GREY ROAD BOARD.

Grey River Argus, Volume V, Issue 338, 14 March 1868, Page 2

GREY ROAD BOARD.

The Board met last evening at seven o'clock, in the Mechanics Institute, All the members were present. The minutes of the last meeting were read and continued. The Secretary laid on the ta.ble a letter received from Mr Kilgour, stating that all contracts and promises of the late Tramway Company had lapsed, but that if road metal was required he, would be ready to contract for the samp. The Chairman read a telegram from Mr Bonar, a.tatin<j that nq money could be forwarded to the Board until a voucher had been sent to the Qqunty Paymaster. A telegram from Mr Bonar was read, stating that the amount of surplus revenue at the disposal of tb,e Board was. L6OQ. A letter was read from the. Committee of the Mechanics Institute, to the effect that the Board couid have the use of the room for sa. a night. A report was r§ad fronj Mr It. J. Johnston, stating that he had carried on the protective works under the instructions of the sub-committee, and that the Arnqld track had been repaired at a cost of I*B 10s. Received. Mr Leaoh moved, and Mr Barnhtli, seconded, that a formal application be made to the County Paymaster for vouchers for the surplus revenue, C#rj ried. i Mr Whall handed in the report of the River Protection Committee, which stated that they had accepted tenders forthe supply of 100 piles at lOid per foot, and 24,000 ft. of planking at 15s 6d per 100 ft. The contractors were : for the piles, Messrs Howie and party ; planks, Rae and Haworth. Mr Whall moved that the report be re- , ceived, which was seconded and carried. ' A letter was received from the late Town Protection Committee, handing in a, balance-sheet, and thanking the Board for the prompt manner in which the Board had taken over the works. A letter was received from Mr Hainsworth, applying for protection for the Blaketown Bridge. Received. PLACE OF MEETING. Mr Leach thought that there was -no necessity to pay for any room for meeting, as the Board -could get other places for nothing. He moved that the terms of the offer of the Institute Committee be not accepted. MrBARNHiLL seconded. Mr Whall opposed the motion. He thought the offer a liberal one, and that a public-house was an unfit place. The Chairman, whilst agreeing with Mr Whall that there was an objection to holding the meetings of the Board at a publichouse, thought that not even 5s per week should be frittered away. He would support Mr Leach's motion. Mr Wickes, as one of the Committee, explained that the charge of 5s was* only just to cover the cost of keeping the room clean and lighting. He moved, as an amendment, that the Committee be requested to reduce the charge to 2s 6d per night. The amendment was negatived ; and the motion of Mr Leach was carried. REPORT OF THE PROTECTION COMMITTEE. Mr Wickes moved and Mr Whall seconded, that the report be adopted. i On the motion being put there voted : Ayes, Messrs Whall and Wickes ; Noes, Messrs Barnhill and Leach. The Chairman gave his casting vote with the noes. Mr Whall asked the Chairman to explain his reasons for his vote. The Chairman said that it. was because the Committee had exceeded their functions. They were only authorised to keep the works going until the Board met. The Committee had treated the Board with discourtesy. Mr Whall defended the action of of the Committee, and asserted that they had strictly carried out- the resolution appointing them. Mr Leach opposed the adoption of the report. The committee had certainly shown an extraordinary facility for getting through work, for they had in two days managed to make the large contracts mentioned without consulting the Board. He knew that some of the material could have been sxipplied cheaper. Mr Wickes defended the, Committee ; they had done what was best in accordance with the resolution. An irregular discussion ensued. The Chairman stated thathedid.net so nwch complain of the arrangement made by the Committee' as of * tfieir not consulting the Board before accepting tenders. ' ' Mr Barnhill thought the Board ought to throw up the contract entered into by the Committee, if only for the credit of the Board. Mr Whall defended the contracts as being the lowest that could be made. He called Mr Johnson, 'who stated that the price for planking supplied to the Hokitika wharf was 18s for 100 feet. He handed in a letter from the Committee appointed by the inhabitants of the lower township, stating that, the sum of L 250, more or less, had been raised to supplement, the funds of the Board for the protective works. He also stated that the Committee expected to raise about L3OO, and handed in a cheque for LSO on account. He proposed and Mr Wickes seconded that the Bank of New South Wales be the bankers to the Board. Mr Leach moved that fresh tenders be called for, and no contracts be entered into except by the approval of< the Board, and signed by the Chairman. Messrs Whall and' Wickes pointed out that the contracts already entered into were binding on the Board. Mr Whall reminded the Board that if the resolution were carried it would only have the effect of encumbering the Board with double the quantity of material. He would move as an amendment that the Secretary take, a legal opinion as to the validity, of the contracts entered into by the Committee. The amendment was negatived. Mr Wickes asked if the works were to standstill? The Chairman said that tenders would be called for to-morrow. Mr Whalli protested against any expense being incurred in advertising. The report of the proceedings of the Board would give sufficient publicity to the fact that fresh tenders were required. Mr Whall moved, and Mr Wickes seconded, that Mr Johnson's services be retained by the Road Board as manager and inspector of works, and that his salary be charged to the town's share of the revenue,, and that his salary be L 6 per week. It was carried that the Chairman might delegate his power to any number oC thfct

Board, who might open all letters in the. Chairman's absence, and call a meeting of the Board if necessary. It was carried that the Bank of New South Wales be bankers to the Board. The Board adjourned at ten o'clock forrefreshment. After which, amongst other business, the resolution in favor of calling fop fresh tenders was rescinded, and the contracts entered intq by the SutHCom* mittee Sanctioned and signed by the Chairmaii. ■ '•'''■ -•-..-. •■ „'.-. [The proceedings. oHhe' Board ha 4 nofc terminated when our reporter left,]