GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Geraldine Road Board was held yesterday. Present —Messrs Kellaud, Flatman, Brophy, Metcalf, and Orbell. TJIE CHAIRMANSHIP Mr Flatman proposed, and Mr Brophy seconded, —“ That Mr Kellaud be elected chaiiman of the board.” Mr Kolland said that ho saw no necessity for a change in chairman, but if it was the wish of the board he would endeavour to cany out tho duties to tho best of his ability. Tho resolution was carried unanimously TKNOKRS, Tender.; wen: dealt with as follows; An. i!.d, l.yn-i's (hitting—T. Gorkery, All I : i. ;'ngriic. C2‘d ; M, Grogan, £2O ; L). (lr ;;,an. Cl II I'ds (accepted). Fn ill, Gearing Hush —W. F. I).ov.se. Cl*J ; A die I‘hnrson, CAT ; limes A: Bat. ; CnU. A. McKay, £27 (is; J. ibirbnr iiirii, Chi ; K. (,)nado, £lO 10s ; \\ . 1' I km nett CIS os; donas Filield, Cl J 1' ; M. Gr pm, CIO (accepted). .Vo ■: id, .Sliing’ing road, Gapes’a Valley I 1 . W . Bennett, £(!(> 1 os ; AT. Grogan IV>l Ids; !). Grogan, COO Id; P. Mulva-* bill, Cd'.llSs: D. Leary, junr., £57 8«; dames Bray, A Go., £55 15s; T. Eugruo, Cd 7 (accented). HUNTS. A discu-iid.vi took placo about rent in arrears. llo.mlvial hc.icc u> the i.enant to pay up at tm«»u •»

INTERVIEWS. Mr Mathias waited on the board and asked for a short length of road to be formed and shingled at WaitohiFlat. Resolved —“ That tenders be invited.” Mr Batty waited on the board in reference to the destruction of sma'l birds by netting. He asked the board to give this system a trial. Resolved invited for laying po’son on roads by next board day.” Mr Murphy attended ai a delegate from the Workers’ Union, and asked that the road in the Hae-te moana Gorge should be put in hand on the co-operative system.

