ROAD BOARDS.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 149, 25 November 1874, Page 4

ROAD BOARDS.

MiNDEYILLE AND RANGIORA. A special meeting of this Board was held at the office, Rangiora, on Friday afternoon. All the members were present. Mr Blackett in the chair. A telegram received from the Secretary for Public Works, asking for information respecting the Kaiapoi beach road works, was read, and the reply forwarded was approved. The clerk was directed to forward the plans and specifications to the Public Works office, as requested. A letter from the Board’s solicitors, Messrs Joynt aod O’Neill, was read, asking if they

would wish for further proceedings being taken in the case of Patterson v the Board, to which the clerk was directed to reply, stating that the Board were anxious to tesl the validity of the jurisdiction of the Resident Magistrate’s Court, and directing Messrs Joynt and O’Neill to take the necessary steps. The surveyor was instructed to defer the work proposed to be done till the action was finally settled, Mr Maurice Jones attended, and asked leave to fence across a piece of road recently made into the swamp, and to have pipes placed in this road where required. Both of which requests were granted. Mr Jones also asked for assistance towards cutting a drain in the swamp, and the surveyor was directed to estimate the total cost, and report at next meeting. A tender was accepted for reforming Revell’s road, and one for carting clay on the fJorth road, according to the decision of the deputation, who recommended raising the road with sand and clay to above the level of the surrounding sandhi'ls. The work to be so earned out without interruption of the traffic.

Mr Bramley reported the residents in the neighborhood of Revell’s road would contribute one-third of the expense of cleaning out ditches and drains leading from that road to the Cam, but it was resolved to postpone the work till after harvest. A letter was received from .Mr Leech, asking for a bridge over the Cam, on the road to the Native reserve, which the surveyor was directed to attend to. Mr Wilson asked that the roads on section 1235 should be taken over as the property of the Board, which was agreed to, subject to the usual conditions.

The surveyor’s report was read, and he was instructed to invite tenders for widening the Wood end and Rangiora road, building three cottages, and putting in a brick culvert at the Cam mill. He was also directed to see that the contractor for the Beach road was not detained in his work by getting the gorse cut and the drain cleaned out leading to the river, for which he was instiucted to apply to the Kaiapoi Borough Council. Accounts amounting to £llO 19s 7d passed for payment, and the Board adjourned. OXFORD. The usual meeting of this Board was held on~the 17th instant. Present—-Messrs Sedcole (chairman pro tem), Cooper, Gamman, and Fisher, Letters were read from Secretary for Public Works, stating the pound had been handed to the Board under section 27 of the Cattle Trespass Ordinance, and the appointment or removal of the poundkeeper rested with the Board. pit was decided that applications for the office of poundkeeper be invited—he to reside near the pound. Also, that a voucher for amount due to Petrie and Bluett, -contractors for immigrants’ cottages, had been passed. Also, that the necessary quantity of blue-gum seed had been forwarded for planting the reserve. Also, asking for information if the Oxford bush roads bad been constructed under the arrangements proposed, and what amount was payable by the Gov. rnment out of the grant in aid for the purpose. It was decided the gum seed should be sown when the ground was fenced; also that the returns asked for be furnished. From Mr J. B. Wilson, Waimakariri Gorge, stating the Government had finished the approaches to the ferry, but did not recognise the road down the cutting, therefore calling the Board’s attention to the dangerous state of the road at the north bank of the river. It was decided that the surveyor report on it at next meeting. From the Oust Road Board, with reference to sending a surveyor to report upon the flood water question, and enclosing copy of letter addressed to Secretary for Public Works. The consideration of the matter was deferred till next meeting. From Mr Solaire, claiming exemption from rate. Agreed to. Tenders were opened for metalling Main road from survey office to cutting, and one accepted. A tender for metalling on Ashley Gorge .road, was considered too high. A petition from a portion of the ratepayers was handed in, asking for a general meeting to be called. The question was deferred till next meeting. The surveyor’s report was read and considered, some of the works recommended to be carried out. It was resolved to sink a well in rear of the new immigrants’ cottages, and on the motion of Mr Gamman, seconded by Mr Cooper—“ That the specifications be made, and tenders invited for forming 160 chains of footpath, commencing from Gamman’s lower mill road along the Main road, Harewood Forest road, from Parish’s corner along east side of Harewood Forest road to its junction with Victoria road.” It was resolved—“ That a copying press and other office requisites be procured.” The Board decided to take steps to let cottages to newly arrived immigrants, according to regulations. Accounts amounting to £451 6s 6d were passed, and the Board adjourned.