MOUNT PEEL ROAD BOARD.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13901, 12 May 1909, Page 7

MOUNT PEEL ROAD BOARD.

ANNUAL MEETING. At the annual meeting of the Mt. Peel Road Board, there was a fair attendance of ratepayers and Mr G. J. Denuistoun presided.

The chairman laid before the meeting a satisfactory report of the work done during the past year. The year began with a credit balance of £1391 and closed with a credit of £1732, but metalling required in the .Allandale district would absorb the surplus. The Mount Michael Valley and the Mid Valley roads both required heavy expenditure. To carry out the necessary works during the forthcoming year, the same rate as last struck (eleven-six-teenths of a ptnny) would be required. Land Fund Account. —Tlie balance to credit of this account was £4B 12s, and tin's had to be held in hand for that account. Roughly, tlie expenditure in the Raineliff-Clayton district had been £49 l' 8s 2d. and in the Peel Forest district £136 18s 7d. Owing to the clerk's illness the chairman said lie was unable to lay before tlie meeting the usual balance-sheet, but- the figures given were from the casli book. Small Birds' Destruction. —The Board had decided that trapping and purchasing eggs and heads be the only plan adopted, but at the same time the Board laid in a supply of poisoned wheat, which was given to anyone requiring it. Farmers seemed to take very little interest in availing themselves of this, as very few had applied for any. Tlie chairman expressed the thanks of the Board to Mr McFarlane for the way he had conducted the business of the Board during the year, and to Mrs McFarlane for her unfailing courtesy and kindness to members of t-lio Board, the hope being also expressed that Mr McFarlane would soon be restored to good health again. The chairman said they were also indebted to Messrs D. Sheehan and F. Cooling and the other employees of the Board for the honest work done by them during the year. Mr Thew said he was surprised to notice that the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board levy had been increased by £6O compared with last year. The clerk said that the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board did not strike a special rate, so that local bodies might pay according to their valuations. The Board simply settled what money it required and liow much each Road* Board should pay. The Harbour Board now struck a special rate for its levy and this was inoro satisfactory to local bodies. The chairman said the County Councils were notified as to the amount required. and they collected it from the Road Boards. Mr Thew agreed that they should pa}' according to the rateable value of the property in the district. It seemed to liim that at present they paid a great deal more towards hospital ! and charitable aid than they got out | of it, especially in an outlying district like Peel Forest.

On the motion of Mr Thew, seconded by Mr Hawdon, the annual report was adopted. Mr Thew thought that everything was satisfactory, otherwise tlie ratepayers would have brought forward some grievances. Mr Hawdon moved a vote of thanks to the chairman, and thanked members of the Board also for the consideration lie had received at their hands during the many years he had been a member. The chairman thanked Mr Hawdon for his remarks, and proposed a vote of thanks to Mr and Mrs Macfarlane for the hospitable manner in which they had always entertained the Board and ratepayers on occasions like the present. He trusted Mr Macfarlane would soon be restored to health. The meeting then terminated. ORDINARY MEETING.

At an ordinary meeting of the Board held the same day there were present : Messrs 6. J. Dennistoun (chairman), R. Thew, Hawdon, and Dixon. Mr G. J. Hamilton wrote asking when tenders would be called for the building of a light traffic bridge over Sherwood Downs creek —The Board regretted that the calling of tenders had to be deferred owing to the illness of Mr Macfarlane, and decided to call tenders at once.

Mr Herbert. Raineliff, wrote complaining of bad condition of cates and fences on the cross road.—Messrs W. Dixon and E. Kelman to be given nofcif" to put fences, etc.. in order. Tt was resolved that the Mt. Peel

road he metalled and that tussocks b,r; chipped on this road where required. The chairman spoke with regret of the. retirement of Mr Hawdon from the Board, and thanked members for the way in which they had backed him up in carrying on the work of the past year. Mr Tliew endorsed the chairman's remarks.