WAKANUI ROAD BOARD.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1706, 8 November 1887, Page 2

WAKANUI ROAD BOARD.

The monthly meeting of this Board was held on Saturday, sth inst. Present— Messrs M. Bruce (chairman), Geo. Coe, and W. T. Lili. An apology, was reoeived from Mr Brown for non-attendance, he having met wiih an acoident. COBBESPONDENOB, Letters were read — . 1) From Commissioner of Crown Lands, aavising that the sum of £1 133 «id, arising from land sod within Beserve 264, Chen sey, was m the hands of the Beceiver of Land Revenue, and asking how the Board proposed expending the money before the voucaer was forwarded. Beaolved to reply tha» it will be spent m repairing the road.— (2) From County Counoil, intimating that the South Bakaia Boad Board had asked that the control of the Boundary Boad should be vested m that Board, and stating that the matter would be considered at the Council's meeting on November 4 h, when any statements would be received. The Chairman stated that m connection with the other member of the Ward, he had informed the Counoil that they would personally attend --he meeting ; they had done this, ana objected *o the control of the road being vested m the South Eakaia Eoad Board.— (3) From the Chief Surveyor, having reference to a direct road from Dromore to Ashburton (enclosing a detailed plan), stating that Beserve 1450 was set apart solely for a railway line, bo that the oonsent of the Bailway Department would first have to be sought, and if obtained, the reserve changed by the Governor with the assent of the General Assembly; m one portion the rails were within 81 links of the east side of the reserve, So that the proposed road would have to be taken on the west side. He asked the Board to consider whether.it would not be better to purchase a road- to - -wrawt-eromtmrwitfa the South Eoad. As it would seem that it^Wßs-tmpwjoifeHr-tTj-inniia a road line along the railway -within the boundary of the distriot, and that the sug. gested road was also out of this Board's jurisdiction, the .board considered that the matter had better bo left over till next meeting to see wfoat other steps could be taktn, and thanked -the Chief Surveyor for the consideration he had given the matter — (4) From <he County Council, BBking the Board to cause the crown of Wi'son's Boad, as per enolosed plan, to be lowered to the original level, tp reply that at the last meeting of the Board it was agreed that when the fences were removed the road would be put to its natural level, but st present the Board considered it unwise to interfere with the crust of the ground, as m tho event of flood it would soour and make dangerous holes. —( 5) From the Publio Works Department, forwarding a oopy of a letter from Mr Purnell (solioitor for objectors) relating to the land to bo taken for a road under the Publio Works Act, and requesting that the Governor be furnished with any remarks on the allegations contained m the letter ;hat the Board saw fit to make. (6) From the same, acknowledging receipt of memorial, declaration and plans relating to the above, and impressing the Board that as soon as the Minister is favored with a reply to his other letter, the matter will ba fully considered. It was resolved that the Minister be informed of the reasons for taking land, and to reply to the allegations m the counter memorial.— (7) From Wilding and Lewis, solicitors for Mr David Wilson, with reference to damage sustained by their client through overflow water being diverted from its natural course. They had advised Mr Wilson that the looal body was clearly liable, as the extra flow of water is directly attributable to the cutting of a channel by the Board, taking the wa'er from the road into the gully, and asked if the Board would compensate Mr Wilson for his loss without the necessity for litigation. Besolved to reply that the Board considered that Mr Wilson had not suffered damago through any aotion of the Board. — (8) From the County Counoil, stating they would give a subsidy of. Is per 100 for heads and ogga of small birds, excepting starlings. The Board resolved they would supplement the grant with another Is. It was also agreed to write to the Hamystead Town Board and the Borough Oounoil, asking them to take steps to suppress the nuisanoe m the interests of the community, as these places harbored the peats. aOBVETOB'S BErollT, / (1) Winter's Eoad.— The formation of this road between Buokley's and Hampton road has been completed. (2> Buckley's Boad.— As authorised tenders were called for work on tiiis road, and let to T. Whittington. (3) Clearing Tussocks. — The tussonks have been grubbed up on the Seafield, Buckley's, Boundary, Eule's, nnd Winter's Eoads. (4) Overflow at Wakanui. — Considerable damage has been done to the roads ihafc are affected by the overflow of the river m this looality ; the encroaohment of the river into Mr B Brown's land has been so steady for some time owing to repeated floods, that it seemed a permanent stream was . 'ikely to force its way down the flat, but owing to the measures lately taken by the settlers, m response to a meeting called by the member of the Ward (Mr Brown) this has been temporarily obviated. There '8 no doubt that the present aspeot is very serious, and the remarks we made m one of ouc reports some years ago, are being ful filled, viz. : — That there being snob, an extent of fiver frontage to protec , it would be ad» visable to divert some distanoe of stream. The maintenance man has been fsaoing off dangerous places on the roads, and repairing temporarily, as we consider it would be mad visable to do anything than what is barely necessary, owing to the unprotected state of the river frontage. (5) Maintenance roan's diary lies on the' table for inspection. The report was adopted. ACCOUNTS. Aftor passing aooounts the Board adjourned.