TEMUKA ROAD BOARD.

Timaru Herald, Volume LII, Issue 5158, 3 June 1891, Page 3

TEMUKA ROAD BOARD.

.©- — . Tho regular monthly meeting of the Temuka Boad Board was held yesterday. There were present Messra John Talbot chairman), O. Benett, and J. Fraaer. C'orreepondence was read as followß : — From the clerk of the Geraldine County OouEoil, informing the board that the council by resolution had decided to put Hie Orari bridge m thorough repair m accordance with tho engineer's estimate as to using tho present decking aa farOß it will go. The width would, however, be decreased. < From Mr T. H. Barker, asking (hat tha name of T. Oldfred be placed on tha roll m respect of E.S., P.1., 8883, V. 8847, P. 7184, P.I. 3606, valued at £3341. From the oxecutora of the late B. A. Barker, making a similar request m respect of K.S. 3608, P.I. 7211. 8817. valued at £11,850, that of Mr T. H. Barker to bo eubatituterl. From Mr H. Ford, as manager for the late Angus McDonald's executors, making a similar request m respect of P.I. R.S. 1371, I valued at £900, that of Mr J. Seward to be substituted. From Mr B. W. Body, making a similar application -m respect of RS 31299, 31300, and P.I. B.S. 6927, Mb name to bo suhatituted for that of Mr B. Thomas. From Mr R. Colon, making a similar application m respect of R.B. 2699, valued at £354, that of Mr J. Pearco to be substituted. I From Mr John Low, intimating that Messrs Ward and Prattley were willing to pay half cost of drain cleaning near their promises. From Mr J. H. Cambridge, on account of tho Ashburton Drug Company, drawing attention to the valuo of tho poisoned wheat supplied by that company. From Mr W- Hopkenson, quoting a prico for blun sum timber locally prown and eawn. From Mr Thomas Oadwmllader, of Rangitata, stating that ho understood a proposal would ho mado to tho board to raalto certain road diversions, and urging the board to ngreo to thorn. He pointed out tho convenience it would bn to the public and the saving to tho Boad Board. From the Crown Lands Offieo, m rcforonco to Iho vesting of cortain roeervoß m tho board. There was no authority to do tho same for ondowmonta, hut certain roaoryesjjwould be recommended for that purpose It was resolved to obtain poisoned wheat from Mr B. 0. Tiann, of Temuka, the clerk to notify ratepayers that it wao obtainable at tho office of tho board. iho quOßlion of tho proposed road diver/iion was diocuesed. Tho alteration suggested would eonsidflrably shorten thft distance to tho mouth ot tha ftangitata, and beyond tho actual cost of transfer would not entail much extra oxponso m the matter of formation or raaintenance. The principal party Interested, Mr W. Kplleston, bad intimated hia willing, ness to contribute o aharo of the ooßt, and it was ultimately resolved, on the modon of Mr Fraaer neconded by Mr Bissett, that the board will agree to the doviaUon and alteration m road lines asked for by Mr Bolloston and Mr Oaclwallador, provided tho ezpauea can be antiflfuotorily adjusted, and that no objection is raizod by landowners interoatod } that the overaoer obtain an eatimato of tho probablo cost and also .correspond with interested parties by the next meeting of the board." Tho clerk was inntructed to furnish further information us to tka yeapryoß likely to bo vostod. m the boards

