AKAROA AND WAINUI ROAD BOARD.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 519, 5 July 1881, Page 2

AKAROA AND WAINUI ROAD BOARD.

A meeting of this Hoard took place in their offices, Dnvaiuhelle's Bay, on• Saturday, the 2nd inst. The ineinl>er.s present were Messrs E. Chappell (Chairman), 13. Shadbolt, ami W. F, Williams. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. INTiaiVIEWK. Mr Chcckley waited upon the Board, putting in a letter asking the reason why his road wan not completed as pro nised, and also why the drain pipes have not been .supplied, and offering to spend hit) rates on the work until the same is paid ior. Mr Checkley's oiler was accepted, and tenders ordered to be called for. Mr McPhail waited upon the Board in reference to the road through Ehodes' Flat, with a letter from Messrs Harper & Co., stating that Mr Rhodes had signed the application to bring parts of rural sections 2292, 2449, and 10,290 under the Land Transfer Act in the name of the Queen, and that they were prepared to register the same on payment of £25 and a grant of the old road being made to Mr Khodes, also on payment by the Board to the tenant of the land of the cost of fencing the line or new road. The reading of Messrs Harper & Co.'s letter led to a strong and rather angry discussion between Mr McPhail and the members of the Board. Mr McPhail said it was the last time he would wait upon them on the subject. He would apply for his remedy elsewhere. The Chairman said he was glad to hear it; he could take whatever course he migl t be advised. Mr W. McKay complained of the stat of the Summit lloaii from the Little Akaio Saddle to Pigeon Bay Road. The traffia was large, and it was really dangerousc If the water channels were even kept opei , , it would be a great improvement. Mr Bhadbolt did not see how it was to be done in the present state of the funds. The Chairman endorsed Mr Shad bolt's remarks. The matter was dropped in the meantime, till the Board was in funds. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was read from Mr 11. Piper, resigning his seat as a member of the Board, owing to his "being at varianco with the Board aa to its general policy." It was suggested that the Clerk write to Mr Piper, asking him to reconsider his determination on the ground of the expense of an election. A motion to that effect was carried. Mr P. Moore asked that the payment of certain rates be deterred. The Clerk was directed to apply to Mr H. Aylmer for the rates in question. Mr S. Giles wrote, stating that he had gone through the Court, and now he had nothing to do with the rates. Messrs Harper and Co. acknowledged cheque for £30, in payment of Breitmeyer's diversion, and stated that they had written to Messrs Duncan and Cotterill on the subject. Rev. U. 0. Hampton wrote, informing the Board that any steps that might be taken in the matter of the Wainui Pass road should be made direct by the Board to the Trustees of the late. Mr T. Tumor, and that all moneys must be paid into the Bank before entering upon the land. Mr Anson personally stated that he had seen the Chief Surveyor re Wainui Pass road, and that gentleman had informed him that no Crown grants had been taken up. since the date of his last letter, stating that the last issue is from the western boundary of sec. 10642, all sees, higher up

are not Crown granted. Mr Anson also asked if the Board would allow Messrs Snow and Alison to bench a truck on the line of road up Kennedy's spur at their own cost. The Board saw no objection provided it was done under the supervision of the Board's officer. Mr W. S. Inman wrote, requesting the plan of the Taka Mutiia estate be forwarded to him. The Clerk reported that this had already been done. The Clerk was directed to request Mr Inman to state in writing, that lie would convey Bell's road to the Board if they were successful in closing the lower part of the Le Bon's Bay road. Rev, J. Stack wrote, asking for a report on the fencing through :he Native Reserve, as he had been instructed not to pay the compensation to the Wainui Maoris until the BoaH are satisfied with the fence. - P. Shadbolt wrote that he was willing to keep the culverts, etc., in repair on the old Pigeon Bay road for 12 months for the grass growiVig on same. The Board resolved to accept the offer for 12 months on the understanding that the giass be cut—not grazed. A letter was received from Mr Dalglish, stating that a large slip blocked uj> the Le Bon's Bay road. The Clerk reported that the matter had been attended to before the receipt of the letter. Mr V. V. Masefield wrote stating he was willing to accompany the Clerk any day to Gough's Bay to inspect the road in that quarter. Mr J. Hammond wrote complaining of willows in the creek, German Bay. He was directed to remove the obstruction himself, as the case did not come within the functions of the Board. An offer from T. S. Johnson to do the work on Tizzard's road for £8 was deciined until the Board was out of debt. TENDERS. The following tenders for keeping roads in repair for twelve monthe, in numbered sections as advertised, were then opened : No. L—T. S. Johnson £40. No. 2.