GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3570, 10 March 1886, Page 3

GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

Tho ordinary monthly meeting of this Board was held yesterday, at their offices, i Main Road, Geraldine. MBJIBBBS rEBSENT. Messrs Flatman, Kclland, Postlethwaite, and Doßenzy. A letter was read from Mr Slack (the Chairman), regretting that he could not attend the Board meeting on account of inj disposition. It was resolved that Mr Flatman should tako tho chair. | TENDERS. I After tho minutes had been confirmed, the | following tenders were opened for improving the ford near Chapman's, Geraldine road : — T. Markham, £31 ; J. Webb, £31 ; A. Reid, £29 10s j J. Beckley, £27 10s ; E. O'Connor, £26 10s ; W. Fletcher and Co., £25 15s j M. Lawlor, £23 10s. It appeared that Mr Lawlor a tender was informal, his deposit being only £1 10s, whereas according to the specifications it should have been £2. The Clork, m reply to Mr Deßonzy, said Mr Lawlor had carried out all contracts he had under tho Board very well, and it was decided to accept his tender on condition that tho deposit was increased to tho specified sum. COEBESrONDENCE. Lottora were then read as follow : — From MrR. Hammond, advising the Board that he- had applied to tho Geraldmo County Council for a license to slaughter stock, and asking the Board to sanction tho granting of it. The application was granted, the slaughteryard to bo five chains from a road. From Mr A. Reid, asking for an extension of time of two weoks for him to complete his contract of quarrying and breaking stone at Gnpes' Valley. — Granted. From Mr Sperrey, Property Tax Commissioner, stating that tho sum of £62 10s had been pnid to tho Board's credit at tho Bank of New South Wales Geraldine, tho sum being balance of subsidy duo to the Board under the Local Bodies Finance and Powers Act 1885. The Chairman said, and members ngreed with him, that this letter was the most satisfactory they had read at tho meeting. From tho Hon. L. Walker, Messrs T. Bull, M.Brophy.E.Hawdonandsixotherratepajors requesting the Board to orcct a footbridge at the crossing over tho north branch of the Hae-Hae-te-Moaua Bivcr, near Captain Tomple's house. They pointed out tho inconvenience caused by the want of a footbridge, and hoped tho Board would consider tho matter at an early date. Members were of opinion tho bridgo would bo of little uso, as tho river was continually shifting ; also that it would bo only needed m time of flood, which was of raro occurrence. It wa3, therefore, resolved that the Board do not feel justified m spending money on tho bridge asked for. After the luncheon adjournment, Captain Temple and Mr Mulvihill waited on the Board m reference to this matter, but members did not doparfc from their first decision. From Messrs W. Hide, W. Gapes, O. Squire and others drawing tho Board's attention to the cutting just about Mr Squire's house, Gapes' Valley, which required lowering and shingling. The Board would not consent to lower tho cutting, but would put on shinglo whero required. From Messrs W. Bell, G. Cross, K. Cameron, and four others, petitioning tho Board to open a road between Messrs Plumber's and Do Renzy's, on tho Geraldine road. |

After Mr De Renzy had said that such a road would provo of great benefit to people - residing m and about Smithfield and apologised lor sot presenting this letter at last . Board meeting, it was resolved that the matter be referred to the Temula Road Board for their consent to such a track being mode. From the Clerk to the Geraldine County Council re tarring the Geraldine bridge, informing the Board that the matter had been considered by the Council, and they had resolved that the work should not be carried 1 out, the cost being more than the probable n benefit. The Clerk said there must be Bomo misunderstanding among Councillors on this matter, for the cost of the work was only £3, aa wa3 distinctly stated m his letter to the Council. ■?. Mr Fostlethwaite undertook to bring the ' matter before the Geraldine County Council j" at their meeting to-day. TUB COUNTT RANGES. The question of appointing a ranger, which was adjourned from last meeting, was " then brought up. The Chairman read a petition from 50 farmers of the district calling attention to the fact of Btock wandering at large, and hoped the Board would take ° steps to abate the nuisance. Also another c from 105 ratepayers requesting the Board to t postpone the appointment of a ranger till the 1 annual meeting, or call a public meeting of ratepayers to test feeling on the matter. Mr Postlethwaito was against granling the H latter petition, as it was the Board's duty to S appoint a ranger. The Board Bhould not shirk their responsibility m this respect. ° From experience lie know such petitions as i the ono before them were easily got up. and tho chances were it did not express the opinion of the majority of ratepayers. However, the law gave the Board power to appoint a ranger, and they should do so. He pointed out that should an accident occur ° through stock being at largo tho Board were ° responsible, and this matter would bo brought directly home to them did an accident arise and it was found the owner of the horse or g cow, as the case might be, was worth nothing and the Board had to bear all the cost. He reminded members that there was an application before them from a man who offered to do tho work for driving feea alone, which application fey might very well consider. He again said lie was decidedly against the Board agreeing to the petition, and did not believe whenever a little " pinch " catne m calling a public meeting. Mr Kclland was against appointing a ranger, ani inclined to let tho matter stand over. If they appointed a ranger, he was j afraid it would inflict a hardship on many ' working men, who had no where else to run their cows but on parts of the road. The Board, m dealing with this question, should be guided by public feeling, and not inflict serious injury on a number of settlers. He thought if they did appoint a ranger, it would be impossible for him to keep the roads clear. Mr Kclland, m answer to Mr Postlethwaite, who drew his attention to the fact that he (Mr Kelland) had moved a resolution at tho January meeting favoring the appointment of a rangor, said that ho did so on account of the pressure that had been put on him by peoplo m his own district. Tho circumstances were then, however, different from what they were now, and tho resolution had not been passed as he moved it ; it had been modified by other members. , Mr Do Benzy agreed m tho main with what Mr Kelland had said, but would like to see tho ranger paid by the Board. Tho Chairman then pointed out the great nuisance that was caused by stock wandering on the roads, and said he would like to see tho poundage accommodation increased all over tho district. Were persons allowed to impound stock at the different yards of hotels throughout the district, he was sure the cry of stock at largo would very coon be no more heard. - After a little moro discussion Mr Kelland moved, and Mr Do Benzy seconded—" That tho question of appointing a ranger bo de- ■■ ferred till the annual meeting of ratepayers m May next." — Carried. ovebseeb's bepobt. The Overseer reported that tho works m hand were going on satisfactorily, with the exception of tho contract for shingling the road near the Orari bridge This work was still incomplete, and tho contract time had ' expired on tho 20th January. Tho deck of t ono of tho bridges near Mr A. Patrick's was f rotten, and as thero was no need of a bridge t' there the Overseer advised that a concrete t culvert bo put m j also ono at a point near Mr Holland's. He recommended that tenders bo called for spreading broken metal on Gapes' Valley road, and that he be allowed to purchase 100 bushels of feed oats. He added that ho had arranged with Mr Reid for the road diversion at Beautiful Valley, and that the work was being carried out. Tho Board resolved that the Overseer should purchaso the oats required, and approved of c his recommendation to call for tenders for v broken metal ; also that tenders should bo called for tho culverts, and tho contractor for F shingling be notified that he must properly Gnish his contract beforo next Board day, or the full penalty will be inflicted on him. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £166 33 wore passed for payment, and tho Board ad- . journod.