GREY ROAD BOARD.

Grey River Argus, Volume VI, Issue 404, 15 August 1868, Page 2

GREY ROAD BOARD.

The weekly meeting of the Board was held yesterday in the Engine-room — Mr Fox in the chair. All the. members were present. The business commenced one hour and a-half after the usual time of meeting. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The following report was read from the Town Sub-Committee ; — f'Greymquth, August U, 1868., ■'To the Chairman and Members of the Grey Road Board. " Gentlemen-, — VVe have the horror to report that the hon. the County Chairman has paid the town of Greymouth a visit during the past week, relative to the action Mr Kilgour has taken, againgfc the Road Bpard in stopping the public works in Boundary street. Mr Bonar is of opinion that Mr Kilgour is responsible for the damage done to the wharf. "Mr Bonar refused to take any active part as representative of the Government, in reference to the tramway, but requested us to give Mi 1 Kilgour a jetter dictated by his (Mr Kilgonr's) solicitor, which, we decidedly refused, it being contrary to the resolution passed by the Board in reference to a petition received from the inhabitants on the Bth July last. The consequence is, we have been qbl}ged to. stop the wor-k, as Mr Kilgour's solicitor- hag threatened us with a personal action f,qr damages if we stopped the traffic of his tramway, and we are very sorry to have to report that the dam is liable to be washed away I at any moment, if a slight frgghgt should occur. ' " We have, therefore, come, tp tbp conclusion that this Board, in consequence of the Government refusing their support (which they are entitled to] ? h&d better resign at once." "The letters and telegrams sent to the County Chairman, with reference to the break-down in the wharf, and the stoppage of the protective works ; also, a number- of letters written in accordance with the Board's instructions, were read. Mr Whall gave explanations as fcq the i refusal of the Committee to consent to j write the letter dictated by Mr Kilgour's solicitor, because it bound' the. Board to have the dam completed in fourteen days, and the tramway to be replaced over the dam when completed. The solicitor- at the same time threatened them with an action for £2000 damages if they stopped the traffic on the tramway, He thought the position taken up by Mr Bonar on this question did not say much for- his firmness. He ought to have had th« firmness to have said—^The Board shall lift the line, or the proprietors, §hall lift the line. Mr Wickes gave further explanations of the interviews the Committee had with Mr Bonar on the tramway question, and their refusal to send the ietter proposed \o Mr Kilgour, because it would give him a claim he never had before, and because the last letter was written to him by order of the Board, after the las,t ineijting x After a desultory discussion, Mr Fox moved— "That the Engineer be instructed to give notice to Mr Kilgour to lift his train way before, eigh^ o'clock tomorrow morning ; and if he does not comply, to lift it until the works on the Boundary street dam are completed." Mr Whall and Mr Wickes opposed any further notice beviij given, or any more letters written to Mr K\lgour on this subject. They ought now to carry out their resolution at once ; if not, they would not sit longer with a body of men who seemed to have no mind of their own. The motion not buing seconded, lapsed. At this stayo, the last two words of the report were struck <>nt. Mr Leach thought it woujd be quite uncalled for, and highly detrimental for the country members to send in their resignations at the present time, Because the town members were in "a hobble" was no reason why they should neglect the interests of their constituents. Mr B-vxnhill was of a similar opinion. Mr Wiokb3 moved — *' That, in the opinion of tho Board, the ob«ta'les thrown in the way of the Town Sab-Cammlttee, in carrying out the instructions of the Board in completing the da*n across Boundary street, Mr Kilgour be held responsible if a flood comes, and the dam is carriel away.'* This was put and carried. Mr Bajpthilx then moved — "That the Engineer do proceed at once to survey the ' main roal from Paroa Township to join Mr Rochfort's proposed line at Welsh; man's Township ; and that Mr Johnston be also instructed to call for tenders for the same immediately on completion of the survey, and submit the tenders to this Boird." Mr Fox seconded the motion. Mr Whalii now saw the reason why the country members would not support the report o* the Sub-Committee — they did not wish to resign until they made a road to their own back-doors. He would tell them it was the great cry in their district that they had sat at that Board only to further their own ulterior ends. Upon such men contempt should be most heavily J lavished. He would also oppose the motion, because the tramway already provided a highway in the district. Mr Babnhill said that the last speaker knew no more about the matter than a dog did. They did not want a road to ihAv back-doors ; they wanted it to be comm diced from an important township ; but they had not given any definite point to start from. Mr Wickes would support the motion, provided the work was carried out under the direction of the County Engineer. Although he supported it, he would never runintothe expense of makingaroad where a tramway was already laid which afforded every facility that could be asked for taking goods up to Rutherglen. Where the tramway ended, the road should begin. Mr Leach supported the. motion, because this road-line was much needed. Nearly every day since he was connected with the Board, he had been asked to do away with the monopoly of the tramway, by opening up the road. He did not wish to see private enterprise knocked down ; but he thought it was his duty to his constituents to. endeavor to lessen their taxation as much as possible. Mr Fox supported the motion because the road indicated was very much wanted. They would first of all obtain the report of the Engineer, and they could then consider further steps in connection with the funds at their disposal. Mr Leacii said he knew a man who would advance the money. The motion was earned. A letter wa.s read from the County

Engineer, enclosing a tracing of the em-r bankment works at Greymouth, showing the highest flood levels at various-places, and also the report upon the New River District, showing the proposed line of road from the Saltwater to the Green? stone. He asked that the tracings should be handed over to the Greymouth Municipal Council. The report was hud on the table. A letter was read from Mr Hughes, Upper Teremakau Ferry, asking payment pf hajf of the subsidy for keeping open the ferry. The Clerk was instructed to send to .Mr Hughes a copy of the resor lution* passed at the last meeting. An application was rgad from Mr Montr gomery, asking th§ Board to purchase the fridge he buil^ over the Still-water Creek some two years ago, but on which he had never charged any toll. It was resolve^ that the application cannot be enter-: tamed. The following report was read from the District Engineer :-=r "Road Board Office, " Greymouth, Aug. 14, 1868. "To the Chairman and Members of the. Grey District Road Board. " Gentlemen — \ have the honor to report that 1 have been obligeel to stop the works of the contractor, Stephen, Roff, in consequence of his not performing said work according to the specification, ' 1 which spates the piles are to be driven a. depth of 22ft., instead of which he has driyen them only 16ft. or 18ft. 1 therefore gave him notice to quit the work, ix| accordance with clause 14 of the articles of contract, and have taken possession of the plant, on behalf of the Board. "I have been obliged to put two men on the Saltwater road, to, repair it ; thq cost will be about £§. •'I have not been able to finish the Boundary street dam, as Mr Kilgour's Tramway has not yet been lifted. " I have, &c., " R. J. JoHIfSTON, " District Engineer." The report was adopted. Mr Wickes gave notice of his intention to move thg following motion at next meeting— "• That this Board resign their functions to the Government, for the. reason they have not received that support which they were justly entitled to, to enable tyiem \o carry Qut the wishes of the inhabitants, whose representativesthey are, in several matters appertaining to the. future safety and benefit of this district ; and. that the whole matter be laid before the Qeneral Government, showing that •jjhe members, in carrying out works on public roads, lay themselves open to civil actions being brought against them." The Bpard then adjourned.