TEMUKA ROAD DISTRICT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1732, 3 May 1888, Page 2

TEMUKA ROAD DISTRICT.

ROAD BOARD. The monthly meeting of the Temuka Road Board was held on Tuesday last. Present —Messrs J. Talbot (Chairman), J. T. M, Hayhurst, M. Quine, C. Bisset, and J. Fraser. minutes. The miuu tea of the last meeting were read and confirmed. ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report was read and approved. ACCOUNTS. Accounts to the amount of £B3 19s 4d were passed for payment. INTERVIEW*, Mr J. Malarkey waited on the Board, and stated I fiat the drain through his land at Milford was blocked pp upd needed ceaning, as the water was doing him damage. He suggested that the water should be taken across the road and run into the mill creek, a pipe drain being already in position.—After Mr Malarkey had a ithdruwu the Board discussed th* matter

and decided to take the water across the road as suggested, but at the same time Inform Mr Malarkey that the Board reserves the right to revert to the original arrangement regarding the drain if they find it necessary. At a later stage of the meeting Mr J. J, Heap waited on the Board, and requested that they would give him some timber or pipes for the purpose of making a crossing from Cass street to some property owned by Mrs Heap, it was now, some of the tenant’s crops had been injured.—After considering the matter it was decided to refer Mr Heap to the Town Board, as it was considered that the property was in their district, Mr W. Stewart, Orari, waited on the Board in reference to closing a road running through his property. It was very little used, and he was willing to bear the expense.—After a discussion, it was decided that on Mr Stewart giving the Board an assurance that ho is willing to defray the expenses, the Board will take the preliminary steps towards closing the road as soon as he wishes. * correspondence. Correspondence was read From Mr E. Lee, requesting the Board to temovo his name from the rate roll in respect to farm at Epworth, being part of rural section 6383, and insert the name of Mr J. Meyer instead,—Mr Meyer’s consent to be obtained.

From Mr J, H, Baker, Commissioner of Crown Lands, Christchurch, in reply to a letter from the Board, stating that there was no further sum other than the £lO ss, which had been sent on the 7th March, which had accrued to the Board prior to August Ist, 1887-

[The Board then adjourned for the annual meeting, and on resuming the consideration of correspondence was resumed]. From Mr John Mee, executor for the late John Crammond, requesting the Board to insert the name of Mr D. McKinnon on tho rate roll for 398 acre?. —Mr McKinnon’s consent to be obtained.