c An application from Mr Dalfcon for tw< i crossings to Ilia pninisica wasrocoivod, and ii j was ngroej to provide one. In tliia oonneoI tion the ovi>raoer was authorised to oxorcis< i liis discretion iv putting m concrete oulverti 3 m rond drains m pUoo of tbo timber bridges hitherto ueed. The overseer's report waß road. Aa application from Mr Pearoe for certain pipes was granted. 1 Xho overseer wa3 authorised to have ' certain work done at Orari m front of Mi 1 Mason's premises. It was resolved :— " That the bosrd will nt its next mooting strike a rate for tho period ending Jj.ui.-uh 316t, 1892, of 9-16th3 of a penny m the pound on the rateable properly m the district, BUch rate being roquired for general purposos, and also to meet the payment of £370 demanded by the Harbour Board ; the rate to be payable on and after July 16th at the Boad Board office, at Temuka." Accounts amounting to £39 9s 7d were passed for payment and the board rose. BANQUET TO THE HON. MAJOR STEWARD. — « The Hon. Major Steward, M.H.B, for Waimate, and Speaker of the House of Bepresentatires, waa eutartained at a banquet at Waimate on Monday night. About 75 persons wero present, from all parts of the district, Mr J. Sinclair, Mayor of Waimate, occupying the chair, with tho guost of tho evening on hi 3 right and Mr T. Duncan, M.H.R., on his left, and Mr Q-eo. Miller occupied tho vice-chair. Apologies wore received from the members of the Ministry now m the south— the Hono. J. McKenzie", J. G. Ward and B. J. Seddon, — from Mr Hall-Jones and other members of the House invited, Sir Bobort Btout, the Mayor of Timaru, and Mr S. McOwen of Aahburton, for long a resident of Waimato. Aftsr tho üßual lovnl and vice-regal toasts, Mr Middelton proposed tho Army, Navy and Volunteers. Captain Morgan responded on bohalf of the Navy, and Captain Oapstiok on behalf of the Volunteers, tha former thanking the company for tho vsay they had honoured the toast, while Captain Capßtiek briefly referred to what he considered an injustice m the present volunteer regulations with regard to the Capitation allowance, Mr Geargo Miller, vice-chairman, proposed tho Legislative Council and the tfoueo of Bepreaentatives. Their guest, he said was a good member and a staunch Liberal. Mr Duncan m replying Baid he felt highly gratified to see suoh a gatherinj to do honour to Major Stoward, who had faithfully represented the district during the last nine years. Major Steward and he had always aimed at the advancement oB the Liberal oause, and ho was glad to say they had been instrumental iv overthrowing the Conservative Government. Major Steward now occupied a most honourable poßilion as Speaker, and it was a credit to the district to have thoir membor m such a position. The Legislature of New Zealand had tho reputation of being ono of the best conducted m tho colonies and ho was sure Major Steward, as Speaker, would guard it from deterioration. He was ! quits unprepared to nddrcas the meeting, as ho expected Me3sra Seddon, McKenzie and Ward would have been present. However, ho would say that tho present Government had already done good work m the shape of retrenchment up to the present time. He was glad to see that they had begun to retrench with high salaried officers, as tho Oivil Service was overmanned m the upper grades. Tho Government intended to do away with the property tar, and impose a land and an income tas instoad. They also intended to settle Iholand m a bona fide way. Iho late Sovernmout took credit for a great amount of land settlement, but it was" being found out that instead of Battling tho land, they had only been adding to the large eEtates. Unfortunately the bulk of the land j wa? ulready m tho bands of companies and large speculators, who were trying to take all thuycould out of it. and it wa< these parties that tho Governmontintendod to got at. He hopnd Ihu district would not treat their member ;ns the Onehunga people hud done Sir Maurice O'jßorfce, -who was a really good man, and ono who had done much for his district, but was thrown out at tho last o.'oetion. He thanked thorn for so heartily driiiking the health of both houses of the Legislature, and was sorry a membsr of tho Upper Houbb was not present to reply. Mr Alfred Wulker proposed the toast of tho evening, Mnjor Steward, He would say this district was never represented until Major Steward was electod. He had always supported Liboralism, it did not matter who the voter wrs, whether ha wos rich or poor, tbo Major would do his bast to see justice done him. The present Ministry wore doing their utmost to Bettlo the lands, and he thought they would soon do away with the unemployed difficulty. He would again repeat that Woimato wob nover represented until Major Steward became its member, and he felt sure that if another election were to be held at an eirly date (as was quite likely) Major Steward would be re-eleetod. Ho would liko to see tho One Man One Vote used also for election to tho County Councils, a9 the small Farmers and poor men wero not represented on tho Councils. Ho had much pleasure m proposing the health of the guest of the ovening, Major Steward. Major Steward, m reply, said thoro was i»l---wajs music to hi? ears to be found m Waimato. Whenever he came there ho felt it wae his political " Home, Sweet Home," where he always got a hearty and loyal welcoms. He sincerely thanked them for it, and ho felt deeply the honour that had been done him. Ho prized the esteem of those by whom it is an honour to bo esteemed. Ho ospecially was prond to sco Borne present who were his political opponents, and ho thanked them for coming, from tho bottom of hio heart. Ho had been aßked to meat them m a dual capacity, both as tbeir Membor and as Speaker of the House of Representatives. Ho would always try to wear the honour humbly and j ustly as Speaker, of the House. He had sat. undar many Spoakors and sincerely hoped ho would be able to fill the position as honourably aa hit? predeenesor i had don,o ; he had eioelloufc examples to assist him. Mr Duncan and himself had sat sido by eido m tho House for years, and he fplt that he could Bay with Mr Duncan that fcho House of Kepreanntalivoi' would compare favourably with any other logislntivo body. A large number of persons thought that tho now clement introduced to the Houbo, viz., tho "labour" membora, would bo bard to munago and keep within the strict linos nf parliamentary principled, but from what ho had Boen of those, mombcra ho did not anticipate any difficulty with them: Mr Duncan mado tho remark that because ho was Spoakor his sorvicoa to the district would ho none' t.ho less. Ho could assuro them of that. Hn could show a number of lottors ho had written on behalf of this district and tho colony generally, no had BUccooded m drafting a number of Bills during tho lootfew years which had saved fcho colony a largo amount of worry. Ono of them wua tho Triennial Licensing Bill ; another did away with the cumulative vote at tho echool elections ; another Bill ho had m hand waa to provide fop the payment of jurors, nnd it would be introduced this year ; another woa amendments to tho Counties Act. Ho mentioned those items to show that ho would ntill bo a working member although ho was Speaker, Thu Bills would bo brought m by othor mombora. Ho had for yearß worked for tho peoplo, to try and got good land for them to settlo on. Ho had boon trying hard to get somo of tho educational rosorvos cut up, and Bomo of them hnd beon lot for only twelve months to onablo tho Government to pass a Bill to onablo thorn to use these Innda for tho purposo of village settlements. Ho then roferrod to a number of suitable farms and education reserves that could bo obtainod by tho Crown for the pur. poea of closer sottlemont. He felt confident that if tho present Government pulled togotbor and could be kept m power, thoy would m tho courts of a fpw years boo a thorough change m the condition of the country. Ho thankod thorn for the honour thoy had dono him, and ho felt gladdened at heart by tha reception that had boon givon him, and hoped when ho roturnod again the eamo good fooling would exist botwoon tho doctors and himsolf. The Pastoral and Agricultural Interest of New Zealand was proposed by Mr Barclay, who said he considered that the agriculturist who tho backbone of tbo country, and tho I'urmora wore a good class of pooplo, although they wore a vary bard olsse to moko a doal with. ' ' ■ • •

