TEMUKA ROAD BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2708, 6 September 1894, Page 3

TEMUKA ROAD BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the above board was held last Tuesday. - Present— Messrs Talbot (chairman), Coira, and Parke. CORRESPONDENCE. Correspondence was read and dealt with as follows: o „ From Messrs P. W. Hutton & Co., in reN.Z. Statutes; From the Trustees Agency, declining to 5y rates as the property did not belong r Hawdon. From the Secretary Timaru Harbor Board, enclosing plans of a survey of shingle in Timaru taken on the 15th of August. From the County Council, covering cheque for £l9l 5s 7d for subsidy. From the Accident Insurance Company in re policies. From the clerk to the County Council, demanding £270 2s 7d for Harbor Board rates.—Ordered to stand over until next meeting. SUGGESTED SOLUTION OP THE UNEM-

PLOYID ” IROBLEBI. A letter was read from the Linwood Borough Council, asking the board to provide work for the unemployed by getting a subsidy of £ for £, and also to bring pressure to bear on the Government to settle the unemployed difficulty. The following circular was also read : “Linwood, July, 1894. “ The Linwood Borough Council, having communicated with the Christchurch Charitable Aid Board on the subject of the poor being placed on the lands of the colony by the Government, the board approved of the suggestion, and advised this council to communicate with other public bodies, askidg them to unite in pressing this matter upon the Government. “ The council|»as sketched out a form in which it might be put before the Government, and would ask you to approve of the suggestions, or to make any, alterations which may appears to you would be of service in helping to early it successfully with the Government. The council wishes it to be understood that it believes that placing the “ Unemployed ” on the land is the only permanent remedy for the charitable aid and unemployed question, which is becoming so serious. “ That France adopted it many years ago, and has now twenty millions of landholders; that Germany has done so recently and very successfully; that England is now engaged, through General Booth and many others, in establishing Labor Colonies ; that Victoria and South Australia are eagaged in it; that already many hundreds have been put on land in New Zealand, are proofs that it can be accomplished. “ The council’s proposals are as follows: , , . . “1. That the unemployed be placed upon blocks of land of an area suitable to the size of the families requiring such help—say from three up to thirty acres —the land to be of good soil, and as near to a railway as possible, u 2, That wooden houses should be built with from two to five rooms. “ 3. That provisions for a few mouths should be supplied, bat no longer than is required for crops to be produced, “4, That as far as possible these settlers should bo advised and urged to co-operate in their work for their general good,

«5. That where necessary public schools should be established. « 6. That nothing should be allowed to be established in the settlements of a public character which would encourage the settlers to waste their money or injure their persons, “ 7. That leases should be granted at a small rental for a term of years, with right of renewal. « 8. That such farms should be called the ‘ State Farms of New Zealand,’ and supervised in such manner as the Government may find most suitable. «9. That the persons who shall be allowed to take up such farms be old and infirm people, who are without means or friends, and men with families, who are without means and without regular employment. “10. That all who are in distress be advised to go on the land or leave the colony. “11. That this shall be considered as the colony’s best and only offer as relief for its needy poor. “At the death of any State Farm settler without family, the Government should bo the Executor, At death of any who have families, if it shall be thought fit by the supervisors, they can allow any member or members of such family to carry on the lease. At the death of any having families whom the supervisors consider not requiring the farm, or for any other reason satisfactory to them, as not fit to have it, they shall give to the family the value of the improvements made by the deceased tenant. The renewal of the lease should be made subject to the judgment of the Government. “ It must be borne in mind that by this scheme the poor are provided for, and that the country is making a valuable asset by improving the land of the colony. “John R. Brunt, “ Mayor.”

The chairman said they could not discuss the subject as they had not a full board. He did not think it any use to settle people on the land who had no capital. With regard to the proposal to subsidise £1 for £1 it was a practicable scheme, but he did not think the Government would do it. The local bodies would spend the money to save their own rates. If anything like that were done the Government should do it.—The letters were ordered to be acknowledged. TENDERS. Tenders were opened and dealt with as follows:—Contract No. 11. Shingling road near Stumps: P. O’Mara, IslOd; Bennett & Murphy, Is 7d; J. Davis, Is 4d; M. Lawlor, Is l*d; Walsh, Foley, & Keeffe, 11 Jd (accepted). Contract No.l2.—Formation, Rangitata South: M. Lawlor, 12s per chain.—Fresh tenders to be called. Contract No, 13. Formation near Cadwallader’s: M. Lawlor, lls per chain. The overseer said he had often been asked for old planks, but it was better not to sell them, as they came in handy for cutting up. He thought it would be well to get a traction engine to run over the newly metalled road between Winchester and Orari,—Mr Archer was authorised to do the work. overseer’s report.

The overseer’s report was read and dealt with as follows :

“ To the chairman, “ Sib, —I have the honor to report for the past month as follows :—Shingling from Stumps Farm to Ohapi Creek, near Mr Gladstone’s; formation at South Rangitata; and formation near Mr Cadwallader’s, Rangitata,—The contractor for shingle repairs has been engaged during the last eight days on the road running past Mr Stewart’s to Orari river; a culvert on the Boundary road has been renewed, and general surface work done by the daymen. —After obtaining Mr M. Hullen ’s consent, I have drained the waterhole referred to by Mr D. S. Pearse by putting about 20 feet of small pipes in Mr Hullen’s land. This hole now requires a few days work doing to it.—Re Mr Dorward’s application to have water supply works done out of “ thirds ” accruing from his section. 1 have seen Mr Dorward with regard to this matter, and have been over the line of proposed race with him. About 180 chains of race requires to be made, and the cost of this length will probably be about £ . 1 cannot say how much more will require te be made across other sections until I have had an opportunity of seeing a plan of the Orari-Rangitata water races. I find that there has not yet been any “ thirds ” paid to the board on account of Mr Dorward’s section. —As this is a good time of year to have formation done, I would suggest that tenders be invited at next meeting for forming the road running from Newland’s to what is known as the German’s Corner.—l intend to make a start during this month with - the bridges on the Milford road.—l have, etc., “F. Archer.”

Tenders were ordered to be called for forming a road from Newland’s to Genman’s Corner, and this being all the business the meeting adjourned.