GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1852, 12 February 1889, Page 2

GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

The monthly meeting of this Beard was , held yesterday. Present—Messrs W. Poatlethwaite (Chairman), VV. U. Slack, and J. KePand. An apology tor nonattendance was received from Mr P. McShane. CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT. The Chairman stated that since last meeting he had received a communication from the Ternuka Boad Board agreeing to the resolution forwarded by the Geraldine Road Baard, and recommending that the work be commenced at once. He (the chairman) had replied that it would be better to wait until the Education Reserves Board had consented to the Board taking the land they required from the Educational reserve for the deviation of the road at Kakabu, and until Mr Kelland’s consent had been obtained. Ho (the chairman) had since seen Mr Pitman, who had agreed to the Board taking the land required. Mr Kelland also gave his consent, and it was then decided to offer the Education Reserves Board the sum of £9 for the land requited. RATES. A list of defaulting ratepayers, and of (hose already summoned, was laid upon tire table. It was decided to inform Messrs Studholme and Wigley that the boaid wore issuing a writ for tho recovery of the rates on the Opuha estate, TENDERS. Tenders for tho repairs to bridge at Smithfield boundary road were opened and dealt with as follows; —P, Billings, £G 1.0 s; G, Taylor, £6 (accepted).

COBKESPONDENCB. Correspondence waa read and dealt with as follows : From Messrs O’Connor and Brooker, slating that they were deceived in their estimate of the work required at the Swamp road drain, and asking for a sum to be granted to them by the board. —Not granted. From Messrs E. H. Toomay, Jeremiah Breen, and William Patrick, requesting the board to abolish the road from the junction of the boundary road west of Mr Kelland’s to the junction of roads near Mr Edward Toomey’s.—Decided to take the necessary steps to carry out the proposed stoppage.—On the motion of Mr Slack, seconded by Mr Kelland, it waa decided that steps, should be taken to abolish O’Neil’s, Slack’s, and Toomoy’a road. From the Geraldine Town Board, asking permission to conduct their proposed water-race along the Road Board’s road from Strathnoon to boundary road.—lt was decided to grant the permission requested, provided the applicants agreed to repair all damage done to the road. and. also keep the said piece of road in repair. From the Manager Bank of New Zealand, Geraldine, ra fixed deposit. From the Executive Commissioner N.Z Exhibition, requesting subscriptions to the funds of same.—Letter laid upon the table.

From the South Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, enclosing list 'of recipients of charitable aid, and asking for suggestions in reference to the same. —lt was decided that as the Charitable Aid Board did not take. the slightest notice of their previous recommendations the Geraldine Road Board would take no further trouble in the matter. The members considered the manner in which the Charitable Aid Board’s accounts were kept, and the method of distributing the were perfectly absorb. The Road ✓Board wished to know how it was possible Sor a working man with a wife and family to pay 5s a day for his wife or child in the hospital, and keep himself out of debt, when his wages were only 6s per day. They considered that very little good could be done until the whole system of giving aid was thoroughly changed, and every case properly enquired into. At present the Charitable Aid Board could he easily imposed upon, and the sooner an improved method of distributing charitable aid was adopted tbe belter it would be. ANONYMOUS LETTES, Attention was called to a letter which had appeared in the Geraldine Guardian with regard to tho actions of the board, but as the writer had not affixed his name it was decided to ignore tho letter altogether, overseer’s report. The overseer’s report was read and dealt with as follows — Sir, —I have the honor to report for the month ending date as under : Tbe works in hand hare made good progress, with tbe exception of clearing flax at Rae’a creek. This is not completed. The time expired on 28fch January. Tho clearing of the swamp drain has been finished, and an amicable arrangement entered into between Messrs DeEenzy and McShane which will prevent any; damage being done in future to either party. Belfleld Works—The-full quantity of iron piles (20 tons) has arrived, and I have had them carted on to the ground. As several of the rails forwarded are 641 b to the yard instead of 561 b as anticipated, there are fewer of them. It would take eight more rails to reach the end of the terrace, which should be the termination of the works. The work of driving is proceeding satisfactorily; more than half the number are now driven. Road Diversion neay Kelland’s —As instructed I have slaked out tho line of road at the diversion in the reserve 1210, and find it be necessary to take 1|- acres of land out of the reserve to make a permanent job. I haye also pegged out the line of fence, and have the material ready so that the work can be proceeded with at onco if desired. Lewis’s drain, Waihi River—l haye inspected this drain, and find very little has been done to the old embankment. A few trifling gaps have been made up where the flood water had broken over. This would make no material difference to anyone on either side of the river. Mr Lewis has erected a small embankment on his own land lower down, but this does not affect the main road or board in any way : it merely prevents his own land being flooded. Mr D. Findlay has applied to have a pipe ’ culvert taken up, and to have side of road levelled in front of bis entrance gate. An old timber culvert at Rodcliff cutting gave way during the month, I have replaced it with a 12in pipe culvert. The day men, with the exception of two, have gone harvesting. Rates—Since last meeting I have collected £145 5s lOd, which has been paid into the boards account. lam &c., W. Bribes, Overseer. It was decided that a further application be made the Government Engineer for the required number of iron rails; that the £llos sanctioned to Mr Lewis be , not paid as the work was not done. It was decided to do the work at Mr Findlay’s property. INTERVIEW. Mr Woodley, Rangitata, waited on the board and asked them to remove the atones thrown on to his property when the road was formed, —Agreed to. accounts. Accounts amounting to £157 2s Id were passed for payment, and the board adjourned.