TEMUKA ROAD BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2043, 8 May 1890, Page 3

TEMUKA ROAD BOARD.

The regular monthly meeting of the Temuka Koad Board was held on Tuesday last. Present—Messrs J. Talbot (chairman), C. Bisset and W. Snell. APOLOGY. Mr Eraser wrote apologising for absence on account of business. EJECTION OP CHAIEMAN. On the motion of Mr Bisset, seconded by Mr Snell, Mr Talbot was elected chairman for the ensuing term. Mr Talbot thanked members, and trusted that he should continue to give them satisfaction. ; hf ACCO¥NTS. ; Accounts to thei amount of £76 18s lid were passed for payment. INTERVIEWS.' Mr Lawlor waited upon the board and _ applied for the formation of a portion of road through reserve 1400. He required an outlet from ,a section in his occupation near the beach which he expected to have under crop. The road was of a swampy nature and part of it was already almost unfit for a horse to traverse. The chairman said it had been customary for owners or occupiers on the reserve to assist the board somewhat, as the roads were not generally of use to the public. Mr Lawlor would be willing to do the same if his position warranted it, but he could not see his contribute except indirectly. If he were to form the road himself at the overseer's estimate he would be willing to give a portion back. Mr Bisset said that he, and probably Mr Taylor, would not object to give a trifle for the direct benefit they would derive from the formation. At present Mr Lawlor was gettisg the benefit of the money contributed by the other occupiers. Mr Lawlor was willing to do £5 worth of work towards the formation of the road.

The board considered the question after Mr Lawler had retired and it was agreed that the overseer should make an estimate of the cost of the work and submit the same at next meeting. CORRESPONDENCE. Correspondence was received as follows : From Woodhead and Son and other settlers drawing attention to the bad state of the Canal dram, now blocked with watercress, etc. The applicants were willing to pay half the cost.— The overseer was authorised to attend to the matter. From the Treasury Department notifying payment to the Bank of New Zealand of £2O 18s lOd on account of subsidies accruing from land let under perpetual lease. Prom the Akaroa Borough Council soliciting subscriptions towards the erection of a monument to celebrate the declaration of English Sovereignty over the Island.—Received. From the Crown Commissioner notifying that the sum of £55 6s lOd had accrued to the board from lands sold under deferred payment, and enclosing a map upon which it would be necessary to the portion of roads upon which it was proposed to expend the money. The same having received the approval of the Land Board vouchers would be passed for payment ot the same.—The overseer was requested to attend to the matter, the settlers interested to be informed as ta where the money was proposed to be expended. A circular was received from Mr CM. Brooks relative to the price of poisoned wheat.—lSTane required. From Mr J. H. Sutter requesting that the name of Mr John Crow might be substituted for his on the roll in respect of rural section 16780—Mr Crow signified his consent and the exchange was ordered to be made. From Mr David Rae, making a similar application in respect of his farm at "Waitohi, sold to Mr D. Bell, who signified his consent to the same. —Agreed to.

From E. Griffiths making a similar application in respect of 175 acres at Orari, sold to Mr John Reward,— Agreed to.

Prom Mr W. Tayler in respect of property lately occupied by Mr Pranks, numbered on 101 l 400. Mr Pranks signified hie consent. —Agreed to. Prom Mr William Wright requesting that Mr John Norton's name might be placed on the roll m respect of portions of his property, particulars of which had been furnished to the clerk. —Mr Norton consented to the above and the change was ordered to be made. Prom the same in respect of ten acres one rood, part of rural section 7099, occupied by E. P. O'Neill.— Agreed to. Prom Mr R. Smith requesting that his name might be placed on the roll in respect of 183 acres 18 perches, part of section 7137, and 401 acres 2 roods, part of section 7160, less 30 [ acres now upon the roll, and the balance of section 7137, containing 810 acres 1 rood to be placed in Mr Aitken's name.—The same to be done, subiect to Mr Aitken's consent. oyeeseee's eepoet. The overseer's report was read as follows : " To the Chairman, "Sib, —I have the honor to report as under:— "Tenders have been invited for shingling at Bangitata and for cleaning drain on While's road. As the Treasury has not forwarded (be money authorised to bo spent in forming patt of the Main South Koad, bv Reserve 1371, I have not called tenders for this work. During the month contract No. 16, Bhirjglinp and reforming part of Epworth road, and No. 7, cleaning drain Penny's road, have been completed and passed for payment. Contract No. 18, painting house,

