AKAROA AND WAINUI ROAD BOARD.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 164, 12 February 1878, Page 2

AKAROA AND WAINUI ROAD BOARD.

Saturday, Feb. 9,

Present: Messrs. Pipor (chairman), Curry, Williams, Shadbolt, and Duxbury. The minutes of the last regular meeting were read and confirmed. It was resolved that in future, when anyone agreed to pay for any proportion of work, that the same be paid in cash, that is, the estimated cost, before the work is put in band. Tho Engineer reported that the gradient of the Mount Bossu road had been spoilt through the road having been diverted in the interests of a private individual. It was agreed that the road be pushed on as speedily as possible, and that Mr Fenton be employed to re-grade the line through the private sections, and that the Chief Surveyor be requested to instruct Mr Thorpe to pick it up where it runs through unsurveyed sections. Moved by Mr Duxbury, and seconded by Mr Williams, "That the letter relating to this subject lie submitted to the- Board before being sent to the Chief Surveyor. and that the question of the re-grading of the Long Bay road, for which a grant of £350 is in hand, should at the same time be submitted to the surveyor, as his approval was necessary." CORRESPONDENCE. From the Chief Surveyor, as follows :— '•Survey Office, .',■■ - "Christchurch, Canterbuiy, N, Z., .. '•'3oth January,: 1878. " Sir,—l have the honor" to acknowledge receipt of- v letter dated the 23rd ul't., and signed by (the-Clerk to your Board. "In reply 'application to proceed with tub survey of the proposed road through the Onuku Reserve, 1 beg to state that my'instructions from the SurveyorGeneral .arc to push on with the minor • triangulation, and place people in possession of their land as fast as possible. I cannot, therefore, at present undertake this survey. I may say that I have also received intimation that the Natives strongly object to tho proposed road ; I will, however, consult with Mr Stack in . 'the matter, and try, soon as I can spare Mr Welch's services, to get this much disputed right of road through the Native Reserve settled.

" With reference io the second para graph of the letter now under reply, the Clerk to your Board begging further 4 to call my attention to the present system of laying out roads on the Peninsula,' &c. "1 can but think that, • judging from your previous courteous intercourse with me, the letter, although written ' by order of the Board,' has been sent without your perusal. I trust this is the case, for I need hardly suggest that, if the Clerk again presumes to address an official letter to me, worded in such a strain, I can have

no alternative other than to decline to receive any communication from your Board unless sent through the SurveyorGeneral.

" With this prefatory remonstrance, which a perusal of the Clerk's letter Will, I feel sure, cause you to justify, I now answer its subject-, matter, presuming that its tenor is only the inexperience of tho Clerk, and not intended discourtesy on the part of your Board.

" I am perfectly aware of the necessity of laying out the roads on the Peninsula where they can most easily be .made, and the Assistant Surveyors have been instructed, when laying out new roads, or even, when the land is unsurveyed, old roads, to choose the best and most practicable line. When the land is surveyed thpy can only adhere to such roads as they find already laid out. I do not divert roads through surveyed land ; this is the Board's province if it sees fit.

'• If the Board has reason to believe that any particular piece of road has not. been well laid out by one of the present surveyors, 1 shall be glad to have my attention called to it, but the particular road and place must be specified, and I will then instruct the Inspector of Surveys to visit such road, and, if it has not been properly laid out, the Surveyor will be requested to do it again. With general statements, I have nothing to guide me.

" I have every wish to assist the Board in getting good roads laid out, but I must decline to notice communications unless expressed in a manner more in accord with every day courtesy.

" I have the honor to be, Sir, " Your most obedient servant, " John 11. Baker, " Chief Surveyor. "The Chairman Akaroa and Wainui Road Board." It was moved by Mr Duxbury, seconded by Mr Shadbolt, "That the Board disclaim any intention of want of courtesy to the Survey Department; but that what was asserted was a mere statement of facts." The proposition was put to the Board, and carried by a majority of one, Messrs Williams and Piper objecting. The following is the Board's communication to the Chief Surveyor:— " January 23, 1878. " The Chief Surveyor, Christchurch. " Sir, —By order of the Board, I have to ask that you would instruct your surveyor to re-survey the line of road through the Native reserve, Onuku, Akaroa, as the Natives object to the line as already surveyed by the Board's surveyor, Mr H. H. Fenton, who explained to the Board in the presence of the Natives, that it was impossible to alter the line as surveyed, without altering the gradient, which was now 1 in 9£, but if taken the way the Natives wanted the road, could not be made less than 1 in 5.

" Further, I have to call your attention to an ascertained fact, that the system X)f laying off roads by the surveyors engaged on the Peninsula, and employed on your staff is very much tho same as adopted heretofore for many years, that is, running straight lines, irrespective of their impracticability for future traffic. In consequence of the impossibility of making roads over country as above described, the Board is at this moment paying away hundreds of pounds for diversions in order to repair the blunders of the ■ old system surveys. The Board feel much surprised that under the new order of tilings, or what is called an improved system of survey, is more in term than reality. Why the Board should be saddled with the expense of relaying off the roads after your surveyors have left the ground, is more than this Board can understand. This Board do therefore respectfully request that your staff may be instructed to grade their roads, and to give the ratepayers some return for their taxation, which many can ill afford."

