INTERPROVINCIAL

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 631, 1 August 1882, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL

(From our own Correspondent.)

THE ASPASIA. Chkistchuroh, July 31. Munro, of Lytteltou, has purchased the wreck of the Aspasia for ,619. He has gone to Motonau to get her off if he can. WELL WHIPPED. Seven young city Arabs were brought up before Mr J. Olli.ier, R.M., to-day for petty larcenies, and were condemned to be well birched. DEATH OF AN ENGINEER. David I.intoul, second engineer of the Wakatipu, was killed by falling among the engines the day after leaving Wellington. He was literally smashed to pieces. He leaves a widow in Dunedin, but no family. His life was insured in the Government office for £200. NEARLY FORFEITED. Mr McGovern, in whose name Barret's Hotel is carried on, just escaped forfeiting the license of the house, on a charge of being absent from the hotel for 2-i days. He was cautioned and let go. SUSPICIOUS FIRE. A fire was discovered yesterday in the cellar of Thomas McGill, draper, Arcade, Dunedin. A constable wasjthe first to see the fire. McGill, who was on the premises, not being cognisant of it. With assistance the fire was soon extinguished. The stock, etc., was insured for £2000, equally divided in the New Zealand and National Companies. McGill states that the value of the stock ranges between £1900 to £2100. A quantity of oiled wrappings, rags, etc., was discovered on fire in such a position as led the police to arrest McGill. ON DIT. On dit that Government have objected to Mr Seed taking the managership of the Trust and Loan Company, and tha. he has declined the off p r. DIED STARVED. Yesterday afternoon, at North Invercargill, a man named McWatt was found dead. The house he occupied was entirely destitute of property and food, with the exception of a portion of , a turnip, which had evidently been bitten by some one. The dead man is a mere skeleton, and the opinion is he died of starvation. PARLIAMENTARY. The Administrator of Government by ■ message recommends the House to make j provision by an Act for the borrowing of money to continue the construction of the main trunk railway of the North Island. An amount not exceeding one million shall be raised, and the annual charge on the consolidated revenue shall not exceed (3 per cent. In another message the £3,000,000 loan is provided for to continue the scheme of immigration and the construction of public works.

