GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2173, 10 March 1891, Page 3

GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

The usual monthly meeting of this board was held yesterday. Present— Messrs F S Flatman (chairman), W Deßenzy, K Brophy, J Holland, and A Metcalf. tekdbes. Tenders were opened and deal with as follows: — Contract No. 329 Cutting out trees in reserve No. 1060, Geraldine road—No tender. Contract No. 330—Formation and shingle near Storey’s, Or«ri Y.S. — B Trumper, £32 7s ; T Sugrue, £s2 ; T Oorkery,. £2B ; J Beckley, £24 : M Lawlor, £23 (accepted), Contract No, 331 Filling hnd carting shingle, <fec., Waitohi Flat— T Sugrue, £56 (accepted) j M. Raw lor, £4B.

Considerable discussion took place on the acceptance of the tenders. In No 381 Mr Lawlor was some £ls 15a below the estimate; and Messrs DeEenzy and Brophy thought it would pay the board better in the long run to take Mr Sugrue’s tender for this. He was still some £7 15s below the estimate. They were convinced that Mr Lawlor could not do the work at the price he bad tendered, and as they had frequently had a deal of trouble owing to accepting tenders that were too low they would be in favor of accepting Mr Lawler's tender for the first apd Mr Sugrue’s for the second. Messrs Metcalf and Kelland, while recognising the for.ce of these remarks, considered that it was opposed to the spirit of tendering to single out the tenders as suggested. Finally it was proposed by Mr I DeEenzy and seconded by Mr Brophy

—“ That M Lawlor’s tender be accepted for No. 330 and T Sugrue’s for No. 331.” Mr Metcalf moved and Mr Eelland seconded as an amendment—“l hat M Lawlor’s tender be accepted for No. 331 and J Beckley s for No, 330.” The proposition was carried on the casting vote of the chairman.

COKRBSPOHDBNOE. Correspondence whs read and dealt with aa follows ; From the Paymaster-General, Wellington, advising the board of the sura of £93 15s, rates subsidy, having been passed for payment to thfir credit. From Mr A. E. Hawkins, Manager of the Bank of Now South Wales, Geraldine, advising the board of the receipt of the above-mentioned sum. From Mr M. Lawlor, asking the board to allow him a few pounds in addition to the contract price for No. 328, as the work was very difficult, and the amount of the contract too low. He also had to remove more stuff than was specified to make a passable job.—A discussion took place on this application. Members were strongly opposed to granting additional sums to contractors. If they tendered too low, and cut other contractors out, it was not fair to the other tenderers that the board should afterwards allow further sums of money to assist contractors lo carry out their work. . It was pointed out that in this case the applicant had taken over the contract from Mr Sugrue.—After taking the circumstances into consideration, it was decided, seeing it was a sub-contract, to grant the sum of 225, which would bring the price up to the overseer’s original estimate. This concession to be made without prejudice. From Mt S. Broadley, stating that he had given up the paddock at Orari known as Mundell’s, and asking to have his name removed from the roll for the same.— Present owner to agree. From Mr J. Coppiing, offering the sum of 16j for the flax on the board’s property near Mr Slack’s plantation, Aymes’, Annan’s, Gilbert’s, and Bray’s properties; —The flax had been sold to Mr Casey for 20s.

From Messrs Tcop. Taylor and A. Irvioe, asking the board to allow them to take some of the from the race where it crosses at Mr Cochrane’s, alongside the road to Mr Taylor’s corner, and offering to be responsible for aoy damage the water might do. —The board decided they had no ebieotion, but had no power over the water race ; applicants should apply to the County Council. From Mr J. W. Fendall, Gapes’Valley, stating that the gate on the road running between hia section and No. 27397 was a nuisance, being badly hung and fas ened. —The overseer to report on the gate, which must be properly hung or removed at once.

From Mr J. H. Baker, Commissioner of Crown Lands, with regard to a piece of land sold by Mr Markham to the board for a road. From" the Public Trust Office, informing the board that the Begistrar of the Supreme Court bad now the functions of tho Public Trust with regard to land so'd or let for rates overdue. From the Geraldine County Council re the Orari traffic bridge, arranging for a meeting of Messrs Merchant, J. M. Barker, and the board’s overseer at the Orari traffic bridge to inspect the same. — The chairman said he was also present at the meeting. No report on the bridge had, however, been published at present, otebsebe’s EEPOET. The overseer’s report was read and dealt with as follows: — “ I have the honor to report for the informa'ion of the board aa under—

“ Contract No. 328, Limestone Valley lloai, which was transferred to Mr Lnwlor last board day, has been completed and pitted for payment. Reserves —As I joo'd not get a satisfactory offer for the timber in the gravel reserves i have called tenders for thinning out the trees in one of the plantations on the Geraldine Road. Boulde r s—Mr Postlethwa'ite has drawn my attention to the desirability of gathering up the large stones on the aides of the road leading from Dobie’a, so that he might be able to clear gorse. The contract for this work was allowed to lapse some few months ago uoder very peculiar circumstances. River Waihi—As directed by the chairman I have inspected the river-bed with a view of diverting the stream coming ronnd the end of the footbridge. This could be accomplished in two ways, namely, by scooping a channel and raising an embankment in the river-bed, or by erecting a wing dam by driving iron rails wired dose and planted with willows, in a similar way to the work at Oran Bridge and Belfield Village Settlement. The latter would be most permanent, as the shingle hank wou'd be liable to be swept away the first flood. Day men The day men have been employed during the month in repairing, tarring, and painting the bridges in Jones* Gully apd Kakahu Valley, also in repairs to swamp road apd other odd jobs. Horse feed —A supply of oats will be required for the board’s drauglfc horse. Subsidy—l have made application for tha subsidy due on rates, and have received advice that a voucher has been passed on to the Treasury for payment of 75 per cant. Rates—The whole of the rates are now collected with the exception of a few trifling afpouuts, a list of which is on the table.—l am, etc., “ William Seises, “ Overseer.”

The matter of the timber in the reserves fco lie in abeyance. Re the boulders on Dobie’s road it was depided to call tenders for picking them. Re the Waihi riyer it was decided to protect the spot with rails and willows as suggested. It was decided to call tenders for 200 bushels oats.

On the suggestion of Mr Brophy it was decided to lower the culvert below Mr McQaMaq’s two feet. It was also decided to extend the plack on the Eakaho riyer near Mr Toomey’s, and to place one across a creek npar Mr Templar’s. INTERVIEWS. Mr McShapp waited on the board, and asked to have tiro drain Rn tho road cleaned ont. He thought the board should do the whole of the work and not expect him to bear half of the coat.—The board considered the drain was of considerable advaotoge to Mr McShane as well as to the board, and it was decided to keep to the old arrangement, namely, } Mr McShape to pay frdf °f the cost. I Mr A. 0. Kimbe'd waited on the board with regard to a road leading to Ids run, Waitofai Downs, and enquiring if the same had been sold or closed, was

informed that it had not been dealt with in any way. Mr G. Heaketh waited upon the board with regard to the same road. Ho was under the impression tha’; it was included ia the piece of land purchased by him.— It was pointed out to him that such was not the case. OVERDUE RATES. The clerk laid upon the (able a list of rates still due, and it was decided to take action to recover them. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £97 2s lid were passed fer payment.