GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1661, 17 November 1887, Page 4

GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

The monthly meeting of this Bor.nl was hold on Tuesday last. Present—Messrs W. Postlethwafte (Chairman), F. R. Flat man, W. Deßenzy, and W. U. Slack. MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. chairman's statement. The Chairman stated that ho had seen Mr Sealey re the land for the road at Redcliff, and that. Mr Sealey did not think the matter worth arbitrating upon. During tho month tho Waihi River had washed away the approach to the Geraldine footbridge, leaving the place dangerous. Tb. 9 spot was just about the junction of the boundary of the i\oad and Town Districts. ' He had interviewed the Chairman of the Town Board, and the clerk, Mr Shiors, had produced a plan which showed that the place was within the Town Board's district. The Chairman of the Town Board had acknowledged that the dangerous portion was within their district. Tho Road Board then declined to take any sleps in the matter. At a meeting of the Town Board held afterwards it was thought by some of the members that they could get this altered, and consequently they wrote to Wellington, lie (the Cuairman) also wrote to Wellington. He read the reply, to the effect that no application had been received as to altering the boundaries, and should such applicatioK be received no steps would be taken till the Board had received duo notics of the application. The Chairman also laid on the table the papers relating to the gazetting of tke Board's reserves as vested in them. It was decided by the Board to offer Mr Sealey the sum of £ls for two acres required for road purposes. TENDERS. The following tenders were opened and dealt with : Lease of reserve at Orari—E. Vernall, £1 (accepted). Placing rock near traffic bridge, Geraldine—J. Beckloy, £l4 10s; J. Gould, £lO 10s j D. Gregan, £9 15s ; F. Dierck, £9 ; A. Reid, £7 (accepted). OOKRESrONDENCE. The following correspondence was read and dealt with : From Messrs .Baxter Bros., requesting the Board to repair the road leading to their property, Waihi Downs, as they were about to crop it.—Tho matter was left in the hands of the Overseer to attend to. From Messrs Woodley and Inwood, requesting that the name of Mr John Woodley be substituted for that of Mr D. Inwood for section No. 389. From Mr M. Corkery, requesting the use of the Board's pile-driver, and offering the usual remuneration.—Decided to let tho same ou the usual terms, and to bo returned in good order. ' From Mr R. Tnylor, requesting the Board to repair the road leading to his farm, as the cuttings wero very siipper}'. - -The nutter was left in the hands of the Overseer to do what work was considered necessary. From the manager of the B-ruk of New South Wales, Geraldine, enclosing deposit receipt for £SOO for 12 months. From Mr J. Burnett, acknowledging receipt of Board's letter re the cartage to Rangitata traffic bridge.—Received. From Messrs Wright and Rhodes, requesting the Board eithtr to lower the road or put iu a culvert on the Winchester road between Mr John Hay's and the Hae-lme-lf-moana, as the road was blocking up the wuter. —The Overseer was instructed to inspect the place and report. Frain Mr John Baker, Commissioner of Crown Lands, Christchnrch, informing tho Board that Government could not expond more money on the drain through reserve No. 1650. From tho same, advising that resorts Noh. 1055, 1375, 1842, 2154, 2150, 2192, 2451, 2452, 2453, 2460, 2478, and 2686 had been rjaz tted as reserves for gravel pitu and a quairy. From lb.j Cleric of Geruldiue County Council, acknowledging tho Board's letter r* complaints having been lodged with regard to tho Rangitata water-race crossing the road, and slating that tho Clerk of the Works had been written to, and ths matter would bo at once attended' to. The delay was no doubt caused by the wot weather preventing the contractor from finishing his contract. From Mr T. IT. T»ylor, Orari, askicg the Board to have a drain cut on tho noitl:-west side of the road near his property ; also to ease five or six terraces between his property and the Rangitata R'ihvr.y Station, and pick tho loose stones off the road.—The Overseer was instructed to do such work aa was neces«ary. THE GEKALDINE FOOTBRIDGE. A letter was received from tho Geraldino Town Board, acknow'edging the Bourd's leltrr re the cost of repairing this bridge. The Tcwi Board were willing to p ; iy a share of the cost, provided the total cost did not o'.ceed £(H), and that substantial provision he made for the prevention of .scour at the foot of i.hocut'iiig on tho west side of tho riverbed. The Road Board feit that tiiero wns no chance of erecting a bridge and doing the other work named by the Town Board for the sum mentioned, and therefore declined lo undertake the work. CHARITABLE AID BISTKICTS. A letter was reoeivid from the C eik of i the IVmika lioac covering aresolution passed by thai Board at its njf-e'-ing held on November Ist, as follows : "That the 80-ird strongly deprecate th ■ attempt at pro3ent being mad" to separate the whole of the Wi.imaie County from the present Hospital and Chariiabio Awl District of South Canterbury, and form it into a separate district, on the ground that to al'ocate Mich a largo,and v.ilu-ible position of the district tothe support of a Hoepi'al at Waimate (which is n«t r<qured) will heavily and most unj isriy increase the burden of taxation over the remaining portion of the district. That ihe different Road and Town Boards interested, he asked to endorse tbi* resolution, a-d to write to iho Colonial Secn'iary, forwarding their endorsement of it or any other lesolution they may deem proper." The following resolution, proposed by Mr F atman and seconded by Mr Deßenzy, was passed :—" That this Board object to tho whole of the Waiu>a!e County being separated from the Soinli Ciuterbury liospital and Charitable Aid Dis.rct, but shoird any severance take place, won d resnectfnlly sugg st that the boundary of W«nnate Disii.ct come no fu<tlier n'rth than ihr Mikikihi. River. The reason of objection is that the taxation i

