TEMUKA ROAD BOARD.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2740, 4 January 1882, Page 2

TEMUKA ROAD BOARD.

- ANNUAL MEETING. ‘ The annual meeting of ratepayers of the Temuka Eoad District was held yesterday at the Road Board office, about forty being present! - i The first-business was the nomination of members to fill three spats on the Board, when the follo wing were proposed and seconded ; Messrs R. A. Barker, Sißuxton,' J; Talbot, J'.Atistih, W; Walker, and-J. T. M.'-.Hayhurst. A poll will be taken on Jan. 10. The Chairman, Mr J. Talbot, then read the report of the Board’s business during theipait year.l' ?Aftei? irdferring to the steps taken to reduce the office expenditure the report proceeded : ■ “ The works completed during the year comprise 7 miles 69 chains ).lformation, 7 miles 43 chains of .shingling, 71 chains formation ‘of footpaths, 98 chains shingling of footpaths, 74 chains asphalting, also three bridges." There are in progress about2£ miles formation; and 17 chains ,of shingling ,and other small works.' There 5 ' has" also been carried out under the Board during the year a work of considerable magnitude and of .the greatest public utlility, namely, the construction p£ a bridge across the river Opihi on the main road. The importance of the work to this district cannot be over-esti-mated, and its completion is a matter for sincere congratulation. The Board have been.greatly* importuned during some portions of the year to provide day work for, a -number, of-residents; unemployed, and the question hag been of a rather troublesome character, as in addition to the objectionable nature of doing work in this way, a number of the :; men „ ape-total],y ; .unfitted; and,,,-in-capable of doing' a fair d ay’s ?work.! In order, however, to mee't the' as far as possible, a number were-put bn at a job that would otherwise have been let by tender, but the ‘result was hot satisfactory. Another method has lately been adopted which’ promises to be more successful, namely, to set a value on some suitable work, such as cleaning drains and letting applicants have portions. This plan, while finding work for . those who ,aro. n anxious s to obtain it, will also ensure .the Board a fair return for' the I’expenditure. 1 ’expenditure.

. • -K ~ In the matter of the drainage of the township, the Board are fully, alive to the necessity that exists for some bettor system, and overtures have been made to the townspeople for assistance to bring in a flow of vyater for.§anitai;y pUpppsbs. From data obtained by the Board, they are of opinion that an expenditure of about £IOOO would meet all requirements. The bulk of the money would, of course, require to be raised by special rate, but the Board has been• ; willing-to subsidise the fund to some extent, besides carrying out the work, in recog- ' nition of its responsibility as guardians of the public health. ; ‘The scheino which the Board ■ would; propose, if adopted would moreover'give ah- ample supply ..of water for,; the use.-of; the fire engine. The Board commenced the year with a balance to credit of £10,155 18s, and tho... receipts for the year.-from all sources were £7302 6s, beiug-a tptal of ,£17,457 expenditure;has, heea £l'l,o2S sii'"Ul<V leaving a balance in hand of £6434 2s Id. A largo portion ,of the - receipts rand expenditure must bo considered as special, on account of tho receipt from the County r 'ouncil for the Opilii Bridge of £5268 lx«2d, which with contractor’s deposit £2G2, made a total of £5530 Tis 2d. The expenditure up to date, with contractors’ deposits returned, is £6504 Da tkl, boiug an expenditure by (ho Board in excess of receipts on this

amount of £1033 17s 7d. It will thus be seen that the receipts on ordinary account have been £2071 13s lOd, and the expenditure £4458 16s 2d.”