GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1776, 14 August 1888, Page 3

GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

The usual monthly meeting of this Board was held yesterday. Present— Meßsrs.W. Postlethwaite (Chairman), P. E; Flatman, W. U. Slack, and P, McShahe. MINUTES. . The minutes of the previous meetwere read and confirmed. TENDIBS. Tenders were opened and dealt with as follows: — No tenders were received for contract No. 257, rock and shingle at footbridge near A. Reid's, Waihi Biver. No. 258 Ford and stonepicking near Button's farm, Cooper's Flat, Rangitata: Wm. Ennis, £8 ; J Lawlof, £8 (accepted). It was decided to allow the contract for Peckbam's crossing 1o stand over until the Overseer saw what damage Bad been done by the present flood. If Mr Lawlor, the lowest tenderer, was then willing to carry out the work at the price tendered, the work to be given to him, otherwise fresh tenders to be called. HJTEBYIIWS. Quite a batch of ratepayers, representing all parts of the district, waited on the Board to complain of damage done by river encroachments and insufficient drainage, etc. The, Overseer was instructed in most cases to visit the spots and see what was required* Mr Jones, Kakahu, asked for as■istance/in making a crossing over the Kakahu.river, to allow him to get to his bushr It was decided to allow £2 upon the satisfactory completion of the ] work. . ... COBBESPONDENCE. Correspondence was read and dealt with as follows: From Mr G. South, Smithfield, offering to clean the drain near his property for £1 as usual. —Accepted. From Mr A. Campbell, complaining that the pipe drain near his property was not large enough to carry the water.—The Overseer was instructed to remove the same and construct a ford in its place. Trom Mr F. Wilson Smith drawing the attention of the Board to the imJassable state of the road at the ollow opposite Mr Brisco's, owing to the water being backed up, and asking for the inconvenience to be removed. —Work to be done. A memorandum from Mr J. Sperrey, Wellington, advised the Board that the signing of a declaration (enclosed) would entitle them to receive the balance of subsidy due, —Declaration to be signed. From the Under-Secretary, Wellington, *dvising the Board that the sum of £74 9s Bd, due to them on deferred pay men* sections, had been placed to their credit at the Bank. Mr M. Lawlor, applied for an extension of time to finish his contract at Belfield, owing.to delay by wet weathery—Granted. The Geraldine County Council wrote allowing the Board to make the crossing required over the water race below Mr Button's farm, and charge the same to the Council. Beturns showing the names of in patients discharged from the Timaru hospital during the months of June and July, with amount owing ic each case, was laid upon the table, and the Board were asked to give their opinion on the several cases for the guidance of the Charitable Aid Board. The Minister for Public Works, Wellington, wrote stating that he had considered the application made by the Chairman of the Board personally while in Wellington with reference to the repairs on the Rangitata Station Boad, which it was alleged was being cut.up by the extra traffic induced by the protective works up the river. The letter itated that the Government see their/way clear to have the road repaired at the public C0Bt; oyebseeb's bepoet. The Overseer's report was read as follows:

Ibave the honor to report for the information of the Board a under : Ibe heavy rains whinh bare fallen have interfered and' preTented much progress ' being made with the works in hand. The contract time has expired on the following i Nob. 252,253,256. Floods—The heavy freshes in the rivers upset the whole of the fords, which have had to be re-eomtruoted. The crossings at Sharp's and Peckbam's road suffered, the most, and I had to close both these roads for a short time. until repairs were effected. I hare called tenders for work at Peckbam's crossing, which is in a bad state, but after this is done some further protection will be rf quired in the sbspe of a groyne, or the road .will again suffer at the next flood, as the mar has changed its course to the west side and encroached considerably on the road. I would suggest that a spar groyne filled with took be placed above the ford, and an outlet toooped out to divert the flood water. Hawke's ford—A large quantity of good shingle has accumulated at this crossing, and I would suggest that it be used to shingle Hawke's road, which requires a light coat of gravel. This would assist, to keep the river in its proper course. It is now overflowing the etatembank. Mr Allan's application—l have inspected the riverbed at the encroachment on M*r Allan's land, and find that the river could be easily diverted at this place as pointed out by Mr Allan, but this would set the river over on to Mr Greenall on the oppotite side, wno is already a sufferer by encr«icbment, ttfd would no doubt object to its being done. * The river appears t<* have a tendency to shift over to the west side, little or no damage having been done by the late floods. If willows are planted they will have to be put in on Mr Allan's V*nd, as they could not begot down in the riverbed a sufficient depth for filter, and might afterwards prove to be an obstruction bo near the road* Querm's crossing—A »p*r groyne is nl«o required at this ford to keep the flood Witrr

from washing away the shingle approach t the footbridge. As the riv«rs at the time of writing are again in heavj flood, the whole of the rirer crossings will require to be gone over agaiD as soon as the water subsides.—l am, etc., W. Shiees, Overflper. It was decided to extend the time for contract No. 252, to 18th inst., after that date the full penalty to i be enforced. It was decided to carry out the work suggested by the Overseer at the fords. BATE. Moved by Mr Flattnan, seconded by Mr IvlcShane and carried.—" That it is the intention of this Board at its next meeting to strike a rate of one half-penny in the £ on all rateable property in the Geraldiue Boad District, for the period ending 31st March, 1889, and that such rate will be due and payable fourteen days after delivery of notice." ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £193 9s, were passed for payment and the Board adjourned.