ROAD BOARDS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2146, 11 January 1881, Page 4

ROAD BOARDS.

EAST MALVEEN. Tho annual mooting of the East Malvern Boad Board was held in the office, Sheffield, on 4th inst., Mr McMillan in the chair. The statement of accounts wos read, which showed a balance in hand of £4527 12s Id, made up os follows £4710 Oi lid in hand at commencement of year—receipts, £1642 10s 5d ; expenditure, £1834 19a Id, leaving a balance as above. The following gentlemen retiring through effluxion of time, viz., Messrs Barr, Bossitor, Searle, tho two first were re-elootcd, and Mr D. Jobson in tho place of Mr Searle, who did not stand tor re-election, as ho was leaving the district. At a subsequent meeting ofjtho new Board Mr D. McMillan was unanimously ra-olootccl ohairman. ASHLEY. Tho annual meeting of ratepayers of the above Board was held at tho Bood Board office, on January 6!.h, at noon. There was a largo attendance. Tho chairman (Mr Hodgnon) read tho balance-sheet, which showed the receipts to have been—From rates, fees, &0 , £363 4s 6.1 ; subsidies, £468 14j 6d ; county funds, £2547 8s 5d ; special grants, £5172 8s Id ; interest, £426 9s 9d ; total, £8978 5s sd, with bolance at the beginning of the year 1888, £10,533 16s Id, making a total of £19,512 Is 6d. The expenditure for the year has * been £11,940 Os lOd (including £3368 14j 7d for special works Kuku Pass and £747 5l for Ashley Gorge cutting) ; balance at tho Bank, 31st December, fixed deposit, £4OOO ; credit current account, £3572 Os 8d ; liabilities, £3626 3s Bd. The report stated that about 19£ miles of road had been formed, about 11J miles shingled, and about 5 miles re-formed, and a number of concrete and other bridges erected. Mr P. Duncan proposed, and Mr D. Brook oeconded, that tho talence-ahcet bo adopted. Carried. Mr D. Brook proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the members of the Board for tho manner they had discharged their duties during tho year. Oarr’ed. The election then took place and resulted in tho return of Messrs Hodgson and Nichoils. A meeting was hold immediately after. Present—Messrs Cunningham, Croft, Dick, Hodgson and Nioholls. Mr Cunningham proposed—" That Mr A. Hodgson be chairman for tho ensuing year,” and spoke to the able manner Mr Hodgson had carried out the duties of chairman during his term of office. Mr Dick seconded the resolution, and endorsed the remarks made by Mr Cunningham. Carried unanimously, Mr Hodgson thanked tho members for the confidence they had in him in re-electing him ohairman ; but -he felt the duties required were too much for him. He would respectfully decline to accept the office, but ho had great pleasure in proposing Mr J. A. Cunningham as chairman, which was seconded by Mr Dick and carried unanimously. A member of tho firm of Messrs D, and D. Cameron and Mr B. Flynn interviewed tho Board re Mr Donnelly’s contract relative to monies due to them. Tho Board arranged. Mr Yaughan re Hatcher’s contract. Clerk to arrange with Mr Yaughan to get tho same finished. A letter was read signed by a number of men who had been working on M'Barron’s contract, Kuku Puss, stating that as M'Barron had left the locality and was still due them a considerable amount for wages, they asked to be allowed to finish tho contract, and to get the balance due on the same to bo divided among them. The Board tried to arrange the matter, but tho men declined to accept the terms, Mr W. Wilson, about same contract, loft to tho Board to decide. A letter was read from Mr Bobson relative to bond for fata surveyor. Clerk instructed to return the name. From Kowai Bead Board, re Boundary road. Besolved—“That the members of tho Aohley Bead Board meet the Kowai Bond Board at Ashley on Wednesday January 19th, nt 10 a.m,, and go over the rood in question.” A letter was read from Mr John Oasserly re his contract. Besolved—“That Means Oasserloy, M'Barron and Mr George Harwell’s contracts be advertised for completion.” A petition was read from soma residents near Boundary road, asking for road to bo formed through Mr D. Mowatt’s section. Clerk to report. Clerk ordered to got dog collars re-stamped, and to order a sufficient supply for the year. Mr Jamee Duthie was appointed clerk and surveyor to the Board. Accounts to the amount of £282 11s 2d were passed for payment, and,the Board adjourned. BAKAIA. The onnual meeting of ratepayers was held at tho Beard room, Hororata, on January 4th, tho chairman of the Boad Board in the ohair. Tho meeting woe poorly attended. The balance-sheet was laid on the table for inspection, and the chairman read a detailed otatement and classification of accounts