SOUTH RAKAIA ROAD BOARD.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1019, 7 December 1883, Page 1

SOUTH RAKAIA ROAD BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the above Board was held on Thursday. Members present Messrs Mackie (Chairman) Holmes and Osborne. CLERK’S REPORT. The Clerk reported that as per instructions at the last meeting, the labor gang has been fully employed in filling in the gravel pit complained of by Mr Allan, on the South and Klye roads, also other necessary works have been done. Next week the Oxford road hill will bo lowered and the rise near Rokeby reduced to complete thedrainageof the road.—Clifford h-is completed his Kyle and son n the said with grass, which is coming up well. He has also finished and sown Copeland’s road in a satisfactory manner, and is now making good headway on the main rivet

road ■ hich was thrown up by Stewart. Calaghan has completed the Mitchan and Ashburton roads, and starts to day on the Oiiertsey-Mitcham road with increased strength, so as to complete the work before the end of the month. Kol in is making fair progress with his contract, and two miles are sown with grass. About two miles of Welsh’s contract is sown down, and he has two miles partly formed, but it is still in a very rough state, anl will require a lot more doing to it before passable. Dunn has completed his tUsSd.ck clearing contract, except carting them off, which will take two days, and I purpose holding his cheque until he finishes. Cole is making good progress, and will finish the Chertsey road in about ten days, and if his account is passed the cheque can be held till the contract is completed. Campbell is not making much headway owing to want of strength and being on the heaviest part of the work, but the portion finished is well done. Wilson is opening a ballast pit on the pound reserve, and will commence metalling in a day or two. I would draw the Board’s attention to the fact that the power is in their hands to make alterations in the valuatisn roll which when signed by the Chairman are valid, and as the roll is very incomplete and there are a number of alterations necessary it wouM be advisable to fix a day, (publicly notified) to make the alterations in accordance with the rating Act. As per instructions I have procured a copy of the Boads and Bridges Construction Ant and the Road Boards Act 1882 Amendment.

TENDERS. The Chairman stated that tenders for the various works invited a fortnight ago had been accepted by Mr Mann, acting for the Chairman, and the contractors were now at work. Some discussion took place on the subject, as the Board at the last meeting had authorised the Chairman to accept tenders and not one m mber. The Main River road t .nder accepted was Clifford at 12s 6d per chain, and the ploughing contract to Dolamore at 8s per chain —Consideration of this matter deferred to the next meeting. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was road from a number of ratepayers asking that the West Town Be't from Dnnford street to Rakaiiroad be formed and sown with grass. On the motion of Mr Holmes it was ‘deeded to call for tenders for the work. A number of ratepayers and others asked for the formation of Duaford street from the school to railway terrace.— Granted. Tenders to be called for. Messrs Doherty and Grey asked for the formation and shingling of a footpath on the south-east side of Mackie street, between Dunford and Michael streets. It was decided "to postpone the consideration of this application till the township member was present on the Board.

Callaghan wrote asking for a month’s extension of time on his contract. Granted.

Messrs Holmes and Loughry wrote stating that parcels of land—parts of 11. S. 5732 and the Maori reserve, taken under the Public Works Act for roads—are now public roads, the same having been so proclaimed in the Government Gazette of Oct. 25, 1883. Mr McAnulty wrote asking for thi continuation of E water-race, from Mr Harrison’s lower crossing to his section, to ran along Mainwaring’s road; also, for a crossing over Dobbin's ford.—To be informed that the water-race was County Council work. After consent of the County Council being granted a crossing could be put in at hie own expense to the satisfaction of the Clerk. The Commissioner o' Crown Lands wrote in reply to a letter of Febru iry 24th, 1882, stiting that plans of the various plantations to a lOin scale should be sent in, and costs of inspection L 4, and if passed by the Inspector a land ord r will be granted. The Clerk was instructed to have plans made and deposit L 4 inspection fees with the Receiver of Land Revenue. BALLAST PITS. Mr Osborne said that Mr Allan had informed him that seme of the ballast pita are not in their proper place. The Clerk stated that the pits were in the right place, but the certificates of title granted were wrong in describing the land. The work had been done by instructions of some of the New Zealand and Australian Land Company’s servants. THE ROKEBY SUMP. Mr Holmes called the Board’s attention to the bad manner in which the sump near Rokeby was constructed, and the Clerk was instructed to sea to the same. PAYMENTS. The pay-sheet to the amount of L 470 15s lOd was passed for payment, and the meeting adjourned.