Manchester Road Board.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 185, 8 February 1897, Page 2

Manchester Road Board.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the above Board was held at their offices, Feilding, on Saturday last. Present — Messrs F. Y. Letbbridge icbairman), G. Wheeler, J. Purkiss, W. G. Pearee, D. Thomas, H. J. Booth. Correspondence was received and dealt with as follows :— ' From the clerk, Mr C. Bray, reporting fihat the whole of the Ashurst town- ' ship and suburban sections give a total value of £43,085, exclusive of crown lands, which gives a general rate, of 5-Bths of a penny in the £, of £112 4s and £67 6s of the two special rates. From the following, applying for renewal of slaughter licenses : — J. Parkins and Son, Halcombe ; J. F. Bishop, Makino ; J. Belhgs, Bunny thorpe ; J. H. Ask worth, Colyton ; F. W. Rumble, Asburst; J. H. Taylor, Makino.— Granted. From W. Bart and S. Bead, asking the Board to form Wyndham street, Ashnrst. From J. S. Rumble, stating that Mr Nuissey was in oeoupation of Mrs Nelson's cottage. From S. Ingram stating ha did not own section at Ashuret for which he was rat«d. Frosn A. N. Mackay, Marton, stating that he bad heard this Board were using his patent river protection works and, therefore, he was entitled to receive some remnneration. — The Engineer, in reply to the chairman, stated that the protection works constructed were on a principle adopted by this Board for more than ten years. From the following, requesting change of names on rate roll : — H. Richardson in place of Isabella Neale ; Mrs Evensen in place of Fritz Gagern, lots 1 and 32, Cheltenham ; A. Birss in place of W. Baker, section 7, sub-division D ; M. Green in place of W. Cockbnrn, part section 23, sub division F, Waituna.-— Agreed to From M. Henagban, granting the Board permission to take metal from his property free of charge. From Treasury, voucher for £375, sub-* sidy on general rates collected. From Ferryman, Asburst. statin? that punt was stranded and traffic suspended at lower gorge ferry. From clerk Manawatu Road Board, applying for £19 2s Id, being the balance due for construction of Henderson's line bridge. Account to be paid less amount charged for supervision. Mr J. Cotter waited on the Board to enquire what steps they proposed taking with reference to the re erection of the lower gorge bridge. He was informed that the last reply received from the Government was that they (the Government) had not yet had time to consider the last resolution of the Board dealing with the matter. The chairman (Mr Lethbridge) said that ho would be going to Wellington at the end of next week when he would interview the Minister of Lands on the matter and if he received any definite promise he would take the necessary steps &t once to push on the ereotion of the bridge. Mr Cotter also waited on the Board with reference to the gates he was permitted to erect on a road line, but the position of which he desired to vary, and Mr Gardner waited on the Board to oppose Mr Cotter's request and asked the Board not to alter their resolution on the matter. — No action was taken in Ishis matter. Mr Cotter also complained that the <tarth removed from a cutting bad been thrown over his grass. Mr R. Currie waited on the Board to request that the Kairanga line between Bunnyth«rpe • Ashnrst and FeildingAshurst roads be opened for traffic and that he should be paid for felling bush on road line. Messrs W. A. L. Bailey, B. O. K. Carey and G. R. Jones, waited on the Board in connection with the alleged overflow of the Oroua river near Reid's line and other matters. Mr Bailey pointed out that a great quantity of water from the Oroua river, when in flood, came down Reid's line and flooded the properties down Taonui road. They were getting afraid the river would break through the watershed near Reid's line and go down the Taonui stream, and he asked if the Board could not do something to prevent this probable disaster. Mr Jones said the water, he believed, camp from the Oroua in Messrs Fetch and Monkton's property and if the river broke through the watershed it would be a serious matter, while at the present time the flood water silted the properties affected, with sand. He suggested that the Engineer should inspect the river and report as to what was required and the probable cost. Mr Bailey asked that something be done to the ditch along Taonni road, as it wanted cleaning oat to enable the water to flow to Taonni stream in place of being allowed to flow over the road as at present. He, also, asked that Reid's line be improved as it was almost impassable in winter. This road was scheduled in the No. 5 loan, but was never metalled and he did not see that they could collect the special rate when the road was not made. The culverts were bad and dangerous. Mr Pearee suggested that they might metal the worst portions of Reid's line. In discussing the request io clean oat the drain along Taonui road to Taonui stream, members were of opinion that unless an indemnity were obtained from those settlers who might be affected it would be unwise to clean out the drain as, although tha water already flowed in that direction, it might bo alleged the Board were responsible for probable damage. However, they would enqnire further into the matter. Mr Jensen waited on the Board to ask permission to remove soil from road side.— Permission granted so long as water table was not damaged. Proposed by Mr Booth seconded by Mr Thomas, That permission be granted to the Cheltenham Co operative Dairy Company, to put a pipe drain across Taonui road at the Colyton creamery, subject to the Engineer's approval-— Carried. Proposed by Mr Thomas seconded by Mr Pearee, That the Engineer be instructed to inspeot the culverts applied for by R. Currie jtmr., and report at the next general meeting. — Carried. Resolved, That the bridges on Rangitawa road be re-decked. Proposed by Mr Wheeler seconded by Mr Purkiss, That the clerk write to Mr Mackay informing him that the protective works erected by this Board are similar to those employed for years previous to his arrival at Rangitikei ; and ask him for a description of his patent, which he complains is being infringed.— Carried. Resolved on the motion of Mr Thomas and seconded by Mr Purkiss, That the Engineer and Warden for the No 5 ward inspect the banks of the Oroua river where it overflows near Reid's line. Also, the drain referred to by the deputation, and that portion of Mr Reid's line which Mr Bailey requested should be metalled. The foll6wing tenders were received :— For metalling ten chains Hennigan's line — R. Lloyd, £17 (accepted) ; B. Rusoall, £19 5s ; P. Hanlon, £2 2* 6d per chain. Dog tax collection— A. Pringle £55 5s (accepted) ; H. Wbishaw £5h Jiesolved. That the Engineer be instructed to have two culverts put across Wyndhain street, Ashurst. — Carried. Resolved, That the tender of G. B Healey, of sj^d eae.b, for the supply of dog collars be sooepted. A resolution waspaised (to be confirmed at oext msiting) forming (ho whole of

the township of Astrorst and the suburban sections into a new sab-division to be known as No 7 ward. Mr Booth reported that the ranger had spoken to him about a cow alleged to have been rescued. The clerk stated he had been interviewed on the same matter by Mr Mortensen, the owner of the cow, and by the ranger. The former explained the circumstances of the alleged seiiure and stating the ranger claimed 5s as driving fee which be refused to pay, the ranger only being entitled to (if anything) one shilling, The ranger claimed the 5s as the locality of the siezure was five miles from a pound but had not driren the cow more than one mile and could not therefore claim more than one shilling. The Board adjourned after passing accounts for payment.