MATAU ROAD BOARD.

Clutha Leader, Volume II, Issue 99, 2 June 1876, Page 6

MATAU ROAD BOARD.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Matau Road Board was held on Monday afternoon. There were present, Messrs Inglis (Chairman), G. M'Donald, Smaill, Bell, and R M'Donald. The minutes of previous meeting Tere read and confirmed. Mr Smaill reported having secured Jocks for the Kaitangata punt, and,: also having made arrangements fori re- ' pairs to the River-bank road, near the ! bottom of the Island. Approved. -. ! A consultation ensued with Mr Arch. | Anderson, relative" tb. 'road- lines now' shut up, and -which it was agreed he ! should have m exchange for road de-: viations given by him. It was agreed that the Board should authorise Mr Anderson to apply to his Honor the Superintendent to purchase the same. A letter was read from the Provincial Secretary forwarding map, shewing the

boundaries of the .Balmoral and Matau; Road Boards, as described in the schedule to the Otago Roads Ordinance,' 1871, and from which it appeared a portion of ground in the neighborhood ofthe manse, hitherto .supposed to' be part, of the township of Baiclutha, was! within the jurisdiction of the Matau Road Board. \ ; The, letter, was received. : A letter was read from a' number bl tbo inhabitants .of Balelutha and others, suggesting' that as the direct, road from tha railway terminus, to Stirling was impassable, the Board should open up tbe road along the river bank between tliHse two points, so that the traffic might not altogether be stopped. The Chairman said that for a considerable distance along the river bank the road reserve had been washed away, while in other places it was only a few feet wide. Tf taken that way it ti woiilcf have to pass through piivate property/ 1 and it would prove a great annoyance to settlers by having the gates left open. Besides, *o remove the place and render i the road passable would cost irom .£3O to £40 at least. He considered it would not be d si fable to open up the road, as the hill road was just as short a routes and they would then have three roads to Baiclutha — the hill road, tlie swamp road, and the river bank road, ■which. was quite unnecessary. Mr Smith said a river bank road would cost £60 or £70 to render it" passable, and , then it would prove a great annoyance and expense to the settler?, \vho would have to fence along the lite. He would rather expend the money in filling up the holes in the swamp road so as to render it fit for light traffic. If they were to open up the river bank road they would Inve to call for tenders,. and the winter would be' over before the work could be done. Then the public would at once call for the swamp road being repaired, and i thus the money expended in opening up the river bank road would only be thrown away. He no ved that the swamp road be repaired. Seconded by Mr Bell and carried. , Mr Smaill said that rotten rock from the hill at Anderson's station would be quite suitable, and were it used they would accomplish the double purpose of repairing one of the road and widenwidening another. They did not intend to place the road in condition to bear heavy traffic — only for horsemen and light traffic. y Mr Smith proposed that the Chairman be instructed to expend £70. in repairing the road, and that the work be carried out at once. Seconded by Mr G. M*Donald. Mr Smaill proposed that the sum ; be reduced to £50. Mr R. M'Donald seconded. . The amendment was carried, it beingunderstood that the sum need not be strictly confined to that amount. Mr Smith said he might mention that Mr Clark, M.P.C., and himself had lately had a conversation with Mr Reid about this road, and that gentleman agreed that the Government would have have the road metalled and placed in thorough repair, but the Waste Land Board having prevented the proposed sale of pastoral land, the thing was knocked on the head.

The Chairman reported that the Coal road was getting impassable, and it was resolved that it be metalled with the stones now lying beside the embankment. The Chairman reported as to! the progress of works on the hill road, and received instructions as to the same. A conversation ensued as to the erection of a breakwater at the river edge at Mr Anderson's property, oppor site the Lower Reserve, Baiclutha. It was ultimately resolved that the matter should lie over till after the election of new members. Mr M'Doriald reported upon the state of the road at the township of Granton, and it was resolved that 1 00 yards of metal be laid upon the same. The following accounts were passed for payment : —

Joseph Day, £9 14s ; Nelson, £12 ; D. M'Kenzie, £4 16s ; R. M'Kenzie, £11 2s ; R. M'Einlay, £14 6s. . The meeting then adjourned..