for hospital and charitablo aid purposes would fall harshly and unjustly on the people in this portion of the district, Copies of this resolution to be forwarded to the number for this district, also to Messrs Tumbull and Rhodes, M.H.ll.'s. INTERVIEW. Mr A. Kelman waited on the Board and requested them to take into consideration the damage done to his land by a cuttir.g mado by tbo Board some yenrs ago, whereby the water was made to run on to his land. After a conversation about tbo matter it was decided that the members should meet Mr Kelman «t the place indicated on Friday next at 2 p.m. Mr Kelman then thanked tho Board and .withdrew. overseer's report. The Overseer report was reud and dealt with as follows ; "I have the honor to report on the work douo since last meeting as under ; "The heavy freshes io the beginuing of month again upset the whole course of the river-crossings and fords, thus entailing a large amount of extra labor in putting them again in good order, which has been nearly completed. " Woodbury Weir—Owing to a large .mount of drift timber and logs coming down from the bush and lodging on the piles, a few of the bugs in the weir had tbe boulders scoured out. I think the best way of preventing this in future would be to batten over the bags with hardwood scautliDga on the top of the crates. "Contracts—DuriD? the month tbo following works have been completed and passed for final payment Ihis day : No'. 223, stacking boulders, Rangitata Station Hoad ; No. 235, formation and shingling Bennett's Road; No. 231, footbridge and fords on Findlay's Rood, iKakahu j No. 232, pile-driving and ford at Peckbam's crossing. " Gravel Reserve—l have seen Mr Grant in reference to an exchange of land for a gravel reserve. He does not see his way clear to exchange a portion of U.S. 21,000 for reserve No. 1573, but would be agreeable to exchange for a portion of U.S. 19,424 on Metcall's Bection. "Redd ff Slip—[have forwardeda rough sketch lo Mr E. P. Sealey showing quantity and situation of land required for road deviation at lledcliff, but have not received any reply. "Eggi and Birds—Lhhve made arrangements with Mr W. Coltman to purchase eggs arid birds duiiog the season, and slno advertised the places and times when be will attend. " Plantations—As instructed, I have inspected tho various reserves which are piamed with trsies, with the view of protecting them from being burnt. I find tint in nearly all the reserves the trees are too near tho fences to admit of a strip of grouuvl being ploughed between the j fences and tho trees of a sufficient width to be of any service as a prot-ctiou against Are, and, as nearly Ilia whole of tho reserves which are planted are surrounded by freehold land, which is in many case 3 cultivated, I see very little danger from Ilia outside. The principal danger is.from tlio iong grass and rubbish growing inside among tbe tree 3, which would be too costly lo clour. "Bridge near Coal Pits, Ksikihu—l have examined tins bridge, ar,d find that the pileß are let into sills and sunk into tho ground. Two of the piles are decayed, and will require to be replaced with now ones. The caps, bearers, deck, and side-rails will also require to be removed, and new timber substituted. The cost of repairs to tho old bridge will be £—. To build a new bridge with concrete abutments would cost double that amount. "Bridge at Limekiln Fiat—As directed I have prepared a sketch plan of a wire rope suspension bridge for tin's crossing with estimate of cost, which, on working out, I find does not much exceed the cost of the timber footbridges we have been in the habit of building so extensively. 1 am of opinion this style of bridge, owing to the larger extent of the waterway left free, would bo far preferable to the short-spaa pile bridges, which offer so much resistance to tho driftwood, goiae, broom, etc., which comes down the river every recurring flood, and cause so much damage by obstructing the waterway, and thus changing the courso of the Bireams. lam of opinion this would be a very suitable design for a footbridge over the VY.aihi at Geraldine in preference to renovating and extending the old foo'bridge, and 1 should strongly advise the B"ard to give it a trial at the Kakahti Raver. "Protective Works near Ornri Bridge. —Smce last meeting 15 chains of protective woiks composed of willow stakes and wire have been constructed above and below the bridge on the North Terrace, where tho river had encroached o/i the road. As there is to-lay a vr.ry lmvy Hood in the rivi-r thiß work will be very severely tested. , " Pound buildings—l should advi<e that the dwelling and shed connected U'th the pound be painted with hematite, two coats, as it is much required, " Kates —I have iv.ceived on account of general rale, Ihe sum of £O3l 12s Gd to date. Thero still remains a considerable amount outstanding.—l am, etc., "W. Shibks, . "Overseer." Bn the Woodbury Weir—The matter wa* Iflfc in the hands of (he Overseer. lie Gravil Reserve The Board declined to'xchange the land mentioned. It w-is decided to carry out the work suggested, and do the woik' ivqirrod at tiro bridge near tho Kakahu coal pits. it was decided to do the work suggested for the pound. Be the Kakahu b'idgn -The following resolution was passd upon the proposition of Mr Slack, seconded by Mr Flat mm—- " That Mr Jones be written to informing him that it has coini'under the notice of. thiN Jjiard that lie is prepared ts build a snitabb bridge across the Kakahu river for the sum of £lO f«r the' convenience of children attending-the Kakahu school, and would feo' obliged by Mr Jonos informing this B lard it' he is now .prepared to build; the bulge for that amount, an I to a't"tid ;,he next meeting of this Board with a plan. ookse on ioads. It was resolve i ih.it those persons who lvul received notice to c ear the gome off the roads and had not done so should be proceeded Hgninst in Court if not cleared before the next Hoard meeting. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £235 5s Gd were passed for paymo'it and the meeting tyruaiuatoJ, i