AKAROA AND WAINUI ROAD BOARD.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 605, 2 May 1882, Page 2

AKAROA AND WAINUI ROAD BOARD.

A meeting of this Board was held on Saturday last. Present—Messrs Chappell (chairman). McDonald, Brooks, and Checkley.

MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. THE LATE MR SnADBOLT. The Chairman said that, before proceeding with the formal business of the meeting he should like to say a few words. At their last gathering they little thought that one of them, who had ever been foremost in endeavouring to do his duty, would be called away by death so speedily. Mr Shadbolt had been one of the ablest defenders of the Road Board, and was respected throughout the length and breadth of the Peninsula. He begged to move— "That this Road Board views with great regret the absence through death of their esteemed fellow-member, Mr Benjamin Shadbolt, whom they have always looked upon as one of their ablest coadjutors. They cons-ider his death a loss to the whole community, and desire to express this opinion in the minutes, and send a copy ! of same to Mrs Shadbolt." This was seconded by Mr McDonald, ane carried unanimously. INTERVIEWS. Messrs T. S. Johnson and Watkins waited on the Board, re opening Harmon's track from the Hill Top to Mr Watkins' section, 16,817. It was agreed that the Clerk should visit the place, and that the Board would then see to the matter. ' Mr Le Valliant waited on the Board, asking the payment for a contrast on the Okain's Bay road. The Clerk stared that the work had not been prope/ly completed. The Board said when it was the money would be paid. CORRESPONDENCE. Letters were read— From Mr G. Thornton, saying be had disposed of section 32,330 to Messrs Snow & Anson, and therefore ail rates would have to be paid by them. From Mr Piper, as follows:— "Duvauchelle's Bay, Akaroa. "April 13, 1882. " Dear Sir, —I beg to call your attention to the bad state of repairs of the Le Bon's Bay road, aud hope you will take

into favorable consideration the necessity of putting it into something like trafficable repair before the winter sets in. Tho upper portion of this road is little better than tho bed of a creek, from tho number of loose stones upon it, and for chains tho is from 12in to 18in higher than the middle ; also, some one has (lammed a watercourse for tho use of cattle, and tho overflow from this is doing damage.— Yours, etc, •' Henry Piper." Tho Clerk was instructed to visit and report, from Mr Mackay, as follows :— " Little Akaloa Summit Road, •'April 27, 1882. " Sir, —I respectfully beg to call your attention to the very bad stateof tho Summit road from the Akaloa Saddle to tho Pigeon Bay Saddle, and bave to point out that, unless something ia done towards improving it before winter, some serious accident will be sure to occur. Moreover, expending a few pounds on it at once will save larger outlay hereafter. Trusting this will meet with your favorable consideration, —Yours, etc., " William Mackay." After discussion, it was resolved tbat the Clerk should visit and report, and that the Okain's Road Board be asked to pay its share of the expense. From Mr Eugene Lelievre, as follows: ,l Mr Chairman and Gentlemen,—l must beg to draw your attention to the cattle continually trespassing on that portion of the Long Bay road you purchased from me. I am. put to considerable expense through one of my neighbors being continually turning out his cows on the road, and on the piece above mentioned. They roll large stones down, and are continually breaking the wires in my fence. I am aware, of course, tbat while he rented it from the Board I could say nothing, but now he has ceased to rent, I hope you will do your best to force this gentleman to keep his cattle on his own land. Every winter there has been about half a mile of the road cut up in such a manner that it is almost impossible to get up and down it. I thought it was the contractor's business to see after this ; in fact, I have been given to understand that when he signed liib contract that that was one of the leading features in the specification. I have been a heavy loser by this nuisance for the last three years. Hoping, gentlemen, that you have the power and the will to abate it, I leave myself in your hands.—Yours, etc., "Eugene Lelievre." A discussion ensued, at tho end of which Mr McDonald moved the following resolution :—■" That tenders be invited for a lease of a piece of land belonging to the Road Board adjoining the Long Bay Road, containing Beven acres, more or less ; the leseee to fence it in at once with substantial materials, according to specification." Seconded by Mr Checkley and carried. From Mr J. Brown, re rates. From Mr Montgomery, enclosing correspondence re Little River Railway :— . " Christchurch, 13th April, 1882. " Sir,—l have the honor to enclose herewith a letter I received from the Acting Minister of Public Works, in reply to mine of the Ist instant, requesting information respecting the works in progress or contracted for on the Akaroa and Little River Railway. Any further information I may receive on the subject I shall communicate to you forthwith.— Yourß, etc., U W. Montgomery." "Christchurcb, Ist April, 1882.

