NORTH RAKAIA BOARD OF CONSERVATORS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2028, 24 August 1880, Page 3

NORTH RAKAIA BOARD OF CONSERVATORS.

A meeting was hold at Southbridgo on Friday last. Present —Messrs Chao. Bourne (in the chair), E. J. Lse, L. White, R. Lockhead, and D. Marshall. Correspondence was laid on the table. Prom the Secretary General Post-office, enclosing the first series of twelve debentures, for which others had been substituted, bearing interest at a lower rate. The rejected debentures were then formally cancelled by the Board, and handed over to the secretary for safe custody. From Mr Edward Dobson, OS, stating that the award of Messrs Higginson, Avern, and himself had been forwarded to the Government, and that their decision had been unanimously in favor of lengthening the Rakaia bridge on the south side a distance of 22 chains, at an estimated coat of £7500. They enclosed a fair copy of the survey prepared for the arbitration, and a set of tiaoings showing the old surveys fixed on the new triangulation, were also enclosed, with the bill of costs for the work.

The Board expressed themselves satisfied with the result of inquiry, which corroborated the opinion they had so often endeavored to impress on the Government. The secretary stated that ho had written to the Hon. Minister for Public Works, requesting that the suggestions contained in the report bo carried out without delay. The Chairman was authorised to forward Mr Dobson’s account to the Hon. R. Oliver, and to respectfully request the Government to recoup the Board for the expense they had incurred in the matter.

It was unanimously resolved that a general rate of 6d in the pound on all tho rateable properties within the district be struck and levied, in accordance with the resolution passed at tho last meeting. The secretary was instructed to write to tho chairman of the Road Board, and to request that the rate might be made payable to him at his office, Southbridge, in accordance with section 20 of the Canterbury Rivers Act, 1870.

The rate book, which had bean copied from the official valuation list in force in the Ellesmere district and certified to, was signed by tho chairman and two members.

The secretary’s report on tho unoccupied reserves on the north bank of the river was read, and instructions were given to advertise for separate tenders for lotting the same for a period of twelve years from the Ist Nov. proximo. Id was determined not to relet Reserve 1243 at present. The secretary was instructed to write to Mr Marahman for the Crown grants for those reserves which had not been issued. It was resolved that tho Road Board be offered a roadway one chain wide on the North-east boundary of Reserve No. 1244, on condition that they fence it off and make it passable for traffic. Tho secretary was directed to communicate with thorn on the subject, and to forward a tracing of the reserve, showing the proposed roadway, which the Board would undertake not to let again, also to refer tho Road Board to the petition on the subject presented by Mr Storry and others in June, 1879. It was decided to write specially to Mr Charles Hurst re the reserves on the Oakley run.

The report on the works and the employment of the hands was considered, and it was resolved to expend a sum not exceeding £l2 in repairing fence near Knyvett’s bluegums, and in sowing gorse seed in the moat suitable places. The Chairman and Mr White were authorised to open and accept tenders for the reserves.

Mr Charles Bourn tendered his resignation owing to his having removed from the district. A vote of thanks was ordered to be recorded on the minutes to Mr Bourn for the able manner in which he had performed the duties of both member and chairman of the Board. Mr B. J. Lee was then elected chairman on the motion of Mr Lookhead, seconded by Mr White. The secretary was instructed to advertise an election of two members in the places of Mr 0. Bourn and L. White, whose term of office would expire on the 26th September, as soon after that date as possible. The financial statement, showing receipts and disbursements since the previous meeting and abstract of existing liabilities and approximate assets, was read and accepted. The meeting was congratulated on the prospect of receiving the usual subsidy on rates actually collected for the current six mouths.