MOTUEKA HIGHWAY BOARD.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 3, 3 January 1878, Page 4

MOTUEKA HIGHWAY BOARD.

Decembeb 29, 1877* Present ; All the members.

After the confirmation of the minutes of -the two previous meetings, ordinary arid ' special, the Secretary made the following report, viz : — As instructed last meeting I have had an interview with the Waitnea Board, respecting the advisability of the two Boards joining to defray the cost of trying a ease, in order to ascertain the liability of owners of land whose gorse hedges have spread on the roads, to elear the same, under the provisions of " The Public Works Act, 1876," Section' 96, and also as to the legality of taking land required for roads over private property, where the right has , been reserved. . I was very. courteously received by the Waitnea Board, and it was unanimously agreed that the two Boards should join in having the above matters decided, either Board to take a case arising within its own district, and the other Board to defray half the cpj3t. I have arranged with Mr Tate for taking the road along the Terrace through his property, and have invited tenders for the , work. I have hitherto , been, unable to make satisfactory arrangements with Mr Green, as the place where he desires the road should be made would be very costly, and beyond the Board's means. I have invited tenders for reinstating the oad round Pocock's Bluff, and for several works ordered last meeting. Several contracts let for reinstating the road in Dovedale have been completed, also the unfinished road within this district leading to the Baton. The large hole washed out in the road leading to the proposed site of the Motueka new bridge has been filled, and- the road gravelled. The piece of road near the Church of England cemetery has been formed, and one of the contracts for gravelling the road between Herrick's and Waiwero has been completed. I would recommend that tenders be invited for building the bridges required on the Moutere trunk road, as during the month of February there is seldom much water running down the Company's ditch, and also for renewing the Graham Valley and Table Land Track where destroyed by the flood. The Secretary explained to the Board the direction which Mr Green desired the new road should take through his land at Ngatimoti, and gave in his estimate of the cost of purchasing and making the same, pointing out that Mr George Blackett had only recommended a sufficient amount for reinstating the road on the bank of the river through Messrs O'Brien's, Green's, and Tait's land. The floods since Mr Blackett's visit, had clearly shown that it would be a waste of money to make roads on the bank of the river where it could be avoided, but that to purchase and make a road out of the reach of floods, through the lands mentioned would exceed Mr Blackett's estim&te of making a road on the bank of the river by about £340, that is provided the road were made where desired by Mr Green, but if made along the top of a terrace through his land the cost would be less by about £120. Resolved— That the Board's funds will not admit of the road being made where desired by Mr Green, and that if arrangements cannot be made with him for the road to be taken where recommended by the Secretary, the Board will be compelled to continue Ihe road on the bank of the river. Resolved— That tenders be invited for the construction of bridges where required on the Moutere road, such bridges, where the stuff from the old ones cannot be used, to be 18 feet wide. Resolved — That tenders be invited for reinstating the Graham Valley and Table Land track where destroyed by the flood. j||A letter from Mr W. Pinny was read, withdrawing an offer previously made of £3 per acre of iaad required for road through hie section, and offerthe same for £5 per acre. Resolved«--That the Chairman of the Board procure tho best legal opinion he can as to the right of taking land for roads where a reservation has been made for the same. A letter from Mr O'Brien was read, asking that an extra ammount should be allowed for filling a hole in the road by his property, in consequence of floods having widened the breach considerably, and also making an offer of land for a road under a terrace out of reach of floods in lieu of the land previously offered on the hank of the river. Resolved — That no further amount can be allowed for filling the hole referred to, and that the Secretary take an early opportunity of explaining to Mr O'Brien the position in which the Board is placed with respect to the road further up the valley, and endeavour to make some arrangement thHt may ba satisfactory to the Board and Mr O'Baien. Resolved — That the Board will henceforth literally adhere to resolutions previously passed with reference to contracts entered into with the Board. A ietter from Mr Tucker, of Pangatotara, was read, drawing attention to the fact that the traffic in the valley passes over his own private property, and requesting the Board to forego the small amount of rates due by him as some slight compensation for the damage dona by such traffio, and stating that in the event of the Board iusiaang on the eaid rate being paid, he mast close the road or charge a rent at the beginning of the year. Resolved — That Mr Tucker be informed that most of the people at tho

lower end of the valley, in common with | 'himself, have to pass over each other's <lao.d in order to reach their homes, and j that the Board has no funds at its disposal to satisfy nil claimants. Resolved, That with, referrence to a iletter from Messrs Drummond Bros., ■of Lower Moutere, the consideration of 'which was postponed several months jback (in which they asked for 'assistance to replace a bridge washed away by the flood leading to their property) the Secretary prepare a plan and make an estimate of the dost of a suitable bridge, and lay thd same before ithe Board at its next meeting, or as soon after as possible. , Resolved, That the Secretary inspect Ithe bridges on the Raspberry , Swamp Road, and if found dangerous have 'them repaired. ' ',-■ Resolved, That dhe -outsides fO'F'all ibridges on main roads be protected, also isome of the bends on the Moutere Hills ■road where required. The Secretary stated that Mr Marshall, of Ngatimoti, had requested him to inform the Board, that if agreeable to it, he was willing to accept an old road partly washed away, and a small piece of -land purchased from, him some time ago, in exchange for the road recently made through his lands on the South side of tha Orinoco River. Reßolved, That. the consideration of Mr Marshall's offer be postponed until next meeting. A complaint having been made that there was certain dry gorse lying on the side of the road alongside Mr J. Wilson's fence, that would lead to serious results it fired. Reßolved — That Mr Wilson have notice to at onoe remove the hedge trimmings from the road. Resolved that tenders be invited for wideuiug the road leading from Wise's Gorner to the wharf. Tenders were accepted for the following worka viz : — / Motueka, — Forming road leading from Pah-road southward : Robert Goodman. 8s 6d per chain. Ngatimoti.- — Making road from Pocock ? a Bluff; C. Smith and party, No. 1, £46 ss ; No. 2, £104 per lot ; G. Grooby,No. 3 £12 per lot. Making Road on Tate's terrace : G. B. Tate £45 pßr lot. Gravelling hill between G. Remnant's and Hartord'a : A. J. Parsons, 19a per chain. Road on South side of Dove River : James Sims,, £27 per lot. Uppper Moutere. Forming near hills. — William Best, 10s per chain. Riwaka. — Building'biidges, fee., on New Valley Rend : T. S. Wolfe, £15. Warrants were signed for the payment of £368 16s ?ld.