AKAROA AND WAINUI ROAD BOARD.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 175, 22 March 1878, Page 2

AKAROA AND WAINUI ROAD BOARD.

Adjourned Meeting. Tuesday, March 1.9.

Present — Messrs Piper (Chairman), Williams. Duxbury, Shadbolt, and Curry. W. G. Inman Esq., waited on the. Board to ask whether they had any objection to advance part of the purchase money for his land, as there had been so' great ii delay in the completion of the deed. After some discussion Mr Inman retired, leaving the matter for the consideration of the Board. The Chairman expressed an opinion that the Board could not advance any money until the deed was properly signed and delivered. CORRESPONDENCE. ' » From Mr J. Thomas, contractor," asking for an advance of £20 on his contract on the Wainui valley, and Saddler s roads. '- From Mr J. Ollivier, Provincial 're aiTuiccQuntthat had been paid in error out of the deposit account, requesting the Board to get the matter adjusted at the Bank, and further stating that in every other respect the Clerk's- accounts were perfectly satisfactory. The auditor also suggested a new form of cash book for the use of the Clerk, which would greatly simplify the accounts. It was moved by Mr Duxbury, seconded by Mr Curry, and carried, that steps be taken at once to rectify the error of the account mentioned, and that the cash book suggested by Mr Ollivier be obtained. CLOSING OF THE OLD HEAD OF BAY BOAD. Mr Williams proposed that. Mr Libeau be written to,- calling upon him to pay all arrears of expenses in connection with the closing of the above road, and that all data in connection therewith be forwarded to the County Council. . The motion was seconded by Mr Duxbury, and carried, Mr Shadbolt dissenting on the grounds that as the matter was settled before the Counties Act waa brought into force in this County, the matter should rest with the Government. A letter was received from W. Widdicombe, stating that on being pointed out the work on the Robinson's Bay road, for which he had contrasted, lie found there was no good proceeding with it, as he had tendered at a quarter of its value. He was sorry to disappoint the Board, but would be willing, if they were agreeable, to go on with the work and clean out the side channels at £2 5s a chain.

The Clerk was instructed to write and inform him that his deposit money was forfeited, and to call for fresh tenders.

From G. W. Morey, re rates on his former property in German Bay, saying that he had nothing to do with- them, as the place had passed out of his hands in September last.

The Board agreed to remit the rates this year.

From C. McDonald, Wainui, stating that through Hie diversion of the Wainui Main road along Sandy Beech, the main road is removed from his steading by 30 chains, and from Mrs Warrier's by 50, and requesting the Board to put this road in a condition such as to enable them to use a cart upon it, as otherwise they would be forced to sledge to the,beach and then cart three-quarters of a im'le ,to the jetty. He had less compunction in asking the Board to do this as the expense would be but small.

The Clerk was instructed to visit and report.

From J. McNeill, saying that he had heard tho Board intended to widen the Barry's Bay road next his section. If such was the case he requested compensation as they would encroach too far on his land. The Board decided that the request could not be entertained. From G. Breitmeyer re the Horseshoe bend diversion, stating that he was ready to receive an offer from the Board. . The Clerk was instructed to reply that the Board had already offered him £30 on the 2nd July, 1877, which offer they would now repeat. From the Treasury, Wellington, intimating that the sum of £96 5s 4d had been placed to the credit of the Board, being* their share of the fundß to the credit of the County Council. From the Chief Survej'or applying for definite information as to the position of that part of the Little Akaloa and Pigeon Bay summit road within which the proposed alteration comes, whether it is in surveyed or unsnrveyed land, also with reference to the Long Bay track through George's Bush, that he was unable to approve of the road until a. fuller survey was placed before him * but that as soon as this was done, and the survey found to be correct, that, he would state his approval to the Board. From the.same, enclosing the following information re.the alteration of roads on the Peninsula .* — Survey Office, Christchurch, Canterbury, N.Z., 2nd March, 1878. Sir, —To avoid unnecessary correspondence and delays, I think it advisable to state shortly for the information of your Board to what extent I can assist it in altering roads on the Peninsula, what roads I have power to alter, and those which at present do not come within my province. present disposal of staff surveyors. My instructions with reference to these surveyors are to keep them ail, with the* exception of one, who is triangulating, employed in putting settlers in poseessronof their boundaries. Shortly six surveyors will be engaged on this work, and tfce*f will not be permitted to-do.any work outside the strict•-limit of the land they survey. . ; ••.-. •■•..*'• FUTURE SURVEYS. When the present arrears of survey are completed, the incorrect surveys, which unfortunately are known to exist all over the Peninsula, will probably be, revised, and an Act of the Assembly passed authorising existing grants or. titles - to be recalled, and fresh ones issued to accord with the survey of the land as occupied. This work will necessarily take several years to complete. '' ROAD SURVEYS. Alterations to existing or new lines of nnd passing through land already surveyed may be done under instructions from your Board by your own surveyor. If taken compulsorily under the powers granted to Road Boards by the " Public

