MATAU ROAD BOARD.

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 199, 3 May 1878, Page 6

MATAU ROAD BOARD.

— — — — «y , .The usiial meeting- of the Matait RoadBoard was . held in the schoolrooni, Inch Clutha, on Saturday afternoon. 1 There were present Messrs G. Inglis (chairman), Anderson, Bell, Robertson, M/Donald, and Mosley. ' MINUTES. The minutes .of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. KAITANGATA PUNT. A letter • was read from a number of settlers or., the lower portion of the Island with reference to a suggestion made at last meeting of the Board to abolish the punt. The writers pointed put the convenience tlie punt was' to the settlers of the district, and expressed a hope that the punt would be continued. Messrs Smaill and Darling were present as a deputation in connection with the matter. The Chairman explained that there was no intention of doing away with the punt. He read a letter from John Davies offering to take charge of it for the ensiling year for LlO in addition to the drawings. Mr Anderson moved 'that the offer be accepted. Seconded by Mr Robertson, and carried. The members .of the deputation expressed'themselves as thoroughly satisfied with the result. TENDERS. Tenders were opened for metal for the Kaifcangata road as follows : : — John Steven, carting metal from Kaitangata station and placing upon road, 6s per yard ; M. Morrison, supplying metal and filling into trucks, 4s 6d per yard ; carting from Kaitangata railway station and placing on road, 4s per yard. Mr Anderson mentioned that since Mr. Robertson had seen Mr Grant, Railway Manager, when that gentleman had agreed to convey the metal at 6s per" truck, the freight had been raised, and the charge would now be 10s per truck. The Chairman said that would make the price of the metal spread upon the road 12s per yard. Mr Mosley pointed out that the funds at their disposal would not complete the' work. He suggested that. the road should be gravelled instead of metalled. The former could be done at smaller cost. ' A conversation ensued, in the course of which it appeared that there was not sufficient funds to complete the work either with metal or gravel. It was therefore considered best to lay on metal as far as the money would go. Mr Robertson moved a motion to this effect, which was seconded by Mr Anderson, and carried. THE COUNTY SUBSIDY. The following letter was read from the Clerk to the Clutha County Council: — " Clutha County Council, " Balclutha, April 23, 1878. " Sir, — I have the honour to inform you that in addition to the amount received by your Board out of this County's fund under the Council's vote of the 3ist March, 1877, a •fivrther "sum should have been paid out of the subsidy for the half year then next ensuing. This subsidy was recently paid over to the. County in error, and the Government now desire to have it refunded for distribution amongst the Road Boards, but seeing that your Board has incurred no liability in expectation of getting- further subsidy, it is submitted that the County having now adopted the Act should have control of this subsidy. The County Chairman has been asked to act a3 Commissioner in distributing the subsidy, and the County Council is desirous of knowing whether your Board will undertake to return such sum as may be allocated to your Board. — I am, &c. , " W. Henderson, " Clerk Clutha County. " Chairman Mafcau Road Board." Mr Mosley: Cool, very cool indeed! The Government will give us the money, and we'll stick to it. My opinin is that County Councils will not be in existence for another year ; that at next session of the Assembly the Act will be so amended as to sv/eep them away.

The Chairman : They are a nuisance in the meantime at all events.

Mr Mosley: They are a nuisance. .1 think a Board of Y/orks with administrative functions will be , established instead of County Councils. So the Clutha'Councillors want our money ! If they require money, let them do away with the Chairman's salary. They pay him Ll5O a year for presiding a few hours at a meeting once a month. We do our work • for nothing, and do it much 'better than they do. If they require money, let them do away with the salaries.

Mr Anderson asked whether, in the event' of the Board agreeing to give up their claim, the Council . would agree, to spend the amount within their district.

The Chairman said the Council Tvould not likely do so. They had got hold of the money through a mistake, and wished the Board to pledge itself to hand them the money if they gave it back to the Government and it were remitted to the Board.

Mr Robertson said if the Board got hold of the money they should stick to it.

Mr Mosley thought the best plan would be to defer replying to the letter till next meeting. The Council was bound to remit back the money to the Government ; they had it illegally and the Board should take time to consider the matter and see what was done between the Council and the Government in' the meantime. He moved a motion for delay. Seconded by Mr Anderson and carried. ACCOUNTS. The following accounts were passed, for payment :— Thos. Stevens, metalling Kaitangata road, L 36 12s 2d ; Surfacing coal road, LI 15s ; John Smith, metal, LI 5s ; 'Mr -Watts, repair to culvert, L 6 3s. . ' • MA.TAT 7 BRIDGE". Mr Mosley pointed oiit that the southern approach < to the Matau bridge had never been . properly formed, and yet the Bruce County .Council retained L2B of a balance it had received for. repairs. . The Chairman explained that the Clutha Council had agreed to take, over the con-, trol of the bridge, arid would get' from the Bruce Council the balance of funds in hand. .■;.-,■-,::■■■•'•••-■■• •.Mr Mosley would, then; move that the , Clutha Council ,be • requested to expend that balance upon the approach to: "the bridge on the island side. '•* i; ,j „ -,,; -.- ;: ! - The motion wks "seconded, and. carried. ; l.ir" On; aTnotiori •by ;I Mr i Airderson ; it was' |; agreed tor' clean ; out the ditches" on the'

road, " Stirling to the "bridge. Ec mentioned that liß' was having '.the loose metal upon that road broken to a proper 'gunge. • On the motion of Mr Mosloy, lit v/as agreed- .to have some appliance provided at the land end. of several box culverts on the Island, to prevent flooding by the river, should the sluice at the mouth of the box be injured. The meeting then adjourned.