LONGBEACH ROAD BOARD.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1092, 5 November 1883, Page 2

LONGBEACH ROAD BOARD.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Longbeach Road Board was held on Nov. 2nd, there being present Messrs J. Griga (chairman), E. H. Dobson, and G. Gilmour. The minutes of the previous regular meeting were read and confirmed. chairman’s report. The Chairman reported that the meeting to have been held on Monday, 15th October, lapsed owing to a quorum mt being present only Mr Gilmour and himself being in attendance. As tenders had been called for various works in the district it was thought advisable to consider them in order that the works might bo proceeded with instead of causing delay and inconvenience to the tenderers The following were accepted:—No. 1 contract, Windenneie road, J. Black, 1s; No. 2, Shearer’s road, formation, W. Croy, 5s lid ; No. 3, Shepherd's road formation, W. Lockhart, 5s 10 i. The tenders for No. 4 contract—laleworth road, drains, etc. —were declined. Mr Gilmour had stated it was very desirable that means should be taken to suppress the small birds’ nuisance in the district so they had directed the Clerk to write to the Chairman of School Committees in the district, asking for their cooperation in the matter, and requesting that the schoolmasters receive eggs and heads of small birds, and ke p a proper account of same. It was decided that the sum of two shillings per be given. They had also instructed the Surveyor to write to Mr Graham, calling his attention to the clause in the Public Works Act with regard to injuring the surface of the boundary road, which he was doing in order to eradicate gorse, and to state that the Board would take action in the matter unless the road was put in proper order. 'J he action of the Chairman and mem- ' hers then present was confirmed.

C ORRE3PONDENCB. A letter was received from W. Oroy stating that ha could not make a proper formation by ploughing the whole width of Shearer’s road, as the ground was too hard, but that he would be agreeable to any alteration the Board might make. Mr 15. G. Wright wrote, stating that as the work or metalling the 30 chains on the Windermere road was costing so little, and as he was giving the contractor the metal free, he trusted the f.oard would sanction the metalling of a further portion of the soft parts of the rod, and also fill with stones the mud holes on the Great South road opposite the Chatmoss road.—The Surveyor was instructed to have the work done. A letter was read from Mr A. Jackson, apologising for his non-attendance at the meeting.—as Mr Jackson had failed to att.md four consecutive meetings of the Board, h a seat was, in accordance with the, act, declared vacant, and the Clerk was instructed to arrange for the election of a member for No. 5 ward.

The Manager of the Chatmoss Estate wrote, asking for a bridge over drain on Boundary road to give access to R.S. 16680, and calling attention to a slip on this road, also to the state of the approaches tc bridges on McLennan’s road. —The Surveyor was instructed to attend to the matter. Mr Graham wrote, in reply to the Board’s letter, re his ploughing up fart of boundary road. —As Mr Graham had not asked permission to plough the road, it was resolved that he be informed that un-

less the road be put in good order by ton days, the Bo ird will take proceedings against l:im. It was also resolved—“ That the Board will not allow the ploughing of any road in order to remove gorse growing thereon.” Mr H. Cullen applied for an increase of 2s 6d per chain for work on the Coldstream road.—The Board considered this a fair and just claim, and resolved to allow this contractor 2sper chain extra. ford on dawson’s road. Mr John Bell waited on the Board with regard to the drain and ford made on Dawson’s road. After some discu sion, Mr Bell was informed that the Surveyor would repoit fully on the matter. sdrvbyor’s report. The Surveyor's report was read as follows.—

(i) Coldstream Road; The contractor is progressing frirly with this road. —(2) Beach Koad near Coldstream: Two of the creeks on this road having become dangerous owing to the scouring of the holes in the ford we have had the same repaired, the cost being L2. (3) Beach Road between Lowcliffc and Longbeach: Some of the creeks that were lately repaired have again suffered from the last heavy rainfall, notably the Boundary creek, the approachjof which has been washed away, also one of the creeks with bridge over it; but as there is a ford there nothing need ba done except to put a rail across to prevent persons using the bridge. The other has had the approach to the ford washed away owing to the water breaking through a dam over a small watercourse which intersects the approach to tlie ford, and this can be remedied at a small cost. —(4) Dawson’s Road: The ford over this road at its junction with the Waterloo new road has been completed.—{s) Surveyor’s Road: One of the culverts on this road has again been damaged during the last flood. We think that a good concrete culvert, say for half the width of the road, would be preferable to a

wooden one; they do not cost more, and have greater strength and durability than wood and are likely to stand considerably better during heavy floods and rainfalls. —(6) Graham’s Road: We have been requested to bring before the Board the advisability of raising the floor of the bridge on this road between Messrs Gilmour’s and Bishop’s properties. Being so low the water during heavy rainfalls flows over the bridge and road, and is diverted from its proper course.— (7) Boundary Road and McLennan’s Road: We have inspected these roads, being the subject of a petition from the manager of the Chatmoss Estate. The slip at the bridge on the Boundary road requires attention, as the last fresh scoured away the sides underneath the bridge till they are now flush with the sills in one part. Fascines of gorse staked and wired in front of the banks would, we think, be effective in preventing further scour and would be inexpensive. The approaches to bridges on Mr McLennan’s land require making up, as there is more than a foot drop Irom the bridge in some instances. The cost of doing this would be small,—(B) We were instructed at last meeting to report on the roads requiring repairs in the district. We might state that all roads that are metalled require repairs more or less—viz, Great South road, Graham’s road, Ford’s road, Osborne’s road, Dawson's road, Lohgbeach road, Winslow road, Isleworth road, hut especially Graham’s road and Longbeach road, which require about five yards to the chain for the greater part of their distance. —{9) Windermere Road; The contractor has started metal-

ling this road:—(to) Shearer’s Road : The contractor has commenced work on this road. —(21) Shepherd’s road; t he contractor started on this work, but owing to the exceeding hard nature of the ground could make no progress. He makes application to the Board to extend his time to a more favorable period. (12) Isleworih Road: The work on this road is being

proceeded with. ■ ; . The report was adopted. The Surveyor was instructed to call for tenders for forming part of Poplar road and making a ford, also for metalling part of Surveyor’s "road, for forming part uf Great South road between the Hinds and Coldstream,,about 30 chains, and for cleaning drain at Dobson’s ford. The Surveyor-informed the Board that he had sold one cottage on reserve 1827 for cash, and that Mr Magee had agreed to take tha other one - . The meeting then adjourned.