From the Treasury, Wellington, stating that the Controller and Auditor General had been appointed Auditor for County Councils, Town District Boards, .River Boards, and all communications relating to audit should he addressed to him. From Mr 0. H. Pitman, Steward of Education Rcssrves, stating that on the 25th July the Road Board wrote askiug his Board if they would contribute to the cost of forming about 40 chains of road between reserve 1400 and Native reserve 905, and estimated the cost at per chain. On the 23rd he (Mr Pitman) wrote, stating that his Board would contribute one-third of a sum, not exceeding on the whole £6O, towards the cost of the formation of the road, On the 3rd instant he received an account from the Temuka Road Board, asking for one-third of the sum of £lO3 14s 9d, and asking the meaning of it.—The Overseer explained that the estimate per chain was for the whole road. The portion that had been dene was by far the most expensive part of the work, and therefore the amount was considerably over the estimated average cost of the work.—The Overseer was instructed to write to Mr Pitman and explain. From Mr W. Wills, Returning Officer, stating that Messrs John Eraser, J. T. M. Hnyhurst, and Michael Quinn were the only persons nominated for the vacant seats on the Board, and declaring them re-elected. overseer's report. The Overseer’s report was then read. He stated that contract No. 21 would be finished in about a week’s time; the concrete culvert on Waitohi Terrace authorised at lost meeting bad been built; twelve hundred feet of timber had been obtained for the purpose of repairing the Opihi bridge ; Mr Budd declined to erect a gateon theSrnithfieldroad, but was going to fence his frontage ; the girders in the bridge at Cooper’s creek were much decayed, and he had put up a notice staling that it was unsafe for loads exceeding four tons. One or two other works were referred to. The Board decided to defer the work referred to in Mr Logan’s applicition, also the shingling of the mam Waitohi Road, and the repairs to the bridge at Cooper’s Creek. It was decided not to enforce the penalty incurred by the contractor for No. 21 contract. TENDERS. Tenders were then opened and dealt with : Contract No. 26—-Cleaning drain, Penny’s Road—G. Latimer, la 8d per chain ; R. Latimer, Is sjd ; Thos, Gibson, Is 4d (accepted). Contract No. 27—-Cleaning about 11 chains (£ creek on J. Lowe’s land— R. Latimer, os per chain ; M. Flaherty, 4s ; G. Latimer, 3s lOd (accepted). IN COMMITTEE. The Board transacted some business in committee, after which they adjourned. ANNUAL MEETING OF RATEPA YETS. The annual meeting of ratepayers was held at noon on Tuesday last. Only six or seven ratepayersbeaides the members of the Board were present. Mr John Talbot, Chairman of the Board, occupied the chair. He read (bo advertisement calling the meeting, and briefly explained the objects of it. ANNUAL REPORT. The Chairman then read the annual report as follows ; The total receipts for the year from all sources, including credit balance brought forward from last year of £534 9s 7d, amount to £1747 9s 6d, and the expenditure for the same period is £1958 4s Bd. There is therefore a debit balance of £2lO 16s 2d. The amount of liabilities for works in progress is small, viz., about £B3, against which there are uncollected rates amounting to £125 16s Bd, and subsidies to be received of £l5O. A rate of f ths of a penny in tbs £ on the rateable value of the district was struck in the earlier part of the year, which would produce £l#74 13s 6d, of which £125 16s 8d remains uncollected.

When this rate was made members fully understood that the amount of funds that would be available for the year’s service would prove barely sufficient, even if the same amount received in the previous year by way of subsidies from the Governmoot, viz,, £SOO, were reckoned on again »s forthcoming for the present year. The result, however, has been the reduction of these subsidies by o.ne half, thus accounting for oyr present position, viz., the balance on the wrong side at the ledger. The Board has moreover been called upon for some unexpected expenditure resulting from the cutting up into smaller blocks of an educational reserve, situate near the

Orari River. The past year is the first one for many years in which the whole amount expended in road work* has had to be derived from rates, the value of the subsidies having been insufficient to meet the Hospital and Charitable Aid demands, viz., £353 Ba. Ratepayer* mu«t, moreover, not be surprised at any time to find they are cast in the payment of the cost of administering Ho*pitala and Charitable Aid solaly out of rates, the policy of diminishing the amount of the subsidies year by year seemingly being that of letting down the local governing bodies gently but surely, Hnder the prssaut aspect of affairs, the Board are unable to give any hope that the past level of low rating can be maintained, if roads and bridges are to be kept in fair condition. Seeing, however, that most of our district roads are at present in fair order, it may be hoped that by practicing the strictest economy any great increase of taxation may bo avoided. The past year has been especially notable for the number and weight of the rainfalls, causing in Several instances very heavy floods. Some amount of loss has been sustained in making good the damage done in various parts of the district, but, on the whole, ws have got off much more favourably than might have been expected.

The works carried out by contr ct during the year include miles of road formation, and 2 miles of metalling. About 1000 yards of shingle have been distributed over various roads for repairs, one concrete culvert has been built, and about miles of drains have been cleaned out. Ihe woik done by iho overseer with the assistance of day labor includes in addition to the ordinary surface repairs over the district in general, the building of one concrete culvert, the strengthening and redecking of two bridges, repairs to two other bridges, putting in several pipe culverts, repair* to river crossings after floods, etc. The roads are now frequently traversed by traction engine*, used chiefly for threshing purposes. The great weight of these machines,'twelve tons and upwards, entails on the Board great watchfulness to maintain the requisite strength in tho road bridges to carry this weight. No accident has, however, up to the present been reported us having happened, nor any bridge known to have given way under the load. The overseer, however, has lately reported that several bridges will during the ensuing year require redacting to ensure safety from aeoident.

