RUAD BOARD MEETINGS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3110, 21 June 1892, Page 3

RUAD BOARD MEETINGS.

TAOTAOKUA UOAI'.ll. TIIK above Board unit at. the Criterion Hotel, Cambridge, on Saturday, at 11 a.m. VriiKpnb : Messrs S. Seddon (chairman), H. 11. Brunskill, and H. .). Tumor. The I ininutus of the previous meeting were ivuil and duly confirmed. Ukiwiils.—Attention mn called to the bad state of a road near liriilgewater ga'<-, where the water is causing damage by (lowing clown the roadwiiy. —Tlib Chairman was authorised to have the necessary repair* executed. Batumi's Statutes. —It was reiolved to purchase a copy of that portion of Batger's statutes that relate t-i li.cal bodies for tho use of tho Board. Accodsts.—The only other business .\ms the passing of accounts, which were as follows :—T. Wattam, £2 ;W. Souter and Co., 7s (id ; and tho clerk, £5. FuiTKK Mkktincs.—ll a.m. being rather too early f.u , tho majority of the members, it was ■β-solvcd to alter the time, and in the future the Board will meet at noon ou the third Saturday in each month. rAMURIDGK ROAD 110A1U). The above body met at Cambridge on Saturday, at 13.30 p.m. Present : Messrs J. Forrest (chairman), J. Tavlor, J. H. Paton, and M. 11. Pickering. The minutes of the previous meeting were raid and confirmed. Destruction' ok Bums.—The Agricultural Department forwarded a copy of " The Small Birds Nuisance Act, 1891,'and urged the Board to agree with adjoining local bodies to take concerted action upon a certain day. The Act empowers local bodies to spend as much as they think #t out of their general funds for the purpose of poisoning birds : or they may make a special or separate rate (not exceeding one-sixteenth of a penny in the £), for the purpone, without consulting the ratepayers. Poisoned grain may be laid upon public wiads or reserves, but not nearer than 220 yards from an inhabited dwelling. The inspectors of sheep, etc., are also inspectors under this Act, and should any of them report that it is necessary that the birds in a district should be destroyed, the local Board will be compelled to lay poisoned grain.— The Chairman said he should not favour •he small birds being poisoned, for b* | thought them more a blessing than a niusance. Twelve or fourteen years atro they hail poisoned the birds, and he thought ereryone wished they had not done so for the following years they were deluged with caterpillars.—The other members appeared to hold similar opinions and the matter Batgkr's Statutes.—The Board decided to purchase two copies of Batger's Statutes relating to local bodies. Crawford's Gully.— Mγ Pickering stud ■the trees on the sides of this gully needed topping as they obstructed the view and made the place dangerous to drivers of vehicles.—He was authorised to have the t*ees on the East side of the gully lopped. Thk Mais Koatj.—Tenders for gravelling •he main road had been called and the chairman was about to open them, when Mr Pickering said he thought it wonld be beat not to open them aa the advertisement oalling for the tenders had specified that the work was to be dona on the Cambridge end of theroai—The Chairman said they all knew that the work agreed to be done was between Mr Main's gate and the Cambridge boundary, and that certainly was the Cambridge end of the road.—Mr Pickering said the road from the Taniahere store on past Mr B. Ewen's also needed repairing.—The Chairman said the portion Mr Pickering referred to was a good sound road; he admitted it was a bit lumpy, but the Board did not profess to, and could not, keep the road in as good condition as a gentleman's carriage drive. There was about six chains that needed repairins, but that was a small matter. Mr Pickering had charge of that end of the road and when he wanted anything done, the other members always supported him ; in fast there was a bill for repairs to that end of the road most months. If it was necessary, let Mr Pickering move that tenders be Bailed for repairing the Tamahere end of ♦he main road, but he (the chairman) failed to see what could be gained by not opening those now to hand.—Mr Pickering still objected, and moved: That the tenders be not opened.—The motion lapsed for want of a seconder, and the tenders were then opened and proved as follows:—Smith and Bennett. 2s Id per cubic yard : T. Vennell, Is 6d per cubic yard ; R. Crickett, Is 3d per cubic yard ; C. Crouch, lOJrt up to 1000 yards, over that amount 10M. Mr Crouch s tender was accepted.—Mr H. Fitzgerald was employed at 6s per day to spread the gravel and supervise the work on the Board's behalf.

Public Drains.— MrH. Ferguson wrote, asking the Board to assist him in clearing out the public druin near Crouch s farm. About 25 chains had been done at :v coat of 29 per chain, and he thought the Board could fairly be asked to bear half the expenses.—l ho Chairman thought they should have to fret an Act passed compelling owners of farms adjoining drains to clear them out, for some farmers did not cleanse their portion and caused the water to backup and flood their neighbours. He did not a»ree with the Board cleansing the drains, but the stulf thrown out should be spread on the road, and he moved that 15s or £1 be (.'ranted Mr Ferguson, to do the spreading.—Mr Pickering said it would be onucking money awny ; what Mr Ferguson had done was for his own benefit and the stuff was not worth spreading for it was a sort of Mub mud.—Mr Forrest: "Sand. —Mr Pickering: "No ! mud."—Mr Pat»n said the staff was lying on the side of the ro;id »ud should be removed.—The clerk said if fche ditch was on the road, anyone interfering with it without the consent ot the Board was liable to be fined £5.-The Chairman s motion not being seconded, it lapsed and the next business was proceeded with. Thb Dkain Aoain.—Mr Pickering said the public drain near Mr Selbys was so OTOrgrown with fern that it could not bo seen, and caHle or sheep that were heing driven along the road were very liable to tumble into it.—Mr Taylor also bora testimony to the overgrown state of the drain reforred to.—The Chairman : " Ah ! now it comes home to you. This is the same drain, only a little further down. Y>n would allow a fit) acre settler to be swmnped and not render him assistance even to the Bitent of lus ; but when cattle and shnep tumble into the drain that is quite another matter and must, be attended to."—On the motion of Mr Pickering, seconded by Mr Paton, it was resolved to have the fern on the sides and edges of the drain cut. Rath.— A general rate of ;fd in the £ was struck, . .j i,. ■, Willows.—Mr Pickering said the willows near the Narrow's bridge should be killed or they would choke up tha culvert with their roots.—No action was taken in this matter as the owners of the trees will have to be consulted. Accounts.—The following accounts were paused for payment:—T. Crouch, £4 16s; JCirikiriroa Road Board, £110s ;T. Pennell, £117 a ; the clerk, £5. . An Absent Mkmbrii.— The Chairman s»id one of their members, Mr Jas. Bailey, had left the district, and he would like the clerk to write and ask Mr Bailey if ho wished to retain his seat.—The other members thought it would be better to let the seat become vacant by the nfflnxion of time ; but Mr Forrest said he should like a full meeting, for if ho could not get on better than he had done that day, he should certainly not think of continuing to occupy the chair.—The clerk was then instructed Vo ascertain Mr Bailey's views upon the subject, Ihis was all the business.