MOTUEKA HIGHWAY BOARD.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 231, 29 September 1880, Page 4

MOTUEKA HIGHWAY BOARD.

The monthly meeting was held on the 25th September. , Prerent, all the members but Mr Grooby. '.■'■ A tfer the confirmation of tbe minutes of the previous meeting, and passing the month's accounts, the Secretary made the .'following report ?— t have bad willow cuttings planted alongside the Company's ditch at Lower Moutere as instructed last meeting, the cost of which is less than £5, the estimated sum ; I have also had about 16 chains more of the road protected, on a much less expensive plan than that formerly done, and believe that it will prevent more of the road being, washed away at that place. I fhJnk that the expenditure of about £50 more would complete the protection to the road. I find that the lower end of the ditch, where it empties into the river, is silting up ; it will be necessary to keep a channel open at, the Lower Moutere Bridge from tiros to 1 time, after heavy floods, bb tfrere is ; if this is not done, of the river making a freeb course. In accordance with a renolution passed last meeting, I have made arrangements for the Pah road at. Motueka to be improved. I find, that one of the piles of the breastwork at ♦he western approach of the Saltwater Bridge is gradually giving ouf, a good strong strut to the pile will be required or another pile drivpn. The bridge on the main line of road by Mr Edelsten's residence, requires new stringers, a new top has been put. down ; temporarily which will prorably keep, the bridge passable until tenders can be invited .for the necessary work. The Poley bridge on tbe road by Mr W. Limmer'a is getting very unsafe, the stringers being much deoayed, and parts of- the top wearing out. A small expenditure on this rpad^ is required to make it fairly passable. There ere some very deep boles in the Wvßtwero road which, require attention.' I think the best plan of treating this road (although the first cost is heavy), would be to gravel another portion of it this year with sea gravel;' the traffic on it during the winter months is very great, as most of the .firewood consumed in Motueka is now drawn from, Ngatimoti, and also a large number of hop-poles. The contract for repairing the approach to the lower wharf at Riwaka is completed, but as a portion of the road is continually being washed away at high tides, I would recommend that about six chains of wattling be done to proteot it. ' . „■ „ Letter from Messrs Fell and Atkinson read, having reference to the.compensation for taking road through Mr ' Tucker's property, and offering on ; , his behalf to accept £100fo.r the, same* : That the Board adheres to its offer of £90, considering such amount ample compensation, and declines to pay more. ' : v Memorandum from Public Works office read, drawing the Board's attention to certain amendments to the ** Public Works Act, 1876,"re stopping of roade, &c. ,; , A copy of the " Public Works Act, 1880," and the •" Financial "Arrangements Act, 1880," were laid; on .the table. ; . ..'■ , ... ■ Letter from Colonial Secretary's office read, having reference to-forming the Molueka High Way District^ into several road districts. „_• > -„ Meeers Cbaytor -and Heath stated what bad taken place at meetings of ratepayers held at lower Moutere and Ngatimoti with reft rence tb"ihe separation of the district. 5