Three members of the Board retire this year in accordance with the Road Board Act, viz., Messrs Hayharst, Quinn, and Fraser. Next year a general election of all the members will be held. / John Tahot, Chairman. The Chairman then invited discussion. Mr Wm. Ackroyd thought that the rate should go down. The rates were too high now. He did not think they should be (axed as they were taxed. There was not another place in New Zealand where the people were taxed so highly as here. As to charitable aid, he thought recipients should have to go to the Road Board, and then they could see who got it pnd who did not. He thought most of the money was thrown away. The Chairman said as a ratepayer ha wished he could believe they could do with a lower rate, but he did not believe they could, Ho thought other members would bear him out that they often hud to refuse works which were really wanted owing to want of funds. The cost of maintenance of the roads was very considerable, and the timber tops of the culverts and bridges were also costly. The rate struck by the Board was, he believed, the lowest struck by any Board in New Zealand. In the Levels district ho thought the rate was £d in the £. No money wasted. Perhaps in the early days, when money was flush, they might have been liberal, but he thought they had got full value for their money. The works carried out were as substantial as possible. With regard to charitable aid, the expenditure had been higher this year than it would be again. As to persons who require chariiable aid coming to the Board, they would have first to make the Board a Board of Guardians. They must remember that the amount spent on charitable aid was only a small portion of the amount raised for hospital and charitable aid purposes. The hospital took a large part of the funds. He thought there must always be poverty, and this must be relieved. Be knew of cases in which the recipients certainly did not get too much—where the amount allowed was not more than sufficient to keep body and soul together. No doubt some were getting charitable aid who ought not to be getting it, but he thought if better so than that a really deserving person should be refused.

Mr Moore said he was of opinion that the roads coaid be maintained with a lower rale. He believed that if he had the contract he could keep the roads in repair for little more than half what they now coat. The roads were all in good order, and there was very little to do. The Chairman said he thought it might be shown that the roads in the Waitohi district bad received their share of the rates. Mr Moore could remember when it was difficult to take a two-horse dray there. But ho did not think it right, now that the roads were good there, for them to button up their pockets and say, “ We have good roads, and nothing more is wanting." They should look nil over the district. He did sot think a rate of in the £ excessive.

In the course of a discussion which followed a ratepayer said they could not afford to pay the rates. The Chairman said that they must remember that charitable aid would haye to be provided for. Mr Palmar said be came down to see whore he could get charitable aid. There hard was a winter before themjand he must either get aid or wages from the Board. (Laughter.)

Mr Scott asked whether they could give any idea as to what money the Board would need during the year, and then they could see what rats they would need. The Chairman then read the balancesheet, which he thought might supply the information desired. The receipts amounted to £1747 9« Qd. The principal amounts were ; Balance from last year £534 9s 7d, subsidy £157 4s 6d, rates 1886-7 £42 12s Id, rates 1887-8 £948 16s 10d, Geraldine County Council (bridges) £2B lls Id, rent of pound £l9 Ba. The expenditure was £1958 4a 8 d. The principal amounts wore ; Rinds, drains, and bridges—Waitohi and Kakaha division, £134 35s9dj Milford, Winchester, acd

Orari, £3OO 12s 2d; Eangitata, £294 Is 9d; salaries and wages—Overseer, £144; Clerk, £4B 6s 8d ; surfacemen and dray, £335 10s 3d ; Clerk of Works, £4 ; Reluming Officer, £ll 4»; miscellaneous —Hospital and charitable aid, £353 8s ; timber, pipes, concrete, ole., £ll3 ; purchase of land (Mr Smith), £3O 11 s 3d; poisoned wheat, £3B Os 6d ; printing and advertising, £3O 11s 6d ; petty cash and sundries, £l4 10s lOd; law costs, £7 10s 4d ; bank overdraft, £6 6s lOd ; surveying, £6 ; rent and rates, £8 12s 6d; blacksmith’s work, £6 6a 3d , purchase of shingle, £5 4i 4d. There was thus a debit balance of £2lO 15s 2d.

