WAIMEA ROAD BOARD.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 111, 10 May 1878, Page 4

WAIMEA ROAD BOARD.

Tbe monthly meeting was held on May 4th. All the memhers present. After reading the minutes, the Overseer reported : — "I have made arrangements with Mr Coekram for the shifting of outbuildings, fence, &c, at the tollgate, for the sum of £2 10s. The bridge on the by-road near Mr Boston's I have had to repair, as the stringers were broken ; the gravelling along this line is not yet finished, but will be by the end of this month, if it continues fine. — Mr Leighton has been auppiied with timber, according to your instructions. In Waimea East two brick drains have been put in at Richmond j there remains about 28 chainß to complete thn Swemp road ; slong the tideway has been put six inches of stones, covered with a coating of beach metal. The eastern approach to (he Applehy Bridge is very much damaged, I have patched it up again, but it can't stand long. I think it is best to let it remain ac long aa it will in its present state, for to repair it the traffic will have to be stopped for some time, and as the other bridge has been removed it will be a serious inconvenience just now. The Surveyor might be instructed to examine and report on the same, for should he recommend the lengthening of the bridge, the materials might be got to hand, as the approach will most likely go the first heavy flood, In Spring Grove, a culvert has been put in near the Wakefield Church, it having caved in, and the road there which was out of repair attended to. Wakefield —the bridge at the foot of Spooner's Range being unsafe for traffic, I reported the same to the Surveyor, who after having visited the spot, considered it would brook of no delay, and I have thereupon invited tenders for the construction of a new one. I should from past experience advise the Board that in all future wooden structures toiara should be the only timber used ; the cost of construction being the same, the durability will more than repay the difference of cost of material, let alone the inconvenience saved to the public. A culvert has been destroyed by fire in the Wai-iti Valley, and a temporary track lias been cut round till the timber could be obtained for a new one. In Eighth-eight * Valley repairs 46 the

amount of £27 5s have been done. I &tn sorry to have to report that a young man named George TomlinsoD, in tbe employ of the Board, haß met hfa'cteftth on the Moutere Hills wfc'M getting metal for the rto&& though no fault could be !ai<s to hoy one connected with the works ; this road wbs all bat finished. Complaints have been laid that Mr Walker, of Waitnea'-West hae encroached on the rt&a 1 with hii fence some Wt-t it i$ requested that he be instract¥f<t to remove the same, as the rtvfcr has washed away nearly aU the remaining portion, preventing parties getting ingress or egress to their properties. In Dovedale the road b* Mr KeiUj feas been, repaired, and a track has been tut from Pigeon Valley, to oonDeet the Stanley Brook Line. The amounts expended in tbe several subdistricts during the past month have been has follows :~Stoke £I*2 l7s 9J Waimea East £k&2 § 3 Bd, Spring Grove £& Us 6J, Wakefield £53 4s <H Waimea West £54 Bs, Dovedale £39 2s. Mr W. Norris applies fc,V a grant of £6, to meet aft fe^ouut of £4, towards repairftt£ & c roa d ia Xrßßt' 1 Valley"

Resolved, That the Surveyor examine ihe Appleby Bridge and get any necessary work done at once ; also examine the alleged encroachment byMr Walker when he can spare the time.

The Secretary reported having met the Bishop of Nelson at his request, and entered into a provisional arrangement with bim for the removal of the fence and outbuildings at the toll-gate ot» the Bishopdale property, on payment of a rental of £2 per annum. Tbis was approved ofj and the arrangement ordered, to bb made in writing. Ree&lved, That the following tenders be accepted : Gravelling road near Richmond, W. Neuman £l per chain • breakwater at Foxbill, S. Leaver, £18; and that tbe surveyor communicate with the party tendering for the bridpe at Bell Grove, there appearing to be a misunderstanding. | \The Surveyor reported having made a survey and estimate of the coßt of making a crossing at Bisbopdale Station, and forwarded copieß to the Railway Manager as requested. He also produced a survey plan of part of Mr Martin's land at Stoke, showing the place where gravel could be got. The Secretary reported that he had forwarded to the Registration Officer, as required, lists for the several electoral districts of persons whose rates were paid up to March 30 ; also, to the Colonial Treasurer, as required by the "Financial Arrangement* Act," returns of the rateable value of property in the district, and of rates received up to March 31, and copies of the same to the Chairman of the County Council

A circular from the Registrar.Generai requested the enclosed form of statistics to be filled up and forwarded. Another from the Minister for Public Works, required a return of tbe Board's receipts and expenditure for the year ending March 31, to be forwarded,

With reference to a letter received from Mr A. J. Richmond, informing the Board that the Premier was coming to Nelson for a short visit, the Ghairmmaa reported having in company with tbe Chairman of the Motueka Board, waited on Sir George Grey, and represented to him the urgent need of the bridge over the Wairoa River being rebuilt m speedily bb possible, and aleo the great drain on the Boards funds for the repair of the large bridges. He also represented the necessity of some amendment of the Act as regards tbe abatement of the Gorse nuisance, to all of which matters attention was promised. Resolved, That the thanks of the Board be accorded to the Chairman for his services in the above matter, and also to Mr Richmond tor his kind intimation.

Mr Wendelborn attended and complained that water is forced on to his land owing to certain ditches not being kept cleared. Overseer waa directed to get it done.

Mr E. Green attended and wiehed to know when the proposed road over the Port Hills would be laid out. He was informed that it would be attended to as Boon as the survey for the new road from Pigeon Valley to Stanley Brook shall be completed. Mr J, Palmer complained that a gate erected by him on a road near his land with permission of the neighboring landowners, had been destroyed by Mr R. Thompson.

Resolved, That Mr Palmer have permission to erect a gate on that road on the same terms as other parties, and on tbe understanding that be has the consent of the neighboring land owners. Mr B. Andrew wrote complaining that the road in jfivea' Valley is almost impassable, owing to the gorse growing on if. 6 s

Resolved, That Mr Andrew be informed that the Board, in consequence of the late adverse decision, have no power to compel occupiers to clear the road of gorse, and no funda to do it themselves.

Resolved, That the Overseer givo immediate notice to all occupiers to trim their gorse hedges, and report all who neglect, so that they may be prooeeded against.

Mr T. Snook applied to have pointed out the road laid out by the Governmant through Mr Byrne's sections in Dovedaie, he being refused passage over the land. The Surveyor was directed to define this road.

With reference to the Fencing Bill forwarded for the Board's oonaideratjon, ifc Wflß resolved, That in the opinion of

this Boards a three-Tail fofnee cannot j be cptatidQVe'A suWiaWiial unless in con- i ne'ctWo with a ditch and bank, nor any : Borse hedpe j and that the Cattle j Trespass Act ehould be repealed. The ba!ence~sbe*t, made for the period from tfne \tth, 1877, to March 31s^ was Blgued by the oiembers, preparatory to being audited. The Secretary of the Upper Wakefield School Committee requested permision to have cut dowu tvs-o dead trees BtandiDjEr on tbe road and likely to fell and injure the fence. Permission granted*

WarranU wfere Bigned for £532 Bs.