ROAD BOARDS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVII, Issue 6508, 5 January 1882, Page 5

ROAD BOARDS.

MANDMVILLI AND BANGIOBA. The annual meeting of the ratepayers of this distriot was held in the Boad Board office, Bangiora, yesterday at noon. Oaptain Parsons, the Chairman of the Board, presided. There were fourteen ratepayers present. The Chairman said that he had to congratulate them on the state of the roads and bridges in the district, which had been maintained with lees expense than usual, as there had been no floods or other mishaps to interfere with them. Their expenditure had been just about the same as their receipts, therefore there was a similar balance in hand to what they had at the beginning of the year. They had struck a rate of an extra threepence in the pound, whioh had just met their requirements. He then read the balancesheet, which showed that there was a balance in hand of £895 Os Id, against which they had entered into contraots to the extent of about £SBO, whioh would leave about £4OO to commence the year with. He then left it to any ratepayer to .comment on the balance-sheet. Mr J. Stevenson instanced two cases in whioh ratepayers had not received notice of their rates, whioh the Olerk explained by showing that the notices had been served on the wrong persons. On the motion of Mr E. Ligget, seoonded by Mr Mulcook, the balance-sheet was adopted. The meeting was thee declared open for nomination of candidates for the two vacancies caused by the retirement of Messrs W. Sansom and M. Duncan, when Mr M. Duncan was nominated by Messrs Ligget and Mulcock," Mr G. Wallace was nominated by Messrs W. Sansom and W. M'Gregor, and Mr John Stevenson by Messrs Mulcock and Easterbrook. A Bhow of hands was taken by the Chairman, as follows :—Duncan, 8; Wallace, 6; Stevenson, 6. A poll being demanded, the candidates addressed the electors present, and the poll followed, closing at 4 p.m., with the following result:— Duncan ... 125 Stevenson 93 Wallace ... 86 Captain Parsons therefore declared Messrs Malcolm Duncan and John Stevenson duly elected as members of the Board. The candidates addressed the electors, and a vote of thanks was passed to the BeturningOfficer. The Board met immediately afterwards, and re-elected Captain Parsons Chairman. A special meeting of this Board was held yesterday morning; present—Captain Parsons (Chairman), Messrs Edwards, Duncan, andSansom.—Letters were read:—FromJoynt and Perceval re annual meetings and elections.—From the Board of Conservators relative to oattle trespass on the main drain. —From the Bail* ay Engineer with plan of Stevenson's road.—From the Commissioner of Waste Lands respecting the application for land to form a road to the Woodend Beaoh. The Clerk stated that a reply bad been sent to this, pointing out the necessity of this road.—The Surveyor's report was read and adopted. He was instructed to employ labour at onoe to put the Drain road from Flaxton to Southbrook in repair, also to serve gorse notices.—Tenders were opened for shingling Easterbrook's road, ana that of Thomas fiichardeon, at Is 4id per yard, was accepted. OXFOBD. The result of the polling for the Oxford Boad Board, which was held on Tuesday, was as follows: F. Luers 110 W.F.Pearson 86 W. Fisher 85 A. Sfeubbs 30 C. M. Lugar 8 The Beturning-Omcer therefore deolared Messrs Luers and Pearson duly elected members of the Board. COUBTBNAY. A mooting of this Board was held oh Tuesday, Jan. 3; present—Hon Colonel Brett (Ohairman), Messrs Mathias, Gough, Anson, and Hay.—Letters were read :—From the manager of the Bank of New Zealand, covering list of fixed deposits of the Board. Olerk to reply and request to be favoured with the terms which the back is prepared to give for the Board's account for the ensuing year,—From the Bev 0. Fraser, applying for permission to put in a oulvert across Bealey's Boad, for the purpose of carrying water from the Malvern water-race into rural section 6781. Surveyor to forward license for above on the usual conditions.—The Surveyor's report was road and adopted.—The Clerk was instructed to write to tho Belwyn County Council, calling their attention to the unsatisfactory state of several of tho bridges over the Malvern water-raoe in this district. •—The pay-sheet, amounting to £159 7s 4d, having been adopted and passed for payment the Board adjourned.

