GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1478, 11 March 1886, Page 3

GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

The monthly meeting of this Board was held on Tuesday. Present—Messrs F. R. Flatman, J. Kelland, R. H. Postlethwaite, and W. Deßenzy. In the absence of the Chairman, Mr Flatman took the chair.

MINUTES. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. TENDERS. The following tenders were opened and considered ; Contract No. 176; Improving ford near Chapman’s, Geraldine Uoad—Thos. Markham, £3l; Jos. Webb, £3l; A. Reid, £29 10s ; Jas. Beckley, £27 10s ; E. O’Connor, £2610s ; W. Fleteher and Co., £2515s ;M. Lawlor, £23 10s. The tender of M. Lawlor was accepted, on condition that he pay the full amount of the necessary deposit. CORRESPONDENCE. The following correspondence was read and discussed ; From R. Hammond, Rhubard Flat, asking permission to erect a slaughteryard on section No. 3929, and stating that he had taken tbe necessary steps in regard to advertising the application for the same. —Granted, the slaughter-house to be erected five chains from the road.

From Mr A. Reid, asking for two weeks’ extension of time on his contract at Gapes’ Yalley, he having been delayed through harvest operations. —Granted. From W. L. Duncan, applying for position as ranger to the Board.—Tenders for ranger having been closed last Board day, the application was put aside, members remarking that it appeared the tiie applicant was trying to take a rise oat of the Board.

From the Hon. L. Walker, and others, petitioning the Board to place a footbridge over the north branch of the Hae-bae-te-moana at Captain Temple’s. —The Board declined to entertain the petition, as they did not consider the amount of foot traffic across the river at this point would warrant the Board in expending the sura which would be required to erect a footbridge. From the Geraldine Town Board valuer, forwarding valuation of the Board’s property in the Town District. From the Treasury, Wellington, stating that (he sum of £62 10a bad been paid to the credit of (be Board, being balance of the subsidy under the Local Bodies Finance and Powers Act 3885.

From Win. Bell, and six others, Orari Flat, petitioning the Board to open the road between Mr Plummer’s and Mr Deßonzy’s. —Mr Deßenzy spoke in favor of the road being opened.—Members considered that as this road was part of the Boundary Road it would be advisable, before further steps were taken, that the matter be referred to the Temuka Road Board for their consent. —Mr Bell’s offer to do the work for a stated sum was not entertained.

From Wm. Hide, and six others, asking the Board to lower and shingle the cutting above Mr Squire’s house, Gapes’ Valley, as it was unsafe for traffic.—The Board agreed to shingle the cutting where required, but declined to lower it.

From the Geraldine County Council, declining to tar the Geraldine Traffic Bridge, as the cost would be more than the probable benefit. The Overseer stated be had informed the Council that the cost would not exceed and from the t°ne °f thp Councils letter he thought there m ust he some misunderstanding,— Mr'Postlelhwaite said he would bring the matter before the Council at their next meeting. From the same, asking the Board to report on the strength of the Orari Bridge, in view of having by-laws prepared in reference to traction engines, T£E RANGER QUESTION A petition \yas laid before the Board signed by Messrs A, Reiman, R, H’ McShane, and 302 others, ratepayers! petitioning the Board to hold over the appointment of a ranger until the annual meeting, or call a public meowing, when the matter could he discussed, and the feeling of the ratepayers tested. Mr Deßenzy thought it would be better to leave it for the annual meeting to decide than to call a public meeting, and let notice bo given that it would be discussed.

Mr PostUthwaite said that in tba face of the the petitioq, thpugh it s, long one, the Board should “not shift their responsibility and throvp upon the rate-

puy rs. The petition was only worked up by i few people, and therefore was not toe feeling of the whole of the ratepayers. Other Boards appointed rangers to keep the roads dear of stock, and if an accident .were to happen through stray animals, the Board would bo liable for damages, and then the ratepayers would come and demand why the Board had lost their money in this way. As to the cost of a ranger, the Board had received applications, and found they could get the work done cheaply enough. He asked what was the good of the ratepayers appointing five men to represent them, if they were to call public meetings to discuss matters of this sort.

