ROAD BOARDS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVII, Issue 6509, 6 January 1882, Page 6

ROAD BOARDS.

EYBBTON. The annual 'meeting of the ratepayers of this district was held in the Road Board office, Ohoka, yesterday, at noon. There were six ratepayers. present, four of whom were members of the Board; Mr Isaao Wilson in the chair. The Surveyor, Mr B. M. Wright, read his eighth annual statement as follows:—" I hare made up the accounts for the past year, and the balance-sheet is herewith, both hare been audited by Mr J. Ollivier and found correct. (Certificate read.) The balance in hand on Jan. 1,1881, was £3714 lis 3d, and the total receipts for the past year have been £1395 4s Bd, and the expenditure has been £1993 15s 4d, leaving a balance in hand of £Bll6 Os 7d. The statement of liabilities and assets shows a balance in favour of the Board of £4384 Is. j 1 have also prepared a statement of the receipts and expenditure for each sub-district showing the amount spent in each road or other work. The following is a summary of works done during the past year:—Bso chains of road side drains cleared, 855 chains of roads shingled, 66 chains of road formed, 217 ohains of formation widened, 9 bridges and culverts built, 3 bridges replanked, 9 fords made, 310 chains of road cleared through the Manuka scrub, besides Bhingling for repairs and other works." He then read the statement of accounts, and the sub-district accounts. Mr Ollivier's certificate being read, showed that an amount of £B4 had been wrongly spent on the destruction of sparrows by purchase of poisoned wheat and its distribution, and ordering the same to be refunded. The, Chairman said that that was the principal business to deoide first. The Board knew that the money oould not bo voted, but had taken the responsibility upon themselves, as the feeling in the district was in favour of it being done, They were well aware that they were personally responsible for the amount. After some disoussion, Mr U. Evans moved—" That this' meeting fully endorse the action of the Board in spending £34 in poisoning sparrows, and are of opinion that a Bill should be passed by the General Assembly to legalise the poisoning of sparrows by the Road Board." This was seconded by Mr B. Coup and carried. Four more ratepayers here entered the room. Mr Pashby suggested that he should be in favour of spending some money at once in destroying the young birds and purchasing eggs. After a further disoussion, Mr Evans moved —" That this meeting is of opinion that the sum of £SO be expended by the Board for destroying small birds during the present year." This was seconded by Mr B. Hopkins, and carried unanimously. The Chairman said that the question of gorse growing on the roads was one that required consideration. There were many instances whore gorse was carted on to the road with shingle; also, where it was washed down in floods, and where gorse grew on the road, though not spreading from the neighbouring tenoea. He thought that it should be the duty of the Board to see the roads kept oloar of gorso and thistles, and there would be a better chance of getting the roads into proper order. Alter some disoussion, Mr Wilson said that the Board had considered the question, and were unanimous in deeming it advisablo, but they preferred tho matter to come from the ratepayers themselves. Mr D. O'Callnghan moved—" That in the opicion of this meeting it is desirable that the Koud Board undertake the clearing of all gone or othor obstructions j also, the clearing of all roadside ditches whioh they consider necessary." Mr Evans seconded this. Mr Coup asked if that would apply to those persons who had entered into agreement with the Board to keep their drains dear, as he considored that would not bo fair to those who had kept their own roads and ditches cleaned out. Mr Wilson explained that the matter would have to bo considered; the Board would doubt* leu find it nooesury to take stops to make

soma owners clear the roads in front of their Jilaoes where the gone had spread from their enoes. The motion was then put and carried unanimously. Mr 0. Ifcirweather asked if there oould not be a system adopted for keeping the roads in repair by contract. The Chairman said that so far they did shingle the roads by contioot, but they could not improve upon the present system. Mr Evan* advocated the creeks being cleared out by the Board, even if necessary to impose a special rate for the purpose. Nothing definite, however, arose from tho conversation. Mr Wilson then vacated the chair, which was taken by Mr Wright, who called for tho nomination of two candidates for election, vice Messrs Isaac Wilson and T. Pashby, who retired by rotation, but were eligible for reelection. Mr I. Wilson was nominated by Messrs B. Evans and Guild j Mr D. O'Caliaghan was nominated by Messrs Tale and Bice i Mr T. I'ashby was nominated by Messrs Evans and Fairwealher. The candidates having briefly addressed the electors, a show of hands was taken as follows, viz i Wilson, 8 ; O'Caliaghan, a; Pashby, 4.* A poll was demanded, and the proceeding* terminated, the S)ll being arranged to be held at the Boad oard office, Ohoka, tho Swannanoa school, the Eyreton Library, and the Kaiapoi Island school.