The annual general meeting of ratepayers was hold immediately afterwards ; the Chairman of the Board presided. The Chairman laid on the tablo a balanoo-sheet for the inspection of the The Clerk read a detailed aocount of the receipts and expenditure incurred during the paßt yoar—Receipts: Interest, £1062 19s 2d; rents, £52; other sources, £65 Os 2d, with a balance of £17,589 Is Id from 1880, making a total of £18,7691s Id. Tho expenditure, amounting to £3715 14* Id, together with liabilities, for works in progress and partly paid for of £312 ) 2s 2d, leaving a balance in favour of the Board of £14,740 U§ lOd. Tho accounts showed forty-nine miles and a half of new roads to have been formed, nine and a half miles to have been mot ailed, and twentythree miles and a half of old roads to havo been re-formed during the past year. The following resolutions were proposed and carried unanimously : That tho report and balance-sheet »s read be adopted ; that the manner in which the duties of the Board has been executed during the past year entitle tho members to the thanks of the ratepayers ; also, that a hearty voto of thanks be accorded to tho Hon Colonel Brett for his past services to tho district now that he is rotiring from the Board. Mr Baingor proposed, and it was carried—- " That in future the balance-sheet of the Board with extended acoounts of tho expenditure for the year be published, and copies of same to be ready for distribution amongst

the ratepayers at the annual meeting." Mr J. W. Sawlo proposed the following resolution—" That the Board be requested to call a public meeting of ratepayers some time in April, to consider the advisability of having the distriat divided into wards." This having been put and carried unanimously, the meeting adjourned. BAKAIA. A meeting of (his Hoard was held at the Board Doom, Hororata, on Monday, Jan. 2; all members present, oxoept Mr Dilloway ; tho Chairman in the chair.—The Surveyor's monthly report was read and considered.—lt was agreed that the best rite for tho erection of tanks as a public watering place on the Horotata wator - race, would be at the junction of roads near the southern extremity of Mr Lesrmouth's section 80070.—The a* tontion of the Board having been called to the dangerous manner in which Mr Cordy's wiro fonces run across tho road, the Surveyor was ordered to give Mr Cordy 48 hours' notice to remove them, and, in the event of that notico not being complied with, to have them removed without further delay.—A letter was read from Mr J. Wilson, applying for a road to be made from White Cliff to his section near High Peak Station. The Olerk was ordered to reply that access to this section could be obtained , from the Upper Selwyn Valley, and that this Board could not undertake the heavy expense of making a road across the hills from the White Cliff station.—A letter from Mr W. Wilson was read, asking the Board to consider the necessity for the erection of a bridge over the river Selwyn, at White Cliff, lhe Clerk was ordered to inform Mr Wilson that as there were already two bridges over the upper Selwyn, one of them being above Glentunnei, the Board could not incur the large outlay which would be required for a third bridge.-r-Mr Thomas Napier interviewed the Board and complained of the injury which the proposed drainage works near Thome's corner, would do to his land. It was decided to leave this question to be dealt with by the incoming Board, and the Surveyor was ordered to make arrangements with the contractor for the suspension of the work.—The annual statement of accounts and of works done during the past year was read, approved and ordered to be laid before the meeting of ratepayers.

The annual general meeting of ratepayer! was then held, the Chairman of the Boad Board presided. A large number of ratepayer* were present. The Ohiirman read a detailed statement and classification of accounts for the past year, showing receipts to hare been £1979 5s 4d, and expenditure £4BOB 16s 9d. A general summary of works carried out during the past year, and a return showing the progress made with the construction of roads was also read, which showed the total measurement of roads in the district to be about 278 miles; of these roads about 126 miles are now formed, and 62 metalled. The principal works carried out during the past year comprise the formation of about 14 miles of road, metalling about 4 miles of new roads, re-metalling about 11 miles, forming a dray track down the north face of the hills on Aitken's road, and the erection of bridges over Oordy'a creek and Wairiri creek. The business of electing three members was then proceeded with, when the following gentlemen were proposed and seconded: — Messrs J. B. Fountaine, A. D. M'llraith, W. Eollitt, and Alexander Colville. The Chairman then called for a show of hands, which resulted in favour of Messrs Fountaine, Eollitt, and M'llraith. A poll was then demanded by Mr Colville, who stated that he had been repeatedly requested to come forward by ratepayers in Wairiri Valley, who felt that the roads in that part of the district were being neglected. It was, however, shown that during the past year over £9OO had been expended on the line of road between Glentunnel bridge and the Brookley coal mine, and that the liabilities for contracts now in progress on the Wairiri Valley road amounted to about £6OO. A poll was ordered to be held on Jan. 4, as advertised, Mr Thomas Brownlee having been appointed to preside as Be turning-Officer. The question of taking steps to prevent the hares becoming too numerous was discussed, and the following resolution carried unanimously :—" That, in the opinion of this meeting of ratepayers, it is deßirabiVthe restriction on the killing of hares should be withdrawn in the Bakaia Boad District."