Reeolved, That tbo Fectftary forward to tbe Colonial Secretary the feeling of the ratepayers (where meetings have been held), and stale that (he Board is of opinion that in tbe event ol separation being agreed on, euch separation should not take place until the annual, audit of the Board's accounts, or that the Governor should order a special audit before any alteration in the Board is made. Letter* from the Waimea County Council read stating (1) That £3 10a 6d had been paid for clearing the piers ol the Motueka Bridge. (2) In reply to n recommendation that certain ,, repairs should be mnde to the approaches ol the Motueka Bridge ; That the Council, though willing to. aid the Highway 'Boards to the full extent of its power, had not yet assumed the charge of the main roads and l.bridgee. (3) That having taken into consideration tlie resolution of the Board requesting the Council to rescind a resolution passed at its meeting of the 18th August declaring certain drains in the Riw&ka district to be public draine, the Council sees no reesdn for re-opening the question. Resolved, That the Board regrets the refusal of the Council to accede to the Board's rf quest with reference to the Riwaka swamp ditches, consider ing that complying with such request would have been only a simple act o! justice to the ratepayers, and the Council being probably, aware that , a member of its own body is one of tbe few bsnefitted by declaring such ditches to be public drains. •' " ! , Resolved, That the Secretary write (o the Minister for Public Works re the state of the Motueka Bridge approaches, and the desirability of planting willows, on the right bank below the bridge, the Waimea County Council having declined to defray the cost of the work, and the Board not beiny in a poßitibn to spare funds for the same. Letter from Messrs W. and S. Hodees.read, direoting the attention of the Board to the state of the Table Land Track, and offering to make it passable for pack horses as far as Salisbury's >Open if the Board . would contribute jtbie sum of £3 towards the cost of the work. "■ Resolved^-That the amount applied forbe granted on the understanding that the work is done 'to the satisfaction of the Boards , ~ .''.''' ] Letter from the Inspector of Telegraphs read (in reply to a request that he would have certain telegraph poles removed,' such poles being in the opinion of the Board dangerous to the public traffic)' staling that be regretted being unable to comply with the Board'a request not agreeing with, the Board as to the poles being dang erous. ._ Letter from Mr Wilkins of Upper Moutere read, requesting the Board to assist him by defraying one, half the cost of forming 16 chains of road in Rising Sun Valley. ' * Resolved — That the funds at the disposal of tbe Board will not allow ol the application being granted at present. .. ..- ■ , \ Letter -from. Mr James Fowler read; requesting to know whether the Board would let him the barge for, the .purpose of gettiDg come hop poles from Marahau during the next spring tides. Resolved — That as the^barge will be required duiiog next spring, tides Mi Fowler's application cannot be ; granted, ; Reeolvedr— That the Secretary hayt the Waiwero road repaired, and witb , reference to the state of the ditches oe

. the same road at Lower Moutere com- , plained of by Mr Simpson, the Board . will defray one I alf the cost of clearing ) (be satae, provided the total cost does p not exceed two shillings per chain. Resolved — That the road at the , lower wharf Eiwaka be .protected as f recoaaratn.ied in the Secretary's report, i Resolved] That the Secretary in- ! spect the Riwaka Valley road between Mrs. Cook's corner, arid the foot of the r hill, and report to the Board at its next , meeting, as to the best plan of putting f the same in good order, i Posolved, That the Secretary apply i ,to the Minister in charge of the Telef graph Department for a small grant . for repairing the Eiwaka-Takaka new , track, where hauling the telegraph poles has cut it up. ' ' / \ iiesolved. That Mr. Thorp be allowed j ;to remove the bank on the mad between [ his own and Mr. M'i)onald's property, j provided he puts the said road in reI pair. ' : Resolved, That the snm of £2 be ex- , pended on the road in Blackbird Valley, provided Mr. Korte pays hia promised , contribution of £1. A complaint having been made, that , some of the Board'a wprknsen had on a ) recent occasion obstructed the public , road, . . : ■■>,?■■■< ■■ ■ ; >. Resolved, that the Secretary, make I inquiries respecting the complaint, and f report to the, Board next meeting. ' \ s Resolved, That the holes in the road ( leading, to ,£he wharves at Lower ( Moutere ! be filled with gravel ; also, } that tenders be invited for'putting a new top ! oorn r Silt-water bridge ; for ( building a new bridge at Poley bridge , creek; and for the work required/ to thebridge on thY main' road "by Mr. Edelsten's residenoe. The following tenders were accepted: \ — Timber for JSalt- water bridge, Bense- ' man Bros., 12?. per 100 feet ; gravelling by Riwaka, Post: Office; Peter Askew, 27s Gd. per chain ; ditching on Lodder's road, Peter Askew, £3 10a. per lot. ; Warrants were signed \ for. £120 183. 2d. :' .