MOTUEKA HIGHWAY BOARD.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 132, 4 June 1879, Page 4

MOTUEKA HIGHWAY BOARD.

Monthly Meeting, May 31, 1879. «rr; Present nil ibo members but Mr Grooby. After the confirmation of tbo minutes of the previous meeting the Secretary mode the following report : — Since lest meeting the accounts for the year ended March 31 bave been audited and published as required by "The Nelson Highways Act." I have prepared and Jorwardel to the Public Works Office, a -statement of the revenue and expenditure of the Board for the abovenamed period bs required by the ISih eection of " The Public Works Act, 1876." When in Nelson I saw the Resident Engineer reEpscting the necessity of tho road being mude from tbe Motueka BriJ-ze approach on the river side lo the river bed, and also drew hiß attention to the manner iv which the filling had encroache ) upon the road at tho Moto-ki Court House. With regard to the former work hi informed me tbat there would be no objection to the BoarJ making a road npon the lower side of tha upper groin, and promised that he would have the latter work remedied as soon as possible. As instructed last meeting I have arranged with Mr James Fowler to clear out the ditch on the East and West Swamp road, Riwaka, which he agreed to do for the sum of £5. The heavy rains of last week damaged the road considerably at Lower Moutere. causing the water to flow across, and wash out some of the filling behind the wattling, and undermining one of the bridges so aa to make it impassable. I have had the bridge removed to the other side of the rood, so ob not to stop the tiaffio, where it can be crossed safely until a bridge with a wider span is built. In compliance wi.'h an arrangement previously made, I met Messrs Heddow and Saiherly, Trustees in the estate of the late Thomas Heath, of Pangalotara, on the property, in order to determine (if possible) the amount of compensation to be paid for tte land required for the new road. ! The Trustees considered that tbe amount I offered on behalf of tbe Boord some time ago was scarcely sufficient, taking into consideration that one of the sheds would have to be partly removed, and requested me to inform the Board tbey would agree to tbe terms offered on condition that an additional sum of £25 be paid for the road passing through the paddock. The wharfinger at Riwaka has informed me that the roof of the largo storehouse ia in a very leaky state, and requires re-shingling. I find that the bank at the lower wharf requires protecting, and the wharf extending a few feet towards the storehouse. Letter from Public Works Office read, etatiug that the whole of the vote for the road between Kiwoka and Takaka having been legally appropriated and divided between the Takaka and Motueka Boards, the Government could notgrant an additional amount. Letter from Mr Fell read, re the land required for new road through Messrs Thomas Broe.'s properly. Letter from Mr Sinclair read, respecting tho state of the track between Riwaka aad T.-ikaka. y Letter from Mr G. Beneemann read in reply to oue from the Secretary, respecting water flowing on his property from the road ditch. Mr Deneker having explained the natural flow of the water before the road was formed. Resolved—That if the formation of the road hss caused the water lo flow on Mr Bensemann's property the road ditch be contioued a distance of about three chains to lead the water away. Resolved —That tendera be invited for constructing a pile bridge on the road at Lower Moutere, with 16 feet span, to replace the one rendered useless by the late flood. Resolved — Tbat with reference to the land required for the new road at Pangatotara,tbe trustees in the estate of the late T. Heath be paid the additional amount of £25 required by them. Resolved — That tbe Secretary take the necessary steps to have the roof of the storehouse at Riwaka made watertight, using corrugated iron, providing tbat he finds on enquiry tbat it will not exceed the ccst of abinglesby one third. The Secretary stated that the settlers at tbe Baton felt aggrieved in consequence of the traffic having been diverted from tho old road through Messrs Byrne's property to the new road at the mouth of the Baton, lately constructed by the Board at a cost of nearly £50, a bridge on the old road being nnsafe for heavy traffic. Resolved — That the Board having recently expended a large amount in j order to give the Baton settlers a cart road lo the properties will not now keep two roads in repair, ond that , therefore the unsale bridge referred to be removed. Letter from Mr Hall read, stating that in consequence of an accident having happened to the saw mill where he was getting the timber cut for the j bridge be bas to construct at Lower Moutere, he should be unable to have his contract completed within the specified time, and asking that two weeksadditional time should be granted bim. Resolved — That for the reason given by Mr Hall, his time be extended two weeks. Resolved— Tbat the Secretary take the necessary steps to have a cart pad made from tbe Motutka bridge i approach on the Riwaka tide to the river bed.

Resolved— That the Secretary oscertain whether n bad place on the rend to Sandy Bay by Cook's laud, can be improved tt a small cost and if co, gel the necessary wo k dona Resolved — That this being the proper sefcsou of tho year for planting willows the Secretory at range for them to bo planted wherever required. Resolved — That tho Secretary estimate the cost of constructing a footpath along ono siJo of tho road in Hi<;h-3treef, Motueka, with a view oi the work being carried out if fouud practicable. Xt salve J— That tlie wattling alongside the Company's ditch nt Lower Moutere, where damaged by the late heavy rain, be repaired. Tho member for Lower Moutere stated that Mr Ailcott complainod tbat the heavy traffic through his land during tho conetiuclion of a bridge on the roal would aeiiously i-cj-ire it. The Secretary explained tbat in mbkiog Brrangemcnis with Mr Ailcott for the traffic to pass through his laud, j he had stipulated only for light traffic, and had given notice to the saw millers that the road would be closed against heavy traffic during the construction of the bridge, being aware tbat Mr Allcott's private bridge was not strong enough to carry heavy loads. Resolved — That the Secretary inform Mr Ailcott that the Board will not be responsible for any damages his property may sustain if he permits heavy lo ds to pass over it. Resolved — That the provisions of Sub-section 2 of section 99 of the Public Works Act 1876 prohibiting persons from riding or driving on footpaths, bo enforced. Mr Carter having offered to give about 50 cubic yards of gravel from an excavation he is about to make on his premises, provided that the Board finds tbe necessary labour for digging out the gravel. Resolved — That the gravel being required for filling holes on the road in the neighbourhood of Mr Carter's premises, his offer be accepted, on condition that tbe Secretary approves of ] the quality of the gravel. Applications from Messrs Croucher and B.st having been received for extention of lime for completing their contracts in consequence of the goree being too wet to burn. Resolved that on extension of time in each case b 8 granted for Buch periods as the Secretary may consider necessary. Mr Trewavas having applied to (be Chairman for permission to put up a fence on the side of the road alongside bis property, during the time he is having a gorse hedge grubbed up. Resolved — That the Secretary ascertain particulars from Mr Trewavas, with a view of his request being granted if found practicable. Resolved— That the work for which tenders have been invited, viz, gravelling road at Ngatimoti by G. Remnant Junr. be postponed in consequence of the soft state of the roads over which the gravel would have to be carted. In reply to a question, the Secretary stated that the County Fund account * was now overdrawn by £180, although there was a balance to the credit of the same account on the 81st of March last. The following persons were appointed daymen in each sub-district :— Motueka, James Locke ; Lower Moutere, James Jamieson; Tipper Moutere, "William Perry ; Ngatimoti, Roger Lloyd ; Riwaka, Richard Pry. The following tenders were accepted, viz :— Tarring wooden structures No. 1, Orinoco cart bridge, H. Inwood, £5 5s ; No. 2, Bridges Pangotptara, H. Inwood, £8 8s; gravelling by double bridge, Pangototara, John Heath, 23s per chain ; making new road between Riwaka and Takaka, Richard Ross, £2 per chain. "Warrants were Bigned for £410 10s.