OKAIN'S DISTRICT JROAD BOARD.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 377, 2 March 1880, Page 2

OKAIN'S DISTRICT JROAD BOARD.

Saturday, Fkb 28. A meeting of this Board was held on the above date, at the Library, Okain's Bay. Present — Messrs Moore (Chairman), Callaghan, Barnett, Bennett, and Oldridge.

MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. The inward correspondence was read, and was as follows :— 1. From the Bank of Now Zealand re interest on money of the Board at the Bank being stopped according to the new regulations. 2. From Mr Fenton, engineer, re his charges made to the Board, amounting to £37 18s, and explaining that they were not excessive, as the Board appeared to consider them to be; that as no arrangement had been made before undertaking the job, the bill could not be taxed, but that Mr Fenton would take off Is per mile on the travelling item, thereby reducing the bill to the extent of £G. 3. From the Clerk of the K. M. Court, Akaroa, stating, in reply to a letter from the Clerk, that John Smith, against whom judgment had been given for the amount due, £18 19s, had failed to pay. 4. From the General Government, Wellington, stating that the sum due by proportion of grant to the Okain's and Akaloa Road Board, being £485 18s, had been paid into the Bank. 5. From the manager of the Bank of New Zealand, stating that the sum of £485 18s had been lodged in the Bank to the credit of the Board, giving them a balance of £508. 6. From Mr A. I. M'Gregor, acting clerk to County Council, requesting that the valuation roll might be forwarded to him as early as possible. 7. From Mr Ollivier, District Auditor, requesting that all books, audits, &c, might be made ready for his inspection by Feb. 10. 8. From Mr A. I. M'Gregor, acting clerk to the County Council, stating that Mr Wm. Ellis had been appointed poundkeeper, and enclosing a copy of the new by-laws. 9. A second letter from Mr Fenton, requesting the immediate attention of the Board to bis account. 10. From Mr Henry Bennett, claiming compensation for the new road running through a portion of his ground, and requesting that the matter be arranged at once. 11. From Mr Henry M'lntosh, claiming compensation for a similar cause. REPLIES. Letters 2 and 9. The Clerk was instructed to acknowledge receipt of Mr Fenton's letters, and to enclose a cheque for the amount claimed, less £6 which he had agreed to deduct and £4 which he had charged for hotel expenses, and which the Board considered excessive. Letter 3. It was resolved that a distress warrant v. John Smith be immediately taken out. Letters 10 and 11. The Clerk was instructed to write to both gentlemen, and inform them that their claims must be heid over till the next meeting. DEPUTATIONS. A deputation, consisting of Messrs Wilson, Mould, Moffiatt, and Curry waited upon the Board, requesting their attention to that part of the road from Okain's to Le Bon's, and especially between the residences of Mr Mould and Mr H. Healy, and suggesting that if only the thistles were cut away, and a few slips removed, and the side channel cleared out, which would not entail a large outlay, the road would be available for traffic, which at.presentit was not.

It was proposed by Mr Oldridge, and seconded by Mr Bennett, that tenders should be immediately called for for the purpose, and that they be handed in to Messrs Moore and Callaghan by March 6, and, if found suitable, the work should be immediately started. Carried.

Mr Coffin waited on the Board, and requested that some improvements might be made on the road between Okain's and Laverick's Bays.

It was decided that the matter must for the present be held over.

Mr Kail was in attendance to request, on behalf of himself and neighbors, that a small amount might be spent on the back road from Le Bon's, and enlarging upon its wet, swampy, and almost impassable state at present, and suggesting that the road for about eight chains should be raised and drained.

It was resolved that the matter bo held over until the large amount of outstanding rates be collected, and the Board have more money at their command.

Mr Moore said he had been requested to draw the attention of the Board to the dangerous state of some part of the tramway road, from Laverick's Bay. Matter held over.

Mr Bennett had two small jobs which he must request the Board to do for Little Akaloa—the one was a repair near the Cemetery, which part he explained to be in a most dangerous state for traffic ; that any man bringing down a load of cheese or stores was liable to a capsize no matter now careful he might be, and the other place was just up the valley near Mr Pawson's, where the road would require to be diverted about a chain ; that both jobs urgently needed to be taken in hand at once.

It was proposed by Mr Barnett, and seconded bo Mr Oldridge, and carried— " That tenders should bo at once called for both jobs, and that Mr Barnett be empowered to open them, and act upon them according to his discretion. Mr O'Callaghan requested that some clearing of thistles might be done on the Duvauchelle's Bay road. He was authorized to employ a man for two days to do the work. Tenders. The Board decided to call tenders for the clearing and repairing of the new road from Le Bons Bay to the Summit the same to be opened and considered at the next meeting. POUND. The Clerk was instructed to write to the County Council, and request that body to supply the newly appointed poundkeeper at Le Bon's Bay with copies of the Impounding Cattle Ordinance Brand Book and Pound Book. RE JOHN SMITII. After a long discussion on the unpleasant existing state of affairs between Mr Smith and the Board, it was proposed by MrCallaghan, seconded by Mr Bennett, juid carried, that the Clerk be instructed to write to Mr Wynn Williams, solicitor to the Board, enclosing the amount of claim in dispute v. J. Smith, amounting to £85, and request that the same may be at once recovered. It was further resolved that a letter should be written to Mr Smith, requesting him to remove his fence the required distance from the road.

MB. BARKER. A somewhat hot discussion took place regarding the claim presented by Mr Barker, the late Chairman to the Board, and against whom certain charges were mentioned. Mr Callaghan strongly recommended that the claim of £1 10 made by Mr Barker (cash paid by special messenger and telegram) during the late court case, should not be allowed. It was, however, carried by a majority, that the account should be paid as it was, without subjecting the Board to any more law, of which they had had enough, and which they had .ever since the Board had been in existence, striven to avoid. PRINTING ACCOUNT. The printing account next came under discussion. It was, however, quickly passed. Mr P. Callaghan said that advertising was an expensive affair, and ran aw"ay with a good deal of the Board's money; but the Clerk pointed out that their advertising was compulsory, and not optional, and the Chairman remarked that before the Akaroa Mail came into existence the want of a paper in which to advertise had been a general cause of complaint, MAP. Mr M'Niccol's charge for his mapping was admitted, but it was resolved that before paying it Mr Bennet should first obtain the map from Mr Barker to whom it had been handed over by Mr M'Niccol. OUTSTANDING RATES. It was resolved that the Clerk should produce the ratepayers roll at an early date for the inspection of the Chairman, and that summonses for all defaulters over 10s should be at once issued. PAYMENTS. The following accounts were then possed for payment:— Barker, Court expenses ... £13 1 0 Fenton 27 18 0 Weir, sundry jobs 3 2 0 Hcmmingsen, bridge contract 40 0 0 Bayley, rent of road ... 10 0 Brown, horse feed ... 10 5 Wynn Williams ... 16 6 0 Thacker, contract for jetty ... 30 0 0 Clerk, audit 6 17 8 M'Nicoll, mapping 13 13 0 Wiggins and Co, printing ... 16 8 0 £169 5 8