AND W-^^^^^^^^H this^^^^^^^^^^^^| Presel^^^^^^^^^^^H (chairman), C. Macdon_|^^^^^^^^^H MlNUTES.^^^^^^^^H The minutes of the were read and confirmed. INTERVIEWS. MrC. Bates wailed on the Bo ing the road to his property. A read from the Chief Surveyor on the (MH tion, referring tho Board to the solicitoiß for a legal opinion. The Board explained that when they procured that opinion they would proceed with the work if they could do so. Mr Kennedy also waited on the Board with reference to a road to his property. Mr Macdonald explained tbat tbe Board having no funds at present, it would be wiser for Mr Kennedy to bring up the matter at a future meeting, when tho Board might be in a better financial position. Mr Black waited on tbe Board respecting a road from his section at Damon's Bay. At present he had to %o round by the beach, but there was a road near his property, which was, however, stopped at three sections belonging to Rhodes Bros. The road led to the Summit. The Board said they would write to Messrs Rhodes Bros., asking if they would allow the road to go through their sections and on what conditions. , Mr W. Rhodes also interviewed the Board with reference to having the road under Brazenose improved from Aylmer's hill to Cairn's junction. The Clerk was instructed to visit and report as to cost. Mr Le Clerc interviewed tho Board, asking for certain improvements being made to the Little Akaloa Summit road. The Clerk was instructed to visit and report. . PETITION. The following petition from Barry's Bay ratepayers was read : — "Barry's Bay, July 24,1882. "Sir, - We, the undersigned ratepayers of Barry's Bay hill, beg to draw your attention to the disgraceful state of the Old French Farm track. We have only had some five or six chains formed leading to our respective holdings, having been paying rates since the Akaroa and Wainui Road Board has been in existence, and we sincerely hope that you will give this due attention at your earliest convenience, and your petitioners will ever pray. (Signed) "David LeComte, Sen. "James Wilson "Charles Reed "George Giddens "William Giddens ''John Hunt." The Clerk was instructed to visit and report. LONG BAY ROAD. The following opinion of Messrs Harper and Co. on Mr Nalder's application to purchase the Board's section on Long Bay road was read :— " Christchurch, 12th July, 1882. '' Sir, —We have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of yours of tho 3rd inst., enclosing Mr Nalder's of the 22nd .ult., and tracing. We do not understand from jour letter whethor the old road applied for by Mr Nalder has been or is intended to bo sold under subsection A of sec. 5 "Public Works Act, 1880," or whether tho road was closed under " the Public Works Act, 1876," and the land conveyed to the Queen. It*the land ha* been conveyed to tbe Queen, then the property cannot be dealt with by the Board, and it cannot contract with Mr Nalder for a sale to him'of it. The Crown alone can deal with him, audit will have to obtain power to do bo. —Yours etc., " Harper & Co." It was resolved that the Clerk refer to the solicitors for further opinion re complying with Mr Nalder's request. From Little River Road Board as follows :— ' "Littleßiver Road Board Office, " 22nd July, 1882. il Sir, —As it appears tbe gentlemen deputed by this Board to attend at the convention'of local bodieß, on the 15th inst., di(l not put in an appearance, I beg leave to forward copy of answers returned by this Board to the questions in the Colonial Treasurer's circular, as it was the intention of the Board that they should be laid before the. meeting referred to, with a view to uiianimity, as faras possible.—Yours, etc., ' k ~; .-. "T. Quealy." 'Answers by-tiie' Little .River Road Board 1 • .to -questions-in Colonial Treasurer's ; f Circular, 1882. ' i 1. No ; as. preferable. t2. Yes. .: ~_:. i*-/-.v. '■ ;.;•: •' .. "■ 3, Wh««i4po? .ffcrge, -Shogld -be dividpd into two or more- ridings. ■; > -.'"■ -■ -. ■ 4. No. ' , • 5. The Council of the Akaroa County, in which this district is situated, has been of no practical use, as far as this district is concerned; consequently this Board bave no suggestions to make in relation to tbat body. -• ' '.. •-, ■ 6. Only on a petition of-two-thirds.of the ratepayers of each district. 7. Road Poards generally seem fo have conducted their business satisfactorily in the past, consequently desire no change in this partifeular. • • • 8.; Only one rating body should be allowed'in each district, and the members of Road Boards, being most conversant with the requirements of tbeir particular district, should be allowed to levy and collect rates within their jurisdiction, 9. Idem. 10. In The event of " The Counties Act " being suspended, Road Boards should assume the powers generally invested in Cor.i: ! y Councils, including the issue of slaughtering licenses, dog collars, &c, &c, in iheir respective districts ;■ also, the collection of all fees, including public-house licenses, with power to expend same, being district revenue. 11. To hold office as at present. 12. No ; brother members being best judges who is rao_t qualified to act. 13. Local Elections Act, 1876, most j suitable. 14. The rating bill might answer, but in taking the Property tax valuation it m:;st be borne in mind that this valuation does not include properties of less value than £500,. at any. rate a number of properties in this district were left out in the last valuation. 15 This Board think so, as the Boards are not likely to take advantage of its clauses without the consent of the ratepayers ; the Crown anl Native Lands Bill would suit, provided local bodies had power to rate liuropean tenants of-Natives. General Remarks. 16. It will be readily understood that the difficulty is not in the ability of local

