GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2033, 15 April 1890, Page 2

GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

The monthly meeting of this board was held yesterday. Present-—Messrs I. R. hi atm an (chairman), J. Kelland. and A. Metcalf. EESIONATIOK. A letter was received from Mr W. H. Mack (Temuka), resigning his position as member of the board. Mr Kelland moved, Mr Metcalf seconded, and it was carried—“ That Mr Flack’s resignation be accepted with regret, and that the board desire to record in the minute book their warmest appreciation of Mr Slack’s earnest wish to serve the interests of the ratepayers faithfully ; the members likewise desire to express their sense of Mr Slack’s uniform courtesy to themselves during the long period he has occupied a seat on the board.” Mr Kelland, as mover of the resolution, said that during the time he had sat upon the board as a member he had always considered Mr Slack to be particularly gentlemanly and courteous, who had the very best intention of serving the ratepayers collectively and individually, and he had always tried to do his very best. If he bad thought a certain work should be done, he had advocated its being done, but at the same time ho was decidedly opposed to the ratepayers’ money being spent extravagently. A more gentlemanly and courteous member there could not be. Mr Metcalf, although only a young member on the board, fully endorsed all Mr Kelland had said. The chairman said, as an old member, he very much regretted the circumstances which had caused Mr resignation. He fully endorsed what Mr Kelland had said, and whs sure that all the members who had sat on that board with Mr Slack would say the same if they were present. It was decided to send a copy of the resolution to Mr black. TENDERS. Repairing pound dwelling house, Geraldine: H. R. Pratt, £5; GK Kraus, £3 10s (accepted). Supplying 300 bushels of oats: E. B. Cochrane, Is 4d per bushel,* E. Burke, Is 3d (accepted): GK South. Is 3d.

WATSE EACES. Mr Elatman drew the attention to j the fact that some of the races at Woodbury were dammed with rubbish, 5 and were damaging the road. It was decided to communicate with the Geraldine County Council, requesting them to attend to the aams, . COEEESPONDEK'CE. Correspondence was read and dealt with as follows: Erom Mr E. B. Cochrane, Woodbury Eoad, asking the board to provide him with an entrance to his property, Eae’s road.—Erom Mr A. Irvine, objecting to anything being done here that would dam the water back upon his land.—lt was decided that the board would make and supply a timber culuert, Mr Cochrane to do the earthwork to the satisfaction of the overseer. Erom Mr J. H. M. Tagg, calling the attention of the board to the gorse growing on the road near his section, No, 27396 —lt was decided to give owner of the property adjoining notice to clear the gorse. Erom Mr Dawe, Washdyke, asking the board to make a roadway to his land at Ehubarb Elat, as he wished to

get_ firewood from his bush —lt was decided to let the matter stand over for a month, Prom Mr W. Grant, in reply to the board’s notice re gorse on the road, promising to attend to the same. Prom the Geraldine Countv Conncil, replying to one from the board re the Orari traffic bridge, stating that the council wished the board to go on repairing the bridge under the present arrangement, the Road Board to close the bridge if it was in a dangerous state.—Members were willing to go on with the work as at present, but thought some strong representation should be made to the council of the great inconvenience and loss it would be to the district if the bridge were closed. In their letter the council said a report on the bridge was made by their engineers in August, 1888, and the the estimate of slight repairs put down at £6O, and £I3OO for redeckiug, and considering the age of the bridge this would only prolong its life for a short time. The report also said that if the council decided to continue the traffic over the bridge the engineers were of opinion that the whole of the planking would have to be renewed at an early date, On that occasion the council resolved—- “ That owing to the existing depression the many bridges reported on by the engineers to be unsafe be left as they are; that danger notices be erected at each end of them, and that fords be provided. Should it be found ou enquiry that this course is not legal the bridges to be absolutely closed.” On the motion of Mr Kelland, seconded by Mr Metcalf, the following resolution was passed : —. “ That in reply to the council’s letter dated

