AKAROA AND WAINUI ROAD BOARD

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 316, 29 July 1879, Page 2

AKAROA AND WAINUI ROAD BOARD

Saturday, July 26

A meeting of this Board was held on he above date at their offices, Duvauchelle's Bay. Present— Messrs Williams-(Chairman), Curry, M'Donald, Shadbolt, and Chappell.

INTBBVIEWS. Mr Odell waited upon the Board with reference to procuring an outlet to the German Bay Valley, and stated that he had pegged the line, and Mr Duxbury was satisfied with the line as pegged out. He also submitted a letter as to price for land required. The matter was postponed to a later period of the meeting. Mr Vogan was also in attendance re an outlet from his property to the Main Valley road, Pawson's Valley. To be considered at a later stage of the proceedings. Mr Kenny came to report that he required some 12 inch pipes for culverts on the Mount Bossu road, and there were none in stock. .The Board promised to procure the pipes required at once. On the motion of Mr M'Donald, it was resolved to authorize the Clerk of Works to employ some one to superintend the removing of the culverts. Messrs M'Kay and Kennedy attended, with reference to the closing of the road through Rhodes' flat. They had agreed to forego compensation money being spent on certain works in the district. They wished to see these works put in hand before the road was finally closed. The Chairman said there was no doubt that a contract had been entered into, and Messrs M'Kay and Kennedy might rest assured that the Board would carry out their part of it. After some conversation the interviewers professed themselves satisfied, and withdrew. Mr M'Donald proposed that the Chairman and Mr Curry wait upon Messrs Fenton and Wilkins, with a view to ascertain on what terms those gentlemen would undertake the grading of the Wainui Pass road ; to report to next meeting. MINUTES. ; The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. , The outward correspondence was read. CORRESPONDENCE. Letters were read— From the Treasury, stating that the amount due on account of what is called the " Impounded Land Fund" would be paid to the Board as soon as the proposed loan should be authorized and raised. From Messrs Bates and Wright re balance due them on account of their contract on the old Pigeon Bay road. It was agreed to allow them what was found to be due, on tlie report of the Clerk of Works. From Mr H. H. Fenton, reporting on Brough's contract, Horse-shoe Bend, and stating that he considered that the value of the work done by the contractor to be £82 18s 9d. The Clerk reported that £50 had been paid on account of the contract. Considerable discussion ensued as to what should be done in the matter. Mr Shadbolt was in favor of paying for work for which the Board had really received value.

The Chairman thought that by doing so they would be establishing a bad precedent, and they might as well give up contracting altogether. Mr Chappell proposed that the contractors be informed that the Board consider their deposit and all funds accruing from the same be forfeited. Seconded by Mr Curry and carried. From Mr Odell, offering land for the purpose of a road through his land at £10 an acre, the Board to fence the corner side of the road, and pay legal expensss. The offer was accepted, Messrs Shadbolt and M'Donald dissenting. From Messrs Guthrie and Larnach, offering from 20 to 38 casks of cement, at present lying in the hands of Mr Billens, of Akaroa. The Board agreed to take 20 casks or more if required. From M'Lucas and M'Kay, offering heart of totara 15 x 15 at 203 per 100. It was agreed to accept the offer. PAWSON'S VALLEY ROAD. A memorial was received, signed by Messrs Pawson, W. Mackay, and others, asking for a diversion in this road for a short distance, as there was a portion of the present road which was quite impracticable. - It was resolved that the Clerk of Works be instructed to inspect the ground and report to the Board. BELL'S ROAD ONCE MORE.