—Thos. Le Comte £30, T. S. Johnson (metal ss) £40, Jas. Wilson £30, P. Shadbolt £47. No. 3.—Thos. Le Comte £50, Harry Bricklaud (metal 3s Gd) £85, Thoe. Gilroy (metal -3s) £47, Jas. Wilson (metal 6s 6d and 3s 4d) £52. John Lines £95. At this stage Mr Williams moved that the foregoing tenders be declined, as the conditions as to metalling were too vague. He further moved that the specification be amended in this respect, and that fresh tenders be called for the three sections of main road above, to be sent in by the 9th inst, and accepted by a committee of two members of the Board. The motion was unanimously agreed to, and the Board proceeded to the consideration of the balance of tenders. Nu. 4.—Thos. Le Comte (accepted) £23 10s, Jas. Wilson £25, E. Chapman (metal 3s 6d) £28, Peter Shadbolt (metal 5s 10d) £29. No. 5.— G. Landregan £39, Mitchell & Curragh £38 10s, Peter Brown £45, J. Ryan £40, A. F. Hawthorne (accepted) £18 10sNo. 6.—John Curry (without points cut) £80, Peter Johnson (with cutting points) £45 ( ccepted). No. 7.—Louis Levailiant. sen. (accepted) £2G, Matthew Sliaske £46 15s, Puter Shadbolt £37, Jas. Curry £44 10s. No. B.—John Bullock (accepted) £85. No. i).—Thos. Le Comte (metal 6s 6H) £60, Thos. Giiroy (metal 3s) £&9, D. Le Comte (metal 3s 2d) £65, H. Brickland £75, Jas. Wilson. £60, E. Chapman £70. All the tenders for this section were declined as being excessive, and fresh tenders ordered to be called for. The following accounts were passed, and payment held over till next meeting : —Sullivan & Co. (balance of account (£97 11s 3d, W. Jones (balance of pound) £11 10s (a claim for £2 for loss of time was refused), T. Mitchell & Curragh (sontract) £17, John Wardle (labor) £1 Bs. T. S. Johnson (labor) £3, Jas. Wilson (labor) 14s, J, Gunday (carting) 6s 6d, P. Shadbolt (labor) £1 Is, J. Banvick (salary) £8 6s Bd, Peter Johnson (labor) £1 15s) Jas. Hammond £2 10s; total £145 2s sd. ' Mr Williams moved that Mr Joseph Libeau be appointed to act as Poundkeeper, and that his name be submitted for the sanction of the County Council, and that the Council be applied to for a scale of fees with a view of having the same painted on a board., Mr Williams pointed out the existance of a very dangerous place at the end of the Okain's Bay road, which the Clerk was directed to see to at once. The Clerk was directed to prepare a monthly statement of the condition of the roads so that the Board could ascertain how contractors were doing their work. The Board then adjourned till Saturday, the 30th inst., at 2 p.m. AKAROA COUNTY COUNCIL. • The Council held its usual monthly meeting in the office, Duvauchelle's Bay. Tlie members of the Council present being —Messrs J. Dalglish (Chairman), J. Barker, F. W. Williams. W. Coop, G. S. Fleming, R. R. Bradley, J. Hay, and J. Gebbie. The Chairman said that before proceeding with the business of the meeting, he was sorry to inform them that their Clerk, Mr Latter, was indisposed, and he had a certificate from Dr Guthrie to that effect in his hand. He understood the indisposition was merely temporary and with permission of the Council, Mr McGregor would take his place that day. The minutes of the special and general meetings of 28th May last were then read and confirmed. The Chairman read the usual resume of the business coming before the Council for the day, the details of which are as follows:— APPLICATIONS FOR FOREST TREES. Mr S. Watkins the Secretary to the Akaroa Domain Board wrote in reply to the Council's queries on the subject that his Board bad 950 trees fit for distribution, consisting of oaks, ashes, beeches, elms, and sycamores. The following applications "were received :—Secretary Town Hall, Akaroa, 100; Church of England cemetery, A.karoa, 50; Secretary School Committee, Little River, 500. Mr Coop understood that the Little River School Committee could do with fewer trees, and would therefore move that the application for trees received from the Little River School Committee be reduced to 300, and thnt the other applications be granted as requested. The motion was seconded by Mr Hay and carried. Mr Williams wished to know whether the original grant of £500 to the Domain Board was subject to any conditions, and '

