AKAROA AND WAINUI ROAD BOARD.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 274, 4 March 1879, Page 2

AKAROA AND WAINUI ROAD BOARD.

Saturday, March 1

The usual fortnightly meeting of this Board was held on the above date, at their offices, Duvauchelle's Bay. ' Present —Messrs Williams (Chairman), Curry, Shadbolt, Duxbury, and M'Donald. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

Mr.C. Bates interviewed the Board in regard to the road leading from the French Farm road, and informing the Board that the road as now proposed was quite impracticable, as it now runs along the French Farm section instead of across the gully, as originally laid out. The Board promised to take up the matter for consideration later on in the meeting

Mr B. Shadbolt pointed out the 1 - dangerous nature of a culvert near Red John's gully, which the Clerk, was directed to see to immediately.

The question of arbitration fees was brought up, and the opinion of the Board expressed that in several cases the fee should be divided between the parties interested. Recently their experience of arbitration fees had been that the Board was always saddled with them. A letter was received from the Treasury, which was evidently intended for the Peninsula County, Otago. The Clerk was directed to return it to Wellington. bating act. In view of a circular from the Government re extension of periods under the " Rating Act, 1876," it transpired that no reply in regard to the Board's, letter for an extension of time had been received, and the Clerk was instructed to inform the Judge of the Assessment Court that an extension of time had been applied for, and that as yet no Gazette notice on the subject had appeared. commissioner's award; , The Chairman read the award of the Commissioner, Mr J. Aylmer, in the matter of the accounts between the Akaroa Borough Council and the Board, and shewing that the Board were indebted to the Council at the date of severance in the sum of £270, One thing he remarked in the sta lenient of accounts was, that no mention was made of the £70 for the bridge at Beecher's Hotel. The contract was let on September 28,1876, two months after the severance of the Borough, and he should like an expression of opinion from members on the subject Mr Duxbury was also surprised that no mention was made of the £500 grant, as it was clear in the face of the official correspondence, that • the Borough was not entitled to any share of it. He would move that the statement omitting to mention the sum of £70 spent upon a bridge within the Borough- of Akaroa after the date of severance, and which was admitted by the Mayor as a debit against any sum to which the Borough might be entitled that Mr Aylmer's attention be called to the fact, and he be asked for an explanation. r

The motion was seconded by Mr B. Shadbolt, put, and carried, and on the suggestion of Mr C. M'Donald, the Clerk was directed to wait upon the Commissioner with the original contract, shewing that the expenditure occurred of ter the severance of the Borough. ■..,'■'■ POLICEMAN AT HEAD OF BAY. •> * A letter was- received from Mr Montgomery, sending copy of tlie Colonial Secretary's letter re constable" at Head of the Bay, and also stating that he had seen the Commissioner of Police on tho subject, and that'he would do all in his power to carry out the wishes of the petitioners. MOUNT BOSSU ROAD. Mr J. Vangioni, the contractor for the Mount BOBBU road, wrote, asking; the Board to pass 88 chains of the new road; and also asking if he was to proceed with the road through J. Wright's section^ The Board instructed the Engineer to inspect and report on the 88 chains, and the Clerk was directed to inform the contractor that he could proceed with the upper part of the work at once. FENCING LONG BAY. ROAD. Mr J. Lelievre wrote, requesting, the Board to erect a legal wire, fence along

his property in Long Bay gully as previously arranged. The Clerk was instructed to call for tenders for a wire fence in, terms of the ordinance, five wires, and a top. wire of stronger dimensions/:.„. - \ y '-■■-., ■■>' "' ' HORSESkOE'BENp;..- ;\.„ A-,letter was 5 ; read! from Messirs' Everall and. Gunning; asking for £40, as an allowance for extra work done, over and above the specification, as- the} r had made the embankment 16 fee.t high instead of 11 feet 6 inches, a>td the rdad in several places wider." The Chairman did not think the embankment was even 9 feet high. Mr Shadbolt was not in favor of making a precedent in giving contractors more than their contract price.

Mr Duxbury pointed out that the next highest tenderer was only £20 12s 6d higher than the contractors, and wished to let this be known as it had been frequently stated that they, the iconiractors, had lost £100 by tho job. Mr Shadbolt said the Board could hot go against the Engineer's report, who stated that tho work was not properly done.

Mr M'Donald thought the Board might fairly meet them, as they had niade the road wider.

Mr Curry was sure the contractors got nothing for themselves, and the work was very fairly carried out.

Mr M'Donald thought the letter ..should be entertained, though not to the amount asked for.

Mr Shadbolt was quite opposed to the course proposed. They had passed the balance of their account last meeting more out of sympathy than because it was owing.

Mr Curry proposed that they be compensated for the amount of the malicious injury to their property to the extent of £20, on the grounds that the Board should protect the property of the contractors ; if not, they would not be able to get contractors to do their work.

