TEMUKA ROAD BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1951, 3 October 1889, Page 4

TEMUKA ROAD BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the above board was held on Tuesday at the board’s office. Present —Messrs W. G. A spinal! (in the chair), J. Fraser, W. Snell, 0. Bissett, and John Talbot. MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting and of a special meeting were read and confirmed. ACCOUNTS. Aceounta amounting to £99 4s 5d were passed for payment. ELECTION OE CHAIEMAN. The chairman read a notification from the returning officer notifying the return of Mr John Talbot as a member of the board. He then stated that the next business waa to elect a permanent chairman. The clerk having taken the chair Mr Aspinall said that he had great pleasure in proposing Mr John Talbot as chairman. In doing s® he eulogised Mr Talbot’s past services to the board and to the district, Mr Bissett seconded the motion.

Mr Fraser quite concurred in Mr Aspinall’s remarks, and expressed his satisfaction at seeing Mr Talbot again a member of the board, but he did not think it well that he should he reelected to the chair. He considered it better that Mr Talbot should be retained as it were as “ leading counsel,” so that he might train up one or two to fill the onerous position. Eecent events bad shown them that even chairmen of local bodies were not absolved from paying the debt of Nature, and he considered it well that substitutes should be ready in the event of their chairman resigning from his own free will or from any other cause. He wished it to be distinctly understood that he made these remarks as the result of sincere conviction. On the retirement of Messrs Talbot and Quinn he felt that the board had lost a good deal of administrative talent, and be felt that it would not be well to allow themselves to be left in any such uncertain position again. Mr Snell said that he should support Mr Aspmall’s motion. No further nominations being forthcoming, the clerk put the motion, which was carried. Mr Talbot thanked them for the honor done him. He had previously resigned because he thought he was usurping a position that others ought to fill. After his retirement he was requested by a large number to allow himself to be re-nominated, and he felt it would be wrong to resist. He honored Mr Fraser for his outspokenness, and concurred with many of his remarks. He did not aspire to occupy the position of chairman longer than he felt that he was doing so with the concurrence of his colleagues. He trusted that he would be able to conduct business in an amicable manner as hitherto, Mr Fraser said that Mr Talbot having been elected he could only assure him that his remarks had been made from no selfish or personal motives, and that he (Mr Talbot) would now find no more loyal supporter than himself (the speaker.) CORRESPONDENCE. Correspondence was read as follows: From Mr W. Stewart intimating that Mr Hay would give the board any' information required in respect to roads on his property.—-Deferred till next meeting. From the Property Tax Commissioner forwarding copy of the roll of the Orari Eiver Board District. From the same, requesting that certain alterations might be made on the roll to correct clerical errors,—The clerk bad already done so. From Mr F. LeCren, intimating that he would comply with the requirements of gorse notice if his neighbor on the other side were expected to do likewise, as otherwise the work would be useless.—Mr LeCren to be informed that similar steps would be taken as in his case. From Mr W. Page, offering to rent the gravel reserve near the Winchester bridge.—The board could not entertain the offer. OVERSEER’S REPORT. The overseer submitted the following report 11 To the chairman, — Sir, —I have the honor to report as follows: “ Tenders have been inyited for formation of part of Craujond’s Road (contract No, 12) and for contract No. 9, shingle repairs to Main South Road, from Bioley’s to the Smithfield road. The drain applied for by Messrs Barrat and Tarrant on Middle Swamp Road has been cleaned, crossings have been put oyer drains and creek on the road running through education reserve 1490, and the pipes at the junction of White's Road and Christmas’s Road have been taken up and replaced with a culvert. Re Mr Snell’s application for timber to build a bridge over a creek on the road running between sections Nos, 23160 and 25643. At present Mr Snell has access to section No. 25881, by crossing his ewn land, but should ho have his frontage on the Main Road in crop 1 see no other means of access to the section referred to than by the road running between sections 23160 and 26643. Before this road can be used tor any purpose a bridge would be required. The cost of material would be £—. Kates: £4lB 2s 3d of this year’s rate have been collected up to date, and there is £l3 14s 7d of last year’s rate outstanding.—t have, etc., “fit’. Archer, Overseer.” It was resolved that the material asked for by Mr Snell be granted, applicant to cait same and do the necessary work; EIYEB HOARD BATE. It was resolved that the rate as requested by the Orari Eiver Board j be struck in accordance with the notice already advertised, j