SOUTH RAKAIA ROAD BOARD.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 988, 6 July 1883, Page 2

SOUTH RAKAIA ROAD BOARD.

The first meeting of the newly-elected South Rakaia Road Board was held on Thursday. Members present—Messrs C. N. Mackie, Holmes, Mann, Coster, and Osborne. —The first business was the election of a Chairman. On the motion of Mr Holmes, Mr Mackie was unanimously elected. Mr Mackie thanked them for electing him Chairman, and congratulated the new members on their election. —The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed—The Clerk’s report was read recommending that the tussocks be cleared from the Great South road. The labor gang have done good work on theChertmy Boundary road, and are now on Mainwarings road, but will bo on the lower portion of Kyle road in a few days. I would recommend that in the month of September the re formation of Kyle road be commenced, as there will be a be: ter chance of the tussocks being destroyed. According to your instructions, tenders have been called for various worxs in the district, and are now before you for consideration. Arrangements are being made with occupiers for clearing the gorse from the roads —Correspondence was read from the Land Office, Ohdstchurch, stating that Ll 6 14s had been placed to the Board’s credit for the purchase of buildings at Sod Town.—Mr Mackie stated that a number of the residents in the village settlement had asked him to look into the atute of the roads round their property. The Act stated that one-third of the purchase money would be returned for the purpose of making new roads, and they would like them made. Mr Mackie said he knew that some of the roads were bad. —Mr Holmes proposed, and Mr Mann seconded —“ That the Clerk should write to the Government officials, asking what amount of money was available from year to year for expenditure on roads for the deferred payment settlers. Carried.—Mr Colter thought that, from a letter received some months ago, it was the intention of the Government to return one-third of the amount already expended ; up to the present time there had been no reply to the Board’s letter, and it would be as well to inform the settlers as well as the Government that no funds had been received for this puroose.—Mr Kemble complained that he had not been paid for the laud taken for a road, although it had been open twelve months. In connection with this matter a letter was read from Mr Webster, stating that the work would be finished .in a few days, as well as on the Native Reserves land. The County Council w ote re distributing poisoned grain for the purpose of killing small birds; applicants could haVa it on application, payment to be made on delivery. Mr Ma m requested that all fanners in the district be compelled to purchase a certain quantity of poisoned grain. All the other members objected to any such attempted compulsion.— It was decided that the Clerk be instructed to write to the County Council, asking them to forward 9001bs of wheat, to be diatril uted by the Clerk to applicants. Notices to be posted on the office door to that effect.— Mr Maun called the attention of the Board to the flood water in tie township on Tuesday, and asked for a couple of large culverts near the Bank and railway crossings. He would propose that the present culvert be taken up and examined and gratings put in.—As an amendment Mr Holmes proposed that the Clerk report on the matter at the next meeting. After considerable discussion, The amendment was carried.—Mr Coster gave notice of motion for the next meeting—“ That, as this Board only consists of five members, one member to be decided by ballot should retire in May 1884, and two in 1885, the other two in 1886, according to section 31 of the Road Board Act ” Mr White suggested through the Clerk that the Board should share the cost of cutting the fence between his land and the plantation on the three-chain reserve Mr Holmes thought that as the value of Mr White’s land had been considerably increased by the plantation he ought to trim both aides himself. As no formal application from Mr White was to hand, it was decided to do nothing in the matter at present. —The County Council wrote, asking what amount of plantation had been made al its expense, the si .Ac of each, and how the trees are growing ; and to state what is necessary to supplement the present condition of the plantations to put them in a thorough good state. —Tenders were opened for the maintenance of the River road (about 8 miles), and that of William Pycroft accepted at Is lOd per chain. For maintaining Kyle road (about 5 miles), that of Robert J. D inn accepted at Is 6d per chain, and Is per chain for clearing tussocks on the same road.—For maintaining the Chertsey Boundary, Joseph Brimicombe’a tender of 4s 9d was accepted.—lt was decided that the tussojks on about 2£ miles of the Great South Road off the centre be cut off.—On the motion of Mr Holmes, seconded by Mr Coster, it was decided to call for tenders for re-forming the road between Rakaia and Newtown. —Tenders were to be called for the formation of a road from the school to the end of the plantation.—Accounts to the amount of L7O 2 s 8d were passed for payment, and the meeting adjourned