TEMUKA ROAD BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1496, 7 October 1886, Page 2

TEMUKA ROAD BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Tetnuka Koad Board was held on Tuesday last. Present—Messrs J. Talbot (Chairman), J. T. M. Hayhurst, M. Quinn, and G. Cftnavan. ♦ MINUTES. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. THE LATE MR PATERSON. The Chairman Baid Bince lapt meeting, as they were a* are, theyhad lost one of their members by death—Mr John Paterson having been removed from among Wiem. He was sure they would all agree thej had lost one of their most ÜBeful and respected members, and the district had lost a valued resident. This was the first time since he had been connected with the Board that death had occurred on it. He was sure they must all regret Mr Paterson's untimely death. Mr Quinn said he. was sure he might remark that Mr Paterson had been universally liked by all the residents in Temuka districts, and he would move that the Clerk be instructed to write a letter of condolence to his relatives, which all the members should sign. Mr Paterson had been for many years a member of the Board and he thought that nothing lees should be done.

The Chairman said he approved of the suggestion, and it was unanimously agreed to. chairman's statement.

The Chairman said that he believed a deputation from the Arowhenua Town Board was to wait on them. It had been arranged that he should meat the Chairman of the Town Board the previous night, but the weather was so wet that he did not come over. The meeting was for the purpose of coming to an arrangement of the matters between the two Boards. He had instructed the Clerk to prepare a statement, and this showed the rateable value in the Arowhenua Town district to be about £20,000, while the rateable value of the property in the whole Eoad Board district Jvas about £700,000. The assets of the Board when the Town Board was constituted were valued at £906 lGs, and the liabilities £77 14s lid. The ba'ance of assets over liabilities was thus about £BOO, and the proportion the Arowhenua Town Board was entitled to would be about a 32nd part, £25. He | might remark that steps for aa election'

of a member in the place of the lute Mr Paterson would have to be taken. ACCOUNT?, Ac uunts to the amount of £137 6a 8d were pussed for payment. COREESPONDENCE. The following correspondence was read aod considered : From Mr J. E. Ackroyd, re water standing near bis gate, and requesting that the matter might be further considered, giving reasons why this should be done. He aIBO suggested that a light coat of shingles hould be put on the road at that place, it being very slippery after rain.—ln reply to a question, the Overseer said it would only be a small matter to do what Mr Ackroyd asked for now. Uy the road being formed it hud kept the vmter in one place. Before the road was formed he believed the water had run over several paddocks. He did not know whether if Mr Ackroyd's suggestion were carried out it would remedy the matter altogether. It was a very difficult place, as there was no fall. The only way would be to widen the drain.- After some further remarks by the Chairman, the matter was left for the Overseer to report on at next meeting.

From Mrs Sarah Daley, acknowledging receipt of the Clerk's letter re gorse. She had attempted to do it herself, but was laid up afterwards. If the Board would do it this time she would try and keep it clear in future. -Decided to adhere to the decision given at last Board meeting. Enpassant the Chairman remarked that he svas afraid the gorse nuisance was getting worse on the whole.—Mr Quinn thought not. The Kakahu road had been cleared. —The Chairman said he noticed also that the Waitohi road was improved. From Mr Lewis, Rangitata, again applying for the use of Francis street, Rangitata, stating that in conversation with sheep owners aod others they had expressed the opinion that the right-of-way was not needed.—The Chairman said he thought it had been arranged at a former meeting that Mr Lewii should have the use of the road temporarily, but it was found that owing to a misunderstanding Mr Lewis had not been notified. —lt was then decided that Mr Lewis should be informed that the Board offer bo objection to his using the street and keeping it closed until notified that it must be opened.—Mr Canayan pointed out that at present persons used land belonging to the railway, but this might be Btopped at any time.