0 Messrs Newland and Sattrny briefly ret sponded. Major Stoward then propoa»d tho Progress a and Prosperity of tho colony <f iSew Z almd. a Ho could apeak all night on this toast. They 3 couM woll bo proud of their boautiful country, of ita magnificent econory, and of the progress the colony hud inudo. Clauds 1 had boon hanging over it, but they wore now beginning to roll away, ! and already thoy could see the silver lininc. : As to the causes of tho depression a good doivl wns owing to tho drought of laot season, but. 5 wheat and wool were now v fair price. Duiry I produce was going to be n great item m the i exports ole tho colony. Ho notioed that apples ■ woro now being grown at orchards up north, suitable to Bond Homo, and when there they would fetch a good price. He hoped the present Government would assist to muko tho country more prosperous, and I hat they would long stay m power, but if it was found that they made blunders and wero not qualified for the position, then they oh juld be put out, and another Liberal Ministry put m their place. Hia Worship tho Mayor and Borough Councillors, was proposed by Mr Franklin, Ho spoke a few wordß m favour of the financialand sanitary condition of tho borough, saying it would compare favourably with any other municipality of itß sizo. In responding the Mayor thanked the company for the way thoy had honoured (he toast. He knew the oounoil did their utmost to give satisfaction, and did a lot of work ; the ratepayers really did not know what a quautity of work was required from the Mayor and Councillors. He hod to thunk Major Steward for the many servicea ho had rendered the borough; whonever.he was m any difficulty he had applied to him, and he had always tendered good advice. Mr 8. T. Eerr then proposed the toast of The Ladies m all appropriate speech, coupled with the name of Mr Mitchell. The Presa wag proposed by Mr A. Watt, and responded to by Messrs Smith, Mitoboll and Baxter. Tho Chairman, proposed by Major Steward, and The Vice-chairman by Captain Morgan, olosod the toast list. During the evening songa were sung by Messrs A. Philip, G-. B. Barclay, J. Miller, J. Hardie, Foot, J. O'Brion aod Kilgour, and a very ploasant evening was spent;