Mr James Brown waited upon the Board to ask them to open up a road to his place. It appeared that the now historic' Bell's road gave the applicant access to his land, but he was under apprehensions that he might be prevented using it at any time. The Chairman said he did not think it likely that Mr Brown would be stopped on this road. Mr Inman was now on his way out, and. the matter had better be left in abeyance till his arrival. Mr Brown then withdrew. , ROAD IN ROBINSON'S BAY. Mr L. Le Vaillant wrote, asking for a road from section 1735 to section 12849. Mr Duxbury was ordered to obtain an estimate of the cost of the proposed road. WAINUI VALLEY. Mr James Wright, sen. wrote, complaining that the Board was making the road through Rhodes' flat 20 feet wide, whereas the money could be better laid out elsewhere. The letter to be acknowledged. MISCELLANEOUS Mr T. Brooks wrote, asking that something might be done to the road opposite the Hill Top Hotel. Consideration of the matter was deferred till next meeting. Messrs Bray and Co. wrote to ask that the Clerk should visit their fencing contract in Gough's Bay road. The Clark of Works wrote, asking for defin ate instructions as to what he was to do with regard to the footpath in front of Mr Waeckerle's. Mr Waeckerle was under the impression that he (Mr Duxbry) had been authorized to do the work, and therefore blamed him for its non-completion. On the motion of Mr Chappell, it was resolved to have some shingle laid in the footpath in question, the cost not to exceed .20s. Messrs Richfield and Co. asked for further extension of time on the Okain's Bay Road contract. Messrs Wright and Lowe proffered a similar request. The extension asked for was granted in each case. PROPOSED FLEA BAY ROAD. The following answers from landowner on the proposed road were read:—From Mr J. Bruce, offering land, on con-

dition of the Board fencing. Accepted, with thanks, conditionally on the land being surveyed. From Mr J. Wilkin, suggesting another route, and offering, if it were accepted to sell land required at £20 per acre, including severance. Consideration of the offer was deferred till answer from the other landholders on the route. AYLMErt's VALLEY. The question of clearing slips on this road was postponed till next meeting. BALGUERIE ROAD. Mr Armstrong wrote again on this matter, and also referred to some remarks of the-Chairman's on a former letter of his, as reported in the Akaroa Mail. The Chairman thought the letter was a gratuitous insult to the Board. If members came there and gave their services to the ratepayers, the least the latter could do was to treat them with common courtesy. Mr F. Lelievre wrote, offering land required for this road at £30 an acre, and £10 an acre for severance. Mr J. P. Mullen asked £25 an acre, and £150 an acre for the portion severed. Mr W. Kedge could not give an answer till he knew where the Board wanted to take the road. It was resolved that Mr Armstrong be written to, asking on what terms he would allow the road to be extended through his land to join Mr Rhodes' Flea Bay property. Consideration of the other offers was postponed till next meeting. brouuh's contract. Mr T. Brough here re-entered tho room, and, on the decision of the Board being commuaicated to him, made a further representation to the effect that certain additions were made in the plans after hi. acceptance of the contract, and that thereby he had had additional work thrown upon him. The Board agreed to write to Mr Fenton on the matter. ■, ENGINEERING. Messrs Fenton and Wilkins wrote, making certain explanations with regard to time charged for some of their employees. The following letter from the same gentleman, was also read, bearing on the decision come to by the Board at its last meeting:— " Akaroa, July 26,1879. " The Chairman, Akaroa and Wainui Road Board. « Sir, —We beg to inform you that in conformity with the resolutions passed by your Board, we have broken up the camp engaged in grading, from the Long Bay Track to Waikerakikari Saddle.

"We note your refusal to pay Survey hands during wet weather. o'ir men in Gough's Bay.. have at our special request accepted the terms offered by yonr Board for such time as is needed to finish that particular work, it being nearly complete ; but they decline to work on the same conditions afterwards. Under these circumstances, we shall be glad if your Board will provide' the labor for grading in any future work' we may be entrusted with. For surveys, as-it is necessary for some of the party to be acquainted with the details of work, we will find our own chainmen, provided the Board will make an exception in their case as regards wet weather.

"We should be happy to come to an arrangement with the Board, if they feel disposed to meet us to take their grading at so much for each work. This offer not, however, to include surveys under the Public Works Act, or for other purposes, but only grading. We cannot take surveys at a price owing to the defective state of the Government maps. " We are, Sir, " Your obident servants, " Fenton and Wilkins." On the motion of Mr Chappell, it was resolved to allow 8s a day for chainmen, for each day they, were at work. Letter was read from the same, forwarding plans and description of the road through Rhodes' sections, Wamui, containing all the information required under the Public Works Acts. The Clerk was instructed to forward the plans to the Chief, Surveyor;. .);., ! A report on the' Gough's Bay road to Mr Masefield's was also ; received, accompanied by specifications. The engineers had specified it Bft wide, but that could be altered, if the Board wished it wider. Mr Chappell thought that a committee of the Board should go over the road, before anything further was done in the matter. A motion to this effect was carried, Messrs Chappell and Shadbolt agreeing to form the committee to be accompanied by the Clerk of Works. The committee to furnish an estimate of the cost of the work. WAIKERAKIKARI ROAD.

