GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2497, 2 May 1893, Page 2

GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

ANNUAL MEETING OF RATEPAYERS. The annual meeting of ratepayers in the Geraldine Hoad Board district was hold yesterday afternoon. Present— Messrs F. il. Flatmau (chairman), Deßouzy, Kellaud, Brophy, Metcalf, and a few ratepayers. The chairman road the advertisement calling tho meeting, and then read tho annual report and balance-sheet as subjoined : —: Ladies and Gentlemen, Yom* board, in presenting, its annual report and balance-sheet, have much pleasure in stating that the roads and bridges in th district are, with few exceptions, in good order and repair, and although your board has expended a considerable amoun t more money for the past year than either of the two previous years, still it was absolutely necessary that the extra expenditure should occur in consequence of several of the main roads getting bare o| metal. Your board would also dnry the patepayors’ attention to the fact that although the -mmls of the board have , &uiiuiall-vi during the past three beeu V i*o"o t 1 n, h vot on tho other CXt' rates am -uthur to SM Os Inland charitable hid contribulv to iho .amount of -£5: \ 4-s 4d, > Lii uiv.:a show win c a tjroat y .vt ’ on oi the 1 leakage )i«|

taken place. Your board therefore trust that it will be at once perceived that members and staff have worked amicably, economically, and to the advantage of the district as a whole. Works : The works have mainly consisted of shingling and maintenance of roads. No new bridges have been erected this year, and there are only two old timber bridges in the district which require replacing so as to bo safe jor traction engines to pass over. Contracts : Twenty-three contracts were lot during the year, and all with one exception were completed satisfactory, the deposit for which was forfeited by the contracted. Formation ; Three hundred and six chains of new road have been formed and 260 chains shingled. 10,650 cube yards of shingle and 1100 yards of broken metal have been used on the roads in maintenance and construction during the year. Should the coming winter prove a line one no exceptional expenditure will bo required. Small Birds: 8001 J dozen of heads and eggs were purchased by your board, and 15301 b of poisoned wheat issued during the season. Rates: The rates of this year have all been collected, excepting 12s 2d, a portion of which has since been paid. Your board will now be prepared to answer any questions relative to road board matters, and in conclusion I beg to move the adoption of the report and balance sheet.—l have etc., “F. R. Flatman, Chairmrn.”

The balance-sheet showed the board commenced on the 31st March, 1892, with a credit balance of £8368 8s 4d. The receipts included rates, £lOl7 16a 51; interest from fixed deposits, £340 ; subsidies on rates, £505 4s 8d; rents, £79 17s 6d ; refunds from Geraldine County Counci 1 and Temuka and Mount Peel Road Boards, £56 6s; Laud revenue tffirds, £lB4 0s 3d; material sold, poisored wheat, etc., £26 lls 6d; the total being £10,378 4s 9d. The expenditure included construction and maintenance of roads and bridges, £lBBl 18s 6d; Harbor Board rate, £571 lls 8d; Hospital and Charitable Aid, £lßl 5s 2d; salaries, £225; konwork, timber and pipes* £74 18s 4d; purchase of small birds and eggs £66 13s 7d, and other smaber items brought the totals up to £3126 3s 7d, leaving a credit balance of £7252 Is 2d.

The chairman explained that as the auditor had not been round the accounts had not been audited up in time to lay before the ratepayers, and stated that in this year’s balance-sheet the board had paid at the rate of three half-yearly payments of contribution to the Timaru Harbor Board. This was owing to the financial years of the two boards not ending at the same time, and he thought some Act should be passed by Parliament to make all financial years of local bodies end on the one date.

In reply to Mr Orbell the clerk stated that the Timaru Harbor Board’s rate was increasing every year. It was made in the form of a levy pro rata on each local body according to the interest the board had to pay on borrowc i money. The chairman moved the adoption of the report and balance-sheet. Mr Orbell seconded this and it was carried.

SMALL BIRDS NUISANCE,

Mr M. O. Orbell spoke on the sm ill birds nuisance cpiestion. It was in his opinion a very important question and one not thoroughly realised in this district. He thought hitherto that the system of dealing in birds’ heads and eggs was effective up to a certain point, but was not sufficient to cope with the nuisance. Everyone had different opinions on the best method of dealing with the question, and he held very strong ones himself, but he moved the following resolution—- “ That the board endeavor to form a conference with the surrounding boards, with the object of arriving at some definite system of dealing with the Bird Nuisance during the ensuing year.” Poisoning had been effectual, but he maintained that no systematic method had been adopted to carry it out. He would rather pay an extra rate and have the thing done well. Unless farmers united and all poisoned birds on the same day they would never do any good. There was an Act dealing with the matter, but he thought that the boards could suggest some method of dealing with the matter without bringing the Act into force. The chairman said that he and his Board fully sympathised with Mr Orbell iu his expressions. Ho believed that his Board was the first to move in getting the present Act passed, and they had always held that there should be a universal system, and that days should be set aside in which birds should be poisoned throughout the district. Last year the Temuka Board did not work in harmony with his Board, by ceasing to purchase eggs and heads for some months, and during that time his Board were .perhaps paying for birds that had migrated from the Temuka district. So far as he was concerned, if he were a member for any leugth of time, he would gladly try to get Mr Orbell’s suggestion carried out, and his Board would help him iu this. It would be better to strike a rate than to tinker with the matter as they had done in the past. There ought also to ba a universal price for eggs and heads, as they were at one time giving a higher price than the Temuka Board, and boys brought eggs from the Temuka district to get the bettor priog. Mr Jobberins seconded the motion, and it was carried.

Mr Jobberins moved, and Mr Kelland seconded, as a suggestion—“ That poisoned grain be given out free to ratepayers and that the board’s men sow, at their discretion, poisoned grain on the public roads in the months of June, July and August.”

THE ELECTION,

Mr Flatman then presented himself before the ratepayers for re-election. Ho had served them for some years, and be trusted that everyone who felt that he had done his duty would support him at the election. He hoped that Mr Hammond would have been present to give au expression of his views. He would be glad to serve the ratepayers, again and his policy would be to carry out things with the greatest economy and to the benefit of the district as a whole. (Applause). Mr Deßeuzy said he as a member retired from the present board, but was eligible for re election. He had served tho ratepayers a good many years to the beat of his ability, and his policy would always be fairplay to the ratepayers and contractors. He had always worked amicably with My Flatman, and he hoped they would both bo re-elected members of the board. (Applause).

VOTES OE THANKS,

Mr Orboli moved a vote of thanks to Mr Skiers, tho overseer, for the excellent manner in which he had carried out the lioard’a work during the year. Ho thougt jdiatno one could travel the roads in this district without feeling proud of them. Mr Shiers acknowledged the vote of jhaqka, and as. mention was made by a ratepayer present of the excellent way in which ho had collected tho rates, Mr Shiers said that the auditor’s opinion was that their balance-sheet was tho cleanest of any local body that ho had exemined. Mr Dellenzy moved a hearty vote of thanks to the chairman, and the mooting ended.