From Mr P. W. McCaskill, asking the Board to substitute his name for Miles, Archer and Oo.'s on the rate roll for section 12737 at Winchester.— Alteration couseoted to on the understanding that both parties agreed to it. From Mr R. A. Barker, Chairman of the South Orari River Board, informing the Road Board that the River Board had passed a standing order striking a rate of id iQ the £on the rateable property in their district, and requesting that the Road Board would collect it as usual.— The matter was left to the Chairman and the Clerk to take the necessary steps. From Mr W. Strips, on behalf of the Ueraldine Road Board, drawing attention of the Board to (1) the necessity of replacing two old timber culverts, one with concrete and one with pipes; (2) the advisability, or otherwise, of extending Sharp's bridge, there now being a gap of 30 feet between bridge and terrace ; and (3) the diversion of boundary road as per sketch enclosed, or protective works where the river has encroached. The culverts he proposed calling tenders for at once as no doubt they must be built. In reference to Sharp's bridge he did not think it would be advisable to extend it to make it passable for stock, as the river would probably leave its present course. He had made it passable for foot passengers. Be the place where the river was encroaching on the road, he thought it would be advisable to divert the road on to the educational reserve, rather than incurred a large expenditure in endeavoring to protect the road, which might not answer the purpose, as the river would probably attack some other point.—The Chairman said it wis questionable if the Board should consent to the diversion of the road until the river had actually washed the present on away. In all probability it would do so, but it might not, as the river might change its course, and the Board would look very foolish then. He thought it would be better to get Mr Kelland to consent to a diversion of the road line in case the river did wash the present one away.—The oversaer said it might be years before the bridge was useless, but it would probably want lengthening after every fresh. It was of great use to foot passengers. It would be too costly a work to protect the bank. He thought a good deal of the damage done to the bridge lately was owing to some booms, which had been fastened beside the bank near Sharp's as a protection, getting adrift, and catching against the piles.—lt was decided that the Board agree to keep Sharp's bridge open foot passengers and think the steps the Geraldine Board have taken will meet the case. In the matter of the river encroachment, the Temuka Board suggest that no steps be taken until it is seen if the river will take the road away altogether, and that Mr Kelland be asked if he would be willing in case of the road being taken away to allow the traffic through his land. With reference to the expenditure on culverts the Temuka Road Board consents to it.

A notification from the Deputy Assignee informed the Board of the Bankruptcy of Mr W. Wheelband, and elicited some discussion, as an amount was due to the Board for rates. —The Chairman said ha bdlieved the Board could come on the person holding the land for the rates, but no doubt it would be some trouble.— Members agreed that some steps should be taken, and the matter was left in the hands of the Chairman to make enquiries. From Mr J. H. Baker, Commissioner of Crown Lands, Christchurch, stating that owing to pressure of business the vesting of reserves in the Board had been held over, but the work would be taken in hand as soon as possible. The grant of reserve in connection with exchanging of land with Mr Hayhurst would be prepared when a Burvey of the boundary of the reserve had been made—probably in the course of a few weeks.

From Mr F. W. Stubbs, Clerk to the Geraldine County Council, enquiring whether the Board had received balance of subsidy from Government, and if so how much 1- -The Clerk said he had attended to the matter.

From Mr Shiers, Overseer Geraldine Road Board, forwarding copy of map of the Geraldine District and requesting one

