MOTUEKA HIGHWAY BOARD.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 182, 3 August 1877, Page 4

MOTUEKA HIGHWAY BOARD.

The usual monthly meeting was held on the 27ih ultimo, wben all the members were present. Resolved on the motion of Mr Carter, seconded by Mr Edwards, that Mr Macmahon be Chairman of the Board for fche current year. Minutes of two previous meetings, ordinary and special, read aad confirmed. The Secretary made the following report: — I am unable at present to make anything bufc an approximate estimate of making a road along tbe base of the hills in Pangafotura an<*l Ngatimoti, not haviug received replies from several of the owners of land through which the road would have to pass, as to the amount of compensation required, but judging from those I* have received I am of opinion that to make a serviceable) ro«d, including purchase of hnd, from Mrs Heath's to Rocky River, would cost about £2,400, and from Rocky river through the Ngatimoti d'ktrict a road along tha base of the hills will exceed Mr Blackett's estimate of the cost of making tt road along the river bank by about £400, but in this sum I include the cost of removing the Waiwero bridj/e from its present site to a distance up the Waiwero river, and making a road to it. The removal of the bridge bas become necesaary in constquence of fche Motueka river setting hard into the bank above tbe bridge and threatening to work a straight coursa to it. The more one travels up tbe Pangotnra Valley, tbe more upparent the absurdity appeals of wasting money in agaiu making the road along the liver bank, where probably lhe whole of it would be swept away by the end of next winter. Since the epecial meeting of the Board I have, ia company wiih Messrs. Macmahon and Drucnmoud, visited tbe breach made iv the Riwi-ku river bank, when we agreed tlmt it would be advisable io tbe first place lo fill up only the width where tbe water is running, leaving tbe rest to be clodb at some future tim* 3 , if necessary. I have examined what is left of tbe bridge referred to iv Mr Hale's letter, which was taken into consideration last meeting, and find that the bearers are oot worth a now top. I have written to Mr Hale informing him tbat tho beaters must be raised, add that there must be five instead of three, much deeper than those now across the ditch, before I cau leeoinraend the Board to be at the expense of a flew top. I have also examined tho road required by Mr Siarues, tjiod estimate the cost of making it passable (includ-

