MATAU ROAD BOARD.

Clutha Leader, Volume V, Issue 208, 5 July 1878, Page 6

MATAU ROAD BOARD.

The ordinary meeting of the Matau Road Board was held in the Schoolhouse, Inch Chitha, on Saturday afternoon. There were present : Messrs Inglis (Chairman Mosley,) Robertson, Petrie, Lawson, and Willocks. MUnJTES. The minute 3 of previous meeting were read and confirniecf. SUBSIDY. A letter was read from the Treasury intimating thatthe sum of L 29 2s 5d had been placed to the Board's account, being the Board's share of 20 per cent, of land revenue from the Olutha County for the month of March. RTVER BANKS. A letter was read from Messrs Smaill and Sons, calling attention to a portion of the . river' bank being washed away, and traffic stopped. The whole of the roadline had been washed away. Messrs Smaill offered to give the necessary land for anew road, give the material for protecting it, and pay half of first cost of worT&Tigrjpyided the Board would underiake^to carry out such works and preserve the river^t>aiik f or the future. :•: Mr 'vlMosley said the Board could not guarantee to prptect the banks for all time."- If -they would- do so, he would make a {similar offer with reference to a

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considerable length of river bank, and he had no doubt; they would have many similar applications.

Mr Robertson said the present would not be the last application the Board vrould have with reference to river banks. They were being washed away in many places. It was high time the Board was taking some action in the matter. The sooner this was done the less would be the expense. If they allowed the roads to be all washed away they would have to purchase ground for new roads, remove fences, buildings, &c.

Mr Mosley agreed with Mr Robertson as to the necessity for action, but he asked where the money was to eomo from. Many thousands of pounds would be required. To expend a few hundmls here and there wotild be no use. He had seriously thought over the matter, and thought a portion of the endowment given to the Board of Conservators for the Clutha River should be secured for it. It was the intention of the Provincial Council, who set ap/irt the land, that the revenue should bo used for the protection of the banks.

Mr Lawson thought they should apply for some other land as an endo\^ment rather than seek to take an endowment given to another Board.

Mr Petrie considered the offer made by the Messrs Smaill a very good one. If the Board allowed the roads to be washed away they would have to find money to pnrcha.se land for roads. The settlers on the Island were not hard np ; they were quite able, and he had no doubt they would be quite willing to bear the necessary taxes to provide fmids to protect the river banks.

Mr Lawson said that to protect the banks would require a few thousands to start with.

Mr Robertson said there was one thing certain, the work "would have to be clone, and money for it would have to be provided, and the sooner tho better. Although there were 150 applications it would remain for the Board to attend to the most necessitous, and work according to their means. Mr Willocks said the river bank roads must be attended to. They were the only roads on the Island available for traffic and must be kept up. The banks must be protected wherever the money was to come from. He pointed to several spots where a little money would go a long way ! in preserving the roads. After some further discussion, Mr Robertson moved — " That the members of the Board should personally inspect the whole of the banks, and decide upon what was to be done." Mr Petrie seconded the motion. The members therefore a,greed to meet at Stirling on Thursday at 10 a.m., and continue their inspection on that and for several subsequent daj^s. RAILWAY CHARGES FOR METAL. The Chairman mentioned that the Kaitangata Railway Company now charged 10s per truck for the metal being taken for the Kaitangata road, while the Government charged 5s for taking it to Stirling, in all 3s per yard. The sum voted for the work being already nearly expended, he wished the authority of the Board to stop the contractor so soon as the money was spent. Mr Robertson could not understand how the charges mentioned wero being made. Mr Davidson, manager of the Kaitangata Company, distinctly agreed with him that the charge would be 6s a truck. It was very unfair, and a breach of contract to charge so much. The Chairman was empowered to stop the contract when the vote was expended. ACCOUNTS. The following accounts were passed foo payment : — Repairs to Punt, 14 19s 2d ; F. Rowley, material and labour, L 8 5s ; Daniel Sweeney, labour, LI 4s ; Railway charge for carriage of metal, L2 1 ?. KAITANGATA ROAD. Mr Robertson suggested that a man be employed a day now and again to fill up the ruts and let water off the road through Kaitangata. This was agreed to, and it was resolved not to lay on the metal till fine weather, and until the road should be in a fit state to receive it. REPARATION. The Clerk laid the rate-books on the table. From these it appeared the valuation of the Inch Clutha Subdivision amounted to L 4169, and the North Molyneux Subdivision, L 3761. Mr Mosley said everything pointed to the necessity for a separation of the two subdivisions. In consequence of these being in different counties, and the Clutha County Council having resolved to levy a rate of Is in the pound, it was not possible to work the two subdivisions in harmony. So far as Inch Clutha was concerned it was isolated from both counties, and should have the entire control of its own affairs. The Cha.irman in reply to a question, said the Road Board would receive no subsidy upon the rates levied by the County. The County would get a subsidy of poimdfor pound, but the Boards would get nothing. Had the County allowed the Boards to levy the i-ate, both the Boards and the County would receive a pound for pound subsidy. Thus, while by the County levying the rate the people would have to pay the same as if the rate had been levied by the Boards, only twothirds the amount will be available for spending on their roads. The Government will save a subsidy of pound for pound unless the Boards levy a tax and then the ratepayers will have to r>av double. Mr Mosley again urged a separation of • the two subdivisions. Mr Petre "concurred that separation was necessary, but he had been unable to find what steps they required to take for this purpose. Were the Board to pass a resolution upon the subject, he would bring the matter before the County Council. After somo further discussion, Mr Robertson moved — " That the necessary steps be taken to separate the two subdivisions of the Board. The Clerk to write to the County Council of Bruce upon, the subject." Mr Mosley seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. The meoting then adjourned