GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2500, 9 May 1893, Page 2

GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

The first monthly meeting of the netf Board was held yesterday. Present— Messrs F, R. , Flatman (chairman), Deßenzy, Kelland, and firophy. NON-ATTENDANCE. Mr Metcalf sent an apolgy for nonattendance.—Accepted. CHAIRMAN. Mr F, B. Flatman was re-elected chairman, and returned thanks to tho members for so doing. Members spoke highly of Mr Flatman’s past services to the board. THE ELECTION. The returning officer reported the result of the election. correspondence. Correspondence was read and dealt with as under:— From T. Powell, Temuks, offering £1 5s for tress on p'autatiou on Geraldine Road, and would carry out the work according to specifications.—Accepted on condition that tenderer pay the amount offered previous to starting the work. Mr From W. Mill, Kakahu, asking the Board to put his fence up.—Replied to by the clerk. From Mr G. H. Patrick, asking Board’s consent to a slaughter house license, for Section 26406, Rangitata. The Board consent. From Mr W. Wfteelband, Rapgitflta, drawing attention to the need of shingle on the apprqach tq Ran gifat a Bridge.— Work to ho done. From Mp 0. G, Tripp, requesting that about 10 chains of shingle be put down on the road between Sections 144{f2 aqd 149QQ—Tfie tp report, and meet Mr Tripp on the ground. Prom Mr F. Powell, Longbeach, asking to be favored with an order for poisoned grain.—The clerk to write to Mr fCTffill for price f?r i bushels in l& lh 3 . From Mr 0. M. Brooke, Ashburton, soliciting an order for poisoned wheat.— Four bushels to bp ordered-

Prorp, Ggralßinp County Council, spud; copy of the county election roll for the Geraldine riding for corrections,-*To hijj

attended to,

From Geraldine County Council, enclosing forms for balance-sheet to be filled in.—Already done.

From Railway Department, consigning 20 pointed rails, and enclosing account for same. —Account to be paid.

From i ommissioner Crown Lands, stating at what price the South Rangitata town sections could be purchased. From eight ratepayers at Rangitata, requesting the board to shingle the road leading from Cooper’s Creek to Arundel school.--Work to be done when the weather is suitable.

From the Land and Survey Department, re the expenditure of “thirds.” —The clerk to refer the commissioner to returns already sent to Land Board, and if this does not meet the commissioner’s views the clerk to arrange an interview wi*h the commissioner, as the work appears to be giving the board unnecessary trouble,

overseer’s report.

The overser reported :—Contracts — Owing to the very broken weather experienced lately little work has been done during the past two weeks. Fortunately two of the largest contracts for shingling were just completed before the rain came viz :—Beautiful |Valley Road, Cooper’s Creek and Rangitata Station Road. Works applied for—The pipes for drain under the road at the Belfield settlement have arrived and have been put on the ground ready for fixing when the weather clears up. The parties applying do the necessary work free of cost to the board. Love’s road—l have inspected Love’s road. There is a difficulty in getting shingle for this work. Gravel would have to be carted from the Hae-te-Moana river. Protective works—The iron rails for this work above the Orari Bridge have arrived and all driven. A portion of the willow and wire work was also completed before the freshes came and it has acted well in shunting the stream. The wet weather also delayed this work, but all the material is on the ground for completion. Mr G. H. Patrick’s application —I have visited the place spoken of by Mr Patrick, and found very little water in the natural channel, not sufficient to supply the water race. I am informed that the stream has been diverted at Evans’ place, further up the Flat, in Mount Peel district. There would be no difficulty in taking water under the embankment with a 12-inch pipe, but the expenditure would be useless with present quantity of water. I have reported to the Mount Peel Board as directed. Fords and crossings—The freshes in the rivers have upset the whole of the river crossings and fords ; all have been made passable, but will require further attention when the water recedes. Several of the old shingle roads will also require attention, and repairs to a considerable extent should the present weather continue. Daymen—Have been employed on the protective works above the Orari bridge and fixing the river crossings in connection with the latter. Two or three pairs of gum boots are required.—l am etc., “ W. Shirks, “Overseer.”

The report was considered satisfactory, and it was decided the work on Love’s road be left over. Mr Patrick’s application was left with the Mount Peel Road Board to deal with. It was agreed to purchase new gum boots for daymen.

SMALL bird’s NUISANCE

Mr Orbeli’s resolution from the annual meeting was read and considered, and it was finally resolved —“ That in compliance with the unanimous wish of the ratepayers, expressed at the annual meeting, this board desires to invite the chairman, or one member of each road board within the county to meet in conference on May 29th, in the Road Board Office, Geraldine, to discuss and take evidence as to the best means of dealing with the small birds nuisance.” GRAVEL RESERVE. Resolved—“ That the board’s solicitor be requested to give Mr Nalder notice in writing that unless the arrangement for exchange of gravel reserve be completed at once, the board will resume posasssion of the original gravel reserve.” ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £195 2s 9d were passed for payment.

PROTEGTIVE WORKS

Resolved —“ That the Geraldine Road Board, learning that it is the intention of the Geraldine County Council to spend county funds in protective works at the Tengawai river, and according to evidence these works are for the protection of private property, and not the bridges, therefore this board strongly objects to the county funds being thus spent, and further, in the event of the expenditure taking place this board will force its claim for protective works erected immediately above the Orari bridge at a cost of over £‘500.” The board then rose,,