ROAD BOARDS.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 17, 19 June 1874, Page 3

ROAD BOARDS.

♦ —■ —— AVON. The usual meeting of the Board was held on Saturday, June 13th. There were present —the chairman (Mr E. G. Wright), and Messrs Dickinson and Norman. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. The clerk reported the following receipts since last meeting, viz : —General rate, £133 19s ; Waimakariri rates, £ll 18s 4d ; and subscriptions from Messrs Williams and Johnstone, £OO. Total £205 17s Id. The balance to the Board’s credit is £3lB 18s sd. The surveyor’s report was read and considered . Messrs C. C. Duncan and Duckworth presented a petition from the inhabitants on Merivale lane, which was received, complaining of the inefficient drainage, also that sewage from Mr Lane’s property was allowed to pass upon the road and in consequence of no proper outfall was a means of creating sickness and disease, and requesting the Board to take measures to abate the nuisance complained of. The chairman explained that notice had already been served on Mr Lane, and read two letters in reply sent by that gentleman, in which he attributed the nuisance to the foul state of the public drain, and asking the Board to call a public meeting to take the question of drainage into consideration. The Board said there was no doubt that the whole question of drainage would have to be considered shortly, but in the meantime the Board will use what power it possesses to compel Mr Lane to abate the nuisance complained of, and would do whatever it could on the road to remedy the offensive smell. It -would cause, the old culvert to be removed and replaced with earth. The deputation then retired. The subject of the petition was discussed, and having considered the letters from Mr Lane of the 21st and 30th of May last, and also the petition received from the residents on the Merivale road and neighborhood. Resolved that notice be given to Mr Lane under clause 07 of .the Roads Ordinance, 1872, that he must provide the means of disposing of the bath water and washings from the kitchen, or any other offensive drainage, and not allow it to be discharged into the road drain ; and that the Board suggests that until efficient drainage can be provided for the district, that he should drain into a sump, as is done by his neighbors. Failing to give his attention to this, the Board will have to institute proceedings under the clause above referred to. Further, that the Board will, upon receipt of a requisition signed by a number of the ratepayers interested in this matter, call a public meeting at an early date. Air Hopkins saw the Board in reference to steps being taken to gravel the Now Brighton road and other matters connected therewith.

He was informed that if he would put his wishes, with whatever information he could give the Board, in a letter, it would upon its receipt give it every information. Mr Pratt saw the Board, and complained of the side drain on (Jresccnt-road near his house not having been attended to ; —also asked permission to take some earth from the side of the main drain.—Permission to take earth was given, and the drain should be attended to this next week. Tenders were opened for William’s road, and a tender for forming was accepted. Tenders for forming the Stanmore River road were opened, and one accepted. Tenders were opened for supply of shingle on the North road, and one accepted. With regard to forming and shingling the road from the Stanmore-road to the river. It was resolved that tenders will be called for on half the cost being guaranteed. Letters were read: — From Mr Preston, relating to a nuisance on the Merivale road. The surveyor was directed to get the culvert taken up at once. From Mr Taylor in reference to an account of his for goods supplied on Lcnforth’s contract. From Mr Freestone, asking the Board to cause bridges to be put across the side drain on the Northcote road. It was decided that the parties requiring culverts must provide them. From Mr David Thow, about the drain on Aikman’s road. The surveyor was directed to look to it. From the City Council, in' reply to the Board’s letter of the 16th May, in reference to the forming and shingling, &c., of the East town belt. The clerk was directed to reply that the Board have contributed the half-cost of boundary works whenever requested to do so by the City Council, and believe that a resolution was passed by the City Council that it would perform any works required to be done within the belt by any of the adjacent Road Boards, upon payment of half the cost. That the health of the residents on the East belt is affected by a stagnant ditch, which would be filled in by the work now proposed, and trusted that the Council would put the work in hand at once. Accounts to the amount of £935 10s 5d were passed and ordered to be paid. The :Board adjourned till Wednesday, the Bth July. SPRINGS, A meeting of the Board took place at their office on Tuesday last. Present— Messrs A. P. O’Callaghan, W. B, Andrew, and James Beaumont. In the absence of Mr Curry, Mr O’Callaghan occupied the chair. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. The surveyor reported that he had collected of general district rates, 1874, £7 17s ; do, 1873, Gs ; Waimakariri rates, 7s Bd. He had finally passed R. Watson’s contract for forming two-and-a half miles of the Weeden and Springs road, and had paid him the amount due. F. W. Matthews’ contract for deepening and widening twenty-five chains of Sergeant’s drain at the outfall, and also Messrs Harrison and Jones’ contract for cleaning one mile of Leeston road drain by Messrs Palmer and Co.’s He had not quite prepared the new rate roll for the assessors, as he had not received from the Government the return of the land sold in the district for the past nine months. He asked permission to place handrails to all the bridges unprovided with them in the district, as they were unsafe in their present state ; and also that the Board permit him to employ day labor during the winter for general repairs. He had examined Alington’s road, through Messrs Palmer and Co.’s property, as requested by the Board at their last meeting, and had found it in a very rough and wet stale, the drainage being very insufficient, as there was only one small drain, which was now overflowing. He could not form the road without much carting,which was impossible at present. It was also necessary to erect three bridges, which would be difficult at this time of the year. He recommended that the Board form the road at present to a crown of 2ft, and cleanse the drain, leaving the carting till the summer. The road would then be longer settling down, and dryer during the bad weather. He had sent twelve district maps to Mr M‘Cardell to be mounted. Letters were read from the Secretary for Public Works with reference to the Lincoln bridge, stating they had placed £2CO on the estimates for the Lincoln bridge, but that until the Appropriation Ordinance was passed, they were unable to guarantee the payment of same. From the Lincoln Road Board, asking the Board to take over the two cottages erected on Reserve No, 343, and in return erect two on Reserve No. 214, for them. The following resolutions were then passed : —“ That hand-rails be placed on all existing bridges in the district, and that for all future bridges the Board may erect handrails be included in the specifications.” “ That the Board consider it necessary a ditch be made along Alington’s road before forming can be done satisfactorily ; and that Mr Dudley be written to, informing him that when this is done the Board will call for tenders for the work.” “ That the surveyor employ day labor for the needful repairs throughout the district at wages not exceeding Gs per day.” “ That the Lincoln Board be informed, in answer to their letter of the Bth instant, that the Board cannot agree to the exchange of their cottages at Lincoln for the two others indicated in their letter, as the sites of the several cottages have been finally arranged.” “ That English bo allowed to cart earth from off Leatbem’s contract on the Springs road, provided that Leathern is not inconvenienced thereby.” “ That Mr Moffat be requested to carry out his contract for cleansing the L 1 and No, 2 river, according to the specifications, especially as regards paring the sides and dragging out vegetation.” “ That applications be invited for the office of poundkeeper at Lincoln.” “That W. Boyle be employed to repair the main road at 25s per day, with man and team of horses.” Tenders were then opened and accepted for the following works: —Cleansing 80 chains of Murray’s drain ; forming 80 chains of Centre road. Tenders for repairing and maintaining the main road were not accepted, as they were too high in price. It was resolved to invite tenders for forming 10 chains of road from the Ellesmere Junction road to the river Halswell ; forming 40 chains of iShand’s road by Henley’s ; formin? 32 chains of Tramway road by Beaumont’s, Accounts to the amount of £134 8s lOd were passed for payment, and the Board adjourned till Tuetday, 7th July, at 11 a.m,