Manchester Road Board

Feilding Star, Volume IX, Issue 2301, 9 August 1887, Page 3

Manchester Road Board

An ordinary meeting of this Board was held on Saturday afternoon last. Present—Messrs Lethbridge (chairman), Bull, Tremewan, Macarthur. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Correspondence from the following gentlemen was read:— G. Hitchman, re hire of horse and cart. W. W. Corpe, asking permission to lay a tramway. John Cotter, re compromise for tolls. T. Harrison, asking permission to fell a roadline. T. Strawbridge, re change of name on rate roll. M. Hannaghan, asking permission to fell bush on road line. A. Nannested, re the matter of his rates. Bank of Australasia, re interest. J. Pearson, re putting in a culvert near his property. T. Capper, asking permission to fall a bush line. William Boddy, re change of name on rate roll, and felling road line. F. Flynn, re having had road line felled, and asking for payment. S. Coker, re felling road line. Public Works office, re Gorge road. C. L. Wildbore, re erecting a gate. J. A. Riley, applying for a renewal of slaughtering license. T. Parkin, re forming a road line. E. Goodehere, Clerk to Kiwitea Road Board, re the impassable conditiion of road leading to Harbor Block. Paymaster-General advice of remittance of £600 8s to the Bank to the Board's credit, and re interest due on loan. George Wheeler, apologising for not being able to attend the meeting of the Board and giving his views on Mr Macarthur's notice of motion re the roadman, stating that he was opposed thereto, and giving his reasons. Rev. Father Patterson, asking for exemption from toll at Gorge bridge. G. M. Benson, re felling road line. The Engineer, re inspection of Reid's line, and cost of work. Messrs Jensen and Neary waited on the Board to ask for a culvert to be put across the Nannested road near their property. They were informed that a reply would be given after an estimaie had been made. Permission was given to Mr Corpe to lay a tramway subject to the usual conditions. Mr Benson's request to fell a porion of Reid's line was granted on the usual terms. Mr Riley's application for renewal of license was granted to the end of the year 1887. Resolved, That Messrs Harrison, Coker, Capper, and Parkin be informed that they have permission to fell road lines at 30s per acre, the Board to pay for same at the end of twelve months from date of falling. Resolved, That the necessary alterations on rate roll in the cases of Messrs Green, Parkin, Mortenson, Strawbridge, Stevens, and Ramsden: as set forth in their letters, be made. Mr Pearson's request to have culvert formed for the diversion of water into the natural course near his property, was granted. Re the matter of the application of Messrs Jensen and Neary for a culvert, the Engineer was instructed to inspect the place and report at the next meeting of the Board. The specifications for the maintenance of the roads as prepared by the committee appointed for that object were read and discussed. Messrs Macarthur and Bull advocated the experiment of having the work done by contract. Mr Macarthur put the motion, notice of which had been given at a previous meeting, re the maintenance of all roads irrespective of the finances of any particular ward, and the expenditure of £100 on Pohangina ward. He contended that it was incumbent on the Board in the interests of the ratepayers concerned, to at once put the road in proper repair. It was dangerous, and if not made good, the Board would be liable for damages in case of an accident. Mr Tremewan endorsed Mr Macarthur's views with reference to the Road, and seconded the motion. Mr Bull did not agree with the motion, and advised putting off the question till a full-meeting. Mr Lethbridge would like to have some limit made to the cost of the work, say to the extent of £30. Mr Bull opposed the motion on the grounds of unfairness to other wards, which were in credit and waited work as badly, awhile this ward was in debt. Mr Tremewan pointed out that but for No. 6 Ward the Gorge bridge would never have been built, and urged the expenditure of as much as was needed to make the road at least safe. Mr Lethbridge: "Suppose we say £40. Mr Macarthur : "Well, say £50." Mr Bull said he should still oppose the motion on the grounds already stated. The motion as amended read as follows: That as it is incumbent on the Board to maintain its roads irrespective of the finances of any particular ward, the Engineer be authorised to put Pohangina road into repair, cost not to exceed £50. Being put to the meeting the motion was carried, Mr Bull voting against it. Mr Bull proposed, and Mr Lethbridge seconded, That tenders be called for work required in keeping the metal roads in repair for a period of two years, tenders to be in by next meeting. A committee consisting of the chairman and the mover to arrange details. To include tenders for supply of timber and metal for one year only. — Carried. Mr Hitchman's offer to supply horse and dray at 8s per day was accepted. Accounts amounting to £146 17s 10d were passed for payment, and the Board then adjourned