PUBLIC MEETING AT CUST.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LII, Issue 5827, 29 October 1879, Page 3

PUBLIC MEETING AT CUST.

PUBLIC CESIBTBBT. On Monday: evening a public meeting of the ratepayers of the Oast Hoad District was held at,the Roai Board office, Oust, for the purpose fit considering the question of the site for a public cemetery, end other; matters in connection with the district. Then were about 40 persons present. Mr B. L. Higgins (Chairman of the Gust Road Board) occupied the chair, and in opening the proceedings, said that, at a meeting of the Cemetery Board held on Oct. 16, some of the members of the Board thought that the site already selected on Poyntz’s road was not so suitable for cemetery purposes as the reserve on Early’s road, and they then decided to convene a public meeting for the ratepayers to consider the question. The Board had made a trial of both sites, and they found that the one on Poyntz’s road consisted entirely of shingle, and though-there was no water in the ordinary depth of a grave, there was every probability of water percolating through in wet seasons. The site on Early’s road was of a clayey nature. He had since then received a requisition asking him to convene a meeting to discuss some other matters in connection with the district, and with a view of studying their convenience he had called the two meetings on the same evening.. (Hear, hear.) Mr J. D. -Dickenson- moved—“ That the Cemetery. Reserve situated on Early’s road be adopted as the site for the Oust public cemetery in lieu of the one on Poyntz’s road. He thought every reasonable person would see-the advantages to be derived from the site he proposed, as the other one was not suitable in any respect. , Mr J. Ruddenklau seconded the resolution, speaking in favour of the proposed site.. Mr W. Cromil moved an amendment—- “ That the site already selected on Poyntz’s road be retained as the public cemetery reserve.” He thought the expense of making the road to the reserve on Early’s road would 'prevent them undertaking to make the latter the public cemetery. . Mr T. B. Howson seconded the amendment. Several of those present spoke in favour of the hew site, and one, or two against; and when the amendment was'put the Chairman declared it carried on the voices. A division was taken on the -subject, when Mr Dickenson’s resolution was camed by 17 to 9. The Chairman said the meeting was open for the discussion.of “ roads and bridges ’’ in accordance with the wording of the requisition.- ■■ BOADB: AND BBIDGBS. Mr Morrison said that as one of those who had signed the requisition' he thought there were mahy things'which had been, done by the Board that had hot given satisfaction, and money had been: spent where it should not. He aUudedj more particularly to the road in front of his gate, on which he alleged there had been a mistake made. The mill had been closed for ah unnecessarily long time, in fact it had hot been Open for more than three months -' during the past twelve months. He also .alluded to the expense of abont £3OO on Hossabk’s boundary road, the whole of which expense had been thrown on to the Oust Board owing to adversion of the road. He moved—That 'the embankment on the. road. near his: property bo removed.” Mr Pace seconded tbs motion. Mr Howson said it was a very difficult matter to come to a public meeting, and call 'into question ‘the laotions of the iheu of their choice. The: members of the Board had been elected by them, and he believed they all, had their confidence. H e had merely spoken to Mr Morrison when passing; about this road; and he thought that the Board would do what'was required, iwithout bringing the matter before the public meeting. : Mr W. Atkinson spoke on the question of the mill bridge, saying 'thst the want of a bridge had beep of considerable loss to several of the ratepayers; and he hoped the Board wohld take it over r and finish it themselves. Thsy had employed an engineer, and this, he thought, wae an unneoessary expense. They had every confidence in the Board, and they •honld undertake the work ae it’ now stands, andjet it dens as soon as possible. / Mr Franz, of the Oust Mills detailed Che extra cost that ; they had incurred in < the carriage of Hour afad produce from the i mills to the railway station. - ' i The Chairman said that with-regard to Mr ■VP. Morrison’scomplaißt,thameßib«rs of the Board praasnt woPld aht ui accordance with the suggestions made. ' On this nnderstanding Mr. Morrison withA djW--hlki«sihlPtiph;<‘''v- ""•■■''-'1..-, ; - The Chairman tbsin eaid that tboßoard ,

* er * J T^t U L a^ are o£ the inconvenience by tf> e bridge across the Oust by the mill being stopped, and were ae anxious as anyone to Jiave the matter remedied, but they were unfortunate in haying Jet the contract and the contractor haring thrown up the job’ the; Board have been placed in rather an awkward predicament. He (the Chairman) had seen Mr Dobson, and the work would have their immediate attention. Mr Dobson had suggested that a heavier pile engine should be procured, and that the piles should be driven by the Board,- and the top work be let by contract. At any rate the fact of the new bridge not being finished was not the Board’s fault.

Mr Morrison proposed a resolution bearing on the subject, but the Chairman atated that the Board would hold a special meeting at once, and carry out the necessary work, Mr T. D. Scott complained that, onacconnt of th® right.of way through Mr Betallick’s paddock being used by the public, the cattle in that paddock (some of which were his) occasionally got oh to the road and were impounded,

A general discussion here ensued on the question of horses and cattle straying on the public roads, during which it transpired that tno Hoad Board had found it necessary to appoint some one to impound cattle off the roads, in consequence of the .damage they did to fences and the inconvenience to owners of stock. There were persons who, with plenty of land, had made a systematic use of the roads for grazing purposes. There being no further business the Chairman declared the meeting closed. Subsequently a meeting of the Cemetery Board was held, and it was decided that the members meet at an early date in the now cemetery, to form an idea of the cost of laying it out suitably, and to arrange for a plan of the ground being made.