ing bridges) at about £26. I have been over the Sandy Bay track, which requires a little repair. Two or three places need great care in passing. The Orinocco-Rosedale track is completed as far as Rose's clearing, au expenditure of about £20 being now necessary to join it to the Rosedale cart road. The bridge over the Wai-i wero river, on the Ngatimoti road, will | be open for traffic about the middle of next week. I think that before the approaches are gravelled it will be advisable to put down a layer of raanaka, the late wet weather having made the clay filling soft, and as the only grave! procurable is very fine, it will, in all probability cut through; The expenditure in the Moutere Subdistricts during this last month has beeu rather heavy, aa I thought it advisable during the dry weather to get some of the soft places gravelle J, and also the holes and ruts that Were getting very deep filled ap. Resolved— That the Board regrets to fiod that excessive demands are made for laod io reinstate the roads destroyed' by the February flood in the Pangatotara and .Kgatimoti Sub-districts, which roads are indispensably necessary ' to the owners ofthe land themselves, to eoable them to gain access to their.' homes, and more especially that owing to such excessive demands tho amount at the disposal of the. Board for the purpose is inadequate for the works required. Resolved— That in purchasing .land where required for roads the Board will not reccjguiso any claim for fencing, but will ailow a certain sum par acre in payment for all considerations for tbe required laud. Resolved— That in the event of the Secretary being unable to make satisfactory arrangements for the purchase of land required for roads, tenders be invited for making a road round Major Paton's and O'Brien's cliffs. " ~ Resolved— That in the event; of Mr Starnes making a passable road to his land, to the satisfaction of the Board's officer and in accordance with a specification to be prepared, the Board will grant the sum of £10 towards the same. • - * - : - ■• , ,- ; "*■ Resolved — That the necessary repairs on tho Sandy Bay track . be . proceeded with. _ ..*••■•*-* • Resolved — That ; fenders be invited for connecting the Orinoco-Rosedale bridle track with the Rosedale leapt road. v Copies of letters to the constables of the district were read, asking them to l send in a return of the naaaes of .tli^se persona who had registered their doga during the current year, together: with the number oi tickets bought '""by 'each person. ." *" '-. * A letter was read from Constable Bengemann, showing that 43 tickets had been purchased iv the Moutere district up to the 30th of Juoe last. The Secretary stated thafc no return had been received from Constable Boyes. The Secretary was instructed to write again to Constable Boyes, aid iuform him that, uuless a return was scut in by the next meeting of tbe Board, the Board would be uuder the necessity of applying to the General Government for the required information. -Letters were read from Messrs Canton and Lloyd, respecting a road through Mr Canton's property to reach MrLloyd's, in which the former stated that uuless the persons interested iv the new road come to some settlement respecting the same at this meeting the offer on his part would be closed, as he wanted to proceed with hia fenein»; '.'. Resolved — That the Secretary write to Mr Canton and request him to allow tha, question to remain open so asto glva-lbe Secretary an opportunity of communicating with Mr Llpyd and .others interested in the new road, ' A letter was read from Mr A. Thompson of* thi- Baton, requesting' the Board ito complete the unfinished .piece, of road . jbetwe-k the Motueka river L and the' ■ jBatOD, lying within the- boundary of -district. ' "' ,*-.* | Resolved— That, the Secretary take an early opportunity,^ aaterfainiqg the cost of making tbe portion of rbad referred to iv Mr Thompson's letter, with 1 jibe view of the' same being made on condition tbat the persons interested poiuributo oue-htilf tiie amount required. ; A letter from Mr P. O'Connor .was, reari, complaining of tbe bad 'slate ofi: i the road leading to his land, opposU.e. the mouth of the Baton. Tbe Secre* | lary vtn.s instructed to examine the j road referred to when visiting tbe Baton road. A letter was read from Messrs Bens - I mann.. Brothers, offering to repair the bridge on Presudge'e cross road, for the sum of £15, ** Resolved — That the consideration of Meßsrs BensemaDn's offer be postponed until next "meeting, and that in the meantime the eeeretary make an estimate of the cost of repairing tbe bridge. A letter was read from Mr George Dock, inquiring whetiier the iatePan^atotara Road Board Office can be purchased for tbe sum of. £10, and also j i whether tha Board wil! grant a long 1 lease of a small piece of a disused road i lo erect it oa. Resolved—That the Secretary inform Mr Deck the office alluded to can be I purchased for the sum of £10, but that ] the Board ha 3 no power to grana a lease of any portion of a disused road, j Resolved, after a division— That the meetings ofthe Board take place as heretofore, on the last Saturday in every month.

• - - - — - Resolved— That no resolution passed by tho Board ba rescinded, nor any matter of importance taken into consideration at any meeting of the Board, unless notice of ehe same be given at a previous meetiog. '*- jßesolved-~Thafc the Secre&ary arrange for tha gravel lately deposited on the sea beaoh to be carted away, and put in heaps at some convenient place on the side of the road. Reaolved— That the portion of the road leadiog to Mr Hetrick's, beginning at Mr Tarrant's corner and a_eendiug 16 ohainß, be gravrelled. Copies of letters were read, addressed to the Minister for Public Works and Mr Hursthouse, M.H.R., pointing out that the amount granted by the Government for reinstating the roads destroyed b± the flood in JPaagatotara and Ngatimoti is altogether inadequate for constructing a premaoenfc road. The followiog tenders were accepted: For repairing breach in the Riwaka river hank — Stevens and Co, £17 sa; making Qriaoeo-Thorpe road—Smith and party, £27; on condition (with "respect to the latter work) that the tenderers fiud security in one-half the amount for the due performance of the same, and also with a thorough understanding that, the penalty for the nonperformance of the work withia the given -time, ia both cases, will be strictly enforced. Warrants were signed for the payment of £280 o** lld.