ROAD BOARDS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2242, 5 May 1881, Page 3

ROAD BOARDS.

HBATHOOTE, The above Board met on Friday, at 10 am. Present —Messrs P. Jones (chairman), T. Bruce, W. Attwood, and Geo. Dryden. The Chairman reported that Mr Atkinson’s offer for gas-lamp posts had been accepted; also, the terms of arrangement with the Drainage Board as to taking the pipes along Buckley’s road. The action was approved of. The clerk was instructed to write to the Drainage Board re Drain road, and the foreman was to attend to the footpath. Be road by Fenton’s Hotel. Declined to do anything, as the road was in good repair for traffic. The clerk was instructed to call for tenders to metal the Eiver road by Ford’s and Barbour street. It was resolved—“ That the notices for the road rate be issued at once, without waiting for the Waimakariri and drainage rates.” The following correspondence was read and dealt with—Mr G. Wise, secretary Bromley school, asking permission to get clay off Canal reserve to clay round the school. Granted, on condition that the ground is left in good order. Selwyn County Council, asking Board to allow roll to lie in office for inspection till the 15th May. Granted. Mr W. 0. Hill re fence at back of section. To be informed that Board are willing to pay half-cost for a new fence. Marine Department re swing bridges. The matter had been attended to. Waimakariri Conservators re striking rate. Deterred. Sydenham Borough Council, enclosing accounts for boundary roads. No satisfactory offer having been received for the horse and cart, it was resolved to sell it by auction, without reserve, next Saturday. The clerk was instructed to give notice cautioning persons against depositing rubbish on the Caned reserve. After passing accounts for £213, the Board adjourned. ELLKSMEBE. The usual monthly meeting of this Board was hold at Leeston, on the 2nd inst. Present all the members. Correspondence was read from the Selwyn County Council requesting that a copy of the electoral roll for the Ellesmere district might be allowed to lie at the Board’s office for public inspection. Granted. Also, from the same, saying that the Council had decided to place the Boggy creek drain under the control of the Board. From the Hon. the Minister for Public Works, asking the Board to furnish accounts of the receipts and disbursements. Prom Mr B. Withell, respecting shingle for Steward’s road. From Mr B, Willis, request-

ing that the tramway might bo opened from Bishop’s corner through Bishop’s land, and also some gullies bo filled in. Agreed to fill in gullies, Mr Luderman applied to have the mouth of his drain cleaned out, Granted. Mr W. Nixon applied to the Board, asking them to do something to the drain on Smith’s road. The overseer’s report on the drainage of Boggy Creek was read and considered satisfactory. Mr Frankish brought forward the matter of the drainage of Southbridge, which was fully discussed. Accounts amounting to £509 le 7d were examined and passed for payment. The Board then adjourned to the Ist Juno. OXFORD. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Board was held on Friday, the 29th ultimo. The members present were Messrs Wilson Fisher (chairman), Bennett, Ingram, and Marsh, The clerk’s report was read and considered. It was resolved to accept Mr McGowan’s offer to shingle about nine chains of Stiffen's road ; to make some improvements to the creek at Queen street. That the Board could not incur the expense of shingling the footpaths recently formed to the Rev. Mr Baxter’s, and that Mr Baxter should pay for the shingle taken from the Board’s pit on to his private land. That it Mr Jeffs would give the Board a written permission, the shingle out of about three chains of the creek would be carted on to the road. The following correspondence was road From Mr Dunlop, about a breach in the rails at the Waimakariri Gorge cutting. From Mr Greenwood, about timber thrown on to his section from the road. The dork to report, From Mr W. F. Pearson, asking the Board to allow the gates to remain on the road for about three weeks longer. No action to be taken in the matter until the expiration of the time applied for. A petition was received from twonty-three ratepayers and residents at View Hill, asking the Board to erect a footbridge across the Eyre at Harman’s Gorge road. The clerk to reply that es there is a footbridge across the river not a mile lower down than the site of the one applied for, the Board could not comply with the request contained in the petition. The following persons waited upon the Board: —Mr Cooper presented a petition signed by eighty-three ratepayers and others, asking for a footbridge over Cooper’s Creek, on the main Bush road. Mr Cooper was informed that the clerk would report upon the cost, &0., of the bridge next Board day. Mr Wearne Gundry, about his contract on Wharfdale road, and informing the Board of the difficulty to obtain shingle for this contract, and offering to put on broken rock at 3s 6d per yard. The offer was accepted, the rock to be broken to a gnage of three inches before put on the road. Mr Burrows, about some culverts he had fenced by mistake. The Board resolved to allow him to finish the contract according to specification, and to allow him the value of the material on the bridge at Reid’s, on the Harewood road. Mr John Rossiter, asking the Board to form about five chains of bush road near Mr H. Clarke’s section. The clerk to report for next Board day. The clerk was instructed to call tenders for fencing the approaches to the Ashley Gorge bridge. Tenders were opened for the various works, and one in each case accepted. Accounts, to the amount of £228 2s 7d, were passed for payment, and the Board adjourned.