if so—what. He observed by the published accounts of the Bonrd that they had still a considerable part of this pum in hand, was it understood that the Board wore to continue the supply ? From the Secretary's letter just read both the number and the varieties were disappointing. Mr Coop said very few trees had been distributed altogether, and it would be rather interesting to know what each tree cost. He would move that this Council draw the attention of the Akaroa Domain Board to the small number of trees available for distribution, and ask them if they had taken any steps to keep up a supply of young trees, and that a greater variety is desireable. The motion was seconded by Mr Barker and carried. On the minutes of the Council being • referred _to, ft was found that,in,making the origimxl grant to the Board the Council had attached no conditions to it. SLAUGHTEU-HOUSE LICENSES. A letter had been received from the Chief Inspector nf Sheep for Canterbury, asking to be furnished with n list of the persons Avho had takon out slaughtering licenses for the year 1881. The Chairman stated that the desired information had been supplied. Mr Williams, while on this subject, noticed that the Inspector's reports on slaughter-houses came in very irregularly. It was the original arrangement that a monthly report should be furnished, and he wished to see this adhered to. FENCING BILL. Mr Montgomery wrote, saying that he had received the report of a committee of the Council on this Bill, and assured the Council that the recommendations it contained wonld receive his best attention. AKAROA RAILWAY. Mr Montgomery also wrote, under date 10th ult, informing the Council that he had received a reply in answer to the Council's resolution re this matter, from the Secretary of Public Works, in which he states that the resolution " will be duly taken into consideration, and the work be pushed forward as far as the money voted by Parliament will permit." Mr Coop thought the last phrase a rather vague one, and begged to move that the member for the district be written to, iequesting him to ascertain from the Minister of Public Works, what is the nature and extent of the contract recently let on the Little River railway. The motion was seconded by Mr Bradley and carried. PETITION PRESENTED. A copy of the Order Paper of the Houso of Representatives for the 15th ult was laid before the Council, from which it appeared that the Member for the district had laid a petition frotn the Council before the House, asking for a thorough revision of the system of local finance ; and also a petition praying that countus may be placed on the same footing as munL-i----palities with regard to landed endownments. HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTION BILLS. Mr Williams brought up the report of the Joint Committee or. the subject, which has already appeared in our columns, and covering a telegram from Air Montgomery, in win h he .-tit tod that he consi 'pred the suggestions very important, and that th y would have bis newt attention. It was proposed by Mr Ge'.bie and seconded by Mr Hay that this Council generally endorse and adopt the report of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Committee as received by Mr Williams. The motion was carried unanimously. MAIN ROADS. Mr Barker in speaking to his notice of motion as to the taking over the main roads in the County by the Council, said that since he gave notice of his motion, two important Local Public Works Bills were about to be introduced into the Assembly, one by Major Atkinson on the part of the Government, and another by Sir George Grey. The passing of those and the powers given under them would have an important bearing on the question. At present they were in the dark and he would ask the permission of the Council to withdraw the motion, with a view of introducing it again. Mr Barker then formally withdre »v his motion. FINANCE. On the motion of Mr Gebbie, seconded by Mr Fleming, the following accounts were passed for payment :—Clerk's quarter salary, £37 10s ; Inspector's salary do, £5 ; Fire Insnrance, furniture, 17s 6d. Total, £43 7s 6d. NOTICES OF MOTION. Mr Coop gave notice of a motion having for its object the division of some £500 among the various Road Boards. The Chairman explained that the balance at the Council's credit, after paying the accounts just passed, was only £1097 14s Id, and of this sum about £700 would be required to pay their liabilities. Mr Coop after this explanation withdrew his aiotion. Mr Williams gave the following notice of motion :—" That this Council at its next meeting consider the question of the Berard Riding with regard to its lepresentation at the Council board, with a view of increasing its representative power on a fair basis of population and valuation." Mr Barker moved, and Mr Gebbie seconded, that the Council do now adjourn till Saturday, 6th August, at 11 a.m. The Council then adjourned.