of the Temuka district.—The Clerk said he had forwarded the map applied for. From the Treasury, Wellington, stating that £l4 3s 4d had been paid to the credit of the Board in the Bank of N.Z. for rates on Crown Lands for year 1885-6. TENDERS. Tbe following tenders «rere dealt with : Contract No. 73—Lengthening; Temuka Footbridge: R. Latimer, £B7 10s; J. Mclnnes, £59 14« ; W. Fletcher, £54 lis; Comer and Larcombe, £52 (accepted). Contract No. 70—Cleaning drain near Ureenaway's : J. Roddick, £ls 6s ; Job. Simpson, £7 17s 6d ; P. Francis £7 (accepted). Contract No. 71—Enlarging Canal drain : T. Smull, £63 143; J. McGratb, £29 13s 8d (accepted). For Nos. 69 (cleaning watertables, etc., at cuttings, Waitohi) and 72 (building culvert, Milford road) no tenders were received. overseer's report. The Overseer's report was read and considered : " October 4th, 1886. "To the Chairman. " Sir,—As directed at last meeting I have during the month called tenders for forming 147 chains' of the road by the school at Rangitata, and for cleariag tussocks from the Island road. For the formation the tender of Mr J. Fiefield, at 6s per chain, was accepted, and that of Mr H. Watts, at £7, for clearing tussocks, etc. —The contractor for contract No. 66, making a cuttine-, Palmer's road, declined to proceed with this work, I let the contract to W. Davidson, who has since completed it.—Tenders have been invited for the works authorised to be done.—As directed I have carefully examined tbe ground at Milford witb a view of getting the water from the creek by Colville's without building a culvert across the Milford and Seadown road. I find that by deepening a ditch that runs by Mrs Moul ton's section, the water that the present pipe culvert cannot take will go down wbat has evidently been its natural course. The cost of this work would not exceed £—. Mr Hayhurst, the owner of the land, haß consented to the deepening of the drain, but as I have not yet been able to see the occupier I have not taken any steps to get tbt work done. —Mr Fraser's application: In regard to this application, I would recommend that the creek be deepened for a short distance near Mr Meyer's stable, and cleaned out for about three chainß below the bridge. This would allow the flood water to get away quicker than it 1 does at present, and would probably lower the water about one foot at the bridge. The cost would not exceed £—. I have examined the bridges on the road near Mr F. Barker's, and find that two of them are temporary bridges built on sills laid on the ground. I believe, however, they are good enough to meet the requirements of this season's traffic. They will probably require removing next winter, when 1 would recommend that one bridge be built to take tbe place of three already on the road.—l have examined the place where the culvert is asked for by Messrs Swaney Bros., and find the culvert is required by them to take the water from the land they occnpy. To do this a pipe culvert would have to be put across the road, and a drain in Mr Rees Thomas' land would have to be deepened. The cost would be about £ —. The present arrangements are : the water rnns out of Swaney's land to the road, then along the road for a few chains, then along an old watercourse in Swaney's land and across the road to the river,—ln company with the Overseer of the Geraldine Road Board I have inspected the culverts on tbe Bouodary road, Sharp's bridge, and the place where the river is encroaching above Kelland's. I find the wooden culverts are quite rotten, and require raplaoing at once. Sharp's bridge has been made passable for foot passengers. 1 do not think it would be advisable to extend it as a stock bridge at present, as there is every probability of the river encroaching mora on the west bank. With regard to the encroachment of the river beyond Kelland's, I find the river is now just on the boundary line of the road reserve, and the next flood is almost sure to takeaway part of the ro»d. —Before calling tenders for widening the Canal drain, I examined it carefully in company with Mr Wareing, who pointed out to me all the places where the water overflowed. I have therefore provided for widening the drain for the whole length between the culvert on the Mill road and the bridge on the Boiling Down road, with the exception of 2£ chains near the culvert.—l am, etc., " P. Archer." Be Mr Eraser's application and the bridges on Mr F. Barker's road, the Overseer's recommendations were agreed to. Be Messrs Swaney Bros.' application, the Board decided that they were not justified in taking any action. Stewart's road. Mr C. Bissett waited on the Board stating that he wanted something done to the road known as Stewart's Road, which was in a horrid mess and had been so all the winter. In reply to the Chairman he said it was not formed i —The Overseer said the road was through a grass paddock, and be knew it was very bad. He did not know whether there was very much traffic. It fas a public road.—Mr | Bisset said they were to do something to it two years ago.—Mr Oanavan said he knew the place: the road was all ruts, and very rough.—The mattsr waß left to the Overseer to deal with. THE AROWHENUA TOWN DISTRICT. Messrs E. Lee (Chairman) and Geo. Edgeler whited on the Board as a deputation from the Arowhenua Town Board re matters concerning the two Boards. Mr Lee said it was now nearly two months since the Town Hoard had been constituted, and he supposed they knew thai according to Act ot Parliament they must arrive at a settlement within two months, Until the Boards arrived at a settlement his BoarrJ could not get the amount due on account of deferred payment land. He had received a letter from Mr Baker, stating that there was no authority tor paying the umount over to the Town Board, Mr Baker was wrong. He had gone by the 39th clause of the Special Powers and Contracts Act and that was a mistake. It was plainly stated in the 38th clause that they should have the money. The Chairman said Mr Lee seemed to think that it was offing to the claim made by the Temuka Road Board thai the amouut was withheld. This did not seem to him to be the case as the letter Mr Lee had reoeived plainly »howed the

I Temuka Road Boards claim had nothing to do with it.

Mr Lee said if tbe Temuka Road Board made a claim to tbe Colonial Treasury for money claimed by the Town Board tbey would not know who to pay tbo money to. It was not likely they would pay the money « hile the two claims weie in.

Mr Talbot said the principle the Board went on in dealing with the Temuka Town Board was to make up an estimate of the property of the Board and then divide the proceeds in proportion to the rateable value. It soimed ,to him they would have to do the' same in dealing with the Arowhenua Town Board. He had got the Clerk to make up a statement of the assets and liabilities of the Board at the time the Town Board was constituted. He then read a statement of assets and liabilities of the Board on July 22nd, 1886, the assets, including office, (£600), timber, balance of subsidy, etc., being £906 16s ; and the liabilities £76 153 lid, leaving a balance of £829 0a Id, Mr Lee asked what proportion Aro* whenua was entitled to.