WAIPABA. The monthly meeting of the Waipara Bead Board was held at the office, Waikari, on Monday, May 2nd. Present—-Messrs J. D. Lance (chairman), W. Parkeraon, N. O. Wade and T. Sanderson. The chairman stated that he bad seen the manager of the Union Bank of Australia and had re-placed £4OOO to the deposit account, placing the rest to the current account. The following correspondence was then read : —Prom the Bangitiki County Council, From the General Crown Lands Office, Wellington, saying, in answer to a letter written to them by the chairman, that tfae Crown Grants Act expired in the year 1860, consequently the Board could not take any road without compensation. From Messrs Harper and Harper, in reply to the question asked by the Board it they had the power to take land in the part of the district named, saying that they had the power, but compensation must bo paid if required. From the Hon. W. Eobinson, requesting the Board to lay off a road from the present Stonyhurat road to Happy Valley. The Board have under their consideration a plan of roads in that direction, and until fully decided upon they could hardly give him an answer. A letter from Mr H, H. Fenton, O.E, enclosing a report containing the measurement of the cuttings in dispute on the Heathstock road, and when compared with their surveyor’s measurement it was 184 yards less than ho had allowed the contractors. A petition from the residents of the Waikari township, hoping the Board would form and shingle the two chain road in the township. The Board asked Mr Barkerson to look at it, giving instructions to the surveyor to meet him. From Mr C. D. Fox, stating that Mr Bolleston had altered his fence, and that if Mr Turner did so he would be unable to get to his homestead. The widening of the Waikari Valley road was then discussed. The Board asked Mr Wade to inspect it, and told the surveyor to accompany him and make the report at their next meeting. The surveyor's report was read and considered. The clerk was instructed to write to the chairman of the Kowai Bead Board, giving him a verbatim copy of the letter from the Crown Lands office. Accounts amounting to £930 11s fid were passed for payment and the Board adjourned.

MOUNT SOMERS. The usual monthly meeting of this Board woe hold at the Road Board office, Mount Somers, on Monday, May 2nd. Present — Messrs A. E. Peacho (chairman), W. O. Walker, J. O. Taylor and John Hood. The surveyor’s report was read and considered. The surveyor was instructed to inform Mr Boyle that unless his contract on Yaletta road is completed within two weeks the full penalty will be indicted. It was resolved—- “ That tenders be called for the formation, &0., of fifty chains of the road leading to Mr Wright’s homestead.” The following correspondence was read:—From Mr John Boyle, requesting the Board to sell him an unused line of road adjoining his property, and comprising five acres of land. The Board decided to proceed with the matter conditionally upon Mr Boyle refunding all expenses they may incur, independent of the price of the land as valued by a valuer appointed by the Board. From Mr JohnTisch, requesting the Board to metal the formed portion of the Tramway Reserve road. The clerk was directed to apply to Mr Tiach for an explanation of the position of the road he refers to. From the Secretary for Public Works, enclosing returns re expenditure, which the clerk was requested to fill up and forward as soon as possible. From Mr 0. P. Oox, re premium on insurance of house and stable. The clerk was directed to forward a cheque for the amount. From Mr H. Friedlander, the chairman of the Industrial Association, Ashburton, requesting a grant in aid of the expenses incurred. The clerk was directed to reply that the Board cannot entertain the request, owing to shortness of funds. From the Colonial Secretary re the now Rangitata road district, and asking the Board to name a returning officer and polling places for the Mount Somers district. The Board resolved to nominate Mr J. O. Bell as returning officer, and to name the Road Board'office, Mount Somers, and the Main School, Alford Forest, as tne two polling places. A petition signed by Mr J. Tisch and thirteen others was received! The petitioners requested the Board to metal 25 chains of the Sawmill road. The matter was deferred until Mr P. Tisch’s promised contribution towards the formation of the road referred to is paid in. A petition from Mr T. Simpson and one other ratepayer, re Morris’s road, was received. The Board declined the prayer of the petition, on the grounds that they consider all the necessary work has already been done on the road. A petition was also received from Mr P. Tisch and six others, urging upon the Board the necessity for continuing the formation on Cameron’s road to the river. The Board decided to have the swampy portion done at once, the remainder to be fully reported upon at the next meeting. Mr John Stevenson interviewed the Board with reference to the formation of the road in a direct lino of communication between Mount Somers and Alford Forest. To be reported upon. Tenders were opened and one accepted for each of the following works :—No. 37, Muirhead’s road ; No. 38, Alford Station road, &c. The clerk was instructed to apply to all persons for payment of promised contributions towards roads, &o. The pay-sheet, amounting to £304 4s Gd, having been passed for payment, the Board adjourned.