OUST. Tho annual meeting of the ratepayers was hold on Jan. 8 ; Mr M. Dixon in the cbair. The Purveyor's report was read and approved. The statement of receipts and expenditure for the past year was read and audited. The Chairman read a letter from the Auditor stating the amount £2O, spent in distributing poisoned grain, would have to be refunded, as it was beyond the function of the Board to spend the money for that purpose. Mr John AddineU proposed, and Mr Isaao Waiting seconded, that in the opinion of this meeting the action of the Board, with respect to Eoisoned grain banded to the Sparrow Club, e approved, and that the money be refunded under protest; carried. Proposed by Mr J. Robinson, seconded by Mr W. Latto, that the shingling of the Downs #oad be stopped at once; carried. The Chairman stated the next business was to eLjct two members to serve on the Board in place of Messrs Dixon and Maindonald, the two retiring members. Mr W. Bennett proposed, and Mr W. Smith seconded, Mr John Addinell; Mr James Latto proposed, and Mr Bennett seconded, Mr Edward Fester ; Mr J. M'Dougal proposed, and Mr H. Simpson seconded, Mr John Frizzell; Mr H. Simpson proposed, and Mr F. M'Nab seconded, Mr John Burton. There being no other candidate proposed, the Chairman called for a show of hands, with the following result .—John Addinell, 18 ; John Frizzell, 14; John Burton, 8; Edward Pester, 6. Messi s Latto and Sheel demanded a poll on behalf of Mr Edward Pester, which was then taken. At 4 p.m. the Beturru'ng-Officer declared the voting to have been as follows : John Addinell, 69; Edward Pester, 40; John Frizzell, 20; and declared Messrs Addinell and Pester duly elected members of the Board.

WAEPABA. The annual meeting cf the Waipara Boad Board took place at the office, Waikari, on Wednesday, January 4. In the absence of Mr J. D. Lance, who was compelled to attend the Hopremo Court in Chriitohurch, Mr Sanderson proposed Mr W. B. Fjne to take the chair, which was seconded bj Mr Wade and carried. The Chairman read the report of last year's meeting. Mr B. Mitchell proposed that the report be accepted, and Mr B. Johnston seconded it. There was a question Mr B. Johnston said he should like to ask —How many tenders were there for the Teviotdale road ? The Chairman asked the Clerk to lay the tenders on the table for inspection, which being done, said that there were many contracts out at the same time, and Wornall and Eaton, who were the lowest, were also the lowest for a great many others, and the Board could not giro them all to them. Mr A. Cowie wished to draw the attention of the members to the prioe of the land on which the office was built. Mr J. Cowie said that he fully understood from Mr Moore that he only intended to charge £SO for an acre. He thought it was decidedly wrong of the Board to pay £2OO. Mr Sanderson said that he must hare misunderstood Mr Moore. The Board had taken the land where the house was now erected in the township, and there the land bad fetched £BOO per acre. Mr B. Johnston asked if any arrangement had been made for the Board to obtain possession of land in which the roads had been formed. The Chairman said he did not think they had the land, but means were to be taken to obtain it. Mr Tonkin objected to the statement of accounts. The Clerk had omitted to put in the balanoe at the Bank. The Chairman said in the Board's books, audited by the Government Auditor, the balanoe at the bank was distinctly given,'but this being an expenditure statement it was not put in. The amount in - the bank was £2720 18s 2d. Mr G. D. Greenwood said that he thought the Board had spent the money very carefully, and had not appeared in law oases as last year. He would move that the statement be received. Mr E. Mitchell seconded it. Mr B. Johnston proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman, which was seconded by Mr Cordner. Mr G. D. Greenwood wished to propose a member who would support the Local Elections Act. He begged to name Mr 0. D. Fox, seconded by Mr Beeves. Mr Cordner proposed Mr T. Sanderson, seoonded by Mr Fox. Mr S. 0. Wade proposed Mr J. D. Lance, seconded by Mr B. Mitchell. Mr Sanderson proposed Mr N. 0. Wade, seconded by Mr J. Taylor. After a show of hands, Mr Greenwood demanded a poll on Mr Fox's account, whioh resulted as follows:—T. Sanderson, 60; J. D. Lance, 57; N. 0. Wade, 38 ,• 0. D. Fox, 28. The Beturning-Of&cer declared the three first members duly elected.

WAKANUI. The third annual meeting of ratepayers in the Wakanui road district was held yeßterday at Moffat's Mill, Wakanui. Mr Hugo Friedlander, Chairman of the Board, presided, and there were perhaps 30 or so ratepayers present. The annual report and balancesheet were read and adopted. After some discussion, and the ventilation of one or two grievances in regard to work that might have been done; in reference to the meeting plaoe jf the Board, which some ratepayers thought was not sufficiently central; also in reference to the rate per £, whioh some believed oould be reduoed easily to 3d, tho following gentlemen were proposed for the two vacanoies on the Board: —Mossrs Joseph Megson, David Wilson, Thomas Walsh and James Brown. One or two of those gentlemen addressed the ratepayers, and a show of hands took place with the following result; — Joseph Megson, 17; James Brown, 10 -, Thomas Walsh, 8 ; David Wilson, 5. A poll was demanded and was proceeding when our reporter left.

BAKAIA. A poll for the three vacancies on thU Board took place at the Offioe, Hororata, on Wedneidar, Jan 4, with the following result:—A. D.'M'llwraith, 136; J. K. Fountaine, 111 j W. Bollitt, 100; A. Oohille, 48. ' Mr Brownlee, the Beturoing-OiHcer, deolared the three first-named duly elected.