AKAROA AND WAINUI ROAD BOARD.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 310, 8 July 1879, Page 2

AKAROA AND WAINUI ROAD BOARD.

Saturday, July 5.

A meeting of this Board was held on the above date at their offices, Duvauchelle's Bay. .' Present—-Messrs Williams (Chairman), Curry, M'Donald, Shadbolt, and Chappell. The.minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. ■ —- -■ ■ INTERVIEWS. - Mr C. Bates waited upOn the Board, and wished them to point out the road that existed on the maps to his homestead, and asked for a bridge across the gully ; if a better road could not be got, he would be satisfied' with this in the meantime. , ,The Board promised to get the road on tlie map defined for him. Mr James Hammond wanted, to know if the Board . could do .anything towards getting access to his property at the back of Mr Welch's sections. He had been paying 30s per annum for a-right of way for nine ' years. If the road were taken through where it ought to go it would not be a bad road. ; . , The Chairman pointed out that the finding of roads was a Government matter. Mr Hammond also wished to know what was to "be done "about the ford of Bell's road in his paddock. Thd Clerk of Works reported that the damage done was inconsiderable, and that the recent flood had carried away all the crossing ; the matter would thus to a great extent remedy itself. Mr W. Whitfield asked the Board to repair the road leading to his house, being a continuation of the Robinson's Bay School road.. The road would not be an expensive "matter as the bridge was formed. The Clerk of Works stated that the requisite woik would only cost £7 or £8. The Board, promised to attend to the matter!

Mr W. Wright wished to know how the French Farm road was progressing up the gully. The Chairman informed Mr Wright that, as the matter would require to be put through the Public Works Act, time was necessary for the preparation of plans and taking the steps required by law. Mr Odell waited upon the Board in reference to the diversion of road through his property, in which he offered to give road for road r but the objection the Board had to the proposal was that the projected road would cuttoff Mr E. Lelievre's frontage on the old road. Mr Odell stated he did not want to sell any land as Mr E. Lelievre had done in..a similar case.

Mr Lelievre, who was present, objected to the'pld road being closed for good, as he might wish to cut up his paddocks. "■"'The-j'Board .wished "Mr Cjdell to sell enougn'.!land Ifor the road so as to allow the Board ,to improve [the grade, Th,e Cha^iiansinformed', .Mr ;Odell, that file ('fipatd/tyould riot' be'justified in spending' "mendy;orf**the present rqad'.-' ." [ v! " [Mr/Odel! agreed to .re-consider the matter,yand Write to the Board, again on the [subject. . :[• ' - ' : ; .■■ *-■■ \\- .' ■ X Mr George Bates wished to know the reason why payment of an account for Work done oh the old Pigeon Bay road was iiotmaide. The amount pad was onlj £60, -whereas the amount of the accpnnt passed at last meetirrg--was £71 12s.' The con- ■ tractors were given to understand some time ago that the work was taken off their hands.' --..,..' .'■'-"' ,-• '

The Clerk of Works explained that he only passed the work conditionally, and infojfibedf the contractors that, he would have* to see the work again. ............ , The contractorsstated...that jf the .Board iusisted ihatihe four culverts :washed.out be re-built it would pay them better to let the balance £11.12s remain in the hands of/the Board.. . ~..,.,.. . ;Mr S. ; Gurrfegh interviewed the Board regarding the Mount Bossu road, and reported that the road was now covered with land slips, but that the work objected to stood good. The Chairman pointed out that the Board had always dealt-with Mr Vangioni; and a question now arose could they deal with Curregh without Vangioni's consent. Mr Curregh stated that Mr Vangioni had been asked to come to the Board, and had refused. The Board refused- to deal with Mr Curregh in the matter. The contractors for the Old Pigeon Bay road here signed a written undertaking allowing the Board to finish the work by day labor, and any balance over to bo paid to the-contractors. - The Board agreed to the terms. A. letter was read from Mr J. Wright, semi and Mr. ,W. Wright undertook to see his father in reference to the stoppage of the Wainui road to. the ,Pig range, [and advise the Board on the'subject. Mr T. S. Johnson waited upon the Board inf reference to the placing of culverts, fir his upper Long Bay contract near the side* school. - k

