ROAD BOARDS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5715, 20 June 1879, Page 6

ROAD BOARDS.

MALYERN. The usual monthly meeting was held on June 6 ; present—All the members Mr Eedfem in the chair.—Correspondence was read from Messrs Hunt, Wallis, and Craighead asking for extension of time to complete their respective contracts, which was granted. —A long discussion took place in reference to the letting of thopound. It was finally resolved, on the motion of Mr Redfern, seconded by Mr Wallace—" That tenders be invited for the office of poundkeopor for a period of seven months, ending on January 81,1880,” thus enabling the ratepayers, at the annual meeting, to express their opinions as to the desirability ot incorporating the duties of olerk and poundkeeper.—Tenders were opened for various works, and one. in each instance, accepted.—Resolved—“ That a sum of £SOOO be placed as a fixed deposit, for twelve months, in the Bank of New Zealand.—The Clerk was instructed to call for tenders for a number of works.—Accounts, amounting to £594 14s 4d., were passed for payment, and the Board adjourned.

oar own aeeord, and hod ss instruction* fr*«i the defendant to signal in that woy. It » custom among ue to signal to each other by setting fire to a tussock. Defendant was neve* present when wo signalled in this way. De* fondant did not supply us with matches with which to light the fires. The packman was one of our party, and ho always moved about with us, wd supplied us with matches or any thing else we require. He it our ootnmis* sariat, in fact. On the occasion in question wo carried our own match#*. Grierson, who was near the bush, signalled to us on tho Tuesday morning about 0 or 6 o'clock. He also tlgnalled about three time* during tho day. He signalled from the bottom of the range, but witneee could not eeo how fa* he wae from the bush. Wo light tho tueeoek* as a signal, and goon. Wo do not wait to put out the fire, ae burning the tuesook* lmproves the run, Grierson was about east of me when ha signalled. The manager at tho station might see the signals, but they wore not intended for him. They were merely lighted to show the shepherds their relative positions when driving. Witneee had been a shepherd in Mr Studholmo’s employ for IS years, and during the whole of that time he had been in the habit of mustering the run in the same manner. |

To Mr Mtoassey i Tho packman spoken of also acts as cook. Witness lighted some of the grass fires himself With matches of bis own. The particular time of year in question’ was suitable enough for burning the run, but: the fires were not lighted on this occasion with the object of burning the run, but merely; of eignaUiug to each other. Day by day,; from Nov. 7 to Nov. 12, witness eaw the, Waimate bush from where he wae. He did; not see that the Area which were lighted; during that time had done any harm.; On November 9 he eaw a fire burning in a place they called Brayshaw’s j bush, which has been called Bruce’s fire by j other witnesses. He was seven or eight miles] off at the time. The fire wae one of somel extent. He could not see it by night; but he ■ saw the smoke by day. When ne saw this fire he was in an elevated position 'on the range, fully 1000 feet above the level of Bruce’s fire. On Nov. 16, the day of the great fire, he was starting out for some more sheep. He had seen Barrett’s mill, bat he did not know much about it. Most of the; shepherds and mustering party smoked. In addition to fires which were lighted as shepherd’s signals, bad often seen other fire* on the run that ho could not aooottnt for. People were in the habit of riding over the run.