SOUTH RAKAIA ROAD BOARD.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1066, 5 October 1883, Page 2

SOUTH RAKAIA ROAD BOARD.

The usual monthly meeting was held on Thursday. Members present —Messrs C. N. Mackie (Chairman), Mann, Holmes and Coster. clerk’s report. The Clerk reported that, according to instructions, he had inspected the cutting at Dobbin’s ford, and had interviewed the

owner of the land, who was quite willing to let the public use his track until the Board could have a new one made on their own land. The hollow complained of at the last meeting by Mr Lyttelton, on the Barrhill road can be drained by reducing the rise eighteen inches before making the second hollow, and one sump will then keep that portion of the road quite dry. Tenders for the sump have been called. Some of the maintenance contractors are not progressing as they should, and it will be some time after the three months allowed, before completing their works. It would be advisable if some of the Board members would go over these works with the Clerk next week to inspect them,—Clifford has completed his Gardiner’s road contract, with the exception of some levelling, and has got well on with his Kyle work.—Arnold’s work is not progressing well, and he will not be finished for a fortnight,—Callaghan has started tin his Mitcham contract. —Stewart has arranged to complete his contract in two months. The gang have been fully employed on the various roads in the district. It would

be advisable to have the newly formed roads sown with grass before the nor’* westers set in. The Main River road requires some metal. Mr Burnett hai been seen about the drainage of the township, and he states that it would be useless askingjthe Government to join in any scheme just now, and he does not think that nineinch pipes would be of any use ; in fact, 18-inch pipes would be too small for the purpose. The Clerk asked for time to take levels and report fully at the next meeting, as he had not had the time to do it during the last three weeks. Harrison had bes damaging the road considerably in ploughing for his fences on Maiawaring’s road. There are holes over a foot deep in it. THE EASTERN ROAD. It was decided that Messrs Mann and Osborne should go over the Eastern road with the Clerk. MISCELLANEOUS. It was decided to have the newly formed roads sown with grass without delay, the Clerk to procure the seed.—lt was decided to metal the Main- Rakaia road about 40 chains, where it was required ; tenders to bo called. • DEPUTATIONS. Mr Irwin waited on the IJoard, complaining about storm-water being banked up on the roads near h:s property on the Mount llutt Boundary road. The water had gone over the fence and it had to get over another before it left his property.. The road requires lowering so as to turn the water into the old creek. The water runs along the Mount Hutt Boundary till it fills a hollow and then rises over his fences.

The Chairman stated that the road in question was under the supervision of the Mount Hutt Board, although any expenditure had to be shared by this Board. H|Mr Irwin thanked the Board and withdrew.

Messrs Allan and Harrison attended re the fencing of land bought for roads, and the former stated that he understood the Board always fenced land they took from private parties for roads. The Company had offered L 5 per acre, and the Board had accepted the offer, and he understood the fencing would be paid for. The road is of no benefit to the Company, only to the public. The Chairman stated that the matter would be considered. BALLAST PITS. Mr Allan complained about the Board’s ballast pits on the Crown land encroach; ing on private property. The pits mentioned have not been surveyed. There is also a pit opened on ehe Kyle road where the fence is down, and another chain of it likely to fall. It was decided that the Clerk should inspect the broken fences and report. With regard to the paying for fencing en land purchased from the Company for roads, it was decided after considerable consideration,on themotion of Mr Coster, seconded by Mr Mann,’ to pay 10s' per chain for the fencings so as to place the occupier in x the same position as others from whom land had been purchased. A REQUEST. Mr Mann asked that certain broom, etc., be cut in the big plantation to enable the road cut through to be used. The plantation belonged to the Road Board, but at one time it was decided to hand over the same to the Domain Board, but it had not, however, been handed over to that body as yet. It was resolved that the tussocks and broom be cut on the Plantation road. PROGRESS PAYMENT. Contractor Brimmicombe wrote asking for a progress payment of L3O. —Granted. PETITION. A petition was read from ratepayers in the north-west portion of the district asking for the formation of the Mitcham and Somerton roads from the Chertsey road, about 4 miles 5 chains. It was decided to form the road and sow the same with grass, tenders to be called at once. EXTENSION OP TIME. The Great South road contractor, Mr Arnold, applied for an extension of time. —Granted one month. TENDERS. Tenders for the following works were accepted Clearing tussocks Great South road, T, Cole, 10|Td per chain ; clearing tussocks on River road, T, Cole, Is !3d per chain ; forming footpath in township, R. Taylor, 16s per chain ; cuttings at Dobbin’s ford, Francis Wilson, L 25 ; shingling Railway Terrace road, P. Costello, la 9d p*r yard ; Sprott’s road formation, M. Nolan, 6s 6d per chain ; formation Morrow’s road, W. J. Welsh, 6s fid per chain; sinking sump, J. Thompson, L 9 ss.

ACCOUNTS. Accounts to the amount of L 129 8s lOd were passed for payment, and the meeting adjourned.