TEMUKA ROAD BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2968, 7 May 1896, Page 4

TEMUKA ROAD BOARD.

Tho monthly meeting was held on Tuesday. Present Messrs J. Talbot (chairman), P. Coira, M. Moore, and F. Parka. Accounts amounting to £IOO 8a 8d wero passed for payment. CORRESPONDENCE. Correspondence was road and dealt with as follows : From Mr J. A. Young, asking that the water channels at Winchester bo cleaned, and applying for a few loads of gravel at specified places.—The work was in hand. FiomMrs Honora Daily, stating that she was unable to get gorse cut in front of her section, as she was in destitute circumstances. It was no use the board trying to drive her.—Mr Talbot made a brief explanation of the positiou, and it was agreed that the overseer got the work done. From Mr W. Stewart, drawing attention to the state of Penny’s road, and to the condition of the cutting leading to the river.—The overseer to attend to the same. From Mr David Hill, applying to the board to retain money on his behalf under the Contractors Liability Act. — The clerk stated that he was keeping back the regular 25 per cent of contract money. Doubtless the matter would bo arranged. From Mr Dorward, stating that Mr Ledgerwood had not completed the water race properly, and was not entitled to any payment. He would advise the overseer when the work is done. From Messrs Whitehead & Son, applying to have their names removed from the roll in respect of R.S. 6383, Epworth, and that of Nicholas & McCallum sub-stituted.—-Agreed to. From Mr B. B. Macdonald, applying to hare his name put on the roll iu inspect of sections on Pakihi Estate, now in the name of H. Ford.—Alteration to be made. A circular from Messrs Brookes re poisoned wheat and oats led to brief discussion.—The overseer was authorised to communicate with the county council, and obtain a few small bags from that body until more definite arrangements are made. From the Crown lands Department, forwarding schedule of “ thirds ” amounting to £ls 8s 3d, accrued to 25th April, to be expended in terms of the Land Acts on the several works approved. From Mr W. Walker, applying to have the name of S. Horton placed on the roll in respect of part R.S. G 383, Epworth. — Referred to Mr Norton. Messrs Orr, Chapman, and other ratepayers, applying to have the road passing Moore’s and Seaton’s shingled.—Agreed to. From Messrs Opie & Son, applying for leave to take a few yards of shingle from a pit at Winchester. —Granted. From the Geraldine County Council, notifying that Mr Dorwood has permission proceed with cutting a waterrace at Rangitata. The council also desired that the overseer inspect certain fords made iu tho water-race district. — The overseer to attend to same. OVERSEER'S REPORT, The overseer’s report was as follows : “ To the Chairman. “ Sir, —1 have tho honor to report for tho past mouth as follows:—Tenders have been invited for Contract No. 4, formation of about 75 chains of raad, Orari and Rangitata Plains (this is one of the works approved by the Laud Board to be jjaid out of “ thirds ”); Contract No. 5, fencing gravel reserve at Orari; Contract No. G, cleaning drain by Education Reserve 1211 ; and No. 2, shiugling ou Waitohi and Kakahu road. Tenders wero invited for this work, and also for shingling part Waitohi main road, and cleaning a drain at Orari during the early part of last month. For cleaning tho drain tho tender of Mr J. Stewart, at Is 4d per chain, and for for raation at Orari and Rangitata plains that of Mr J. Davis, at an average of Is 8d per yard were accepted. There was only one tender for Contract No. 2, and as it was considered rather too high the work was not let. The successful tenderer for shingling Waitohi road has not yet commenced this work. I have had him engaged repairing various roads. Tho contractor for shingling Milford and Beach road has not made auy further progress during tho mouth with this work, although it should have been completed three mouths ago. A good deal of inconvenience has been caused by the non-completion of this job. Owing to the wot weather experienced tho grain carting has cut np the roads a good deal. Tho roads leading from the plains to Temuka have suffered more than any, and 1 have had to keep teams repairing these roads during tho greater part of the month. Works required : A small footbridge near Mr Connell’s on tho Boundary road requires to bo removed. The cost of doing this will bo about £—. A few chains of Beattie’s road, near Mr L\ Seaton’s gate, requires to be reformed ; at present the storm water runs down the centre of it and scours the formation. During the mouth shingle repairs have been done to Rolleston’s road, Winchester and Beach road, Ridge road, Clyue’s road, Boiling-down road, and Winchester road. The last-mentioned road is scoured by water overflowing from the Waihi whenever that river is a little above its normal level, and for this reason it is impossible to keep this road iu anything like docent order. The overflow is made worso than it otherwise would be by the growth of willows on each side of tho river; in some places these willows are laying completely across tho watercourse, Tho removal of tho willows would not prevent the overflow, but if some low places in the bank were filled up and the willows that obstruct tho flow of water removed, tho river would not overflow every time there is a slight fresh in it. As there is a lot of traffic on this road some steps should be taken to prevent tho overflow, or otherwise improve the road. — l have, etc., F. Archer.” The overseer was instructed to notify tho contractor for shingling at Milford that ho must push on with Iho work as soon as weather permits. It was agreed tiiat tho members of the board make a personal inspection of tho positiou of tho river at Wailii, near Winchester, of the crossing at Mr Palmer’s, and of tho bridge at Kakahu. Tho contractor for shingling at Waitohi to be informed that if his contract is not completed in specified time ho may have the penalties enforced. It was agreed to have fho work in connection wiih tho footbridge at Mr Connell’s done, and the shingling of Beattie’s road included in Waitohi contract. THE OXFORD DR I DOE FORD. Mr T. Palmer waited upon tho beard and drew attention to tho state of the ford. Tho river was now cutting into his land, lie protested against any work being clone unless it was properly protected. In reply to tho chairman, tho overseer said ho had no formal schemo to lay before the board at this mooting, but ho had no doubt that any cutting made could be protected at no groat cost. The laud at present washed away like sugar.

