WAIMEA ROAD BOARD.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 215, 11 September 1871, Page 4

WAIMEA ROAD BOARD.

Tuesday, September 5. The Board met at the Bridge HotelAll the members were present. The minutes of last meeting were read aud confirmed. Road to Rutherford's Mill.— ln reply to the Board's application to the Government, to compensate Mr. Hill, a letter from the Provincial Secretary was read, stating that before the Government could entertain the application, the Board should state what amount Mr. Hill will be satisfied with as compensation, and whether -it is a fair sum to pay under the circumstances. The Secretary was directed to inform the Government, that Mr. Hill demanded £150, and the site of the road, seventeen and a-half chains long, including a double fence ; but that, in the Board's opinion, £50 would be a fair sum to pay. It was also resolved, that the Government be requested to declare the stopped-up road a public road. Port Road. — Mr. Rout having reported that Mr. Green is very urgent that the Board should go and see this road, the Board decided that tt cannot re-open the question. In reply to the application to Messrs. Adams and Kingdon for an opinion as to the possibility of recovering the defendants' costs in the late action of Shephard v. the Board, a letter was read stating that, had the law been consistent with common sense, the first plea urged would have resulted in a verdict for the defendants ; but eveu as it was, the arguments on this plea so far opened the matter that the plaintiff was induced to discontinue the action at that point when the costs were in his favor. The Secretary reported that the Overseer and himself had been to examine some of the bye-roads and fences, and had procured several signatures to a memorial requesting the Board to allow parties to temporarily fence in by gates, or slip rails not fastened, the roads contiguous to their properties which are not generally used. The tenders called for on being considered, it was decided to accept that of H. C. Bullard, at 3s. Bd. per cubic yard, for delivering shingle from the Boulder Bank, and T. Giblin's at 2s. 7d. per yard, for carting the same on the Stoke road. Resolved : That should the parties receiving notice to trim their trees overhanging the road not comply, the Secres tary to take the further proceedingdirected by the Act. A letter was read from the Provincial Secretary, advising that £500 was paid into the Bank on the 12th ultimo. The Overseer reported, that owing to the continued wet a large sum had been necessarily expended in repairs on the main road, several portions of which in Waimea South require a coat of gravel, patching being no longer of use ; that finding that the nine-inch pipes in the new culvert at Greig's hill were not large enough to convey the drainage, they have been taken out and a larger opening made. Mr. G. Feirhall attended to complain of water being thrown on his land by the work lately done in Pigeon Valley. The Overseer was directed to examine and report. Mr. Hildreth applied for some assistance in improving the bye-road leading from Spring Grove to his house, but was in- | formed that the Board could only do so by way of supplementing special rates or subscriptions. Mr. Newth asked to be compensated for his labor in making up the road-side fronting his land, by carting stones there. The Overseer was directed to report. Also, to have some pressing repairs done on the track from Pigeon Valley to Dovedale. Resolved : That for this month, a few men be put on to attend to alloted portions of the main road, each man being held responsible for the proper state of his portion. A letter was received from Mr, T. Andrews, requesting a short extension of the time for completing the bridge near Spring Grove church, he having been hindered by the wet; also requesting an advance of £10. Both were acceded to. A letter was received, from Messrs. Symes and Griffith, requesting payment for their work at Wakefield, long since done. The Overseer having reported that he had been unable to get the contractors to attend to measure the work. The Secretary was desired to write to them, appointing one p.m., on. Monday next, for them to meet the Overseer. A letter was received from Mr. E. Jellyman, complaining of cut gorse being left lying a long time on a bye-road. ,Mr. Jdlyriiari to be informed that the remedy is in his own hands, as he can give the parties notice to remove the obstruction . ' The following letter from 0. B. Wither, Esq., wasr md 'v^- ' *'"• " ' ' _ '' ' ' ""''

"To the Chairman- of the Waimea Road Board. " Sir — I beg to call the attention of the Board to a prevailing practice which is/ certain to result most injuriously to the roads of the district. I refer to the planting of trees close to the edge of the road on the side exposed to the sun. For many years past there has been an example of the injury thus done at Stoke; and now, I observe, there is an extension of this road-side planting at that place, and also a fresh instance of this nuisance at Richmond. "If the Board has not now tho power of effectually dealing with the matter, I would suggest that it should seek to obtain such powers at the next session of the Council, and in the meantime should give immediate notice to all concerned that possibly the new Act may have a retrospective effect. " Such a provision would, I believe, be perfectly fair and justifiable, and in conjunction with efficient safeguards for the future, would save a great expense, and conduce to the convenience of the public. "August 26, 1871." Resolved, that the following reply be sent to Mr. Wkhcr : — That Mr. Wither be referred to the following, being clause 2of the "Country Roads Amendment Ac!-, 1863," giving such powers to the Country Road Boards for the remedying of the mischief complained of, as the Provincial Council thought it proper to confer ; and, further, that Mr. Wither be informed that it is the immediate intention of the Board to avail itself of the powers thus conferred in all cases to which the said clause is deemed applicable : " Clause 2. If it appears to the Road Board of any district elected under the provisions of the above-named Acts, or either of them, that any road within the said district is injured by the shade of any hedges or trees, and that the sun and wind are thereby excluded from such highway to the damage thereof, or if any obstruction is caused in any road by any hedge or tree, it shall be lawful for the Road Board, after giving fourteen days notice to the owner and occupier of the land, to summon the owner or occupier of the land on which such hedges or trees are growing before any two Justices of the Peace, to show cause why the said hedges or trees are not cut or trimmed in such manner that the road shall not be injured or obstructed thereby ; and such Justices may at their discretion order such trees to be cut or trimmed ; and if such Justices shall order that such hedges or trees shall be cut or. trimmed, the said owner or occupier, as the case may be, shall comply therewith within ten days after a copy of such order has been left at his usual place of abode ; aud if he shall fail to do so, the Road Board, or any person acting on their behalf, may cut or trim such trees or hedges, and recover the cost of doing in a summary manner before any two Justices of the Peace ; provided always, that fruit trees of every description shall be exempted from the operation of this clause. An application was made on behalf of Mr. W. Prica for permission to affix some fastening to the bar of the gravel reserve in Maddock's Bush, parties being in the habit of leaving the bar down. Resolved, that Mr. Price may put up a gate in lieu of the bar, but not lock the gate. A letter from the Auditors of the Board's accounts were deferred, owing to the lateness of the hour. Warrants were signed for £243 68. 10J.