GREY ROAD BOARD.

Grey River Argus, Volume V, Issue 353, 18 April 1868, Page 2

GREY ROAD BOARD.

The Board met yesterday afternoon, in the Fire Brigade Hall, All the members were present. After the minutes of the last meeting had been read and confirmed, the following correspondence was read : — A letter from Mr Cooper, District Surveyor, enclosing a memorandum from Mr Fraser, Chief Surveyor, declining to allow any of the survey instruments to be lent to the Board. Mr Whall moved, and Mr Wickes seconded, that the letter from Mr Fraser be referred to Mr Bonar. During the discussion the opinion was freely expressed that the Chief Surveyor had not acted courteously towards the Board. The following letter was read from the Native Minister's Office, Wellington, relative to the protective work : — " Native Secretary's Office, " Wellington, April 8, 1868. " Sift — I have the. honor, by direction of Colonel Haultain in the absence of Mr Richmond, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 24th ultimo, forwarding an estimate of the amount required to complete the protective works of the river bank uf the upper portion of Greymouth, and in reply to inform you that, while no difficulty will be raised by Government as to the rate which it is undersleodjs being levied on all freehold pror perty in the township, it would not be justified in appropriating the Trust Funds to a greater extent than has already been the case, otherwise than in accordance with some plan of an equitable character for assessing all the lands protected. I forward a copy of a telegram to the Chairman of the Protection Committee, the terms of which the Government cannot go beyond. " 1 have, &c, " W. Rou,eston, " Under-secretary." (Copy of telegram,) " Wellington, Feb. 29, 1868. v To James Davies, Esq., Greymouth. " No reserve funds at the discretion of Government for protective works. Will not oppose any equitable assessment of cost under formal authority. I still hold that the leaseholders who are virtual owners of improvements should contribute. Could Mr Davies speak to the Natives interested and induce them to authorise payments out of the rents which the Government hand over to them. "J. C. Richmond." A letter was received from Mr Aitken, stating that although he was very desirous of affording advice and assistance to the Board, yet, in consequence of certain remarks made at the last meeting, he declined to furnish the report requested by the Board. Mr Whall was surprised that Mr Aitken should have misconstrued what had been stated in the Board. The Press should either give a full report or not report their proceedings at all. The discussion that took place at the last meeting regarding Mr Aitken was not of an unfavorable tendency to that gentleman, but the reverse. He moved that the letter be replied to and an explanation given to Mr Aitken. Mr Wicses endorsed the remarks of Mr Whall, and seconded the motion. . A discussion ensued, during which some, personalities passed between Messrs Whall and Barnhill. The motion was carried. An application was received from Thos. Hanlon, requesting permission to land coals on the river bank. Referred to the Sub-Committee. The Treasurer stated that the balance to the credit of the Board at the Bank was L 404 13s. 9d. A further Bum of Llll 15s. 6d had been received from the residents in the Lower Township, being the second moiety of theircontribution towards the protective works. A letter was read from the District Engineer, forwarding an 'estimate of the quantity of timber required to finish the facing of the protection work, which he calculated would amount to 22,000 feet, superficial. The following accounts were passed and ordered to be paid : — Lemon and party, for staging, Ll3 ; Howie and Co., for capping, Ll3 2s 6d ; ditto, for piles, Ll3 15s 8d ; Lincl and Co., L2O ; Stone* Ll2 ; Fowler and Thompson, L& A report was read from the Engineer, stating that 32 piles had been "driven during the past fortnight, at a cost of L4B 19s 2d, or an average of Ll 10a ?d per pile. Another report was. read from the Engineer, respecting the quantity of timber required for all purposes in the completion of the protective work, as follows :— 440 joists, 22 xl2x 4, 38,700 superficial feet ; 40 chains flooring, 20ft. wide, 2£, 132,000 do ; planking face, 7ft. deep, 2§, 46,200 do ; total, 216,920 feet. The above estimate includes the contract of 24,000 feet now being delivered. The Sub-Committee reported that they had waited upon Mr Bonar, when that gentleman was in Greymouth,, and gone over the whole of the works with him. He had expressed himself satisfied with the manner in which the work was being carried out, With regard to the removal of the powder magazine from the Camp reserve, Mr Bonar had at once consented to the removal of the powder to the beach, but said that the construction of a magazine in the Limestone Hill was a matter for the Road Board to deal with. Mr Leach moved that a small sum be placed at the disposal of the Paroa SubCommittee, for the purpose of cutting a track from Welshman's Terrace to the Limestone diggings, where about 120 men were now working. He said it 1 was very necessary that this track should be cut. Mr Barnhill seconded the resolution. Mr Fox moved, as an amendment, that the Engineer do survey two tracks, one from the termination of Hamilton's tramway, Rutherglen, to German Terrace, and the other as suggested by Mr Leach, and report thereon. Mr Whall thought the Board should accept the opinion of the representatives of the district. He knew that the track mentioned by Mr Leach was very necessary. It would be all the better if the Surveyor could connect it with the proposed main road through the district He would suggest that Mr Leach allow his motion to stand over until the engineer had reported as to the cost of the track required. Mr Leach objected to hold over his resolution. Mr Wickes moved a further amendment, that the engineer survey a track to the Limestone diggings, and , that the Paroa sub-rornrqittee be authorised to

proceed with the work should the cost not exceed L6O. Mr Whall seconded the amendment, which was carried. Mr Fox moved that the engineer be instructed to inspect the Arnold track, and report thereon. Seconded by Mr Whall, and carried. Mr Leach produced the agreement entered into by the inhabitants of Paroa, guaranteeing to contribute the sum of L4O towards the protective works at Papoa. He stated that the sub-committeo had accepted ihe tender of Mr Sutherland for the work, the surety proposed by J/Ix Fellows having declined to become bond for him. Mr Whall, by special permission, moved that the Sub-Committee take steps to obtain tenders for piles and sawn timber necessary to complete the protective works. The following tenders for capping and planking were opened :— Jas. Reid, L 6 193. per chain ; Faulkner and Co,, L 5 15s. ;W. Lind and Co., L 7; G. Geary and Co., L 7 10s. ; Thomas Hudson, L 6 14s. ; D. M'Eachin, L 6 10s. ; John Stenhouse, L 7 ; W. R. Davis, L 5 10s. ; F, Weedon, L 7 ss. Mr Lkaoh proposed and Mr Fox seconded, that the tenders be referred to the Sub-Committee. Carried. ; Mr Leach moved and Mr Fox seconded that the Sub - Committee furnish the Board at its next meeting with an estimate of the cost of fiUing in the bank with shingle and fascines. Carried, The Board then adjourned.