ROAD BOARDS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6496, 22 December 1881, Page 5

ROAD BOARDS.

SPRINGS. A meeting of the Springe Bond Board wu hold at the office, Springetoo, on Tuesday; prewot—Mr Qommack (Chairman) end Moure Herrick, Hunt, Marshall, end Xod.— Tender* were opened for shingling a portion of Collins’ road (Leigh's application), and that of F. W. Matthews, at lOd per yard, accepted.—The Surveyor’* report was read and considered, and he was directed to test the shingle gauge used by the contractor on Swamp road, and to have any deficiency in quantity of shingle made good. He was further directed to look to the gully on Springs road, near Mr Smith’s, and to slab the ditch side as might be found necessary. Further to hare the year’s accounts printed and also a statement in continuation of the one last issued in 1877, showing the receipts and expenditure since the formation of the district, the same to bo printed, and, if possible, in the hands of the members of the Board by Deo. 31.—The following correspondence was read: —From tho Bank of Now Zealand, requesting that in compliance with Act of Parliament all cheques should bo signed by the Chairman. The Surveyor stated that he had called at tho Bank on tho subject, when it was found that the Bank was applying to Bold Boards tho ou»tom which obtains in School Boards, but tho Surveyor pointed out that tho 36th section of the “Canterbury Hoads Ordinance, 1872,” provided that cheques should be drawn in such manner as the Board may appoint, which in the case of the Springs Board, was that any two members and the Clerk could sign.—From Uwsrs Harper and Oo. t on behalf of a client, with reference to gone on rood*, and giving an opinion that if tho Board bad, in forming a road, scooped soil from the tides of the road to the centre, and that such soil contained gone seeds or plants which caused gone to grow on the roads, the Board could not compel tho occupier of the land fronting that road to clear such gorse. The Surveyor Stated that, in consequence of this letter, ho had submitted to the Board’s solicitor# the following question for an opinion: 14 If it be admitted that the Board has formed and repaired roads by moving the side# of tho roads to tho centre, and in so removing the soil have carried gone seeds and plants in the soil so removed, but in no other wav j cannot the Board compel tho occupier of the land to keep half the road which fronts hi* land clear of gorse ? ” - From the Board’s Solicitor*, in reply to tho above, to tho following effect:— “The Board was authorised to raise the crown of the road by scooping from tho sides, and they, had no reason to know that seed was lying dormant, Bren if it were otherwise, the occupier has allowed the seed to scatter on to the road, and mutt be held liable for his illegal act.” In consequence of this conflict of legal opinion, the Board resolved that the necessary steps should betaken to have the matter testedj end two of tho members were requested to inspect and certify, in accordance with tho 03th clause Of the « Public Works Act, 1876,;* a* to gorse on one of tho road* in tho district.— The Surveyor stated that, with reference to hi* instructions given lost Board day to call for tenders for clearing the gorso on tbe right bank of tho Halswell (near lumber s bridge), be hod gone over the ground, with a view to drawing specifications for a contract j but wa* convinced that it would bo impossible for him to hold proper supervision over work which involved cutting all gorse wot* at

least a specified distance uncer the surface of the soil, and under these circumstance* ho had ventured to depart from the strict letter of hi* induction* and had not called for tenders, hut bad put on day labour to do the work. The Board approved tho Surveyor** action in the matter—Account* were passed for payment amounting to £202 12* U(, and tho Board adjourned. oosr. The ordinary monthly meelitiji' of the Board was held on Monday, Dec. 12; present—-Mr Anderst n (Chairman) and all thr n en.b»r«. Correspondence »a* read From ho Rangier* Hoad Hoard, agreeing to comi.i 1 owners of land on the boundary road to clu.r corse —From Mr W. H. Becre, atkir.g fr.r an extension of time to got the gone cleared off tho Ashley road. Granted a month -From Mr A, Thompson, asking if the Board will pay half cost of widening r iam through the reserve. Granted on the usual condition. —lt was decided to defer the on tho Ashley and Conway roads till after harvest.—Mr M'Calium applied for permission to alter tho course of h drain running through (ho Presbyterian Par•Olfsge grounds. Granted — 1 tie Clerk woe instructed to get, samples of dog collars, with price attached, from tho local middle?* by next Board day.—the following resolution* were passed -.—" That it i* advisable to re-form the Ostord road, and that this Board recommends tho incoming Board to carry out the works; that the annual meeting of ratepayers bo hold on Monday, Jan. 2, 1832, at 12 noon, to receive the annual ?‘ >temer.t and elect two members to serve on the Board in the room of Messrs Biddle and (Irani, who retire by rotation.”—Accounts amounting to £145 7s lid were passed, and the Board adjourned.