WAKANUI ROAD BOARD.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 936, 7 May 1883, Page 2

WAKANUI ROAD BOARD.

The. erd inary, meeting . of the above Board was held ;to.day,.there being present the following members : —Messrs Brown (in ths chair), Megson, Walsh, and Mayo. ' The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was read from the Colonial Secretary, postponing the annual election a month beyond the date originally intended. ■ A letter was read from the RegistrarGeneral, asking for statistics of the Road Board-—The Clerk stated he had furnished what was required. A communication was read from Messrs Davison and Co. rc stone breaking machine, stating the cost at which metal could be crushed by the means at their disposal. —lt was resolved that consideration of the letter should be held over. Mr Thomas Clephane wroto to draw the attention of the Board to the state of the ditch on Wilson’s road. As the water rises and causes an overflow on Messrs Jamieson’s block, it was requested that leave be given to deepen and widen the ditch in question. It was also pointed out that a larger outlet was needed to let the water run out at the upper side of the writer’s land.—lt was decided that the Engineer report on the fmatter to next meeting.

STTRVE\OR’s REPORT. The following report was read We have the honor to submit our monthly report as follows (i) Great South Road—As directed, we have examined this road with reference to a petition presented to the Board at last meeting. The road, like many others in the district that have been formed and metalled for some time, has considerably worn away at the sides, leaving the crown far higher and abrupt at the edge than it should be for the safety of vehicles, etc. Roads of importance like this one should be shingled the full width, and thus prevent the too constant use of the sides as is now done, and which from many causes in a very short time reduces their level considerably below the metalled portion in the centre, which is better able to resist the wear and tear. We should recommend that the edges of the metalled portion be:ploughed Jout and the sides metalled, and other small details that would put it into proper|order. The cost we estimate at L3O. With regard to the extension of the bridge over the creek, if this should be carried out we recommend that it be made of concrete, having the sides a height of —, and then arched over, being the cheapest and most durable structure to erect, the top to be covered with , metal and. clay to meet the level of the road. The estimated cost for the remaining 34ft is 1.75. While on this subject there ate certain matters that we think should be brought before the Board in considering the expenditure on this road—lst, that a road has been made by the Upper Ashburton Road Board on the riorthern side of the railway, and parallel to the road petitioned for, and which is formed, metalled, and bridged over the creek; and, that all, or nearly all, the traffic, whether coming to or going from the district to the north of the line, as well as the. Wakanui district, is conducted on the road tinder the control of the Wakanui Road Board ; 3rd, that during race days and Agricultural and Pastoral Show days, the traffic Is all on the road belonging to this Board, while the one on the upper side of the railway is barely used, we suppose from the fact that one road is far better to travel on than the other; 4th, We think that : the Upper Ashburton Road Board should be, called upon to put the road under their control in good order before your Board expend any large sum in providingffor the comfort of their ratepayers as well as your own, so that an equal division of traffic may take place on the two roads. With the exception of having the formation and re-metalling of the road done, nothing more is necessary, in our idea, for present, requirements, especially as there are other portions of the ward where money has not yet been expended.—(2) Princes Street (M‘Lean’s Block) : We have been requested by ratepayers in this locality to ask your Board to favorably consider the formation of this road. We. may state that the roads in this block have been dedicated, and as rates have been paid for some years and nothing expended on this street, the request seems a fair one.—-(3) Maintenance of Roads : The -contractor has been keeping the roads in fair repair during the’month; we have given him notice Jto have all the roads immediately looked to, in consequence of the heavy rainfall lately.—(4) Seafield Road -. This road is becoming exceedingly rough for traffic, owing to the wearing away of the sides, unevenness of formation, and and heavy growth of tussocks on the shingle, and should have something done to it as soon as possible. We would recommend re-forma-tion of the sides, so as to procure proper drainage, and the grubbing or ploughing up of tussock on the shingle, so that it can be used.—(s) River road : Owing to the recent heavy floods great damage has been done to this road. The river has broken in and almost taken the whole width of the road away at a place about five chains above the groins. One of the groins, which has for some time been gradually disappearing, has now been washed away, though it lasted long enough to protect the banks from damage. A good portion of the other groin still remains. They have done good service, as none of the road has been washed away where they are, and the river has taken a course quite away from, them... But with re l gard to the new breach made by the river, this is becoming a very serious matter to all concerned. There is but little doubt, if nothing is done, it will work its way down to the gullies intersecting the School road. In the meantime at every high fresh in ..the river a considerable quantity-will .find: its .way down this road as it has lately done, and likely cause much damage. We must say that we think there is little use in .making any protective works at this plaice, the river being just as likely to break through at any other spot far a considerable distance along the road. The best manner to cope with this difficulty, in our idea, is to divert the river some distance up, so that, instead of taking the sweep it now does, it will then have a direct course. This will give l it considerably more fall, and, by continually scouring, will make such a bed for itself that but little danger need be apprehended from floods; Willows should then be planted thickly for some distance from the river tank. Of course, such a scheme would be expensive, but taking into consideration the loss of valuable land that is now taking place, and if allowed to continue the depreciation in value of land in this flat, it certainly seems to us time that vigorous steps were taken. —(6) Wakanui School Road : The overflow from the river during the late floods has scoured out holes in this road, which are now being repaired by the contractor for maintenance. We think in a case like this some allowance might to be made to the contractor, as it is outside the ordinary course of repairs. There are deep gullies in this road (three in number), which, when the road was formed, were filled up and had pipes put in to carry off the water. In the case of heavy rains these are insufficient for the purpose, as the water backs up and then overflows the road for some distance, making it in a bad state, besides deing damage by scouring. This could be remedied by having fords made in lieu of the culverts, and so allow the water to have a free course.

