ROAD BOARDS.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 90, 14 September 1874, Page 4

ROAD BOARDS.

KOWAI. The usual meeting of the Road Board was held at the Road P.oard office, North port, on the 7th ultimo. All members present. The following correspondence was read : From the Secretary fo- Public Works, with reference to Saltwater creek bridge on North road. Resolved—" That the unexpended balance of the Provincial Government grant of £6OO, which was voted for the bridge, should be immediately expended in putting the bridge in thorough repair, and that the surveyor have plans and specifications prepared, and also advertise for tenders for timber required to carry out the work." From the Secretary for Public Works, with reference to the removal of shingle from the Ashley river bed. The Board referr. d back to a copy of a letter from Mr Masked, M.P.C. for the Sefton district, which had been forwarded to the Board. The Board, after duly considering the correspondence on the subject, unanimously regretted that Mr Masked did not communicate with the chairman of the Board previous to his corresponding with the Secretary for Public Works, more especially as the surveyor had given instructions not to remove any more shingle from the place complained of some time previous to the receipt of the letter of the 21st ultimo. From the Secretary for Public Works, stating that the sum of £7lO 10s had been forwarded to the Provincial Treasury to be placed to the credit of the Board, being the second instalment of the Provincial Government grant to the Board for the purposes of the district. From the Immigration Officer re sending more immigrants.

From Mr T. Downs, requesting the Board to have a culvert placed at the junction of Marshman's road with Boundary road. Resolved —" That the request be granted, and that the surveyor, as soon as drain pipes can be procured, have the work carried out."

A letter was read from Mr John Innis, requesting the Board to improve the road to the Ram paddock, also to repair the bridge over Bowday's Creek, and also drawing attention |to the bad state of the road from North road to Greeney's. The Board instructed the surveyor to advertise for tenders as soon as possible for the road by Greeney's. A letter was read from Mr Sutherland, chairman of the Presbyterian Church committee, asking leave to take a few loads of gravel from the reserves for the purpose of improving the church grounds. The Board granted the request. A petition was handed in by Mr Stevenson, signed by himself and several other residents in that part of the district, requesting the Board to have certain works carried out on Gray and Martin's road. Resolved that the surveyor attend as soon as possible to the road in questiou. A petition was also handed in by Mr D. M'Namara, numerously signed, requesting the Board to have certain works carried o"t from Kowai river-bed to Mr Searvell's. The surveyor was instructed to examine the road in question.

Mr Williams waited upon the Board with regard to the Waipara beach cutting, for which £!0(J had been voted by the Government. The chairman informed Mr Williams that he had examined the place with the surveyor to the Board, and was of the opinion that it would be a very great advantage to make a deviation in the line of road, so as to take advantage of an adjacent gully, which would necessitate an exchange or purchase of about one and a-half acres from Mr Courage. The surveyor had met Colonel Packe, agent for Mr Courage, and Mr Charles Harper, manager, at the place mentioned ; and both saw at once the advantage that would be gained in taking the cutting by the proposed deviation, and had written to Mr Courage to that effect. Mr Williams still wished that the work should be carried out on the present line of road, as he considered there would be ton much delay caused by the proposed alteration, and requested the Board to have tenders issued at once for the work. In reply to a question from the Board, Mr Williams said he would supplement the grant of £ 00 (providing it was not sufficient) up to a certain amount. Resolved — " That the surveyor have plans and specifications prepared, and advertise for tenders. Mr Topping and others waited upon the Board with respect to the opening out of the Sefton road from section 1076 to 1963. Messrs Topping and Spears pointed out that the only party objecting to a road goini? through his land was Mr Topp. The Board informed the deputation that they would do what they could in the matter. Mr Topp attended and wished the Board to make the road on the south side of the Sefton road, in front of his land. The Chairman pointed out to Mr Topp that he had already refused to join with his neighbors in the necessary hand required for a road, and which would accommodate a Greater number, whereas the road he applied for would only accommodate one or two. The Board decided that they would not entertain Mr Topp's request at the present time.

The surveyor was instructed to have as many of the principal cuttings as possible put in hand at once, immigrants to be employed on the same; and also to prepare plans and specifications for other pressing works, viz—Saltwater Creek bridge (North road), bridge by Stringer's over source of Saltwater Creek, forming portions of road between Creek and Frame's corner, portions of Marshman's road, Sefton road, Greeney's road, Gray and Marten's road, and Searvell's road. The amount which had been placed to the credit of the Board since the last general meeting was £763 15s, being £7lO 10s second instalment of the Provincial Government grant for the general purposes of the district, £SO on account of North road contract "special grant," and £3 5s for rates 1873. The balance to the credit of the Board at the Bank of New Zealand, Kaiapoi, was £2199 14s.

The pay sheet, amounting to £174 19s 7d, was examined and passed for payment, The Board then adjourned,