office and stable, will be completed this week und I have drawn a cheque for payment, when the work is finished. A wooden culvert on Kirk's road and one on the Canal reserve road have been repldbed, the latter with eighteen inch [--'pra. A number of bridges throughout the district are showing signs of deoay, and a good deal of expenditure will be necessary on them during the present year. I purpose preparing a detailed report on their condition by next meeting. The shingled roads thronghout the district are in fair order, and if the present fine weather continues until the grain carting is done will not require much attention for some time. Notice to clear gorse has been served on occupiers who did not get notice before harvest.—l have, etc., "F. Aecheb." TENDEBS. The following tenders were received : Contract No. 19—Shingling at Rangitata: M. Lawlor, Is 7d per yard ; W. Hopkinson, Is 10d per yard; M. Sheenaa, la 3d per yard (accepted). Contract No. 20—Cleaning drain, White's road: C. McAuliffe, 2s lOd per chain; Latimer, 43 lOd per chain ; Francis, 2s 3d per chain (aceapted,)

STATUTOKY MEETING,

The statutory meeting of ratepayers I which should have taken place at 12 o'clock, lapsed, there being no ratepayers other than members of the | board present. The following is the report prepared for submission to them:— " Gentlemen,—Under the head of receipts and expenditure the board have the honor to report that during the past financial year, which closed on the 31st of March, the receipts, inclusive of a credit balance to commence with of £124 19a Bd, were £I9BO 16s 10£d, and the expenditure £1707 5s 6d, thus leaving a credit balance of £273 lis 4£d. The cash assets, in addit : on to bank balance at the time of making up the accounts, amounted to £627 10a 10£d made up as follows :-Unooliected rates! £27710s 10£d ; subsidy from General Government, payable on June 30th noxt, approximately, £350. The liabilities for engagements entered into were about £45, thus showing a total credit balance of assets o\er liabilities of £855 12i 3d. It will be seen from those figures that the financial position is at present very satisfactory, a result largely due, no doubt, to the fact that the rainfall for the year has been unusually small, the dryness of the weather having saved some road maintenance, and, besides, no damage baa been sustained to bridges or fords by floods. The roads throughout the district are at present in fair condition. A rate of id in the £ was struck for the year, the gross Droceeds of which amount to £1443. Of this there has been collected £1166 18s 6d. Of the outstanding balance £250 may be considered as collected" A reference to tbe balance-sheet will show that the expenditure is swelled by the demands of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Boird to the extent of £2BB 3s, and there is also the sum of £lO6 15b disbursed in the endeavor to check the small birds pest. 9844 dozen of eggs and young birds have been collected. The works carried out during the year consist mainly of maintenance of existing roads and bridges. There has, however, been 96 chains of new formation done, 46 chains reformed, one bridge 40ft long rebuilt, one bridge redecked and new girders put in, and one concrete culvert built. There have also been 2586 yards of shingle carted on ta various roads. Among works which will claim the attention of the board in the immediate future are the redecking of irnny of the composite bridges throughout the district, which are now showing signs of decay in the decking. Eleven regular and iwo spooial meetings of the board have been held, during the year. The board desires to express its satisfaction with the painstaking and effioient manner with which the overseer, Mr F. Archer, has continued to dischargs his several duties during the year. "John Talbot, Chairman. " May 6tb, 1890."