GREAT SOUTH ROAD On the motion of Mr M*yo, it was resolved that the repairs on the Great South Road, as suggested by the Engineer, be carried out. It was also decided to write to the Upper Ashburton Road Board, asking them to put their portion of the Great South Road past the mill into proper repair. SBAFIBI.D ROAD. The question of the repairs to this road recommended was deferred till next meeting, the member for the ward interested in the matter not being present. RIVER ROAD. lie the clause in the Engineer’s report referring to ■ the above, Mr Megson thought that this was a work of such magnitude that the County Council should be requested to undertake it, and he considered that the Road Board should not be asked to do it. If the Council did not carry out the work entirely, they should bo requested to. assist. The Chairman said that a meeting was held in the district concerning it, but very little interest seemed to be felt in it. He thought that two-thirds of the settlers would agree to the work being done, if proper stops were taken.

[Mr Winter then arrived, and Mr Btown vacated the chair in his favor.]

On the motion of Mr Brown, it was carried that the Council b« written to, stating that the work is quite but of the power of the Board, and that it was urgent. WAKANUI ROAD. It was resolved that the Surveyor be requested to report to the next meeting as to the advisability of erecting a bridge over the ford, or otherwise dealing with the water overflow. DEPUTATION. Messrs A. Orr and Gundry interviewed the Board on behalf of the Athletic Sports » Company to request permission to remove soil for the purpose of patting on the Company’s ground. It was intended to take the soil fro m the Trevorton district, where there was plenty of shingle to fill up where the soil was taken from. Dr Trevor was quite willing to give his consent. The Chairman said that the Board had no objection to granting the request. BATES. The Clerk reported that he had taken proceedings against the occupiers of land or outstanding rates. THE ELECTIONS. A discussion took place as to the particular Act under which the election should take place, in the course of .which Mr Brown pointed out that according to the clause in the Local Elections Act the members|must be chosen on a show of hands, and only those ratepayers who "were present would have a voice in the inatlbr. On the motion that the election be held under section 49 of the Hoad Board Aqt it was negatived. The Clerk was instructed to give the necessary notice.

ACCOUNTS. . A number of accounts were passed for payment.

Annual Meeting.

The annual meeting of this Board ’then took place, the same members beings present. The report to be presented to ilia ratepayers was read, together with balance-sheet, and duly approved of. ' ‘

•Meeting of Ratepayers. <,

A meeting of the ratepayers of the district was afterwards held, ■ very few people beyond the members of the Board being present Mr Winter occupied the chair.

The minutes of the previous annual meeting and the annual balance-sheet were read and confirmed.

ANNUAL REPORT. The Chairman read the annual report, which stated that it had been the aim of the Beard to distribute the limited means at their disposal in those places which had most need of it, and they had not felt justified in incurring a large overdraft. It would be a matter of satisfaction for them to learn that the rates had been got in well during the past two years. The Road Boards Act, 1882, in which previous acts were condensed, stated that the number of members should not be less than four nor more than nine, and this Board had decided that the present representation could not be improved uphn, and had resolved that the number should remain at five, viz.—One for No. 1 Ward, two for No. 2 Ward, and two for Nor 3 Ward. The annual election had been postponed to the first week in June, owing to the non-completion of the ratepayers’ rolls, and it would be as well to point, out that anyone wishing to be a -candidate must send in a proper nomination paper te the returning officer signed by himself and two qualihed ratepayers, in accordance with the Regulation of Elee|tions Act. In reference to the. encroachment of the river Ashburton, he was sorry to say that -though a meeting convened to discuss the question of a Board of Conservators being appointed was well attended, nothing tangible resulted. The recent floods had done much damage, aud it was decided at the last meeting of the Board to request the County Conncil to assist them as they had not money at their disposal to repair the damage. He trusted that the working of the Board during the year had been satisfactory to the ratepayers. A ratepayer said that be did not think that there was any need for more money to be spent on the River road. . , The Chairman said that the Board hacU decided that they were not in a position to undertake the work, but intended.to L asik; the assistance of the City Council. Another ratepayer said that' it was necessary something should be done in, the matter, or otherwise the whpleflat would be covered before long. Mr Brown moved the adoption of the report and balance-sheet. Mr Megson seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Mr Megson said he wished to refer to a note appended to the accounts by the Provincial Auditor, stating :th'at certain expenditure was not warranted and should be refunded. He (the speaker) said that though he was not a member of the' Board at the time, had he been he would have considered the expense' v4nJcurred by the meeting, re railway tariff, was justified, and he thought the meeting, of ratepayers should override the decision of the auditor. He would move that the Board was justified in the expenditure 6f. the money re reduction of railway tariff in June, 1881, amounting to L 8 12s 3d. Mr Walsh seconded, and it was carried unanimously. The meeting then separated.