GREY ROAD BOARD.

Grey River Argus, Volume V, Issue 359, 2 May 1868, Page 2

GREY ROAD BOARD.

The usual weekly meeting of the Board was held yesterday afternoon in the Fire Brigade office. All the members werp present. On the reading of tlie minutes, Mr Whall called attention to the fact that certain letters had not been written as directed by the former meeting, and he r-jad a telegram he had sent to Mr Bonar asking what would be the probable amount 1 of the surplus revenue at the disposal of the Board up to the Ist May ; and also a reply, stating that it was impossible to mention the amount, but it would be furnished as soon as possible. The minutes were then confirmed. The following correspondence was read : — A letter from Mr Sale, stating that the Chief Surveyor was responsible for the condition of the* instruments, and Mr Bonar could not interfere with his decision not to lend them to the Board,- as they might be injured. It was moved chat the letter be received. Mr Whalt,, in seconding the motion, moved an addition to the effect that the Government be written to, informing them that, the Board is of opinion that the proceeding is calculated to throw great expense and inconvenience on the Board, and calqulated to frustrate their efforts. He spoke strongly on the refusal of tbe Government to give any assistance to the Board, even in the small matter of the loan of these survey instruments ; and if this continued, the sooner they resigned the better. Mr Leach and the Chairman supported the writing of the letter, in order that Mr Bonar might have the opinion of the Board on the subject. The motion was carried. A letter from the Survey Office drew the attention of the Board to the state of the crossing of the Omotumoto Creek. The boat had been removed, and the Surveyor was unable to cross to carry on his duties. It was stated that instructions had been given to the Engineer to have the boat taken back to the creek, and this would be done whenever the river fell. A letter was received from Alexander Montgomery, asking what facilities would be given to a person willing to lay a tramway from the coal pits to the Arnold and up the Valley of the Grey, if the Nelson Government would assist, as he had no doubt they would. He and his friends were also willing to put a self-acting punt over the Grey at the coal pits It was resolved that the Board was not at present in a position to entertain the proposal. Another letter was read from Mr Montgomery on the subject of a main road from Greymouth to Maori Gully. This letter was similarly dealt with as the former one. An application from Felix Campbell for permission to erect a coal-wharf on the river bank was referred to the Sub-Com-mittee. A letter was read from J. C. Moore calling attention to the nearly impassable condition of Gresson street, and asking assistance to improve its condition. Mr Whall moved that he letter be received, and answered to the effect that the Board has no funds for the purpose ; but if the inhabitants state the amount they will give and what they required from the Board, the matterwould be entertained. Mr Wickes urged that some effort should be made by the Board to improve the condition of the only outlet to the town. It would not do to block up both the main lines ; and if the Board had not the money, it might make .arrangements to pay for the works in a few months. If inhabitants would pay one half of the expenses, he thought the Board ought to made an effort to raise the other. Mr Whall was qnfte agreeable to the course proposed if the inhabitants would say how much they would give for the work. Mr Lbaoh and Mr Baknhill supported the taking of immediate .action for the purpose of making this siieet if the funds were forthcoming. After a discussion, the motion was agreed to. A letter with reference to the condition of the Albert street culvert was referred to the Sub-Committee, with power to act thereon. The Treasurer reported that no addition had been mado to the funds of the Board since the last meeting, but since he came into the room he had received a cheque from the collecting committee in the Government Township for L 37, and two orders from Mr M'Gregor, to be deducted from the price of labor he is now performing for the Board, of L 5 7s and L 8 16s, on account of his property. The total amount of these contributions from the collecting committee now amount to L 212 18s Gd, and it was stated that a further sum was still forthcoming. The labor sheet was passed and ordered to be paid, amounting to L 62 2s Id. The Engineer stated that in order to carry on works he had let a contract for 20 piles at 15d a foot on two months' deferred payment. A report was also read from tlie Engineer stating that during the past fortnight 34 piles had been driven at the embankment at a cost of L 69 11s Bd. He urged the necessity of the Board a once proceeding with the finishing of the planking, capping, and filling of the work already commenced, as the period of the floods was close at hand, and one such flood might do more damage than the 1 funds of the Board could repair for many months. The report was received. TENDERS. The tenders were then opened for 100 piles, as follows : — J. Howie, Is 2d on deferred payments of 2 and 4 months; J. Murray and Co., Is 3d, 2 months ; F. Pierce and Co. , Is 4d for 2 months, or Is 6d for 4 months ; Michael Kelly, Is 2d, 4 months ; J. H. Wallace, Is cash, or Is 3d 6 months; John Hall, lOd cash ; R. Booth, lOd, or L 6 per week ; J. Kilgoui-, Is 6d, at 3 and 6 months ; M. M. 1 Richards, Is 8^ 6 months ; Jas. M'Veisjh, ll£d, on condition that when 30 piles are landed he should draw L2O, and the balance at the finish of the contract ; P. Pembroke, Is 3d, 3 months ; J. Henderson and Co., la cash. These tenders were left in the hands of the Sub-Committee, to consider and report to the next meeting as to which was the most suitable one to accept. The tenders for the construction of a track from Rutherglen to the Cement Lead were then opened, as follows : — Edwards and Co., L 3 18s per chain ; Smith and C0.,L2 ss; F. Weedon, L 2 15s ; J. Lisk, L 3 17s, or for 15 chains, 147, \ssi. In connection with the.se. the

