OKAIN'S DISTRICT ROAD BOARD.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 439, 5 October 1880, Page 2

OKAIN'S DISTRICT ROAD BOARD.

An ordinary meeting of the Okain's Road Board was held in the LibraryOkain's Bay on Saturday last. Besides the members of the Board, there was a good attendance of the ratepayers, as usual. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, as also the correspondence out and inwards. A letter was read from Clerk to County Council in reply to a request from the Board, asking a grant of money to assist the Board in repairing tho main roads and bridges in the District damaged by the hist flood. The reply to the lequest was as follows :—"That this Council has no funds at its disposal to entertain your request." This reply seemed to take tho Board by surprise, as it evidently implied that the Council were scant of cash, which could hardly be the case as yet. A letter was also read from the Pigeon Bay Road Board, requesting the opinion of the members of this Board re the desirability of abolishing the County Council, for various reasons mentioned in the letter. In reply to a question, as to whether tlii3 could be done, the Clerk read an exlract from Hansard which stated that " if a majority of the Ratepayers in any County desired to do so, the Act as it stood made provisions for such suspension, allowing the duties of the Council to be delegated to (ho Road Boards." The Board was of opinion for many reasons that this was a consummation to be w'shed for, arid the Clerk was instructed to reply to the letter to the effect that this Board would most willingly aid the Pigeon Bay Road Board to bring about so desirable an object. In reply to the Chairman, the Clerk said he was not certain whether tho Triennial Parliaments Act of last session applied to County Councils or not, but he would obtain the information by next meeting. A member said that the way they managed affairs looked as if the councillors weie life-renters. Mr Oldridge moved, and Mr Barnett seconded—That application be made to the County Council for a grant of £100, to enable tho Board to give employment, as urgent works were wanted to give employment to tho unemployed, a large number of whom there were at present in the district.—Carried. In reply to Mr Oldridge, the Clerk said he had intimated to Mr Dalglish that his care of tho jetty in Le Bon's Bay bad expired, and that the rent was now due, and asking Mr Dalglish if ho would make an offer for the jetty for next year, but owing to his absence from home no answer bid yet bnen received. The letter to Mr Dalglish was here read, and it was agreed to defer consideration of the matter until he had time to reply, and if no answer was received, tenders will be called for and if no reasonable offer was made, the Board will engage a man to attond when necessary, and collect all dues. payments. The following accounts were passed for payment:—o. Evans £58 19s, G-. Hall £38 1589d,G. Wright, £8. The Board then adjourned.