Mr Kelland held the same opinion as formerly in regard to the appointment of a ranger. He thought more persons would be injured than would receive benefit. Many laboring men who did not get permanent employment were dependent upon a few head of cows to get a living tor themselves and their families, and a ranger would do away with this chance of gaining a living. He was inclined to let the ratepayers settle the matter among themselves. It was a difficult matter, and somewhat unfair to be left to five men to settle. Ho did not think it right to go against public feeling, but considered they should be guided by it. He was quite willing to admit that cattle were a nuisance on the roads, but he did not think it possible for even a ranger t» keep them off. Mr Deßenzy was of opinion the roads ebon Id be kept clear. He did not care about the petition, however long it might be, for, as Mr Poatlethwaite had remarked, it was easy for a few persons to get up one as long as their arms in no time. He, however, was not in favor of a man being paid by driving fees alone, as a trade might be made of this, and people’s gates opened and stock let out on (he roads on purpose. He thought the best way would be to leave the question till the annual meeting, and let the ratepayers take the responsibility out of the hands of the Board. Mr Postlethwaite said Mr Kelland would for the sake of a few poor men put the whole district to annoyance and expense. At the meeting of the Board in January, Mr Kelland proposed that the Board should call for applications for the post of rauger to the Board, as the Board recognised that action was required in the matter. He would ask Mr Kelland the meaning of his seeming inconsistency.

Mr Kelland soid the other members of the Board would bear him out when he stated he was not generally guilty of inconsistency, though on this point there was a semblance of it on his part. When be supported the proposal to appoint a ranger it was through pressure brought to bear upon him by people in his own part of the district, and he was not aware till the matter had been brought forward that the feeling of a largo portion of the ratepayers was against it. It would be in the minds of those present that the wording of the resolution referred to by Mr Postlethwaite was his (Mr Postlethwaite’s). His own was not approved of. He proposed that a man should be paid, but not (hat he should bo allowed to scour the district daily to impound stock. Mr Flatman considered the Board should take some action. He thought it would be a benefit to the district if there were more pounds, and that they should either be erected or the stock-yards at the various accommodation houses in the district utilised for impounding purposes. Unless the district were divided into wards, perhaps it would be impossible to please everyone. He was of opinion that unless more poundage accommodation were provided the pound fees should bo reduced. It often entailed great hardship upon a person whose stock were driflen a distance to the pound, for it was often a considerable time before ho was aware of the fact. He would bo in favor of letting the matter stand over to the annual meeting.

Mr Holland said that according to the present low price of stock and the high pound fees it scarcely paid to release animals after they had been in the pound 24 hours.

The following resolution, proposed by Mr Kelland, seconded by Mr Deßenzy, was then put and carried—“ That the question of appointing a ranger be deferred till the annual meeting of ratepayers, and that the subject be advertised in the local papers.” OVERSEER'S REPORT. The Overseer’s report was then read as follows; “ I have the honor to report for the information of the Board aa under, The works in band have progressed satisfactorily, with the exception of the contract for shingling near Orari Bridge. The contractor has carted off the large stones into the riverbed, instead of breaking them as specified. The work is still incompleted; the time expired on the 20th January last,—l have advertised several of the old timber bridges as being unsafe for the passage of traction engines. Most of these bridges are in the Kakahu district, and were built some years ago, when traction engines were not used ip the district.—The decking of one of these bridges pear Mr A, Patrick’s is rotten, and unsafe for ordinary traffic, and as there is no necessity for a bridge at this place 1 should advise that it be taken out and a small culvert established in its place.— An old timber culvert near Mr Kelland’s requires to be taken out and replaced by a concrete one. —Gapes’ Valley Road } I should recommend tenders be invited next month for spreading the broken metal on Gapes’ Valley Road, before the winter sets in,—l have arranged with Mr Reid for the road deviation at the Beautiful Valley saddle, and the work is now being carried out.—l would ask authority to purchase 100 bushels of feed oats for Board’s cart horse.—l have bad a survey made for a shingle pit at reserve 1191, near Templar’s; also of the road to he abolished in the Raukupuka Bush,—l am, etc., “ William Shirks, u Overseer to the Board.” The following resolutions were passed on the report;— That the contractor for shingling the Orari Road cart the stones on the road again and properly break them before next Board day, or the full fine be inflicted. The work to bo done at Patrick’s and Keiland’s ; tenders to be called for next Board day. The Oveyccor’s recommendation rc (Rapes’ Y ft lley road and his arrangement with Mr Reid re road division was approved. The Overseer was instructed to pqrchasa oats’ It was deeded that po

further Hteps should be taken in regard to the shingle pit until next meeting. peputtiok. Captain To.up e and Mr Mulvnhill waited upon the Board in mpport of the petition for a footbridge over the Hae-bae-te-rnoana opposite the former's residence.

The depuration we r e informed of the decision the Board had come to and after the inutier had been djscus ed with the deputation the Board decided not to deal with the matter at present. JINANOIAL. On the motion of Mr Kelland, seconded by Mr Deßeozy it was resolved that the deposit of £4OO falling due on the 30th inst. should be placed to the current account. ACCOUNTS. Accounts to the amount of £166 3s were passed for payment and the meeting ad* iourned.