MOTUEKA HIGHWAY BOARD.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 287, 4 December 1877, Page 4

MOTUEKA HIGHWAY BOARD.

November 24, 1877. Present all the members. After, tho confirmation of the minutes of the preceding; meeting, the Secretary read the following report:— I have been informed that Ihe settlers interested in .the construction of a cart bridge over the Orinoco river, near the month, decline to contribute one-fourth the cost of the same. With regard to ihei rightrof lakingi land for roads throngh private property, it would appear, from an opinion of the Attorney Geperal, furnished by. the Colonial Government to. the Nelson Waete Lands Board in 1868, that land purchased from the Crown subsequent to the passing of " The Nelson Waste Lands Act, 1863," over which the right of taking a road waa reserved, the right can 1 still be exercised through unimproved land without payinst aoy compensation, and also through improved land, unless the owner bas given the necessary notice required by the said Act ; and in the event of the owner having given the required notice a road can still be taken on compensation being paid. Since the last meeting of the Board there has been a very high flood in tbe Motueka fiver, taking away portions of the road on the bauks in several places. The only place where any damage has been done to tbe works lately executed is a small piece of the road on Paton's Bluff, where some bnilding up had been done. I bave employed men to repair the damage, and the road is again passable. Some of the work let last meeting on O'Brien's Bluff, which was in progress at the time of the flood, suffered considerably, necessitating a much greater outby for labor than was required at the time the work was let; the contractor trnats therefore that the Board will allow an additional sum lor the work. The Biwaka river bas made a breach in the stone dam 'built by the late Provincial Government in order to confine the water in one channel, so as to pretteat the entrance from silting ap. I have partly surveyed tbe new road in Riwaka Valley, at tbe lower end, and invited tenders for some of the work required for opening it. But tbere appears to be a misunderstanding with two of the owners of land (Messrs Ryder and York) as to the direction the road -shall take after it reaches the boundary of Mr Ryder's land. Portions of the Moutere trunk road, near and at the bottom of the hills should be formed, with the view of the came being gravelled in the autumn. Arrangements should be made with the owners of land where required for a road, between O'Brien's Bluff and Pocock'a Bluff, as it will be useless reinstating the road round the latter bluff unless a road is made to it. I have not invited tenders for a small building for holding the light for guiding vessels into the Biwaka river, the captain of the Maid of Italy having informed me that the channel was constantly shifting, and he thought that if the light could be raised about 5 feet in its present'position, so aB to be seen over the bank, it would answer quite as well or better than moving it. Resolved — That tenders be invited for building a footbridge across the Orinoco,, near the mouth, and also a jcart. bridge with the view of the latter being built in the event of the funds at the disposal of the Board admitting. Resolved — That the .Secretary attend the next meeting of the Waimea Road Board with the view of ascertaining whether that Board will join with tbis Board io defraying the cost of having n case tried to test the question of owners of land being liable to clear tlie roads of gorse where the same has spread from the hedges, and also a case with regard to exercising tbe right of taking roads through private property where a . right has been reserved. The Secretary having report9d tint he considered the contractors for work on O'Brien's Blufi (Messrs G. Grooby and Co.) were entitled to be paid something extra in consequence of the damage done to their work by the high flood io the Motueka River, it waa re- . solved tbat an extra £5 be allowed. Resolved — That, takicg into consideration the great injury done to the lands in the neighborhood of the stone dam in the Riwaka river, by the bed of the river being partially filled with sand, thereby causing the water to overflow, it is desirable the breach in the dam reported by the Secretary should remain »a it is for a time, so as to admit of tbe sand getting more quickly away. Resolved — That tenders be invited for forming a road in the Upper Moutere Sub-district where recomby the Secretary, and also for a piece of road in the Motueka Subdistrict, from the Maori pah leading past Gibson's corner. Resolved — That the Secratary en- I deavor to arrange with Messrs Tate . and Green, for the purchase of land for a road through their property, and, if successful, invite tenders for the work, and also for reinstating the road round Pocook's Bluff. | i Resolved — That in accordance with the advice given by the Captain of the Maid of Italy, the light for guiding veesals into the Riwaka entrance be raisad so as to seen over the bank. A letter from Mr Gilbert, of Motupipi, was read, offering to make a valuation of tha Motueka Highway District for a staled sum. Resolved — That tenders be invited for making a valuation of the whole of 4ha district or for oue or more of the

sub-districts, to be sent in until 6 o'clock p.m. of Monday, the Dec. 3rd, and that a special meeting of the Board ibe then held for the purpose of accepting a tender for the work; A letter from Mr T. Price was read, asking that a footbridge should be built across a stream on the road leading to his own and. Mr Will's land. Resolved — That a footbridge be built where requested, conditionally on the cost not exceeding £2, and that Mr ;Price contribute one half. Resolved— That the following part of a resolution passed at the first meeting of the Motueka Highway Board, July 14 1875, be rescinded, viz, The funds accruing to the Board, from whatever source (rates excepted), shall be divided between the sub-district in proportions as the previous votes of the Provincial Council to the late Boards. Resolved — That the following be substituted, viz. The amount received from the County Fond shall be expended in the maintenance- of the leading trunk line (that is from the boundary line of Waimea distriot to that of Takaka), and the subsidy to the Board shall be expended in each sub-district (if required) in proportion to the rates collected. Messrs Carter and Grooby voted against the above resolution. A letter from Mr. Brereton, of Pokororo, was read, stating thafc he would gladly give sufficient land for a road through his property, on the west side of the Motueka river. Resolved— That the Secretary write to the Government, furnishing all particulars respecting the desirability of constructing the new road on the west side of the Motueka river, aad ask the permission of the Government to construct the road on that side with the funds placed at the disposal of the Board, for reinstating the road in Pangatotara Vailey. Resolved— That rate lieta be printed, and deposited at suitable places in eaoh sub-district, for the inspection of ratepayers. The following tenders were accepted, viz.- — Improving and gravelling the road leading to Motueka bridge site, J. M'Glashan and Co., £3 per chain ; gravelling road between Herrick's and Waiwero, No. 1, B. Harford, £l 15a per chain; ' Mo. 2 J. Allcott and Co, £1 19s per cbain; gravelling School Hill, Ngatimoti, £1 5a per chain ; improving road below Turner's house, Dovedale, D. Hall, £3 per lot; improving road opposite Eves', Dovedale, D. Hall, £10 per lot; gravelling between R. Fry's corner and Little Sydney, Riwaka, John Duncan, £1 per chain. Resolved — That fresh teuders be invited for work in Riwaka Valley, clearing road on south side of Dove river. Circulars from Government were reed, stating that £302 15a, Road Board subsidy, and £240 18s B J, share of Couuty Fund, had been paid to the Board's credit at the Union Bank. Warrants were signed for the payment of £132 lle9J.