GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1840, 15 January 1889, Page 3

GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

Tl is monthly meeting of this Board was held, yesterday. Present Messrs W. Pos tlethwaite (chairman), J. Kelland, P. Me' Shane, F. rt. FUtmao, and W. U. Sir ,ck. MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting W ere read and confirmed. COEBEaPONDEITCE. Correspondence was read and dealt with $ b follows From the clerk of the Temuka Road Board, enclosing copy of resolution passed by the Temuka Board with regard to the Vifver. encroachment of the Kakabu liver on the .boundary road. The Temuka Board considered that a deviation of the road at the point indicated would be pre- : fmable to erecting protection works.— After .considerable discussion the following resolution was passed on the proposition 5 of Mr Fiat,man, seconded by Mr Slack—- , That the work on the boundary road \aoar Mr Ke.’land s be done as suggested V> y the overseers of this and the Temuka Ij\iard, viz., by taking land out of the Education reserves not exceeding three acres,, and tha,t the land be taken under ihe Public Works Act.” From Mr Barnett, railway department, Christchurch, advising the board of a further supply of ten tons of iron rails forwarded by the> department. From the Geraldine County Council covering copy of resolution as follows : “ That the Geraldine Road Board be authorised to remove (at their own expense) any obstructions in the riverbeds within their boundaries, provided they do not encroach on private property.” From Mr Gick, Woodbury, asking to have Mr J. Deans name substituted for his on the rate roll for section No. 8, Waihi road.—‘Granted. From Mr J, Lewis, enclosing account for 80s for works done.—Works to be passed before payment. From the Temuka Road Board, agreeing to the necessary works being done to the bridge near Mr R. Smith’s. From Mr W. W. Campbell, informing I the board that their new dray would be at an early date. RIVER PROTECTION - WORKS. In accordance with notice given Mr Flatman moved “That the resolution passed at the meeting of the board on

November I2tb, 1888, grantiogjMr Lewis 30s for repairs to protection works on the bank of the Waihi river be rescinded.” Mr Mcbhane seconded, i Mr Slack moved and Mr Kelland seconded an amendment to the effect “ That the resolution passed on November 12th, granting Mr Lewis 30s as half payment for cleaning out drain and repairing embankment be not rescinded.” Mr Flatman explained that his reason for moving the proposition was that the board not having acquired the power to go apon these river, and deal with them with a masterly band, the work should be countermanded as it might bring the board into a deal of trouble. He did not do it as censuring the members for what they had done, but considered the board had done a great deal too much in the way of protecting ratepayers. The more they did the more people grumbled, and he was in favour of stopping it once for all. The chairman said when the drain in question was first cut it was formed for the purpose of preventing the water flowing upon the Geraldine Road, and thereby putting the board to a considerable amount of expense. This was done previous to his becomisg a member of the board, When the resolution was passed on Nov. 12th it was bis opinion that by assisting to clean this drain out they were taking steps to prevent an overflow, not, as Mr Jones imagined, to make protective works upon private lands, but keeping in order a drain that had been cut and paid for upon a previous occasion. It was with this idea ha had advocated paying Mr Lewis half the cost for doing the work rather than doing the work and charging Mr Lewis for it. The money was paidforhavingthisdrain (which was passing through Mr Lewis’ land) cleaned out rather than have the water running down the road. Mr Jones in his letter said it was for an embankment, whereas it was for nothing of the sort, but simply tor cleaning the drain and repairing the bank so as to prevent the water from going down the road. He quite agreed with Mr FJatraan that the more they did for ratepayers the less rhanks they got for it. He did not think it right for them to rescind a resolution they bad passed dealing with a work which they considered necessary for the benefit of the road, because a ratepayer chose to send them a threatening letter with regard to it. Ho did not consider he should be right to give his vote for the rescinding of the resolution.