" Sir, —I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 30th ultimo, requesting me to inform you " what has been done regarding last Sess-ions vote for the Little River Railway, and whether any new contract has been let." In reply I beg to state that as I cannot give you precise information on tbe subject, I have this day written to the Minister for Public Works, enclosing your letter and asking for the information required. I have also expressed a hope that the Government would take such steps as may be deemed advisable for carrying on the work without delay, if a tresh contract for tbe extension of tbe line has not already been entered into. I shall forward to you tbe reply of the Minister when received. —Yours, etc., " W. Montgomery." " Public Works Office, " Wellington, 6th April, 1882. "Sir, —I am directed by the Acting Minister for Public Works to acknowledge receipt of your letter of Ist instant, respecting the Akaroa and Little River Railway, and in reply to inform you that the Minister will communicate with tbe Engineer in charge, Middle Island, on the subject.—Yours, etc., " W. Benzoni, " Assistant Under Secretary for " Public Works." From Messrs Sandys & Co., J. Daly, and 40 other residents of Waikerakikari, as follows:— " Akaroa, February 1, 1882. "Gentlemen, — We, the undersigned landowners and residents in the Waikerakikari Valley, beg most respectfully to call your attention to the fact that there is no useable road from tbe Waikerakikari beach to the Summit road, or elsewhere. That the track at present in use has been formed at Mr Daly's expense, and is mostly on private property and may be closed at any time. That the road graded by your Board could be made fit for wheel traffic by being formed say 12ft wide. That very little blasting would be required and very few culverts. That with the exception of grading and clearing the grade of bush, no money whatever has been spent on the road in this valley. That the said grading and clearing is of no benefit whatever if left as at present. Tbat a very large sum of money has been expended in the purchase and improvement of land in this valley. That a large number of people are employed at Mr Smith's mill who are entirely cut off from communication with the town of Akaroa, and that in case of sickness or accident medical aid can only be obtained at great trouble and expense. That other settlers are at a similar disadvantage. That a dray road would enable the owners of valuable timber to utilize the same, and otherwise develope the resources of the valley. That there is no better land on the Peninsula than that of the Waikerakikari Valley. That a good road would promote settlement to such an extent as to induce the owners of large blocks of land to cut up the same into small farms, thereby increasing tbe rateable value of tho land and promoting the general prosperity of the district. That it is necessary that a competent Engineer be employed to report upon the said road as to probable cost, etc.,

and that tho present favorable season' coupled with tho fact that labor is plentiful, be taken advantage of in putting this important work in hand at once." The Chairman said that the Board bad no funds, but he thought the petition should be forwarded to Mr Montgomery, with a request that he should lay it before Government. They were all aware that the rates were not sufficient to do the work required, and that there should be a special grant for the purpose. Mr McDonald pointed out that on the Peninsula tbe roads took the same place as railways on the Plains, and tbe Government should take this into consideration, and see the matter attended to. Messrs Brooks and Checkley agreed, and it was then resolved that the Clerk should forward the petition to Mr Montgomery, asking him to lay the matter before the Government. From Mr C. Bates, in reference to a road i from main Wainui road to his property in section 10,330, accepting the Board's terms to pay one-third of the work, if it did not •exceed £30. It was resolved to call for tenders for the work. HARMON'S TRACK. Mr Brooks proposed—" That tenders be called for at once, to bench a bridle track four feet wide, and clear bu_h half a chain wide where required, on Harmon's track, as requested by Mrs Watkins and others." The Chairman said he would rather see the resolution withdrawn till the Clerk had reported on it, as previously arranged. He acknowledged the necessity of the work, but did not think it should be tendered for till the Clerk had reported. Mr Brooks, however, refused to withdraw his resolution, but no member seconding it, it lapsed. •GORSE ON ROADS. The Clerk was instructed to take the necessary steps regarding the removal of gorse that obstructs the thoroughfares. THE ROADS. The Clerk was instructed to make a report as to the state of the various road •contracts, and lay them before the Board at its monthly meetings. TENDERB. ONUKA BRIDGE. Tenders for this work were opened— - W. Brown at £37 10s; W. F. Hawthorn at £32. It was resolved to call for fresh tenders. WAINUI BUSH VALLEY ROAD. Alfred Deal tendered for this work at 10s per chain, and Phillips and Thomas at lis per chain. Both tenders were rejected as too high. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £80 were passed for payment, and the Board then adjourned till May 27th. After the conclusion of the meeting the . following resolution was carried :—That Mr Barwick canvass the whole of the district with a petition to sign as to whether the Akaroa and Wainui Road Board is to fall or stand, the petition to be beaded, *» and those that sign under protest to be on a separate sheet,"