The Clerk reported that the work was [washing away,'and that three culverts 3ft eaoli were required. . :; - : ' Mr Chappell thought, that the whole road should be culverted • as the work proceeded. The contractor stated that .in the event of the Board calling for tenders ho' would not object to the Board's putting any person on the work. The Clerk was instructed to call for tenders for the culverting. • Mr J. Curtis waited upon and requested the Board to make a progress payment for

his fencing along Mr J. Lelievre's property pending his getting the No. 7 wire. The Clerk stated that he was entitled to* a progress paj'ment of £15. Mr T. f Brough, the contractor for the Horseshoe Bend, wished to know i£ the Board would allow him to stop the work, as it was impossible for him to do it at present. "< The' Chairman informed Mr Brough that he must keep the road in such a way that the traffic wouid be kept going. \ Mr Brough thon enquired if the Board would pay him 75 per cent, on the work done.' v ' ] Tho Bftard informed him that they could only pay on the' Engineer's certificate. He thought they had better give it up, and promised t fto write a letter to" the Board to that effect; \ <{' j \ . V f / \ CORRESPONDENCE. A--letter was received from Mr 3.M. Barker, stating that it was impossiblo for +he mailman to get along the Okain's Bay road for landslips. The' Clerk reported that the work had been attended to. MrA.C. Knight wrote, making certain offers in regard to land for Mr C. Bates' road, and again under date 20th "June, stating that he would give land free for a road leading to the" upper part of Mr Bates' property from the new Wainuv road on the understanding that the Board paid £2 per chain for the fencing of each side of the road. The Chairman was of opinion that Mr Knight had met the Board in a most liberal! spirit. '•: [•! - /. Mr M'Donald thought the question was, was it better to make a road,to one man's property", or to make a road giving access to numbers and opening up a tract of country. Messrs Curry and Shadbolt were in favor of Mr C. Bates' offer being adopted, asit saved the funds.and gave all that was asked for.

The Chairman thought that by making a road to one man's place they will be flooded by applications of a similar nature! A letter bearing on this subject' was read from Mr J. Ollivier, stating that he regretted the Board was not represented at his sittings in Akaroa, but he assured them that no roads were proposed to be closed that were shown to bo of any use to the public. At the same time from memory he could not inform the Board what roads the Government proposed to close in exchange for land taken for roads,_ but informed, the Board that Mr Fenton' had all the data in his possession. • Mr Curry proposed that the Board define where Mr Bates' present road is, and that the Board open the same, and erect a bridge over the gully. Mr Shadbolt seconded the motion Mr M'Donald moved as an amendment, that the consideration of Mr Knight's offer and the question of Bates' road be adjourned till next meeting. The Chairman and Messrs M'Donald and Chappell voted for the amendment, which was declared carried. Mr S. Curfegh wrote, intimating that future payments on the Mt Bossu contract would require to be made to the partnership account. The Board were of opinion that the contract being signed in the name of Mr Vangioni, they could only deal with him. The Board further resolved that Mr Vangioni, the contractor for this work, be called upon to finish the work, as ample time had now elapsed to enable him to do so in terms of the specification.

contractors' risks. Mr Curry put a question whether contractors would be called upon to remove the slips caused by the late storm. The Chairman replied that slips were risks incidental to the work, and could not be.allowed for, if the Board had not takenworks off contractors' hands. An opinion was also expressed by the Board that money deductions should not be allowed to contractors, but that they should be inadcin future ±Q .dp ..all worksi jip to the specifications. ; : .'['■; 7'(\ pioEpk B£y ! 8i&M):T road. < ~ The Engineers a 3 report and plan "of Latter, for the land required forfhe nfew* Summit road, about two 'acres in all.' : ' > ; The Chairman explained that the Board's previous resolution 1 authorized him to make Mr Latter an offer. ! - The Board agreed that their offer still held good, and the Chairman was requested to make the best terms he could for the land. ~ waeckerle's CORNER. ;' A letter was received from Mr J. Waeckerle.ih.reference.to the repairs to tho road at his corner, and complaining of the tone of the Board's"letter;., The Board distinctly' disclaimed any discourtesy to Mr. Waeckerle, 'either as a ratepayer or in his capacity asij Mayor of the Borough. • v ; ; V ~ ""' '"*' *"' WAINUI PASS ROADr' ; : . . Mr; Walmsley.- requesjting to be informed where the—proposed road went through his property. ' ' VALLEY ROAD. Mr H. Worsley wrote, stating that large slips existed in the Grehan Vailley road, in some places the gorse had been carried into the middle of the road. The Clerk .reported that the work had been already attended to. HORSE-SHOE BEND. At this stage a letter was received: from Mr T. Brough, the contractor, offerihg to> give up the work, and leaving the whole question in the hands of the Engineers. On the motion of Mr M'Donald the Board agreed to write to Mr Fenton, asking what amount, if any, the contractor is entitled to, as he had given up the work formally.