From the Little River Road Board, saying they had received no answer from the Akaroa and Wainui Road Board in connection with the Mount Bossu road, and suggesling that the western side of the peak be taken. The Clerk was instructed to write, saying that the route suggested was the Wainui Pass Summit road, for which the £900 vote was available ; and that the vote for the Mount Bossu road was £1500, which road was entirely in the Akaroa and Wainui district. From P. Keegan, agreeing to submit the question of the road diversion through bis laud to arbitration, and appointing Mr 11. S. Biibbell to act for him. The Board agreed to this, and appointed Mr Latter to act on their behalf. From Mr T. S. Baker, French Farm, and other residents/regarding the road through section 100, asking that it be diverted and carried up the valley at a lower level, and requesting that the Board's Engineer be sent to report on the same. The Clerk was instructed to write, saying that the Board could not deal with the question, as Mr Baker was not the owner of the property. From the Clerk to the Little River Road Board, covering copies of correspondence showing the nature of the agreement between tho two Boards in regard to the boundaries of the districts.

Mr Williams proposed, seconded by Mr Curry, that the Board undertake half the maintenance of 70 chains of the main .road to Christchurch, aril that any application from the ratepayers on the Little River side of the hill will be equally considered, with applications from ratepayers in any other part of the district.

From Wm. Kenny, asking for an extension of fourteen days' time on his contracts on the Wainui and Long Bay roads.

Jt was resolved that Mr Kenny's application be granted. From the Lyttelton Times office, Christchurch, tc supplying lithograph maps.

From the Rev. W. Ayhner and others, re the Ayhner A 7 alley road, asking that the same he re-graded, as the water lay in the hollows, and rendered the present line im-

pa-ssable. The Clerk was instructed to go over the work required, and draw up specifications, and report by next meeting. From the Rev. J. W. Stack, with reference to the question between the Board and the Maoris at the Kainga in the matter of the Onukti roud, a report of which has been already given. From Mr S. Lee, drawing attention to the overgrowth of thistles on the road between the Head of the Bay and Pigeon Bay. '.the Clerk stated that this work had been attended to. From Mr W. M-Donald,- suggesting that shingle be laid on itie Long Bay track, near Mr Armstrong's gnte, before the winter sets in. .

. The Clerk was instructed to visit and report.'

The question of the collection of outstandidg rates was then brought up, when it was resolved that Mr James Hartley be appointed collector at the rate of five per cent.

From Messrs Garrick and Gowlishaw, enclosing copy of objection to their names being entered on the valuation list of the Road Board District. From Mr Vangioni, re his contract on the Wainui Beach road. It was resolved to call for fresh tenders on the completion of the present contract. TENDERS. Saddler's Road, Wainui Valley. —Henry Slater, six weeks John Thomas, two months, £30 ; John Vangioni, two months (including culvert), £2 12s per chain. John Thomas' tender was accepted. FRENCH FARM ROAD PROTECITVE WORKS. . Attention was drawn to the fact of a hand-rail being wanted at this place.

It was resolved that a post and rail fence be put up, and the road widened a chain and a half on each side of the work.

Resolved that plans and specifications be drawn up for the erection ol the' French Farm Bridge, and that tenders be called for, the same to be in by the next meeting. The Clerk reported on the Duvauchelle's Bay Bridge, and stated that the girders were rotten.

After some discussion, it was resolved that the bridge be repaired, and that totara beams be used for such repairs.

It was resolved that the metal required for the Christchurch and .Akaroa road, at German Bay, be procured and stacked, so as to be a supply for the winter months.

Tenders were ordered to be called for the same.

Re the road through Mr G. Breitrneyer s property, it was resolved to bring the Public Works Act into force.

Re the Okain's summit road, by the Pigeon Bay saddle,' the Engineer stated that the line required re-grading.

It was agreed that the Chief Surveyor should be written to in regard to this matter.

The new office at the Head of the Bay was ordered to be built, and the necessary deeds, as regards the land, prepared.

The Chairman said, with reference to outstanding Provincial liabilities, that he would suggest the formation of a Committee, who should report on the various cases, and that in the meanwhile, as regards the road through Mr St. John's property, that that gentleman be asked to allow a temporary, road to be used until such time as the question was settled. The Chairman and Messrs Williams and Duxbury were appointed on the Committee. Some discussion ensued as to the hour that the Board should meet at; also, in reference to the freight charged for bringing round the drain pipes. PAYMENTS. £ s. d. Garwood and Co. ... 0 12 0 G. Lardner 18 0 J. Lines ... ... 3 0 0 W. Maltby ... ... 12 10 0 The above accounts having been passed for payment, the Board adjourned to Saturday next, at 2 p.m.