WAKANUI ROAD BOARD.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1091, 3 November 1883, Page 2

WAKANUI ROAD BOARD.

The usual monthly meeting of the Wakanui (load Board took place to-day at the Board's offices, Moore street. Present— Messrs F. T. Mayo (in the chair), Brown, Megaon, Bruce, and Walsh. MINUTES. The minutes of the last regular meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. A circular was received from the Otago Daily Times and Witness Company, calling the attention of the Board to a book just published by that firm, and which is a supplement to Vincent Pyke’s “Handy Book of Local Government Law.” It was resolved to procure a copy to lay on the table, also that the Clerk write for Government to supply five other copies for the use of the members. Mr JohnKilgour wrote, acknowledging receipt of the Clerk’s letter, re birds’ eggs and heads. It was resolved on the motion of Mr Brown, seconded by Mr Megson—“Tnat, it having come to the knowledge of the Board that sufficient care is not being taken in checking the number of bird’s eggs and heads collected, the masters of the different schools be asked to count each lot on delivery. INSPECTOR OF NUISANCES. The Inspectors report was read and adopted. The Chairman called attention to the amount annually paid to this officer—about L33-and said he did not consider the Board could afford to pay this any longer. It was moved by the Chairman, seconded by Mr Bruce—“ That three months’ notice be given to the Borough Council of the Hoard’s intention to dispense with the services of the Inspector of Nuisances.” engineers’ report. We have the honor to submit our monthly report as follows: —(i) Seafield Road: The re-formation has been completed by the contractors, with the exception of portions of the work which requite better finishing before being finally passed.—(2) Chertsey Road : The contractor for re-forming is going on with the work on this road, which will probably be completed in about ten days.—(3) Maintenance of Roads : The contractors has been attending to roads during the month.—(3a) Gardner’s Road: The' contractor has completed the clearing cf tussocks off the road.—Bridge at limes’ : As directed at last meeting, we have inspected this bridge, it is only fit for ordinary dray traffic, and unsafe for an engine and combine to go over, being too narrow and not strong enough; we estimate the cost of putting in extra piles and widening would be Lio or Ll2. —(S) Concrete falls, Leadley’s and Butterick’s Drain ; We have arranged with P. Stewart to have the necessary repairs done. — (6) Timber Shoot at T. Wilson’s : Stewart and Wilson have agreed to the Board’s resolution with regard to this matter, which will be put in hand shortly. IVe have taken levels for re forming Cochrane’s road, and have prepared plans and specifications for this and Winter’s and Hampton’s tenders for which will be laid before you to-day. Clause 4. Resolved —“ That tenders bo called for the necessary work, provided Mr Inness bear half the cost of the work.” The report was adopted.

The Chairman stated that no action would be taken with regard to purchase of a horse and cart, and called attention to several stoppages in the Wabanui cr.ek caused by the spread of willows, also to the neglect of several residents in the district in not clearing the gorse off the roads adjoining their properties, and the Clerk was instructed to serve notices on these people in order to have the evil , complained of remedied. PETITION. A petition signed by several residents in the Wakanui district was read, calling the attention of the Board to the necessity which existed for a bridge over the Wakanui creek on the Wakanui township road below Trevurzi’s.—Referred to the Engineer to report. TENDERS. Several tenders were opened for work advertised in the district, but as the prices asked in each instance were in excess of what was anticipated, it was resolved, on the motion of Mr Megson, seconded by. Mr Bruce, to accept tenders for the formation of Winter's road as far as the junction of Hampton’s road ; and that the other tenders be declined ; and that it be left in the hands of Me.ws Bruce and the Engineer to accept tenders for skim-

ploughing Hampton’s and the Chertsey roads.

ACCOUNTS.

Accounts amounting in all to Ll4l 10s 6d were passed for payment, and the meeting adjourned.

DEATH OF A WATERLOO VETERAN.

A man died in Mount Eden Gaol a few days ago, whose life may indeed be described as a strange story. His name was John Walker, formerly a seaman on board one of Her Majesty’s ships. The only authentic information that can be obtained respe ding him is that he was the son of a soldier who served in the famous wars in the Poonah, under Sir Arthur Wellesley (afterwards the Duke of Wellington). The subject of this notice was born at Bangalore, in what is now known as the Madras Presidency, 1791- In the early part of that year Bangalore was stormed under Lord Cornwallis. Walker might therefore be regarded as one of the first English born subjects of the English Crown in India. According to this date, he was a contemporary of the famous Tippuo Sahib. When Bangalore was given back to Tippoo, in 1792, Walker must have been carried with his father’s regiment to Madras. Nothing appears to be known of his father’s subsequent services, but a reference to dates would indicate that he served under General Harris in the Mysore Country, and was present at the storming of Seringapatam, where Tippo was killed in 1799. How Walker spent his early life is not known, but there seems no doubt of the fact that he served in the British forces at Waterloo, where he received, several wounds. He came to New Zealand in 1840, as a seaman on board Her Majesty’s ship Reliance Se must, therefore, have been present at

the Bay of Islands about the time the signing of the| Treaty of Waitangi in in 1840, but as that event took place in January, the Reliance may have arrived in the colony a little later. Walker must have been intimately acquainted with the stirring events of the next five or six years. It is stated that during Heke’s war he deserted his ship. What became of him is not known, but he was proclaimed in the ordinary form as a “ deserter,” and the military authorities on shore were requisitioned to seek

his hiding place and bring him back. He probably found employment in some of the “ out districts,” for it was difficult in those days for a “ deserter ” to remain in the towns undiscovered. Russell and Auckland were full of military and naval people, and there could scarcely be said to bo any other towns in the North Island of New Zealand at that time. When the war was over he came to Auckland. He was a man of very small stature, not exceeding five feet six inches in height, looking younaer than he really was. He was usually in a deplorable condition when received into the prison, but good food, regular living, and moderate work produced in him a wonderful change in a short time. When he became infirm he was offered an asylum in the Old Men’s Refuge, which he accepted. But he could not rest even there. He was in course of serving a six months' sentence for vagrancy when death overtook him. It is said that his body bore many scars received in the service of his country. Such was the end of a nonogenarian (ninety-two years of .age), who had fought and bled for his country—it» a without a friend and all—to repeat the old story, “through drink. —New Zealand Times.