! balguerie road extension. ; A report was read from the Inspector of Works in regard to this work, informing the Board that the settlers there whose land the road went through had differences, as to boundaries, but that the grade was good if taken through private properties. The Chairman stated that the work was a most important one, and. opened up a large district. >■ '<i ! ... • . The Clerk was. directed to write to the different owners, ascertaining what amount of compensation they will-require for the proposed new road leading to Flea Bay. LONG BAY ROAD;-- | Mr Chappell moved that-Mr T. S. Johnson, 1 the contractor for the Long Bay road, be asked while he is blasting the rock on his present contract, what he will ;break sufficient metal at per yard, to ■ metal the Long Bay road from the Saddle down to i German Bay Hill side as far as the first reef, and when ' the present contract is 1

finished. Tenders to be called to lower the Summit for about two chains each side of the saddle. The motion was agreed to. wainui road. , The Engineers forwarded plan - and description of land taken through Mr M'Donald's property, Wainui, and instructions were given to prepare the conveyance on the motion of Mr Curry, seconded by Mr Shadbolt. "-.- INSTRUCTIONS. The Clerk was instructed to report with reference to Hammond's road, German Bay. The Inspector of Works was directed to get Mr Whitfield's road done by day labor. The Chairman and Inspector were re♦quested to see s|to: making the Horse-shoe Bend passable. ( Yf-r FT !■.-•;■ ' ■■''' f : .-.•;,, SURVEYS.. - 7 X : Mr .Chappell moved that in regard to. the survey staff, they should only be paid while at work, and at the rate of 7a per day, and also that all work charged for at the rate of £2 2s per day be done by a certificated engineer. , . .While on the" subject, Mr Chappell had a further motion, of which he had given previous notice. The whole question of their survey department was one that wanted attention, and he for one was not satisfied with jts. present state. He had the highest possible opinion of the professional /ability of both Messrs Fenton and Wilkins, but the details of the staff wanted correcting. He would move that Messrs Fenton and Wilkins be asked to send in to the Board at their earliest convenience the whole of the surveys at present in hand ; and also that in future when rendering their accounts each man's name and time appear on the pay sheet. Messrs Curry and Shadbolt supported the motion. ' The Chairman and Mr M'Dpriald were of opinion that' those constant references to the matter of. survey were unworthy of the Board, and such as they couldj not expect; professional gentlemen to put up with. If any crying evil existed he (the Chairman) would be the first to remedy it. After a long discussion, Mr ChappeH's motion was ultimately carried. THE LATE FLOODS. The action of the Chairman in opening and forming a road through Mr Phillips' property, German Bay, while the bridge was being repaired,! at.£l perweek, was approved of. The Board resolved that all the bridges on the main road be substantially repaired, and that the abutment walls of the German Bay bridge be built in, cement, by day labor, under the direction of the Inspector of Works, and that the bridge in Barry's Bay be piled with 25ft piles, under the supervision of the Clerk. The Inspector ot Works was directed to make arrangements as to tho enlarging of the culverts in Mr Kenny's Wainui contract, and in Cairns and Co.'s Long Bay contract.

ENGINEERS' REPORT. Messrs Fenton and Wilkins, engineers to to the Board, reported that all the works now in hand were progressing favorably, keeping in view the recent state of the weather. The-Gough's Bay and Waikerakikari grading surveys were well advanced. Great difficulty had been found in making the survey on the Summit road, and requesting the Boa r d to write to Mr Baker, asking if ■ any survey exists from the Pigeon Bay Saddle to;the Puraii Track. The report also suggested additional inspection of the sea wall at Wainui (Kenny's contract), as the work was a most important one, and the time of the present Inspector was much occupied. PAYMENTS. The following accounts were passed for payment:— J. Curtis, fencing, first progress payment ... £15 0 0 Jas. Curry, labor 1 1 0 J. Curry, jun., labor ... ... 1 8 0 A. I. M'Gregor, valuation ... 25 0 0 Harper and Harper 1 1 0 J. B. Sheath, pipes 15 0 0 P. Brown, labor 4 18 0 B. Shadbolt, tools ... ... 414 6 Hammond Bros, labor ...16 0 B. Stewart, sen.j carting ... 4 0 0 R. Stewart, jun., labor ..! 2 4 0 W. Jollie and Sons, labor. ... 2 2 0 £77 14 6 On the motion of Mr Curry, the Board then adjourned till Saturday, 12th inst., at 1 p.m.