for tho past year, showing receipts to be £5928 9s 4d, and expenditure £5194 9s 2d. A general nummary of works carried out during the past year, and a return showing the progress mode with the construction of roads, was also read, which showed the total measurement of roads in tho district to bo about 278 miles. Of theso roads 112 miles are formed, and fifty-eight miles metalled, nineteen of which have been formed, and twenty-three metalled during the past year. Tho business of electing two members, in tho place of Messrs Westenra and Dilloway, who retired by rotation, was then proceeded with, when the following gentlemen were proposed and seconded:—Mr B. Weatonra, Mr J. Dilloway, and Mr G. B. Peacock. The chairman called for a show of hands, which resulted in favor of Messrs Westenra and Dilloway, and no poll being demanded they wore declared duly elected. A meeting of the now Board was then held, ail members present. Correspondence wan road from tho Treasury, stating that £IOB 12n 4d, being subsidy for the period ending 31*t March, 1881, had been remitted to the Board’ll account. From Dr. Turnbull, asking for improvements on Pickering’s road, also camplaining of the gorso growing on this road, fronting Mr Pickering’s section. It was decided to complete the formation of this rood, and the surveyor was ordered to givo Mr Pickering notice to clear the gorso complained of. From Messrs Pyne and Co., applying for a road to be opened from Cleattings’ road to some new coal and plumbago mines which they were opening. The surveyor was ordered to visit the locality and report to tho Board at tho next meeting ora the necessity for the proposed road, and the probable cost of forming it. From Messrs Lee and Goldsmith, asking for various improvements on Leo’s road. Granted. Mr W. Everett waited on the Board, and complained of the bad state of tho road running past his house. It woo decided to metal across tho swamp as far as Mr Everett’s gate with ten yards of metal to Che chain. Tho following additional works were also authorised. Metalling Sloeman’s road as soon as the metal required for contracts on hand has boon carted over it. Formation of a dray track down tho ’’ace of the bills to Wairiri Yalley, on Aitken’s road. Bopairs on tho upper portion of the Downs road, and clearing and widening the roadaicle ditches where it was necessary. It was decided that where access to sections is cut off by ditohes made by the Board, it will provide timber for culverts at tho gateways, on condition that the occupiers will provide labor to pnt in the culverts as directed by the surveyor. Messrs Mcllraith and Brownlee reported (hat, as authorised at tho last meeting, they had accepted tenders for repairing tho metal on Downs road west and on Wairiri 1 Yalley road, and it was decided to have all tho boulders that could bo obtained from riloeman’s cutting broken, and used for metalling Wairiri Valley road. After settling noine minor business and passing accounts, the Board adjourned. MOUNT SOMERS. The annual meeting of ratepayers of tho above district was hold at the sehoolhouse. Mount Somers, on Thnradoy, January 6 th, 1881. About fifteen ratepayers were present. Mr Peache, the chairman of tho Board, proaided. The clerk read tho balance-sheet for fcho past year, also returns showing mileage of roads formed, motallod, &e., and tho expenditure upon each road in tho district ; also, a otatement of tho expenditure in the different wards. Mr A. McFarlano proposed, Mr Edson seconded, and it was carried—" Tfcat fcho returns as read bo adopted.” Mr John Hood asked the amount of expenditure on Mount Somers Downs road. Tho surveyor furnished particulars as requested. Mr John Boyle requested to know the amount expanded on Yaletta road during the yeor. The ourvoyor stated that no work had been done on that road during the past twelve months. Tbs chairman said that at the ordinary meeting to be held that day tho matter would receive the Board's immediate attention. Mir J. Hood asked it the cost of tho Ashburton bridges should be charged to tho Wards’