concerned^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H never the the survey inaccessable places, road a can only be obtained tedious and expensive process entailed by the Public Works Act, and compensation paid in addition. This Board thinks that to charge tbe above to rate account ib out of the question, as no reasonable amount of rates Would open up land in difficult country. In reference to your proposition No. 3 in circular, this district is peculiar. There are about 35 miles of main road passing through the district, connecting Christ-Y church and Akaroa. Portions of this road are subject to periodical inundations by Lakes Ellesmere and Forsyth. Those lakes have to be let through to the sea, when practicable, and generally not before con"siderable damage is done to tho main road. 'The cost of this work, the Board thinks, ought to b_ bene by pastoral rents accruing from the Lake Ellesmere run. Generally, this Bo rd would approve of the principle of "'lhe Roads-Construction ■ Bill," provided that tbe borrowing of funds be left to tbe decision of not less than twothirds of tiie ratepayers. Signed on behalf of the Little' River Road Board. R. A. Forbes, Chairman. June sth, 1882. From Mr McDonald as follows:— " PurpL Peak Dairy Farm, "July 6, 1882. " Gentlemen,—l beg to call the attention of the Board to the impassable condition of the road from Armstrong's Bridge, near to Mr Mullens' house, up ' towards Mr Armstrong's fann-hous.. It is a clay hill, full of ruts and watercourses, dangerous alike for both foot and horse traffic. Upon both sides of the hill there fc are bush and gorse, nearly overrunning the benching. If this was cleared away for a few chains, it would allow the sun to shine upon it and the wind to dry it. The hill can be made safe and fit for traffic at a very small outlay. My horses are frequently falling at the,above-named spot. Should any serious accident happen to the. n, I shall hold the Board responsible.—You're etc., " Wm. McDonald." The Clerk was instructed to visit and report, aud instruct Mr Armstrong to clear the (forse f rom tl*c» road. From Port Victoria Road Board, as fol- * lows :— " Port Victoria Road Board. • July 6, 1882. " Sir,;—lam- direr.ied4.y.tbi_ Bitacd to in. ; form you that a resolution was, passed tit. their sitting to-lay, "Unanimouslyagreeing with the object yon havobi view as to the desirabity of ahediwhing- the Akaroa ~ County Coiim-I.'* Willi these views tho Board need not *end a debate.—Yours, etc., " R. R. Bradley. " Chairman." From Pigeon Bay Road Board, as fol- ."* lows : — Road Board Office, "Pigeon Bay, July 1,1882. " Sir,—ln reply to yours of the 2-:>th ult. I am instructed to inform you that tho Chairman of this Board will endeavor to meet the delegates from th* other Boards at Barry's Pass on the 15th current, to take part in the consideration _, of the circular from the Colonial Treasurer re local government. —Yours etc., '• Donald Stewart. " Clerk to Board." From Messrs Barrett, re road across fc Rhodes' Flat. Tbe Clerk was instructed to inform Messrs Barrett that all compensation was paid. From Mr J. Woodill, as follows :— " Akaroa,-July 29th, 1882. " Gentlemen,—l beg to call to call your attention to the dangerous state of the Old Long Bay Road. There are three very bad places, two of thorn where the line of lence crosses the present track, andone above the house, a deep hole in the centre of the read, 8 feet wide by 6 feet deep. Hoping you' will see to this as soon ' as possible, I will assist you to fix it. —Yours, etc., '•John Woodill." The Clerk w_. instructed to visit and -, report. ~_JUDHOLE AT JOHN.ON _, GATE, ROBINSON'S ■ BAY. '.■'• - " Mr A. Wright spoke or. this matter. The Clerk was instructed to employ * Peter Shadbolt to do the work. . BABBY'S BAY-VALLEY ROAD.. .- ■ The Clerk was .instructed- to report Ob 1 .the state of this road. payments. Accounts amounting to £359 were presented for p.yment. They were passed and 30 per cent ordered to be paid. GETTING IN OUTSTANDING RATES. The Clerk stated that there were over * £300 in rates outstanding-; The Chairman and members of the ' Board were unanimous in their opinion - that this money must be at once got in to meet the outstanding accounts. In order that strict impartiality might be preserved, a ballot took place to decide who were the first twenty that should be sued. Sum monses were ordered to bo issued for "* these at once, and for the rest in due order till'the whole of the rates had been collected. ADJOURNMENT. The Board then adjourned till Sept. 22nd, at the usual hour."