MOTUEKA HIGHWAY BOARD.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 27, 31 January 1878, Page 4

MOTUEKA HIGHWAY BOARD.

Monthly Meeting Jan. 26, 1878. Present all the members except Messrs Drummond and Edwards. After reading and confirming the minutflß of the last meeting, the Secretary made the following report, viz.:— Of the three contracts for which tenders were accepted last meeting for reinstating the road round Pocock's Bluff, only one, that of No, 1 is in progress. A tender of £104 10s , was accepted, for No. 2. This sum the tenderers (G. Smith and patty) say should have been £140 10s., a clerical error having, they allege, been made when writing the tender. They have informed me that they will undertake the work for the larger sum. The next tender for the work received last meeting was from D. Hall, and amounted to £110. Contraot No. 3, let to George Grooby for tbe sum of £12, has been left by tbe contractor.. after working at it with hi& party for two days. He states that there is a quantity of ro^k in it that will require blasting, of which he had no idea when he sent in hie tender;, he therefore trusts that the Board will allow him to tbrow up the work. I have not had time since last meeting to make a plan of a bridge for crossing tbe Company's ditch on Drummond Brothers' road, Lower Moutire, but I estimate the cost of constructing one that would be likely to withstand the rush of water at flood time at £55, provided the material can be procured at a low rate and close at hand. The width to be bridged measures 40 feet. I have inspected the bridge in Raspberry Swamp, aod although at present tolerably safe, it will not long be so. I think it would be preferable to divert the road at this place, if satisfactory arrangements can be made with the owner of the land adjoining the road, thereby Baying the cost of renewing the bridge, and at the same time easing the gradient on the east side of the SwampMr Green has withdrawn his objection to a new road being made along the terrace through his land at Ngatiraoti, and is now willing that it should be made where I recommended as being within the means at tbe disposal of the Board. I have arranged with Mr Salisbury for the purchase of threequarters of an acre of land on the bank of the Graham river, and have invited tenders for reinstating the road there, and also on the Table Land track Having received no reply from the Minister for Public Works to a letter written on December 10th last, reepecting the amount promised for making the new road in Pangatotara Valley, I have again written, drawing the Minister's letter, and asking for an early and favorable reply. The valuation lists have been returned to my office completed. Tbe total amount shows a slight increase on the lists of last year. Resolved — That the Secretary ascertain the cost of diverting the road at Raspberry Swamp, where recommended in his report. Resolved— That fresh tenders be invited for contract No. 2, Pocock's Bluff; and that a special meeting of the Board take place on Saturday, the 9th of February, at four o'clock p.m., for the purpose of considering such tenders. Resolved — That Mr George Grooby'e application to cc allowed to throw up hia contract (No. 3, Pocoek's Bluff), for the reasons stated in the Secretary's report, cannot in the interests of the public be complied with. Resolved — That the Secretary sat out the work required for making the road through Mr Green's land, Ngatimoti, and invite tenders for tbe same, to be sent in by the special meeting. Resolved — That the offer of Mr Marshall to accept a disused road at Ngatimoti for land required through his property for a new roar?, the consideration of which was postponed last meetJag, be now accepted. The Secretary elated that Mr Green had applied for permission to deepen a road ditch at Ngatimoti to enable him to drain a swamp on his land. Resolved— That Mr Green's application be granted, provided the Secretary on inspection, considers the road will not be injured. Resolved — -That to entitle the Board to the fullest amount of subsidy, all rates must be immediately paid, and that the Secretary take the necessary steps for recovering any that are not yet paid at the nixt sitting of the Magistrate's Court. Resolved — That in the even* of any person whose tender for work is accepted refusing to sign tbe required agreement, the Secretary shall accept the next lowest ten.ier, provided such tender ia not beyond lha Secretary's estimate of the cost of the woik. A letter from Mr Godfrey Thomas was read, complaining that (hou^h the dangerous state of a bridge on tbe road at Lower Mouterre, he had, on the night of the 24ih of Decr-mbtr last, received a severe fall, whereby ho Lai sustained certain injuries, It is horse beiug injured and blemished, and bis s-iddle renderei worthless, and requesting to be paid £10 as compsnsatiou for the came. Resolved — That the Secretary acknowledge the recaipt of Mr Thorn W letter, and state that the Board, while regretting to hear be has tnet with an accident on the public road, cannot oomply with his request, haviug (after careful enquiry) reason to believe that the road and bridges whore it is alleged he met with his fall, ore not in o state (if reasonable caution is taken) dangerous to travellers. A letter from Mr C. Drogemuller find others was read, requesting to be