account, and if the amount voted for their construction had been expended or not. Mr Walker npoke at some length upon the subject, and was of opinion that the surveyor had acted wisely in making out the returns as he had done. In reply to a question from Mr Hood, asking whether it was tho intention of the Board to levy rates this year, the chairman stated that the matter had not as yet been considered. Mr Boyle thought that tho striking of rates should be left to the diicre tionary power of the Board. In reply to a question, from Mr Morgan, asking why tho Board had not built a room sufficiently large for a:a annual meeting, the chairman said that as the Hoad Board had the use of the schoolroom it was not deemed expedient to incur any further expenditure. In reply to Mr Boyle, the chairman stated that gravel pita have been secured in different parts of the district wherever practicable. After a vote of thanks to the chairman, tho proceedings terminated. The ordinary monthly meeting of this Board was held at tho Hoad Board office, Mount Somers, on Thursday, January 6bh, 1881. Present Messrs Walker, Peaoho, Cameron and Taylor. Tho clerk read a notification from the Beturning Officer, elating that at the nomination of candidates on Deo. 29th, Mcssre Taylor and Poacha were reelected to serve as members for wards 2 and 3 respectively. Mr Cameron proposed, Mr Walker seconded —" That Mr Peacho bo chairman for the ensuing year.” Carried. The minutes of the last ordinary and special meetings were read and confirmed. The surveyor's report was read and considered. The following correspondence was read: Prom Mr Oookson, surveyor, the valuer for the district, informing the Board that the valuation list for 1881 had been completed, and requesting a payment on account. It was decided that Mr Cookson’s request be granted. From Mr Charles Sheppard, asking the Board to open gravel pits on Messrs Gould and Cameron’s property. The Board declined to take any action in the matter, as Mr Sheppard had been led to understand that he would have to make his own arrangements about obtaining shingle, when he entered into the contract. From Union Bank of Australia, Ashburton, re Board's account; also stating amount of balance at Bank on December 31st, 1880. From Mr M. McAvey’s solicitor re his (MoAvey’s) claim for balance on Anama Downs road and other works. Tho clerk to reply. From the Ashburton County Council, requesting tho Board’s co-operation in protesting against tho new railway tariff. It was proposed by Mr Cameron, seconded by Mr Taylor, and carried :—“ (1) That the Mount Somers Boad Board is of opinion that tho present railway tariff is unjust, and specially oppressive to the grain-growing districts of the colony, and trusts that the Government will see its way speedily to relieve the farmers from this unnecessary impost. (2) That a copy of tho above resolution be forwarded to the Minister for Public Works and to the Ashburton County Council with a letter conveying the thanks of the Board for the part taken by the Council in protesting against the present tariff.” From tho same re bridges over the Ashburton. Tho clerk was directed to return'the accounts for further details re interest, &\, and to state that when the matter ia put clearly before the Board they will bo willing to pay half Butt’s claim, but hope that tho Council will see their way to remit tho engineer’s txpenses on tho different bridges. At the same time the Board wish to express their disapproval as a matter of principle of any compensation outside the terms of a signed contract being: allowed, and is of opinion that the present difference would never have occurred had the 1 Council eubmitted Butt’s claim to the Board previous to finally agreeing to a settlement. From tho Treasury, Wellington, advising tho Board that the sum of £275 16s 7d, being a subsidy of 7s 6d in the £ on rates collected prior to March 31st, 1880, had been paid into the credit of the Board’s account at Ashburton. From Mr J. 0. Bell, returning officer for tho district, re elections and other matters. From Mr Urqnhart, requesting that tho road from Clint Hills to Lake Heron may bo attended to at once. The surveyor to attend to tho mutter at once. From Mr John Devery and three others, petitioning tho Board to continue formation ond : metalling on Cameron’s road to the river. The Board did not consider tho work necessary, and declined the request of the petitioners. The clerk was instructed to advertise that the road on Messrs Gould and Cameron’s property, running from the S.E. of 23518 to the S.E. of 19975 is now closed, and that a road from the aforesaid S.E. corner of B.S. 23518 to the S.E. corner of 8.8. 24989 is opened in lieu thereof. Tho clerk was further instructed to forward a copy of chairman’s declaration, together with plans of roads, to the Land Transfer Office, Christchurch, according to section 4 subsection 4 of Public Works Act, 1380. It was decided to apply to the Government Printer for all Acts for 1880. It was decided to call for tenders for reformation, Yaletta road, to be sent in by the 15th inst. Tenders for protective works in Taylor’s stream were opened, and one accepted. The paysheet, amounting to £BOS 14s 7d, having been passed for payment, the Board adjourned.