The Chairman thought something should be done on this road. The Board hadpaid a certain amount for grading it and he thought they ought to make a track which would be sufficient for Mr Smith, who was a large employer of labor. On the motion of Mr Chappell it was resolved to fall the bush a chain wide, and clear it twenty feet for the portion within the Board's boundary. DAY ; LABOR It was resolved that the Clerk of Works be instructed to dispense with the labor at present employed by the Board in every instance when the work would exceed £15, with a view to letting the works by tender. HARRINGTON'S ROAD. Mr Chappel moved that the Clerk and Mr Duxbury visit Mr Mora, and try to arrange with him about this road, to report as soon as possible. DEFINING ROADS. On the motion of Mr Chappell, it was agreed to ask Mr Fenton to define the road to Mr C. Bates' property „otn-4__-v Wainui Main Road to his section, and also tcfdefine the road in Aylmer's Valley, where the Board contemplate putting the bridge acrossthe creek leading to Messrs Fyfe and Bruce's properties. The motion was seconded by Mr Shadbolt and carried. DAY LABOR. On the motion of Mr M'Donald, seconded by Mr Shadbolt, it was agreed to be an instruction to the Inspector of Works that lie stop all day labor on such works as will take £15 to complete, and to call for tenders for those which demand immediate attention, except the bridges and culverts, whih has been previously arranged for. stable. It was agreed to call for tenders to replace the stable at the office. Tenders to c opened next meeting.

CHAIRMANSHIP. The Chairman explained to the Board that the time occupied by him as the Chairman of the Board and of the County Council encroached so rn.uch on his private engagements, that he wished the Board to relieve him of the duties of chairmanship, and at next meeting of the Board he hoped* they would be in a position to nominate his successor, so as not to interfere with the carrying on of the business of the Board. He would still retain his seat as a member. TENDERS. Culverting, Long Bay Road. C. Burns, three months, £177 7s. Thomas Brough and Co., two months, £187 3s. George Dempster, two months, £200 4s. J. Maltby and Co., three months, £291 4s. J. Curry, two months, £218 18s. Kennedy and Co., four months, £186 lis. On the motion of Mr Shadbolt, seconded by Mr Curry, the tender of Mr Burns was accepted. The Board resolved to put the matter of Odell's road in hand at Once. PAYMENTS. , '.' , B. Shadbolt, tools ... ... £2 15 0 J. Malcoimson, freight ... 42 1 H. Piper, balance fencing Long Bay road ... ... 100 10 0 T.S. Johnson, widening Long Bay road ... ... ... 50 0 0 P. Keegan, fencing ... ... 30 0 0 Storekeeper, Wellington Acts 3 5 0 G. Bates and ,Co., balance of contract ... ... ... 310 6 L. Perham, timber ... ... 1 0 0 Day labor pay sheet, 27 men various times 158 9 9 £353 12 4 On the motion of Mr M'Donald, seconded by Mr Curry, the foregoing accounts were passed for payment - RETUBNS.'

A return of the existing contracts was laid before the Board, amounting to £4,465 19s 6d, and of this amount £890 has been paid in progress payments, leaving a balance of £3,575 19s 6d still due on contracts let at date. There were other current liabilities of the Board, and the working expenses, of which no estimate was made up. Several of the members expressed their surprise at the amount of the engagements of the Board, and a general understanding was come to to proceed cautiously until the end of the financial year. The Chairman also laid a return of the rates for 1878 outstanding to date, amounting to £256 Is 8d before the meeting. It was* resolved J;o collect them at once, before proceeding to strike the new rate. ADJOURNMENT; On the motion of Mr Curry, the meeting then adjourned till Saturday, August 9, at 1 p.m.