limber wings on the lower side of the bridge ; new side rails and fencing ap-, proaoli is also required. —I would suggest that the various schoolmasters through-.. : out the district be authorised to purchase eggs and birds on behalf of the Board.— Yours, etc., • W. Shiebb. -v It was decided to defer the work neat Patrick’s till the spring. The work on the Boundry Road between Sharp’s and. the Hae-bae-te-moana waa authorised to bo done. The Overseer to report on the road near the limekilns. The repairs to the bridge near Lysughl’a were authorised to be done by day labor. It was resolved to ask the schoolmasters to comply with the ro juesf re the birds and eggs. \.. - FINANCE. ' *1 4 The balance-sheet showed a credit balance of £12,313 12s 2d. DEPUTATIONS. / Mr Wharton waited upon the Board! > with regard to his contract.—The seer stated he had not completed it, nor bad he done what work was finished in a satisfactory manner. He was a longwhile behind bis time, and had not done the work according to the specifications ;■■ j the sum of £6 odd which the Board still held was forfeited.—lt was finally decided that if the work finished within a fortnight to the satisfaction of the Overseer the money would be paid, the Overseer to only visit the works once, ACCOUNTS. Accounts to the amount of £76 18s T were passed for papraent, VOTE OF THANKS. Mr Flalman proposed a hearty vote of tbapks to Mr W. U. Slack, who-had givep the greatest satisfaction to the Board d&ring his term of office, and hoped ,h|;

would be re-elected Chairman at the forthcoming election. Mr Deßeozy seconded the,proposition, and expressed his satisfaction with the way Mr Slack acted to.the Board. Mr Postlethwaite fully .endorsed the remarks o£ the previous speakers. The Chairman thanked the Board for the vote of thanks, and the Board rose.