Mr McShane said when he voted for the 30s being paid he was under the impression it was for cleaning the drain, He new found it was for repairing an embankment which caused the overflow to go to the other side of the river. The board would suffer a little by the overflow going down the road, but not to any great extent, and he did not think the board were justified in doing the work to the detriment of settlers on the other side of the river. The chairman pointed out that the money was to be expended in clearing out the drain, and the board would pay nothing in connection with the work till that was done. He also pointed out that the objection of Mr Jones was based upon a reply given to to a petition sent in by himself and others in December,lßß7, asking the Board not to enter upon private property for the purpose of making embankments on either side of the river. The board s reply had been that they had no intention of trespassing on private property for such purposes. In answer to a question Mr Shiers said the overflow going down the road bad put the board to a great deal of expense. The chairman said that the board had suffered over £IOO worth of damage when the embankment had been put up, and it would have cost them fur more if the works had not been erected. Mr McShane was of opinion that ratepayers were carrying their planting for protection works too far altogether into the river-bed, and wore encroaching upon the water course. Mr Kelland said when the matler came up be had been under the impression that the work was necessary for the protection of the road, and therefore he voted for the 30s being paid to Mr Lewis to do it. If the drain was an injury to the other side of the river it was unknown to him, and in such a case he should not be in favor of spending the money, , The resolution being looked up it was found the 30s had been voted for cleaning the drain and repairing the embankment. The chairman thought tho money having been spent in making the drain years ago the money should be spent in cleaning it now.

Mr Flatman said he was glad the thing had been ventilated. He was satisfied that many people in days gone by had obtained money from the board for similar works and spent it in a manner not intended by the board, and then when troufte came they pushed it on to the Board a shoulders. Had ho known the money was simply for cleaning out the drain he would probably have taken a different view of the subject. After some further conversation, Mr Slack’s amendment was put and carried, Mr Flatman’s motion being lost. Finally. 1 it was moved by Mr Flatman, seconded by Mr McShane, and carried—“ That no money be paid to Mr Lewis unless he clean out the drain in a proper manner, and that the present embankment be not raised.” TENDERS. Tenders ware opened and dealt with as follows No. 276—Cleaning out drain on Swamp road, Geraldine Flat: T. Kelliher, £lO ; Hill and Bell, £9 18s; K. Qaaid and Co., £9 15s ; J, P. Kalaugher, £8 15s; A. Smith, £6 19s ; O’Connor and Booker, £6 (accepted). No, 277—Cutting and purchase of cocksfoot in reserves, Woodbury district : William Scully, £1; J. MoGillicudHy, £1 5s ; P. Fault, £2 Is (accepted); W. Weaver, £4 5s (informal). No. 278—Driving iron rails at Belfield protective works : J, P. Kalaugher, £9O ; J. Kennington and Co., £B4; A. Coles,* £76; P. Billings, £75 ; W. Gaigor, £64 (accepted). overseer's report. The overseers report was read as follows; — “ The undermentioned works have been completed during the month, viz., Road near Opuha station, iron piles at protective works, Orari river, and building store and shed at the yard. “The first instalment of ten tons of iron rails for the work at Belfield has been parted on to the ground; a further

supply ia expected in a few days. I hav i called tenders for the work, duo this day, 1 in anticipation of the rails arriving. “Bridge on boundary road The timber bridge on the boundary road near the Bmithfield woolworks is unsafe for traction engines in its present state. New deck, bearers, and side rails are required, I have communicated with the Temuka Board on the matter, A new culvert ia also required and ford deepening farther along the same road. “As there is very little work requiring to be done at present i would suggest that the day men be allowed to go harvesting. “Kates—l have collected to date the sura of £659 on general rate account, — 1 am, &c., “ W. Shirks, “ Clerk and Overseer.” INTEEYIEW3, Mr W. Deßenzy waited on the board in reference to his private water race on the Swamp Bead, The board requested him to lift his sluice gate in order tnafc their drain might be cleaned and deepened. He (Mr Deßenzy) contended that the sluice was not injuring the road. The deepening of the drain would only benefit Mr MoShane and he, as a ratepayer, objected to the board’s money being spent in deepening drains for the benefit of private individuals. He refused to remove the sluice. The Board admitted that the sluice was not damaging the road to any great extent, but informed Mr Deßenzy that if the water was found to do so they would have the sluice removed. After listening for eome time to a discussion between Messrs Deßenzy and MoShane the Board pasted the following resolution question of drainage on the Swamp Boad mainly a personal matter between Mr DeEenzy and Mr McShane, and trhst the difficulty will be amicably settled by themsolves. The board at all times reserve the right to make use of the drain which they assisted to open through section 7319 in the year 1876 for the purpose of road drainage.” fIOHOXXOES, On the motion of Mr Flatman, seconded by Mr McShane, Messrs Smithson, Raymond and Smith were appointed the Board’s solicitors. FIKAKCIAIi. Mr Flatman moved, Mr Eelland seconded, and it was carried—“ That Deposit No. 150,100, falling due on January 20th, 1889, be dealt with as follows, viz, that £250 be redeposited with the Bank of New Zealand for six months and the balance and interest be placed to currant account with the Bank of New South Wales. Accounts amounting to £142 12s Id were passed for payment and the board adjourned.