The Chairman was afraid the Board had not the power to pay sums as bonuses out of the funds, which would lead to any amount of irregularities. He sympathised greatly with the contractors, but once start the system, and there would be no end to it, and they would be laughed at all over the country.

Mr Duxbury suggested that the amount of damage done to the drays be valued, and the Board pay for it. The Ch airman thought that was not disposing of the letter. Mr Corry said, if Mr Duxbury made such a proposition, he would withdraw his motion.

The Chairman disavowed all hostility to the contractors as men, but was quite «ure the principle was not a sound one, and would not allow it to go forth as unanimously, as he was against it. He had no objection to a reward being offered, but would not agree to any part, of tiw pub.ic funds being spent in the way indicated ; he would rather put his hand in his pocket and recoup the contractors for the malicious injury to ther property, and in this he was sure the Board would support hira. The matter, then dropped without the Board coming to any definite resolution on 'the subject. /',.';\ .:""" "-'"' erodes' flat boad.

.A letter was received from Messrs Fenton andiWilkihs, Surveyors', declining to undertake the survey of the,', road' through Rhodes' Flat as requested by the Board, for the reason that the Crown grants and the pegs on the ground were different. The letter was dated the 16th of February last, but since then a Government Gazette had been published, giving, fresh instructions to surveyors, stating that all pegs must be .adhered to and accepted as the correct starting points.. The Chairman had little doubt, now that the fresh regulations were published, but that Messrs Fenton and Wilkins would undertake the work. ACTS. The Clerk was directed to procure copies of the Acts of Session 1876, 1877, and 1878, bound, and to be kept in the office for reference. gouge's bay road.

A letter was received from Masefield Bros - , requesting the Board to instruct the surveyors to grade, a road from Gough's Bay to Waikerakikari. This gave rise to" a long discussion on the subject of the surveyors, and the Board were strongly of opinion that the present works in hand should be completed before any fresh works were undertaken. The Clerk was ultimately instructed to report upon the road in question. Mr M'Donald moved that the engineering staff be requeued to complete the survey of the roadt now on hand, viz., the French Farm road, the Summit road, the Little Akaloa road, and the Waikerakikari road, and that either Mr Fenton or Mr Wilkins personally see to the works until it is completed, and the Clerk was instructed to write informing Messrs Fenton and Wilkinß that the men of their staff be allowed not more than 7s per dayi It was also pointed out that one Surveyor could grade as fast at ten men could clear the line. The engineer was directed to employ labor up to the. extent of as fast as one Surveyor could lay off the line. LB BON'S BAY ROAD. A letter was received frem Mr Tabart, Mr Inman's attorney, stating. that he had full power to convey any land for road or other purpose, in reply to the Board's letter asking information on the question with a view of making an exchange of road for road at Le Bon's Bay and German Bay Plat. ROBINSON'S BAY FLAT.. An offer was read from Mr T. Brough, offering to widen the RobinspnV Bay bridge, and also to replace the log, work with atones before T, S. Johnson's proparty. ."','. Left in the hands of the Clerk to see the { work done. ."'-■ ' : J SPECIFICATIONS. It was agreed that the Engineer ; shpuld i in future be employed to draw all specifications for theißoard's works if the estimated sum exceeded £100, so that they could be placed in the hands of the Clerk of Works. The Chairman reported that the Engineer had agreed to draw up all such at the , rate of £2 2s each. I

The suggestion was agreed to. WINGS WAINUI BRIDGE. Mr M'Donald drew attention to the wings of Wainui bridge: At-present it was dangerous and not passable. The Clerk was instructed to see to the matter at once. ;

The Clerk was also directed to see ~to the sledge road, Wainui flat, and also the ruts in St. John's road, German Bay Hill, before the wet weather comes on.

Mr M"Donald also wished that tho widening of the Wainui Main road should be called tenders for at once.

The Chairman thought the Okain's Bay road widening was of prior importance, aud one difficulty would be got over by the Board having a specification ready for the work. It was decided to postpone calling fc tenders til 1 next Saturday. c. bates' boad. The Board resolved to write to Mr A. C. Knight, asking whether he would take road for road, the Board giving him a chain road to open up a half-chain road to Mr C. Bates'property. PAYMENTS. Broiijarh and Co., Robinson's Bay Flat £75 0 0 J. Woodill, progress payment, Lake Forsyth road 60 0 0 T. Adams, three days' accounts and one day at Court ... 3 0 0 W. M'Kay, trees Little Akaloa road 110 Stamps, to clerk 12 0 T, Brough, metal, balance ... 5 3 6 Do. culvert, balance contract 1 10 0 An account from T. S. Johnson for road in German Bay was deferred in absence of certificate of Engineer. Mr M'Donald moved that the accounts as read be passed for payment. Seconded by Mr Curry, and carried. RESIGNATION OF.MEMBER. At the end of the meeting Mr J. Duxbury handed his resignation to the Chairman, which was accepted, and the Board then adjourned till Saturday, Bth inst., after expressing their regret at Mr Duxbury's resignation, and the pleasure they have had in acting with him.