Resolved—“ That Mr Flatman and one member of the board wait on the Land Board at Timatu. Mr Flatman to make enquiries about a grant of £150.” Mr George Meredith waited on the hoard, asking that some work be done at the road lea&ug to his biidge.—Overseer te report. Mr Ferguson intei viewed the board, requesting work to be done at the road leading to his section, Waitohi Downs. — Overseer to repoi t. gorse. Resolved—“ That the attention of the county council be drawn to the gorse at the Orari bridge, and the wing fences of the Geraldine traffic biidge.” CORRESPONDENCE. Correspondence was read and dealt with as under : From Orari Gorge School Committee, asking that a foot bridge be erected, with rails, at the creek on Turner’s road for convenience of school children.—r-Work to be done. From Mr John Murray, Orari Station, in reply to board’s letter with regard to complaint of water overflowing on road adjoining Mr Taylor’s property; that there was a little overflow in one or two places, but nothing to interfere with traffic of any kind.—Received, with thanks of the board. From Mr H. Tomlinson, Woodside, requesting that the ford be deepened, or a culvert be put in across the road near shingle reserve by Mr Finn’s property.— The overseer to examine and report to next meeting, or have the work done by day-work if desirable. From Mr Henry B. Howard, asking that the name of Mr M. Heatley be placed on the rate books in place of his for R.S. 10824, Woodbury.—Agreed to. From Mr R. Sherp, Hilton, drawing attention to work needed at natural watercourse near his land; a'so to the danger of a willow growing in the middle of the river.—The work has been attended to. From three seltiers at Orail, requesting work to be done at Slack’s road.— Work to be done on the co-operative system. From Mr George Barber, Orari Gorge, asking for lease of gravel reseive plantation on the opposite side of Mr C. G. Tripp’s boundary gate. He would give £1 per annum for same if board would erect a gate.—The trees being young and small, the board do not think it wise to let it for grazing purposes. From the Returning Officer, re Geraldine Road Board elect'on. From the Geraldine County Council, ing board that its grant for the destruction of small birds was £IOO, and asking how much poisoned grain would be required. The board wiU require, say, about 25 bushels. overseer’s report. The overseer reported ; — a Contracts : The works in hand have made good progress during the month. The following have been completed since last meeting, viz.: Formation, etc.,Taylor’s road,Rangitata Plain. The work handed over by Bennett Bros, on Lynn’s road has been finished, and a fresh contract let for reducing the cutting. I have also invited tenders for clearing timber and scrub the fall length of this road, so as to give Mr Lynn access to the hills. Horse feed: As directed I made arrangements for 200 bushels of oats, which have been delivered in good order. Works applied for—Tagg’s road, Gapes’ Valley: To open the road to Wright’s bush, and form the road as far as Townsend’s house, would require about 50 chains of formation, with three pipe culverts, and to shingle from the main road to Tagg’s house, and 11 chains of the by-road to Taggart’s would require about 700 yards of shingle. This would have to be purchased, aud would be d’fficult to place on the road in wet weather. Scobie’s Bead, Kakahu Bush: I have inspected this lino of road and find that about 25 chains would have to be benched out of very hard rock to make a passable track, as the fcidling is very steep. The distance to Mr Wreatball’s boundaiy by this road is 60 chains. The road would have to be resurveyed, as the pegs have been destroyed by fire in the bush some years ago. Macdonald Road, Raukapuka: There are about 10 chains of this road unformed at present, half of which is on the riverbed and liable to floods. To avoid the riverbed and carry the road on the terrace a large concrete culvert would (be required in the sawmill gully. In reference to the complaint about the gorse, it has spread from the riverbed across the water race, and is now encroaching on the road. I should advise that the lower end be cleaned as far as the catchwater drain above the race, and the upper end to the boundaiy of the road. Bridge ; I have examined the creek on the boundaiy road. A light loot bridge for children to cross would cost about £—. The day men have been employed in clearing gorse from river crossings and general repairs on various roads throughout the district. Two or three gum boots are wanted for use at the river fords, etc. —I have, etc., “Wm. Shiers, “ Overseer.” The report was read and approved of. Formation to be done, and the short length shingled to Taggart’s. Scobie’s road too costly, board cannot undertake the work, Mr Studholme’s consent to be obtainc d for making the road through Jones’ track instead. Members to inspect Macdonald’s road. Tenders to be called for boundary foot budge. Overseer to purchase gum boats required. % MR TRITE’S FIGURES. Mr Flatman said he did not wish to enter into a newspaper war with Mr Tripp but a letter of Mr Tnpp’s in the Guardian had slightly reflected upon the clerk of the board. Ue would not trouble to apply to the letter, but he must say that Mr Shiers hr I givou Mr Inpp all the figures Mr Tripp applied for. [Mr JShiera: “Yes, tint is collect ] Hun what ho (Mr Flatr.-n) said at the an mud. meeting was >p. •: ; correct. Even if they took .or Tripp’s figures as they appeared in his letter they would not work out the I t per emit, ho mentioned ; thus Mr Tripp’s figures were wrong. Mr Kcllaud said with regrrcl to the fidelity bond he would rather have Mi Shiora as clerk without a fidelity bond than many a man with a dozen fidelity bonds. Ho felt that ho cor hi say to ratepayers that their funds were poiiectly safe in Mr b'hiers hands, and if they thought it wise to escape the fidelity bond ho thought they might do it. Ho was pot sure, however, whether it w;.-> kg;., pot to have a fidelity b d.

The question of whether it was legal not to have a fidelity bond was left over till next meeting, with the consent of members. CONDOLENCE. On the motion of Mr Flatman, seconded by Mr Brophy, it was resolved — “ That a letter of condolence be forwarded to the family of the late Robert Fish, M.D., expressing deep sympathy in their sad bereavement through the doctor’s death, whose loss wiH be greatly felt throughout the whole district.” RETIRING MEMBERS. Lots were drawn as to who would be the retiring members of the board next year, the lota falling to Messrs Flatman and Brophy. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £l6O 7s were passed for payment. The board then rose.