MOTUEKA HIGHWAY BOARD.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 203, 8 September 1879, Page 4

MOTUEKA HIGHWAY BOARD .

Thk monthly wei-ting wii* kc]<] on August 30th when all the members wero present. After the confirmation of (he mm ufi-c ol the previous lsici'tim- the Secretary made the foiiowii.^ report :— " 1,, aw-onl-arico with it rceohitk.n of last meeting, I harp in company nil I. Mr ]}a(,>, (Mr Moonuhon being unwell at the time) insprrteil the Brooklyn Stream, and after carefully ] 00 lriii K over the ground above the crossing, whore it 1 1R8 been euggested the stream might leave its pr^ent course, we came to tl.e ennelusion that there Wllß very little probabilily of its doing so, and that, (ho best plan now to adopt is to build a pile bridge over the stream on the line of wad. \Ve founil the rrouinp almost impassable, and as Air M Lean stated bis willingness to allow the traffic «o be diverted through his land (unit! the v. n v j "" or> P° rtunil y o f deciding as to what Shall be done), on condition that slip-rails were put in each fence, I directed the dayman to do Ibis, aa being the most economical way of avoiding the dangerous crossing.— l have also, as directed, "made an inspection of the proposed road, on the west baok of tho Uotucku River, from Mr Jennings's at Pangatotara, to the Brooklyn Rood at Rmata. I find there are about 00 chains of roarl to make in the Eiwakfl Bub-di*trict, and about 108 chains in the Pangatotara Sub-district ; but as most of the road in the latter Sub-diWriet, as laid down on the plan, has been washed away by the rivi'r, the cost for oxtra fencing would aid considerably to the expense of opening the road. The settlers interested are willing to give the land, and have promised subscriptions, amounting in all to £17 Bs. In the Pangatotarn Sub-distnet, those persons residing on the west bank Of the river are completely shut off from any road, and tho only wnv of giving them communication is by way of Riwaka. I should add that the proposed hue of road runs a short distance through a block of land belonging to an absentee, but as there is no access to it exefpt. by such road, little or no compensation would, I should thin I',1 ', be required.— l have seen Mr Parkinson with reference to the road to hit property. He wishes the line of road defined, and trusts the Board will contribute the sum of £5 towards making it.— l have made up the Rate Book, as required by Law, and advertised it, for the inspection of ratepayers.— l have received notieo that one contract on the Riweka-Takaka Ranges ia completed. I purpose visiting the work next week.— Since last meeting there has been one of the highest floods ever known in the Moutere Valley, which has damaged the side of the road at Lower Moutere considerably, butl have had it repaired sufficiently to keep the traffic going. A bridge was washed "out at Uoper Moutere on the main road, and has been replaced by a new one. A considerable expenditure will be required to protect the road at Lower Moutere, as Boon as the water is iufficiently low.— l have taken advantage of the fine weather to repair the roada as mat as possible." _ Copies of letters to Mr Huratbous* read, respecting the groina put in for protecting the bank of river, above the new cart bridge over the Slotueka mer; alio the petition for a grant for completing the track over the Riwaka-Takaka ranges ; and reminding him of the necessity of legislation m the direction of getting aside the doubt with regard to the eradication of gone on the sides of roads. Replies from Mr Hursthouse read, together with n letter from Mr Blair, C.E.. enclosed, by which it appeared that instructions had been given to the .Resident Engineer, Nelson, to keep in repair tha groins referred to. Resolved, That the thanks of the Board be given to Mr Hursthouso for his prompt attention to the ?natters above referred to. Letter from Mr Rochfort read, and plans of the survey lately made by him of the new roada in Pangatotara and Ngatimoti laid on the table. Beeolvrd, That the Secretary take the necessary Bteps under "The Public Worka Act, 1876," for acquiring the land surveyed for the new road. _ Copy of letter to Colonial Treaaury read, respecting the amount, duo as County subsidy on rates. Letter from Treasury read, stating that the subsidy referred to was vow in courae of payment to tbe Waimea County Council. Letter from Chairman of tho Waimea County Council read, authorising the Board to expend the •urn of £200 in protecting the road at Lower Moutere, ana also tbe sum of £68 on new hridges. Letter from Mr Neumann read, respecting tbe road to his property ; from Mr M. Hyland, respecting a notice he had received to trim hisgorae hedgesand from Mr Senior, respecting the desirability of diverting the course of the Moutere river for a short distance, in order to prevent a road being damaged every flood. Resolved, That Measrs Carter, Chaytor, JJencker, and the Secretary visit the road referred to by Mr Senior, examine the oourae of the river, and Mport on the same at the next meeting of the Board Sesolved, That Messrs Bisley, Carter, and the Secretary inspect certain places within the Motueka township, where it is alleged that tbe formation of roads baa caused injury to private property through the culverts not being sufficiently largo to carry off the storm water. Resolved, That the Secretary make inquiries as to the cost of building a suitable barge for carrying about 30 yards of gravel, and report to the Board at the next meeting. Resolved, That the Secretary prosecute any person who fails to comply with the order for trimming nedgeß, made in accordance with "The Public Works Act, 1876." Resolved, Tbat the Secretary, at his earliest convenience, define the road required by Mr Parkinson and inform him that the Board's funds will not admit of any contribution towards making the road. Resolved, That in order to insure tbe roada being in a better state for winter traffic, all formations and gravelling be executed as far aa possible prior to, the end of December of each year. Reßolved, That specifications be prepared and tenders invited by next meeting, for the following "works, viz. :— Building a cart bridge orer tbe Brooklyn stream j making a rough cart road on the weat bank of the Motneka river, in the Pangatotara and Biwaka sub-districts ; farming the new road through tbe late Thomas Heath's land, Pangatotara ; and for gravelling a few chains of road by G. Remnant junior's, propertj at Ngatimoti. ' Resolved, Tbat the Secretary is h»reby appointed Valuer under "The Bating Act, 1876," for the ensuing year. The Secrotary laid the new plans of the whole of the district on the table, prepared by Mr Douglas Brown, of tha Survay Office, Nelson, together with the bill for the same. Resolved, Tbat Mr Brown's bill be paid. Resolved, That a general rate of one shilling in the pound be made for one year, dating from the Ist day Of April, 1879, to the 31st day of March, 1S80 ; such rate to be payable to the Secretary, at his office, lower Moutere, on the 22nd of September, 1879, or afterwards on demand. Warrants were signed for £542 19s sd.