The board agreed to give the matter attention, and Mr Palmer withdrew. TENDERS. The following tenders wore received:— Contract No. 2, shingling at VVaitohi— T, Sugrue, 4s 7d per cubic yard; P. O’Mara, 4s (accepted). Contract No. 4, formation at Belfield— J. Harris, 10s Gd per chain ; T. Sugrue, 10s ; J. Fiefield, 7s Gd (accepted). Contract No. 5, fencing at Orari—No tender received. Overseer to arrange for same. Contract No. G, cleaning drain —The overseer to let privately. The meeting then terminated.

ANNUAL MEETING OF RATEPAYERS, The annual statutory meeting was held at noon. There was only a small attendance. Mr J. Talbot presided. The minutes of the previous annual 1 meeting were read aud confirmed. The chairman then read the following report: “ To the Ratepayers Temuka Road Board. “ Gentlemen, —The annual report which I have again the honor to submit to you is of a satisfactory nature. The district roads, etc., have beeu maintained iu a fairly efficient condition, aud the expenditure at the same time has been kept well within the income. The position is one for gratification, when it is considered that out of a moderate rate of 9/16d in the £ the roads have beeu so well maintained, although nearly two-thirds of the gross amount of the rate were absorbed in paying the demands made upon us by the harbor board and the hospital board ; iu other words, the road rate combined two other rates with it. The balance-sheet shows that the year commenced with a credit balance of £156 16s lOd; the receipts, including this amount, total up to £2374 8s 9d. The two main items of revenue ere rates, £1594 11s 3d, aud subsidy thereon, £375 6a sd. The total expenditure, which includes £693 8s 3d paid to the harbor board and £289 3a lOd to the hospital board,amounts to £2IOO 6a, leaving a balance iu hand of £294 2s 9d. There are outstanding liabilities for works in hand aud other charges amounting to £79 Is 3d. After making allowance for this, there is a credit balance of assets over liabilities of £584 18s Bd, The assets are made up by uncollected rates, £355 11s sd, and the credit balance on the general account. The corresponding figures for last year were £583 8a 6d. The rate struck for the year was 9/I6d in the £, which has proved sufficient, aud I have reason to hope that a similar rate will meet the current year’s requirements also. The hospital aud the charitable aid board’s demands will be about the same for the current year as for the last year. A grant of £l5O was made by the county council to this board for expenditure iu connection with the small birds’ nuisance. The amount was all spent, together with about £24 in addition to it, iu the distribution of poisoned grain and in the purchase of eggs aud heads, £lO3 15s 9d going in the latter object, 11,636 dozen having been collected and paid for. The works let by contract included the formation of about two and a quarter miles of roads, the formation and shingling of one mile, and the carting of shingle for repairs throughout the district. By day-work there have been four concrete culverts built, besides a good deal of renewing and rapairing to composite aud other bridges in various parts of the district. The board’s work for the most part consists iu the maintenance and repair of existing roads and bridges rather than iu new works, and a largo amount of day labor is rendered necessary. It is the cheapest and most reliable way iu which it can be doue, so long as the supervision is reliable, a condition which obtains at present under our overseer, Mr Archer. Both the board and the ratepayers I believe have full confidence that the funds are economically administered. The past year has again been favorable to us iu the matter of flood damage, no extraordinary expenditure having been required from this reason. There have eleven meetings of the board held during the year, and members have attended pretty regularly. The two members who retire this year are Messrs Talbot and Snell; the latter does not offer himself for re-election, I desixe to bear testimony to Mr Snell’s many good qualities as a member, and to the unremitting attention he has given to the requirements of that portion of the district he has represented, and also to the general fairness of his actions with respect to the district generally. “John Talbot, “Chairman. “ Temuka, May 5, 1896.” The chairman then read the balancesheet in detail. In moving the adoption of the report aud balance-sheet he remarked upon the success attending the system of employing day labor under the supervision of Mr Archer, and also expressed his pleasure, in which he was sure the other membert joined, that their overseer’s health was so greatly improved. Mr B. R. Macdonald remarked that the position of the board was a gratifying one, inasmuch as they finished the year approximately £126 better off than last year. The roads, as far as his knowledge went, compared satisfactorily with those in other districts, and, although day labor in the balance-sheet seemed a large item, it certainly gave the best results. He had much pleasure in seconding the motion for adoption of the report and balance-sheet. The motion was put and carried. The chairman thanked those present for attending. The annual meeting seemed a somewhat formal affair, but doubtless it was a necessary one. Ho accepted the small attendance as indicative of the fact that the ratepayers had little to complain about, Mr Macdonald moved a vote of thanks to the chairman and to the overseer. Botli positions wore thankless ones. Mr J. Lee seconded the motion, which was carried. The chairman acknowledged the compliment briefly. The good results wore largely duo to the overseer. Mr Archer thanked the ratepayers for the compliment paid him. He endeavored to carry out all works entrusted to him as efficiently and economically as if the money were his own, aud, although ratepayers might not get all they asked for, lie thought uoue could complain of money wasted. Ho was pleased to have earned their good opinion, and trusted to retain it. The meeting then terminated.