Taranaki Herald 3 August 1895

Tataraimaka

A meeting of the Road Board was held here on Tuesday. For the
convenience of the chairman, who was recovering from the effects of a
severe accident, the meeting was held at his residence. There were
present - Messrs HONEYFIELD (chairman), FOREMAN, PEARCE and SALMON.
Mr W. HONEYFIELD was present in his official capacity. The question
arose whether, when notice of motion was given to strike a certain
rate at next meeting, it should not be advertised. The Chairman
stated that it was advertised in the correspondent's notes. It was
pointed out that the correspondent had no authority to publish it,
besides, that was a mean way of looking at it. The Board cannot help
being poor, but that is no reason why they should be mean. The
Board then proceeded to ballot for the retiring members, when it was
found that it was Messrs FOREMAN and PEARCE whose pleasing duty it
was to retire at the end of the year, with somewhat remote prospects
of again occupying seats on the Board.

A long discussion ensued over the question of the clerk's salary. Mr
FOREMAN protested against having a clerk at all, as he contended
that in a small district like this the chairman ought to be able to
perform all the duties connected with his office. If he could not do
it, let someone else occupy his seat. It was ultimately decided, on
the motion of the chairman, that the collector should be paid five
per cent on amount collected and 10s a year for being returning
officer. The condition of the finances next occupied the Board's
attention, when, after ascertaining the total amount of money
available, it was decided what each road was entitled to, and it was
also considered that owing to the amount of money required for felling
bush roads, that next year a heavier rate would be necessary. The
conversation then turned in the direction of the disputed fence on
the road. Mr PEARCE moved that the Chairman be empowered to consult a
solicitor with the object of having this matter settled. Mr SALMON
coincided with Mr PEARCE's remarks, and would second the motion. Mr
FOREMAN, with an eye to the public purse, objected to any of the rates
being spent for that purpose (the roads required all the rates), as it
was not necessary. The thing was as plain and simple as possible; the
boundary pegs are there for anybody to see, put in by Mr W. SKINNER,
and instead of the owner putting his fence according to his pegs, he
has monopolised the greater portion of the original road. Owing to
the somewhat strained relations on the Board, this matter was not
settled as quickly as it might be, but it is bound to come right
eventually.

The Chairman read a letter from one of the ratepayers of the district,
calling his attention to the obstructions in the shape of a number of
gates, with barbed wire attached, across the Timaru and Greenwood
roads, and considering the number of years they had been allowed to
remain there, to the inconvenience of the travelling public, he 
trusted that he would bring the matter before the Board, with a view
to their speedy removal. Mr PEARCE was quite satisfied that they
should remain where they were. Mr SALMON re-echoed the previous
speaker's sentiments. The opposition considered that the gates should
be removed, as he objected to them becoming permanent institutions.

The weather has been very cold here lately; in fact, last Monday and
Tuesday nights were the coldest we have experienced this winter. The
trees were covered with snow down to a considerable distance from the
base of the mountain. There was also snow on the Patua Ranges, a thing
seldom seen, except in exceptionally cold weather.