CLUTHA ROAD BOARD,

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 183, 11 January 1878, Page 5

CLUTHA ROAD BOARD,

This Board met on Saturday last, when there were present : Messrs Christie (chairman), M'Neil, Sarginson, and Ayson. Mr Waddell acted as Clerk. The minutes of last meeting were read and approved of. The Committee appointed at last meeting reported that they met Avith Mr Paterson, engineer, on the 22nd November, and having examined the tenders, found that there was only one for each of the several works, and in these circumstances they resolved to call for fresh tenders for all the works with the exception of the Four-Mile Creek Bridge, for which the tender of Mr Lochead, amounting to Ll9 18s 6d, was, on the advice of the engineer, accepted. The Clerk was instructed to write to Messrs Quertier and Mercer, and give them notice that when the road-line through Veitch's section is opened, it will be continued till it join the Otanomomo road. Mr Nathan Veitch again appeared regarding the road leading through his property, which he said he was quite willing to give to the Board for a small consideration, provided it were not taken under the Public Works Act., The Clerk here read a communication from South Molyneux Road Board, stating that they had resolved to take their portion of the said road without incurring the expense of the Public Works Act, as Mr Veitch was willing to give them a legal title to the road at any time. The Chairman said he was not quite sure that such a thing could be done. The Clerk said there could be no doubt that it was quite illegal to purchase land for Public Works by private bargain however advantageous terms mght be offered, because the act made it quite plain that all such transactions must be publicly advertised, for the purpose he supposed of protecting the interests of other parties, and this was just a case of the kind. A letter was read from Mr. Geo. Leslie, Dunedin, intimating that he desired all obstacles to be removed from the much disputed road-line at Finegand, and also giving notice that he would resist any attempt to make any deviation in any part of the said road-line. The Chairman stated that up to that date no notice had been received from the County Council that they had reversed the decision of the Board that this road should be closed. The Clerk was instructed to write to Mr Leslie to that effect. A letter was read from a Committee of the Kaihiku sub-division of the Clinton Road Board, asking the Board to re-con-sider its decision refusing to expend any money on the boundary roadline.. * Mr M'Neil said the road in question was of so little use to the public at. large, and except for a short distance, was practically useless even to those in the immediate neighbourhood of it, that it would, be a shear waste of public money to spend.it on a bad road when quite near it there was a good road, which was quite convenient and available. He moved that the Board adhere to its former decision. Mr Ayson seconded, and the Board agreed. The Chairman stated that Mr Thompson, M.H.R., had intimated that if the majority of the settlers could agree upon a central place for a railway station he would visit the spot, arid if he thought it suitable he would recommend it to the Minister of Public Works. He (Mr Christie) now asked the Board to empower him to write to Mr Thompson, asking, him to inspect the position at Falconer's as being the most likely, place to meet the wishes of the settlers! . . -7 . ' . Mr t M'Neil • said he did . not see what" they had to do with the.matter. . ifcv Sarginson; thought it would interest* the Board to know where jthe : station; wast to ..-be,- as they would-be; expected toi make the, approach to it, and.as; there was ajgpdd rb^ nearly^Lthe^ tKojughtv.]^ i^ti^.A?A''AXAAXAAAAXXAA''''AAA'-AA i 7 The. Gierk;.eiaid? it wasiquitejn^

for the Board to entertain this request, 'as it was roads not railways we had to do with here, and stations were never planted in the interests of Road Boards, but of the ratepayers, who had never been consulted on the matter, and a large portion of them had petitioned for a station in quite a different locality. — The subject- then dropped. Mr Ayson moved, and Mr Sarginson seconded, and the Board agreed, 4 that a notice be inserted in the Clutha Leader, requesting that all arrears should be paid before February Ist, after which defaulters will be prosecuted. Mr M'Neil , moved, and Mr Sarginson seconded, that the County Counoil be requested to re-consider their decision of December 14, assigning to the Road Board that portion of the main road between Hogg's bridge and main south trunk; The following accounts were passed for payment : — Clutha Leader, Lt2 9s ; J. Crawford, Ll 4a. The tenders that had been called for at last meeting were referred to a small committee, who were to ask the Inspector to meet them. The Board adjourned till the 4th Saturday of current month.