following tenders were opened for the formation of a track to the Limestone Diggings : — J. Dean, 8s per chain ; T. Harrison, 9s ; J. EJdmonds, 10s 6d ; F. Weedon, 10s ; . 0. H. Smith, 15s ; C. Carter, LI ; D. Campbeil, . LJ. 15s ;W. Tweedale, LI 18s ; Leslie and Co., 83 7 M ; R. Baker, 12s; 0. Tra,vis, 10s 7|d. For the farmer contract tli§ tenders were above th§ Engineer's estimate, and for the latter they were ynder it, sp that the one balanced the other. . , . It • was referred to a sub-committee, .consisting of Messrs Leach and Bamhill, to make enquiries concerning the lowest tenderer for the first cqntract, and the four, lowest tenderers for the second, with power to accept either of them. The tenders for 22,000 feet of sawn timber were then opened :— rßae and Haworth, 16s per hundred feet superficial, ou deferred payment for six months; T. Hogan and P. Yaugh, los per hundred for only 10,000 superficial feet. These were referred to the Sub.-Committee to make enquiries, regarding the time of delivery and the terms, and to accept the most suitable tender. THE SORPLUS REVENUE. Mr Whall, bj- special permission, moved— "Thai in cousgquence of the inhabitants being in expectation of public works being formed in the district, such as roads, tracks, &c., it is advisable that the Government should at the ei}d of each, month send to the Board a statement of the funds at its disposal.'' He move.d this because for the last three months they had received neither information nor money, beyond the one am punt of L3QO, which they received at the close of the first month. They ought in all fairness to be placed in possession of the knowledge of how much money wquld be at th^eir disposal, in order to allow them to pro.-? ceed with the necessary works. No doubt the public believed they receiving the revenue monthly, and wondering w hy they were not going* on with th§ works, whereas the fact was that they had not received beyond one payment. The Chairman seconded the modern, which was carried. Mr Whall further mQVpd— ? 'That a copy of the above resolution be tr-ans-mitted to the Government, and that the Secretary state that unless its terms are complied with, the works now heing carried on by the Board must ce,ase.'' The Chairman seconded the resolution., and it was agreed to. Mr Whall moved'—' ' That the Bngineer be instructed to visit the Arnold d^trict during the present week, and lay off the road to the Junction, as authorised by a former meeting, and to advertise for tenders for the same.." This was agreed to, and the Board ajdjourned. '