MOUNT SOMERS ROAD BOARD.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 1, Issue 85, 10 April 1880, Page 4

MOUNT SOMERS ROAD BOARD.

The ordinary monthly meeting of this Board was hold at the office Mount Somers on Monday. Present—Messrs. AY. C. Walker (Chairman), W. S. Peter, Isaac Taylor, Duncan Cameron, and A. E. Peach e.

The Surveyor’s report was read and considered.

The following correspondence was read : From Messrs Harper and Harper, inclosing legal opinion re balance due to Michael McAvey. From Messrs. Garrick and Cowlishaw, requesting payment of expenses for attending Assessment Court. To be replied to. From Mr. 0. Tripp, with reference to the Coal Pit road. The Clerk was requested to reply. Letters were receved from the Union Bank of Australia, Ashburton, with reference to rate of interest allowed upon fixed deposits, and other matters. From the Colonial Treasurer, advising the Board that the sum of L 154 12s. lid., subsidy on rates collected, had been paid into the Board’s account. From the Chief Surveyor, with reference to tracings of Alford Forest sections and roads. The Surveyor stated that he had forwarded reply. From the Mount Hutt Hoad Board, with reference to Cooper’s contract on Boundary road, and bridge over North Ashburton. From Messrs Montgomery and Co., with regard to their account. From Mr. Philip Tisch, requesting the Board to form 40 chains of the road through his bush. The Board decided to invite tenders for 25 chains of the work. From Mr. D. Syme, that the stone ford on Swamp road may be at once removed, as it is damaging his land. To be reported upon. From Mr. Wm. Annctt, requesting that as he considers his rates to be very excessive, the Board may be pleased to reduce their amount. The Clerk to reply that the Board have no power to accede to his request. From Mr. John Salmon, with reference to his late contract on the Ashburton Gorge road. The Board decided not to entertain the claim made in Mr. Salmon’s letter. From the Union Bank of Australia, Ashburton, acknowledging receipt of the sum of LlO2 4s. od. From Messrs. R. Wilkin and Co., inclosing receipt for amount of premium for surveyor’s bond of fidelity. From Mr. E. G. Wright, with reference to the soft nature of the Anama Downs road, and also the swampy portion of road in front of Mr. Peter’s house. Clerk to reply, and report upon the roads in question at the next meeting of the Board. The Surveyor was instructed to consult with the owners of lands with a view to the drainage of the roads reported on by him, and should their consent be obtained, to advertise the works recommended by him in his report. The Chairman was requested to endeavor to reduce the length of the South Ashburton bridge. The Surveyor was directed to arrange with Donald Forbes to cancel his contracts for maintenance of roads in the vicinity of Mount Somers and the Spread Eagle. The Clerk was authorised to object to Valuation list, for 1880, as amended, on behalf of the Mount Somers Road Board. The Surveyor was directed to report upon the overflow through Mr. M'Lymont’s section, and on Stevenson’s road; also upon the cutting between Mount Somers station, and the Wool-Shed Creek. The collector was instructed to at once issue summonses against the first ten persons whose names appear on the list of unpaid rates. The Clerk was instructed to apply to the County Council requesting them to subsidize any expenditure upon roads leading into bush lands, by a grant of £ for £. The Surveyor was instructed to apply to Mr. James Fraser for an explanation re John Todd’s contract, Hewson’s road, and to the executors of the deceased for the completion of the contract. The Clerk was instructed to insure the Road Board cottage and stable for L 450. Several works mentioned in the monthly report were ordered to be advertised. Tenders were opened, and one accepted for each of the following works : —No. 3, Ashburton Gorge road, James Milne ; No. 4, Township road, Peter Shearer ; No. 5, Boundary road, Alex Forbes. The pay-sheet amounting to L 587 17s. having been passed for payment the Board adjourned.