SOUTH RAKAIA ROAD BOARD.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1048, 14 September 1883, Page 2

SOUTH RAKAIA ROAD BOARD.

The adjourned monthly mee ing of the above Board was held on Thursday. Members present —Me srs Mackie (chairman), Coster, Holmes, Mann, and Harrison.

The Clerk reported that since ' las

meeting contractor Clifford had been engaged on the completion of Gardiner’s road. The work was almost completed, and he had made a progress payment.— The maintenance contracts are going on rather slowly, the contractors trying to carry out the works without sufficient strength for carting out gravel. The bad weather lately has also interfered with the work. Small progress payments have been made to those requiring it.—The "ang have been on the Great South road, completing the repairs, and on other roads in the district were most required. The hollow place in front of Hartnell’s is now filled in, the box culvert taken up and an open crossing is in course of formation, which will be finished as so on as the men return from the Kyle road, where they were sent on account of the scour caused during the last flood, which insome places is very bad.—The LI,OOO fixed deposit fell due on the 9th September, and if not required for immediate use can be deposited at a satisfactory rate. According to instructions 1 procured 12 tons of iron pipes from the Ashburton Borough Council ; they will be laid as soon as possible. Tenders for the various works decided to be done at the last meeting are now before you. It would be advisable if the remainder of the tussocks on the South road as far as Chertsey and the lower portion of Acton river road to Dobbin’s Ford road are removed in order to do the work at once, as it would only coat a few pounds. Mr Lyttelton waited on the Board and aaked them to do something to the Barrhill road near the corner of Mr Holmes’ road. The water was backed up and flooded his paddocks, and he could not get off the roads into his paddocks after a heavy rain.—Mr Holmes proposed—- “ That two sumps be ( put in about two chains apart, and thought this would take away all the water off the centre of the road.” Seconded by Mr Mann and carried. ( The Clerk was instructed to take levels and report to the next meeting. Mr Harrison waited on the Board re a fence, which he understood the Board wo'u'dcect. The land was bought from Mr On i don and the N.Z. and Australian Land Company. —After discussion it was resolved to pay 10s per chain as per agreement with Mr Cuddon, but there was an agreement with Mr Allan about fencing, but he agreed to accept L 5 per acre.—The Clerk was instructed to see Mr Allan before replying, about the other poition. Mr McOrory requested that a cross road through his land be formed, as it was in such a bad state.—On the motion of Mr Osborne it was decided to call for tenders for forming and sowing with grass 104 chains.

Mr Osborne asked to have a cutting made from the Ferry road into the riverbed. The usual roadway was private property, and as the land had changed owners they now refused to let the public use his land.

The Clerk was instructed to report at next meeting, but in the event of the owners refusing to keep open the present cutting, the work to be done ot once. An application was sent asking for a footpath from Mitchall street to Mackie street. —It was decided to do the work. A'letter from John Stewart was read, asking if ho could not leave the commencement of his work on the Barrhill road for three weeks, as he w-s about

finishing a contract for ploughing. It was decided that the Clerk arrange with him to fix the time.

A letter from Mr McAnulty called attention to the state of some crossings made by Mr Dolan, which were dangerous.—Mr Osborne said that the cro-sings were most dangerous, and he and Mr Makeig had seen it. —lt was decided to reply that when the crossing is passed by the Clerk it will hare to be in a good state.

Mr Pycroft wrote, asking to have his deposit returned for a contract he had thrown up. —lt was decided that the money be returned, but in future he would have to agree to the terms of his contract.

Mr Mann said if a portion of section 2228 could be obtained for the use of an open drain he would be willing to give the land. It could be made an open drain after pipes had been used to the corner where the Board’s cottages were. After discussion it was decided that the Clerk take levels, and see the Government Engineer, and report at the next meeting. It was decided that tenders be called for'clearing the tussocks as recommended by the Clerk. Tenders as follows were accepted : Pound road, 9s per chain, D. Campbell; Copeland’s road, 8s 6d per chain, P. Clifford ; Mitcham and Cherlsoy road, 3s 6d per chain, N. Callaghan ; Miccham and Ashburton road, 3s fid per chain, N. Callaghan ; Kyie road, Cs lid per chain, P. Clifford.

Fresh tenders to be calls d for Morrow’s road and shingling the Railway Terrace east.

Accounts were passed for payment to the amount of L 258 16s 14d. The Chairman stated to the members that there was no reply from the Government about a refund of one-third of the purchase money for the roads for village settlement residents.

It was decided not to re-deposit the LI,OOO, as money was required for the nrosent works.

The meeting then adjourned.