Works Act, 1876," such Surveyor must be certificated by the Surveyor-General; at present no private Surveyor on the Peninsula is so certificated. If such line passes through land already Crown granted, and is a matter of arrangement between the Board and the owner, such survey may be made by any licensed Surveyor under the " Land Transfer Act." ALTERATIONS IN" ROADS TAKEN THROUGH LANDS ALREADY SURVEYED, BUT NOT CROWN GRANTED. If an alteration is required to any road in lands surveyed, but not Crown granted, and the owner thereof and the Road Board agree to such alteration, upon a survey being made by a certificated Surveyor and presented to me, I will cause such alteration to be marked on the public maps, and the Crown grant issued in accordance. This will save the Board the expense of conveyances. ALTERATIONS TO ROADS PASSING THROUGH UNSURVEYED LANDS. These are the only alterations I can at preseut undertake, and I shall be glad of any suggestions the Board may make, but the precise locality of such alterations should be pointed out, and, if possible, the sectional number or owner's name should be given, or some information which will indicate with correctness the place of the required alteration, which will then be recorded against the sections, and duly effected by the Government Surveyor. If an alteration to a road line passing through unsurveyed land is immediately required to enable the road to be formed or improved, upon the Board sending a rough sketch of the sections the proposed alterations would effect, and if such survey could not be shortly undertaken by my Surveyors, I would empower your Engineer to lay out or grade such piece of road, and its survey could be made when the line was finally surveyed. Any proposed road alterations will probably come under one of the above headings, and the Board will therefore now know how to act. To prevent misunderstanding between the Board and any surveyor it may employ to make the survey of any road alteration, I have drawn up the "conditions" under which such surveys should be accepted, and I would recommend the Board to make these conditions the basis of any agreement with its Surveyor for road alterations, and in the event of the survey being under the " Public Works Act" to withholdthe final payment for such survey until it has been submitted to me, or, in case of a survey under the " Land Transfer Act," until it has been submitted and approved by the Land Transfer Department, Christchurch.

I have, &c, John H. Baker, Chief Surveyor. The Chairman Akaroa and Wainui Road Board. A memorandum was also received from the Chief Surveyor, stating the conditions under which surveys for alterations to the existing lines of road will be accepted by the Christchurch office, or by the Land Transfer Department. Mr Duxbury proposed, Mr Williams f econding, that 25 copies of the regulations and conditions, as per the Chief Surveyors letter and memorandum, be printed and that the letters be acknowledged with thanks.

: ' From-the Chairman of the County Council, asking for a list of all claims for compensation on roads undertaken by the late Provincial Government, and still remaining unsettled. From the same, requesting information as to what works, requiring engineering skill, the Board would be likely to undertake immediately, and whether, in the event of the Council engaging the services of a competent engineer, the Board would be willing to pay a pro rata amount of his salary during the carrying out of those particular roads. It was resolved that a copy of the printed regulations, as sent down by the •Chief Surveyor, be sent to the Chairman of the County Council, and that the Clerk write informing him that the Akaroa and Wainui Road Board will be willing to pay pro rata for any works requiring engineering skill, also that the works demanding immediate attention are the completion of the Okain's Bay road through Libeau's and Martindale's properties, the Mount Bossu road, Ridge road, George's bush, and the extension of the Long Bay road ; also that a portion of the Summit road between Little Akaloa and Pigeon Bay junction requires re-grading. That the Board, also, desire to point out, in making the appointment, the absolute necessity which exists that the Engineer be also a certificated surveyor. From C. McDonald and others, drawing attention to that portion of the Wainui main road, recently formed by Mr Vangioni, along the Wainui beach, between the end of Mr Kenny r 's contract and Mr Saddler's house, that the whole length of this portion had not been formed, and that a portion of it is now on a very steep siding, the manner in which the work had been carried out causing great dissatisfaction. The petitioners therefore requested the, Board to have the road properly finished, as, at present it was dangerous for dray traffic.

The Clerk explained that it was no fault on the part of the contractor, who had done his work in strict accordance with the Engineer's specification. okain's bay boad. The Clerk was instructed to write to the Engineer, and enquire how many pipes were required for the work. SAFE. . Also to write to Messrs Mason, Struthers, and Co., for a quotation of the price of safes similar to that in use by the Borough Council. okain's bay road extension. Also to write to Mr H. Piper requesting him to proceed with the fencing on the above road. The Board further agreed to pay Mr Piper the same price for the fencing as had been given for that on the Long Bay Boad. cemeteries. The Chairman drew attention to the necessity for there being two cemetery Bites for this riding. He thought, as no one else would move, that the Board should take the initiative in the matter. There should be a cemetery at the Head of the Bay. Mr Duxbury thought the matter was totally outside the business of the Board. The proper way to go about it, was for the .people at the Head of the Bay to call a public meeting. After considerable discussion, it waa resolved to write to the Chairman of the County Council about the matter, and also

to say that the Board endorse the action of the Wainui inhabitants with regard to the same question. WAINUI BRIDGE, The C'erk was instructed to visit, and draw up specification.-* for this work. children's bay road. Tend'Ts were ordered to be called for this work. pawson's valley road. A petition was read from the settlers in Pawson's Valley, Head of the Bay, requesting that the road be opened, and the bridge built as soon as possible, so as to enable them to get to their properties. Mr Duxbury proposed, seconded by Mr Williams, and carried, that the Clerk report on the probable cost, and practicability of the four bridges which require to be formed viz., that in Pawsons Valley, French Farm, Robinson's Bay, and Wainui. PAYMENT. A. F. Hawthorne progress payment £10 0 0 T. S. Johnston 17 17 6 A. Trigg 0 7 0 Printing ... 14 1 0 J. Thomas 20 0 0 The Board then adjourned.