In reply to a further question by Mr Scott the Chairman said before a rate was struck the Beard always made up an estimate of their probable expenditure, and struck the rate accordingly. Mr Ackroyd complained of the traction engines crossing the bridges and damaging them, while some of the owners did not pay any rates. It was stated that it coaid non be helped. The discussion then reverted again to charitable aid, and Mr Scott thought a poor rate should bo struck tbs same as at Home, He thought also they had too much law—with County Councils and Road Boards striking rates. Mr Palmer: Two would be nothing. We have ten. ‘

Mr Scott then suggested that the district should be divided into wards. The Chairman seemed to think that more money had been spent in the Waitohi district than had been collected in rates there. He did not think so. The Chairman said be believed there had.

Mr Quinn said that years ago five or six hundred pounds was nothing for a contract in the Waitohi district. In fact, one cost £I4OO. If they wanted a load of shingle at Waitohi it cost 3s or 4s, Mr Scott said that many roads had been sliinled that need not have been, and, in reply to a question for instances, mentioned the road between McMaater’a and Colo’s, and from McCabe’s to the and of the road.

Mr Quinn said if any money bad been spent it was applied for. Mr Scott again said he thought the district should be divided into wards, and then they could see what rates had been collected in each district and what money was spent there.

Mr Palmer did not believe in that. The Chairman said ha did not think it would be a benefit. Money mast be spent where it was needed. He had been 15 or 16 years representing the district, and did not tbiak Waitohi had anything to complain of. He might say that had it been his turn to retire this year be did net know that he should have come forward for re-election, as he thought Waitohi ought not to have two representatives, and was well represented by Mr Eraser, who lived in the centre of it. As he had been elected for a term, he would not like to retire before it had expired. He did not think it well for a man to be there year after year, and did not feel any anxiety to hold a public position. He had his own private aff .irs to look after. When he first came forward it was to get something for Waitohi. Mr Scott said it was entirely a mistake to think he was finding fault. If the district was divided into wards they would know where the money was raised, and where spent, but he did not mean that the money raised in each ward should be spent there. Mr Stewart said they wanted nothing doing to the roads at Waitohi, but at Orari they did. At Waitohi there was no fear of their going out of sight, as they had a good bottom. He thought when the Chairman wvs dead the people of Waitohi should give him a silver coffiu, if not a gold one.

Mr Palmer asked whether the Chairman did not think it would be wise if ho could get six days’ work for 30s instead of five days work for that sum. He thought it time that the employers and employees came to a better understanding. He thought that the employees now got more than their share of the returns. .Later on Mr Palmer said that so long as the Road and Town Boards paid 6s a day the other employers of labor would have to do so. He had now work for four or five men at 4s a day. The Board should remember that it was dealing with trust funds, hardly earned. The Chairman said the Board was aware that it was paying the extreme rate, but it should be remembeied that the men came when they were wanted. They were not regularly employed. He did not think they should go much below or above the rates paid outside for labor. A ploughman got £1 per week and found. [Mr Palmer: Fifteen shillings.] He gave his men £l. The Board did not give constant employment. In harvest time the rate had not been raised. He objected to the rate paid by the Road and Town Boards being made the standard. They did not employ enough labor for it to be so. On the railway they paid the men 6s, and he did not think they would be called skilled. In the Old Country they had seen wages at Is 6d a day. Did it benefit the producer t No. Ha held that a good man was worth good wages. The matter had not been overlooked by the Board.

In reply to Mr Moore, the Chairman said the rate this year would be struck on the old valuation.

Mr Moore thought the valuation should be lower, as the farmers only got 2s fid per bushel for their wheat. The Chairman then moved the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, which was seconded by Mr Scott, and the meeting terminated.