GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2254, 15 September 1891, Page 3

GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the above was held yesterday. Present —Messrs Flatman (chairman), Kelland, Deßenzy, Brophy, and Metcalf. THE COUNTY COUNCIL. The chairman said he wished to bring forward something which emanated from themselves. Blame had been attached to Mr Rhodes for what he had done regarding the Bill for the amendment of elections to the county council. The county council had blamed Mr Rhodes, whom he considered perfectly right, and he thought every other member of the . board would say that Mr Rhodes had ■> acted in a perfectly honorable way in the matter. He did not support Mr Rhodes at the last election, but at the Bame time he could not sit by and see blame tacked on to the j shoulders of a man who did not deserve , it. The* county council had made some mistake in the matter. Having been made aware that three road boards in the county were unanimous on the measure, hie" thought Mr Rhodes \vas perfectly justified m doing what he did. According to reports in the papers Mr Mackay had said that it was not unanimous, but he would challenge Mr Mackay from the report of his own road board books to ■show that it was not unanimous. He thought there had been a bit of backsliding somewhere, and he did not think it very straight to directly deny what had /been done. He proposed, Mr Deßenzy seconded, and it was carried—That this board regrests to see the County Council at its last meeting expressed disapproval of Mr Rhodes's action in the House of Representatives in reference to the proposed alterations in the constitution of County Councils as suggested by the Geraldine and Mount Peel Road Boards, ■ and also endorsed by the Levels Road Board. Seeing that the proposed alterations received unanimous support of three out of the four Road Boards within the County, we'think it due to Mr Rhodes to say that the remarks made by some of the members of the Council at the last meeting were somewhat misleading and uncalled for. INTERVIEW. Mr Wigley waited on the board applyfor an allowance for clearing manuka from the road • near his property.—The board agreed to allow. Mr Wigley 6d a yard for picking stoiies arid stacking, but would not grant him an allowance for clearing manuka. Mr Jessep waited on the board, asking , to have a road made into his section. He would pay the cost of survey and trans-fer,—-Th© Chairman said that when Mr

Marchant was down he considered it advisable to make the road and would agree to it.—The board agreed to go on with the work.

Mr Campbell waited on the board, asking to have three trees at Cooper's Creek shading his garden cut down. —It was agreed that the tenant, Mr Tolleff, be asked to cut the trees in question down, and keep the timber for his own use. Mr David Shaw waited on the board, to make application to have a culvert formed to carry water from his property.— The overseer to report at next meeting on the matter. TENDERS. Tenders were received as under :—rNo. i 341, Donkin's road, Waihi Bush, I shingling : Daniel Gregan, £6O, only 1 tender.—Fresh tenders to be called. No. 342, Formation, formation, fords, etc., Cooper's Flat, Rangitata Plains : Jonas Fiefield, £l7, only tender, accepted. CORRESPONDENCE. Correspondence was read and dealt with as follows : From Mr Thomas Pawson, Riverbend farm, asking to have tussock lumps carted or burnt off the roadside near his farm.— Mr Kelland to explain to Mr Pawson. From Mr Alexander Morrison, Belfield, stating that he had been rated for over twenty acres more land than he had.— Reply sent by Mr Shiers. From Mr Arthur Hope, Rokonui, applying to have a culvert put down to carry water off his property. —The board cannot accede to the request, but will permit Mr Hope to do the work at his own cost under the direction of the overseer of the board.

From Mrs W. Scott, Waihi Bush, drawing attention to gorse growing by the footbridge near her property. —The overoverseer to attend to same.

From the Chief Surveyor, re the deviation of road line R.S. 36097, at Mr Wreathall's property. Mr Mathias' route was undoubtedly the best, the grade being 1 in 10. The Surveyor had surveyed what he considered to be the proper road to meet requirements of probable traffic, and he had no hesitation in confirming his action. Mr Wreathall's contention against it was that it would cut up his section and prevent him ploughing the portion intersected.—lt was resolved that the board recommend the Chief Surveyor to adhere to the original road. From Mr E. A. Foster, trusting that the Board would form the road as recommended by the Chief Surveyor. —The Board had decided to adhere to the original road. From Mr John W. Shaw, applying for formation of road up the Hae-Hae-te-Moana Gorge to section 56097 situated at Waitui.—Mr Shiers to report. From Mrs S. Bell, Geraldine Flat/aaking permission to plough up the roadsides adjoining her land to destroy gorse. —Left with overseer to arrange. From the clerk of the Geraldine County Council, informing the board that they would recoup them for any outlay on repairs to the road by the Orari bridge. From Mr J. T. Smith, stating that in accordance with a memo, from the chief surveyor re alterations through R.S. 29,789 and 32,941 (Every's deviation road), the same had been completed on the ground, and also on the plan and tracing, and enclosing his account.—The account was held over till next month. Plans were received from the Chief Surveyor, requesting the roads to be marked off on which the board intended spending the "thirds" accruing from land sales.—The clerk to make out a schedule of same and submit to the board at next meeting. overseer's report.

The overseer reported as under: — " Contracts No. 337 and No. 338 have have been completed, and passed for payment. Nos. 339 and 340, let last board day, have lately been started, and are making fair progress. The following works have been attended to during the past month : Replacing footway at Valley School bridge, and bridges at Kakahu Bush; footbridge at Cooper's Creek crossing, and planks near Button's farm ; shingling cutting at Orari bridge, and repairs to various roads; a gate has been placed on the reserve near Finn's, and protective fence erected at gravel pit near the racecourse. As instructed, I have inspected the proposed line of road leading to Mr Jessep's. The formation is easy, but the shingle is not readily obtainable. A small nlatform bridge will be required at the Creek."

ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £l3B 10s were passed for payment. , The board then rose.