March 13th, the board are of opinion that it is absolutely necessary, in the interests of the ratepayers of the county, that the Orari bridge should be kept open for light traffic and the driving of stock. The board is quite willing for its overseer to continue to watch the bridge and effect any small repairs which may be necessary, but must decline to be held responsible for any accident that might happen through any defect in the bridge.” With this resolution the board have enclosed Mr Shiers’s recent report upon the soundness, &c,, of the piles and stringers of the bridge, which shows that the decking alone is faulty, A circular was received from the harboi board, re the collection of their rates. Members thought the plan would be a considerable saving to the ratepayers, but at the same time would increase their responsibility, 'I he saving to be effected, however, was considered sufficient to warrant the board in giving its support to the proposed alteration, and the following resolution was passed—“ That in reply to the harbor board’s circular, dated 19th March, re a suggestion that the local bodies within the harbor district should levy and collect the harbor board rate ; this board considers the proposal would be in the interests of the ratepayers, and therefore desires to give the matter its entire support.” From the Akaroa Borough Council, asking the board to contribute towards the erection of an obelisk at Akaroa to commemorate the hoisting of the British flag near Akaroa on the 10th August, 1840, and the proclamation of the sovereignity of Great Britain over this island on the same date. — Ordered to lie upon the table. From the Receiver of Land Revenue, Christchurch, advising the board of his having forwarded to the Secretary for Crown Lands a voucher in favor of the board for the sum of £92 4s sd, being one-third of deferred payment and perpetual lease receipts derived during the period from Ist Feb. to Bth Sept. 1888. From the Crown Lands office, Christchurch, forwarding plans of land on which moneys are accruing to the board from time to time, and asking the board to mark on the plans the road or roads which the board intended to open up or improve for the benefit of the selectors, also the approximate amount the board intended to expend upon such roads. On the return of such plans the land board would authorise the payment of the amount due.—The overseer was nstructed to mark the map accordingly, ©yeeseee's eepoet. The overseer’s report was read and dealt with as follows :

I have the honor to report for the month ending date as under ; Owing to the continuance of the fine weather little work has been required on k the maintenance of the various roads, ■ only two day men having been employed for several weeks past. The roads throughout the diarict are in good order far the grain traffic. Works in Hand—The contractor for the at the Waibi Bush is making rather slow progress. He is employed in clearing the timber from the road line. Cleaning drain on the Swamp road has been camp'eted daring the month. Kao’s Road—As directed, I have examined the approach at the north end of this bridge. The embankment is 22ft, wide at the road level. The width of the roadway on the bridge is 16ft., giving ample room. If there is any difficuliy in getting on or off the bridge it is caused by the angle of road being just in the centre of the north approach to the bridge. This cannot be avoided without a large outlay. To widen the approach on the inside would cost a censideruble sum, Kakabu Bridges—There are three old timber bridges near the Kakahu Bush, two in the Beaotiful Valley Gorge, and one below old mill site over the main creek. (1) On repairing the deck of the latter bridge I found the end of the bearers and capsill to be quite rotten, and totally unsafe for heavy loads of timber, a good deal of which is being carted from the bush just at present. i hive had the bridge patched up temporarily, but a now bridge'is .urgently needed at this place. (2) -The bearers at the bridge inside the gorge, had f given way, and were unsafe. 1 have had three iron bark stringers put in to rep ! ace the old ones in the centre. This will enable the .bridge to carry the traffic for -two or three years longer. (3) The next bridge, at the entrance' to tho gorge, is too low, and does not cirry the flood water without overflow. It is decaying fast, but may last for some lime if traction engines do not attempt to cross over. The above bridges, with one on Hawke’s road, are the only bridges in the district under the board’s control which ore not safe for traction engines. All are old bridges, built before traction engines were in vogue here. Gorse on Roads—l have Nssued a number of gorse notices during the month. Mr Wigley is clearing the gorse from the main road in the Kakahu Valley. Road at Balfiold Village Settlement—l have interviewed Mr T. Sugrue in reference to a road through his section at Belfield, so as to give Mr Ford a bolter outlet. His terms are £lO for a road or right-of-way. I have prepared revised voters’ list for the coming elections ; also balance-sheet gqd ataterpent for the annual audit, W, Shieks,

Clerk and overseer. The overseer was instructed to draw up plans and specifications for a bridge below the old mill, Kakahu, The matter of the bridge at the entrance to the gorge to stand over. The overseer was instructed to confer further with Mr T. Sugrue re the purchase from him of a piece of land for a road. INTEIIYIEW. Mr G. South, Winchester, waited on the hoard, and asked the board to deepen a pipe culvert and clean out a drain near his property.—lt was decided not to deepen the pipe, and’to

offer Mr South the sum of 10s per annum to keep the drain clean. Mr South accepted the offer. MISCELLANEOUS. Mr Flatman having called attention to a dangerous culvert on the Pleasant Valley road, it was decided to call tenders for next meeting for repairing it. The annual balance-sheet for the year was considered and approved of. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £57 16s lid 1 were passed for payment. ANNUAL MEETING-. It was decided to hold the annual meeting on Thursday, May 1, 1890. The meeting then, terminated.