ROAD BOARDS.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 279, 4 May 1875, Page 4

ROAD BOARDS.

RICCARTON. The ordinary meeting of this Board was held on Saturday, at the office, Cashel street west. All the members present. Mr H. J. Hall, chairman. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The chairman stated that he had arranged with the manager of the Bank of New Zealand for an overdraft to meet liabilities incurred by the Board in consequence of tfce nonpayment of the balance of the Government grant. A letter was received from the hon J. B. A. Acland, in reference to the foul state of the Fendaltown Creek. The surveyor stated that the matter had been attended to. A letter was received from the Avon Road Board respecting the shingle required for the boundary roads. The surveyor was directed to forward account for the quantity of gravel delivered, and to state that the spreading of it would be done by day labor, being too small a work to invite tenders for. The following resolution was received from the chairman of the Board of Conservators for the South Waimakariri district. " That a rate of one penny in the £1 be levied upon the general district, and a rate of one penny additional upon the special district for the current year." It was resolved —" That the above rate be levied, and collected with the general road rate." The surveyor reported that the bridges on the Fendaltown and Papanui junction road, and the Fendaltown bridge were in a dangerous state, owing to the top planking and girders being decayed. It was decided to repair the Fendaltown bridge immediately, and the chairman was directed to refer the Secretary for Public Works to the Board's letter of March 25th, 1875, with report, &c, on the bridges throughout the district, and to request the Government to place a sum on the estimates sufficient to meet the requirements. The surveyor was directed to serve notice, in accordance with clause 78 of the Roads Ordinance, in every case where gorse or broom was allowed to encroach on the public roads of the district; also, to serve notice in accordance with clause 76 of the Ordinance, where the roads were being injured by trees hanging over. The Board directed the surveyor to give notice to Mr McSherry and others on the Lincoln and Riccarton Junction road to stop the continual flow of water from their artesian wells, or otherwise divert it, as much damage was being done to the road in consequence thereof. The Board took into consideration the amount of rate required to be levied for the ensuing year, and after much discussion on the probable receipts and necessary expenditure, the following resolution was unanimously carried—" That a general road rate of one shilling in the £ be levied for the current year, to include the general Waimakariri rate of one penny in the £, and that a special rate of one penny in the £ in addition be levied on a portion of the district known as the special Waimakariri district." The clerk was directed to prepare a rate list in accordance with the above resolution, and payable on the sth of June next. The surveyor was directed to use draiu pipes in future instead of timber culverts, wherever there was sufficient covering for protection. The monthly report was read and approved, and accounts having been passed for work done, the Board adjourned until Saturday, June sth.