AKAROA AND WAINUI ROAD BOARD. To the Editor.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 511, 7 June 1881, Page 2

AKAROA AND WAINUI ROAD BOARD. To the Editor.

Silt.—After reading the report of the meeting of the Akaroa County Council on the '28lh ultimo. I think the majority of the ratepayers in this district will agree that it is high time the farce of government and administration by the Akaroa and Wamni Rond Board should be put a stop to. At the meeting we find one of the members, who is also a member of the Akaroa and Wnimri Rond Board, pleading in forma paujjerin for the loan of a few' pounds to mend a couple of small bridges. We also find that the steps to be taken unrier the Public Works Act to stop the old Duvauehelle's Bay road, which the Board commenced in 1878, and which from errors had to be gone through again, is still incorrect, and the matter is precisely in the same position as before the \ roceedings were commenced.

So much for the Board's position in so far as it was made public nt tho Council's meeting. But outside we have many instances of the Board's incapacity. It has for the la&t year or so been negotiating for a new road up the French Farm valley, but of course the negotiations have come to nothing. In tho meantime the upper part of the valley lias been surveyed and roaded so as to join the proposed new road, and the lower part of the valley having only tho old road, which ends some distance from the commencement of the new one, renders tho valley practically without a road. The Board lias for some years been making futilo and spasmodic efforts to obtain a piece of land to complete the Bossu line of road. The owner of the land is prepared to sign the conveyance when it is presented to him, but the Board is unable to induce gentlemen of the legal profession to prepare the conveyance.

Our main roads have been kept in repair by contrnct. Tlic lime expired last lnontli. The contractors are unpaid, although in the case of llio Bnrry's Bay and Bossu line I can state from personal knowledge that the work has been done most creditably. The roads are now taking , care o£ themselves, sips OT'cnring after every fall of rain, cattle doing their best to keep the roads right without putting the Board to exp< nse, culverts, especially on the main coach ro=uJs in such a rotten state that it is positively dat.gerons to travel over them. Now the public will scarcely believe ihat this Board ceived between the years 1872 and 1879 inclusive- no less a sum than £5 5,073, and what amount it has rcce'ved since I am not in a position to state. Now. what is there to show for ah this expenditure ? Very little indeed, even after allowing for (several thousands of pounds speit in compensation for injuries re eived by landowners for having roads made through their properties. The money is nil spent, we huvp now only our rates to depend on whilst the Road Board is still incurring liabilities \\liich will most piob'ibly have to be liquidated by snecial rate, as soon as the County Coumil takes tho distiict over. Tl.is is bi'v-md «i farce, it is gelling - seiions, and I think most rutepiiyeis will agree that it is liinh lime steps were taken to put this Kond Board out of its miserable existence, which can he done b\ a pelilion lo tht'Co'mty Council signed by ratepayers representing not les-i than two-thinh of. the rateable p'operly of the road district. Trusting tins matter ni;iy not l>e allowed to droj). I am, etc , A. C. KNIGHT. Tukau, Barry's Bay.