GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2018, 11 March 1890, Page 2

GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

The monthly meeting of this board was held yesterday. Present—Messrs P. R. Platmau (chairman), W. Deßenzy, J. Kelland, and A. Metcalf. tendees. Tenders were opened and dealt with as follows :—■ No. 305—Cleaning drain, Swamp Road, Geraldine Plat: J. Mulvahill £9 ; Crafer and Moore, £5 I9a • p H McShane, £5 10s; Tim. O’Oonnori *i s » Joseph Kennington, £4 10s; T. Maloney, £4 7s ; Q-aiger and Richards, (accepted). No, 306 Drain, formation, etc. Donkin’s Road, Waihi Bush: Jonas Pifield, £36; J. Mulvahill, £32 16sJ. Beckley, £3O (accepted). ; COBEESPONDENCE. Correspondence was read as follows .- Prom Mr Matthews, Waitohi Downs, re gates upon the road near Mr McCormicks land, stating that they were properly hung. Prom the Hon, T. Wigley, with regard to gorse on rosds fronting his property stating that he considered he had fully carried oat the request oi the board re clearing gorse He considered it would be a hardship on the part of the board to compel him

to clear the gorse in the middle of harvest, when the ground was hard and labor scarce. It could be done much more effectually in the winter months, and would provide work for the unemployed. He suggested that the overseer should occasionally visit that district, and explain to the ratepayers what the board wanted with regard to the gorse on the roads. He had not treated the board’s notices with contempt, but merely wished to see all the ratepayers treated alike.

From the Geraldine County Council, re the contractor for the Geraldine Flat water-race taking stones for the head-works from the board’s reserve, and stating he was instructed to take the stones from theie by the council’s engineers, who knew it was a public reserve, but were not aware it was vested in the hoard, or such instructions would not have been given. The council now asked permission to take what stone was requested for the said work, as should they have to go further for it it would greatly increase the cost to the district. oteeseee’s eepoet. The overseer’s report was read and dealt with as follows :

I have the honor to report for the information of the board as under This being the harvest month very little work has been done, most of the men and contractors having been away. J. Fifield has completed Hendecaen’s road, and the undermentioned have also been attended to,viz: —Rangitata Station Hoad, Belfield, and Opuha Station roads, and others. Orari Bridge—as directed I have examined the piles in the Orari Traffic Bridge. I find the sap wood on the majority of the piles to be rotten, and in soma cases peeling off, reducing some of the piles to a diameter of “ 9 or 10 inches ” at the level of the riverbed. The heart is, however, in a very sound state, and the timber from the top of the bearers downwards in very good condition, and would stand good for many years. The decking and side rails are in a bad state, the latter falling away by their own weight into the riverbed, As the bridges are under the control ef the Council I have requested that their engineers be instructed to report on the state and condition of the state and condition of the work. Public Pound—The well at the public pound has gone dry, but as the water race on the side of the road is available for watering stock that may be impounded, and the cost of obtaining a permanent supply would be considerable I have let the matter stand over for the decision of the board. &ome slight repairs to the portion occupied as a dwelling are also required before winter sets in. I have visited the road on the Waitohi Downs complained of by Mr T- McCormick, and found it to be in very good order. I have, as directed, taken down the fence across the road which was erected on the boundary between Messrs McCormick and Matthews’ land. The latter has erected two new gates on the same road lower.—l am, etc., W. Shiees, Overseer. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £lO5 Mi were passed for payment. OEDEB OF BUSINESS. The board having completed the business to be done with the exception of receiving the deputations, the members were at a loss how to fill in the time till the luncheon adjournment, at one o’clock. It was pointed out that at the last few meetings considerable inconvenience had been caused owing to the business having been completed before lunch, and the deputations not being admissable till two o’clock. On the motion of Mr Deßenzy, seconded by Mr Kellaud, it was de* cided that in future the deputations be admitted at 12 o’clock. DEPUTATIONS. The Hon T. Wigley waited upon the board with regard to the gorse growing on the roads fronting his property. He contended that he was made a special mark to be shot at with regard to this gorse question while others were let off and allowed to do as they liked in the matter. He ’ also objected that the gorse when cut was sometimes left lying upon roads, and was then a far greater nuisance than when standing. He assured the board that he lost a number of sheep through broken legs, etc., from this cause. He also stated that if he had to clear the gorse, of course the Hoad Board would have to clear the manuka and natural growth from their own roads, m which case it would put the ratepayers to an expense of over a thousand pounds. He said the board could not expect him to clear that. In reply to the chairman, he said he had never made a complaint about this to the board, as he did not wish to put the ratepayers to any more expense than possible. If they were called upon to clear these roads it would cost the ratepayers a very great deal of money.

The chairman said of course the board would do the work they were justly compelled to do, but would certainly not go outside of their province. With regard to Mr Wigley being singled out as a mark to be shot at, he (the chairman) had had a notice to clear his gorse, and he had cleared it. Some of his land been lately purchased, and the gorse had been very much neglected by the former owner, and he had bad it cleared at an expense ia some places of 3o or 4s per chain. He

had received his notice since Mr Wigley received his, and had cleared his gorse, while Mr Wigley had taken no steps whatever towards "clearing his gorse. Mr Deßenzy said that Hr Wigley was not singled out to be shot at, (Mr Deßenzy) had received notice to clear his gorse, and had done so to the satisfaction of the overseer. Mr Wigley said that in his district, as he came along that day, he had come through where the gorse was as had as it could possibly he, and these people had apparently received no notice to clear it.

Mr Wigley was asked to mention the names, but declined to do so. Mr Shiers said all in the district who had gorse had received notice to clear it.

Mr Wigley again complained of being made a special mark of in this matter.

He was assured that he was not made a special mark, hut was simply treated the same as others. After a considerable amount of discussion Mr Wigley was informed that the board were fully determined to carry out their resolution, and was advised to take steps to clear the gorse.

Mr Wigley said ho would do his best, but he should expect to see everybody treated alike. The meeting then terminated.