The Chairman said from a statement compiled by the Cleik it appeared there w«re 180 property holders in trowhenua, the value of whose property was £19,582 nearly £20,000, and they would be entitled so aflbut a 32nd past of the Board's assets. ' ---- * Mr Lef> said that in proportion'as they were rated he supposed they would claim a proportioa of the property. It would ba w«ll before they west into that to consider the Road Board had received a large revenue from Arowhenua for yearg, The township was now started without* penny of funds, and he hoped they would be as liberal as possible. He had got a letter from Mr Baker, and from-it he be* lievod that thnre had been rather over £SOOO worth of land sold for cash, and the Board had received something for that. Then there w as the rates, and be thought they might well be taken at £25 a year for ten years. The Chairman said he did not think so. There were 180 ratepayers, the amounts were small, and it was a great deal of trouble to collect such money, Mr Lee said that was a rsason why they should be all the more lenient with them. He could not see that they had any claim on the Village Settlement at all. Mr Edgeler had said that there had not been more that £3O spent in tbe settle* ment since it was formed, and the Board had received money for cash land sales and rates.

Mr Talbot said they must understand the Board was only claiming on the deferred payment sales. Mr Lee aaid he did not think they had received a penny from Temuka on account of laori sdes where they had rereceived a pound from Arowhenua.

Mr Talbot said be was. not aware they bad received a single penny from tha Arowhenua district.

Mr Hayhurst said it was not a matter of favoring the Tf>wn Board, the Road Board must do what was right. Mr Lee said the Road Board had already received £IBO7, as bne-fouith of the cash land sales in Arowhenua.

Mr Edgeler said if the Board bad not got the one-f onrth it was btill due. MrQuinn said, allowing, for the sake of argument, that the Board wished to be lenient or libaral, they could not be so, as theylmust do justice to the other rate* payers. <*~

Mr Lee said the public had no claim to the money. The amonnt accruing waa bound to b« spent in the Village Settlement. The Act was plain. Mr Hayhurst said the village settlement was only a small portion of the Arowhenua Town District.

Mr Talb.ct said it was not by any meant certain that their claim would be allowed, but if it was he thought it was only right the Board should be paid for the work they had done in the district.

After some further conversation Mr Lee said for his part he would be willing to give up tbe claim to the 32nd part of the Road Board's property if the Board would forego their claim. The Chairman said the Board had decided to give them the amount they were entitled to, £25, and lit their claim against the deferred payment fund regain over, and a resolution to that effect wai proposed by Mr Hayhnrst, seconded by Mr (Juinn, nnd carried. To ttiis arrangement Messrs Lee and Edgeler objected, arguing that it would be better to settle the matter themselves than to leave it to arbitrators. Tbe Chairman and other members of the Board were of opinion that no arbitrators would be wanted, and if the Town Board called one in they would have to pay for it. They were willing to give the Town Board a fair share of the Board's assets, and their claim would be either allowed or dis- /( allowed as the authorities in Wellington " —who had full particulars before them—thought was right. In reply to Mr Hayhurst; Mr Lee said his Board had not yet applied for the money, as they wished to settle with the Road Board .first. The Road Board had not said how they made up their claim for £l4O. If part of it wm for tbe bridge in Maude street, he would state it was built before the village settle* ment was in existence, He would like to know how they arrived at the amount* The Clerk said the bridge was built in 1879.

Mr Canavan thousrH the matter coald be as well settled a t Wellington as here. The authorities there would treat the Boards impartially.

Mr Hayhurst said supposing the claim were allowed, of which he was doubtful, the Town Board would be entitled to a 32nd part of it.

Mr Lee wished to know why the Board had not made any claim for, fire years. The Chairman said it had been overlooked. \ Mr Lee in that case must say the Boardr had neglected its duty. Mr Quinn said they would accept the rebuke in the spirit in which it was gifen. Mr Lee said they would accept the £25 offered by the Boad Board, and thought they had better come to some arrangement in reference to the othw matter. 3ome more argument ensued, and the Olerk was authorised to preparer and hand to the Town Board a statement " of how the Eoad Board's claim was arrived at. The deputation then withdrew and tha meeting terminated.