TEMUKA ROAD BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1506, 15 May 1886, Page 3

TEMUKA ROAD BOARD.

The first meeting of the newly-elected Temuka Road Board was held last Thursday, at which all the members were present. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN. The Clerk took the chair, and read a letter from the Returning Officer declaring the result of the election. The Clerk then said the first business was to elect a Chairman. ■ Mr Quinn said he would propose Mr Talbot. He had guided them very satisfactorily in the past, and he had no doubt he would do so in the future. Mr Hayhurst seconded the motion and it waa carried unanimously. Mr Talbot, on taking the chair, thanked the members for having elected him. • He was pleased to see so many old members about him, and very glad that Mr Canavan was elected to represent an outlying district. They had got on well in the past, but he considered that it was due more to the members than to any ability of his own, RETIRING MEMBERS. The Chairman said it would be necessary according to the Act to decide now which two members of the Board would have to retire next year; this could be decided by drawing Jots. All the names of the members were then written on pieces of paper, and put -into a hat, and the names of Messrs Paterson and Talbot were drawn. Messrs Paterson and Talbot will therefore have to seek re-election next year. MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. overseer’s salary. Tho Board then considered the question of increasing the Overseer’s salary as recommended by the previous Board, and it was unanimously agreed to increase Mr Archer’s salary from £l2O to £144 a year. AROWHENUA TOWN BOARD. The Chairman said the next question was what they would do in the matter of the Arowhenua Town Board. The question had come before the County Council, where it was decided not to offer any objection to it provided the Temuka Road Board did not object. He saw no reason to object to it himself. ■ After some conversation on the subject it wae decided not to offer any objection to the petition to constitute the township of Arowheuua into a Town District. CHARITABLE AID. Mrs O’Shea waited on the Board and explained that what she wanted was some maintenance. She had a son in Wellington who used to support her, but he had his leg broken, and was thirteen weeks ju the hospital, and she bad bad nothing from him for a long time. She had no means of living, but she did not come to trouble anyone ao long as she could help it. If she had as much money as would take her to Wellington she believed she would do better with her son. The Chairman told her that she had come to the wrong place. She should apply to the Charitable Aid Board. The best thing she conld do was to write to the Charitable Aid Board, and they would consider her application. Mrs O’Shea then retired. WINCHESTER BRIDGE. The Chairman said he thought the best thing that could be done with regard to the above bridge was to let the Overseer report upon it, and recommend the County Council to redeck it. In reply to the Chairman the Overseer said it was in a very rotten state. It was decided that the Overseer be instructed to report as to the probable cost of• redecking the Winchester Bridge. FINANCIAL. Tho Chairman said they should consider the question of finance at once. Last year they struck a rate of §ths of a penny in the £ on all the rateable property in the district, and this yielded £llOO. The Valuation of the district had been since reduced by about £30,000, but still a rate of fibs of a penny in (he £ would yield them about £I6OO at least. They bad in hand about £350, about £2OO outstanding rates ; the balance ot the subsidy coming to them was £IOO, and they had £IOO to get from the County Council, making in all £1750. . Their expenditure was estimated at £I6OO for the next year, and as some of the rates could not be collected within the year the margin would be too small. However, it was probable the Local Bodies’ Powers and Finance Act would be retained, and if so they would get a subsidy of about £IOOO under it. He thought it would be better to try a rate of §ths of a penny in the £ for the present ; if they found they wanted more they could strike another rate. After some conversation it was resolved —“.That notice be given of striking a rate of §ths of a penny in the £ on all rateable property in the district.” ’ CORRESPONDENCE. Correspondence was read . From theCbief Surveyor, asking the roads to be marked on a map, giving the local names as much as possible.—The matter was left in the hands of the Surveyor. From Mr J. Murray, calling attention to the state of the main road between the ■onth bank of the Orari river and the embankment, as in wet weather it was a lagoon,—The Overseer said it was a matter that wanted attending to very badly.—lt was decided to authorise the Surveyor to do the work. SMALL BIRDS 1 NUISANCE. On this question coming up it was remarked that the best place to put poisoned grain waa on the roads. It was said that it would not poison fowls, but Mr Archer . said he knew where a‘whole lot of fowls had been poisoned. It was decided to order two sacks of poisoned wheat from Mr Brook, of Kaiapoi, also to order lOoz. of strychnine. OVERSEER'S REPORT. The Overseer’s report was read, to the effect that he had called tenders for making the cutting at the Oxford railway Bridge. He had not called tenders for shingling near Parke’s as the pit on his . .land was full of water. The expenditure for the year he estimated at £I6OO. TENDERS, Tenders were opened as follows Contract No. 61—T, Small, £6 8s ; J. Hopkinaon, £8 14s ; W. Lewis, £9 15s ; B. Counihan, £ls 10s. The tender of Mr Small was accepted. GORSE CLEARING. The Chairman said something ought to be done to compel the natives to clear the gorse off the side of the roads through the native reserve. Mr Archer also said the gorse was very bad on the land belonging to Mr W. L.

Fitzgerald, of Rangitata. He was anthon'sed to take the necessary steps to have the gorse cleared throughout the district-. ACCOUNTS. Accounts to the amount of £l7 13s 9d v\ere passed for payment. POUND PENCE. Mr John Lawson waited on the Board to ask that a fence might be built between the police paddock and the pound. The fence was at present in a very rotten slate. The surveyor was instructed to get the work done. ADJOURNMENT. The Board then adjourned.