MOUNT SOMBEB. The usual monthly meeting of this Board was held at the offioo, Mount Somers, on Monday, Jan. 2,1882; present—Messrs A. E. Peache (Chairman), W. 0. Walker and P. Tisch.—The Surveyor's report was read and considered.—The Clerk was instructed to apply to Mr G. Thompson for rent of cottage at the Spread Eagle; he was further instructed, on the motion of Mr Walker, seconded by Mr Tisch, to write to the Immigration Officer, Christchurch, requesting him to take the necessary steps to sell the different immigrants' cottages at Mount Somers, Alford Forest and the Spread Eagle.—lt was resolved—" That the portion of Prioe'e road referred to in the report be formed, and the necessary drains cut." —No tenders having been received for the re-formation of North Ashburton road, &0., it was resolved —" That the work be postponed for the present."— Mr Tiaoh mentioned the subject of the contract for metalling a portion of the Sawmill road. It was resolved—" That the Surveyor arrive at some arrangement with the contractor, and that a sum not exceeding £26 be expended."—The following correspondence was received: —from Mr Gerard, with reference to the Black Mountain traok. The Clerk stated that Mr Gerard's letter had been replied to, and that the work referred to would be completed s.b soon as practicable. —From Mr Dunlop, re pile engine. The Surveyor stated that he had let the pile engine to Mr Dunlop at £2 per week, Mr Dunlop to find all rope gear. The action of the Surveyor was approved of.—Several letters were received from the Clerk Bangitata Boad .Board, with reference to rateable value of district, &o„ whioh the Clerk stated he had replied to.— From Messrs Dunbar Bros. ire the cutting at Lake Heron. The Surveyor stated that the necessary repairs had been attended to.—From Mr Hugo Friedlander, enclosing account for half amount of arbitrator's foe in re the settlement of aooounls between the Mount Somers and Bangitata Boad Boards. Amount passed for payment.—From Mr D. Williamson, enclosing aocoount for account-book, 10s 6d. The Board decided that, as the book had been purchased by Mr A. Forbes in 1879, they oould not reoognise the olaini, as Mr Forbes was not an officer of the Board at the time.— From the Immigration Oilloer re immigrants" cottages.—From Mr James Towor re obstruction on Swamp road. To be attended to. — From Mr Oorsbie and twelve others re gravelpit on Branch road, near Alford Station road, fiesolved—" That tho pit be properly filled in at once."—Tho Surveyor was direoted to report upon Edson'a road, from Edson'i corner to south side oi South Ashburton.— The pay-sheet, amounting to £2B 15s lOd, haviug been pawed for payment, tho Board adjournod. ELLKSMERE. Tho following gentlemen were Dominated on Tuesday last to fill the vacancies oaused by the retirement of Messrs llennie, Lochhead, aud Maddison, viz.:—Messrs Bennie, Loohhead, H. P. Hjll, 0. T. Dudley, M. Jones, G. 0. Waby, and 1). Marshall. The election will take place on Monday next, at the usual polling places. BANGITATA. Tho first annual meeting of tho ratepayers of the Bangitata Road Diatriot was held on Tuesday otLismore, Mr E. G. Wright in the ohuir. The report and balance-sheet were read ond confirmed, and after the BoarJ had been thanked for their year's work, Messrs Morrow and Trevor were re-eleoted members of the Board, and Mr Wright Ohairman. LEVELS. The polling for the election of two mombers of tho Levels Boad Board took place on Tuesday, and the olUcial declaration of the >•<•*«]►. was made at noon yesterday. The ret ring mem*ers were Messrs J. Al'Jntosh

and W. Moody, (be former of whom declined to itand again. There were three candidates. The polling resulted u follows: W. Moody 330 J. 0. M'Kerrow... ..,252 G.G. Bussell 116 There were five informal votes. Messrs Moody and M'Kerrow were therefore declared duly elected. A. suggestion that the Beturning-Oflicer, Mr Wright, who is a'so the Board's Bate Collector, should receive rates due at the polling-place presided over by him, in North street, was carried out, and proved very successful.