AWATERE ROAD BOARD.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume II, Issue 152, 3 September 1880, Page 3

AWATERE ROAD BOARD.

Wednesday, Sept. 1. The Board met at half-past 10 o’clock. Present—Messrs Mcßae (in the chair), Chaytor, Monro, Mowatt, and Green. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. COKKESPONDEXCK, &C. A letter was read from Mr J. Knowles, Under-Secretary for Public Works, stating that the Government had been unable to place on the estimates any sums for certain works suggested by the Board. The works referred to w. e enumerated in a letter from Mr Acton Adams, M.H.R., to the Board, which has been already published. Mr Stenhouse, as trustee in Major Martin’s estate, wrote to the Board asking the Board not to pa* r any order drawn by Major Martin or any money due to him to any body but the trustee. The Board resolved that they could not interfere in the matter, and that the trustee and Major Martin must fight it out. Mr A. Ward, surveyor reported that the portion of the reserve read specified by Mr Blackett, had been completed, and that the plans have been examined by him. The grading has now to be finished, and the plans lo be forwarded to Nelson for Mr Blackett to sign. He (Mr Ward) fully expected that Mr Blackett would go over the ground according to promise before passing the plans, and consequently he (Mr Ward) did not break up his camp for some time. He was now about to stake the East Coast road. He forwarded accounts for self and party with this remark —“You will see that we have been doing nothing for sometime, expecting Mr Blackett to see the work and perhaps make changes.” In reply to a question the Secretary said in Mr Ward’s account for the past month, 14 days work were set down for himself and and men. The total cost of the survey from Blenheim to the Clarence had been L 394 10s; reserve survey (Mr Pickering) LS9. inspector’s report. Mr E. Maddock, Inspector of Works, reported that the following works had been completed since the last meeting of the Board Three men have been engaged repairing the Taylor Pass Road, and there have also been three men employed in tussockingand repairing the Flaxbourne Road and they are now forming a side cutting from the point at which the road leaves the fresh water lagoon to the white gate near the Flaxbourne river. Six men have been engaged in extending the new road from the flags to the small lagoon, and a bridge 15ft long by 14ft wide has been built over the creek, and the nios and the road is now passable for drays. Mr T. Maddock has nearly completely his contract for forming 38jr chains of side cutting at One Tree Hill for 47s 6d per chain. Mr Westmacott offers£2 for all the iron at the wreck of the Rose, but the Inspector estimates it to be worth £4, and recommends the Board not to take less for it, as a considerable portion of it will be useful for bridge work. The road from the Ure to Flaxbourne is in a very bad state, and the Inspector desires to know if the Board will have the work done by day labor, or have a portion of it let by contract.

Mr Chaytor suggested that all works wherever it was possible should be done by tender, and that in the present state of the labor market the Board would get its work done cheaper by adopting Tiis plan. The Inspector said a portion of the work required on the Urc and Flaxbourne road could he very well done by contract. It was resolved that specifications te prepared and tenders called for the work. It was also agreed that Mr V estinacott s offer for the iron be not accepted. SAXTON'S PASS ROAD. On the motion of Mr Monro it was agreed that the Inspector should prepare a report of the cost of repairing the road from Castle Creek to the boundary of the district through Saxton’s Pass, and that the Amuu Board be written to ami requested to put their portion of the road in good order. BLENHEIM AND AWATERE RESERVE. It was resolved that plans and specifications be prepared by the Inspector and tenders called for keeping the read in repair from Blenheim to the reserve through the Taylor Pass. UPCOT. Mr Mowatt moved that the road from Castle Creek to Upcot be opened up as soon as possible. The Inspector said the cost of making the road passable for drays had been estimated by him at £2OOO. The resolution was agreed to. ACCOUNTS. The foiling accounts were passed for payment—T. MaddockL9l 10s lOd, E.Maddoek LG2 10s, L 57 for road parties, do. L 25, A. Dobson Is 3d, sundries 2s Sd, Secretary and sundries LI3 14s 7d, A. Ward L2l 13s 4d, G. Eyes L 5 (is Sd, E. Hickey L 30s Sd, J. R. Martin L 5 10s, Robinson Bros L 4 4s Od. PUNCTUALITY. The Chairman said he hoped in future that the Board would meet more punctually than heretofore. Instead of meeting at the appointed time of half-past ten it was often 11 and half-past, and sometimes noon, befor a quorum could he got together. He intended always to be here punctually at the time, and hoped the other members would do the same, and that not longer than a quarter of on hour’s grace should be given, after the expiration of which any member present should feel himself justified in not waiting any longer for a quorum. Mr Chaytor said he thought the movement a good one, and that all the members should make it a point of honor to be punctual. A member said the late chairman had got them into unpunctual habits. He was nearly always the last to make his appearance at the meetings, and others followed his example of being after time. The members present all said they should endeavor to he present sharp at the appoint ed time in future, and the meetingthen adjourned.