RANGITIKEI HIGHWAY BOARD.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4541, 9 October 1875, Page 3

RANGITIKEI HIGHWAY BOARD.

* (from our own correspondent.) The first meeting of the present Rangitikei Highway Board was held in the office, Martoh, on Saturday, 2nd inst., at half-past ten o'clock, as appointed by the Superintendent. Present —Dr. Curl, Messrs. A. Milne,. A. Simpson, R. K. Simpson, C. Galpin, J. Bull, and A. Cameron. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN. The election of Chairman for the ensuing term was the first business that engaged the attention of the Board. On the motion of Mr. Galpin, seconded by Mr. Bull, Mr. A. Milne was unanimously elected to fill the office. STANDING ORDERS. On the motion of Dr. Curl, the Board resolved itself; into a committee to discuss and amend the standing orders under which the former Board conducted its proceedings. These were, with "some slight alterations and additions, agreed to and adopted. board's seal. It was decided that the seal hitherto in use should be adopted by the present Board. APPOINTMENT OP OFFICERS. On the motion of Dr. Curl, seconded by Mr. Bull, Mr. R. J. Harris and Mr. Thorns were re-appointed Secretary and Inspector respectively, at the former rates of remuneration. MINUTES. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. The Secretary read the following correspondence : Letter from the Superintendent, appointing the 25th October instant as the day for hearing objections to the opening of Cameron and McKay's and Harper's roads. Letter from the Provincial Engineer, advising the Board that he had received instructions from the Superintendent to give his attention to the approaches to the Tutaenui bridge, previous to the receipt of the Board's letter of the 6th ult. in reference thereto.

Letter from Major Willis, notifying that he had been credibly informed ' that it is the opinion of the Attorney-General that no existing line of road can be made over to private individuals except by Crown grant, and that he -should, therefore, not- consent to any exchange of roads through his property, until satisfied that he should be put in secure possession of the abandoned' :lihe, free of expense. Resolved that Major Willi* be informed that the Board will take the necessary steps to secure him a title to the road it is proposed to abandon,' running between sections Nos. 52, 53, and 54, provided he sanctions the opening of. the line along Dr. Curl's boundary, as an outlet from the McHardie's road to the Tutaenui line, in lieu thereof. It was further resolved that the road surveyed and laid off by Mr. Davy, along Dr. Curl's boundary, through Major Willis's property, leading from the McHardie's road to the Tutaenui line, be opened at once by the officers of the Board., Letter from Mr. C. F. Hauneke, explaining that his application of August 23 had reference to his frontage to the Makiri Eiri line, and not to the' Puki Papa line, as considered by the Board. Resolved that the Inspector be instructed to examine" the road in question, and report at the next meeting of the Board; Letter from Mr. Joshua Toms, requssting that the gravelpit opened on his land last year be fenced in, and offering to do the same, viz., seven chains, for £5. Resolved that Mr, Toms's- offer be accepted, on condition that he allow the Board to make iise of the pit as required. , ; Letter from Mr. James McGregor, advising that the bridle track runs through ■■ the property of the Messrs. Lowrie, and that he is not bound to give them another road through his property as applied for by them ; but, that he is agreeable to grant a right of road on condition that the same be formed and enclosed with a well planted good ditch-and-bank fence, with an iron gate on each side of the road, and the hedges kept, properly trimmed every year. Resolved that Mr. McGregor be notified that the Board ha 3 decided to'open a road through his property, leading to section No. 225, and as the land through which the road will run is now .open, he can have, no claim whatever'for fencing. inspector's report. -t The Inspector's report, as to the works required in the several wards, was read and received. BUSINESS. ''' ; It was resolved that the resolution bearing on the clearing of flax, toitoi, and scrub from off the sides of the road while clearing ■ furze, be rescinded, and that in future all arrangements in connection therewith be made a special matter by the Inspector, and by him reported to the Board ; and that he be now instructed to take sharp measures with all who have not cleared off their furze agreeably to notice. It was resolved that tenders be called for the following re-metalling in the different wards, to be opened at the next meeting of the Board :—No. 1 Ward, 105 chains ; No. > 3 Ward, 95 chains ; No. 4 Ward, 160 chains'; No. 5 Ward, 120 chains ; No. 7;Ward, 85 chains. ALLOCATION. The following amounts were allocated to the different wards, for the purpose of road fori mation and other necessary works :—No. 1 Ward, £SO ; No. 2 Ward, £IOO ; No. S Ward, £100; No. 4 Ward, £160; No. 5 Ward, £100; No. 6 Ward, £150; No. 7 Ward, £2OO. ; TENDERS. The following tenders were opened and dealt with as under :—Por cutting and embankment on the north end of Union line : Daniel Stevens, at £69 ; Hugo Newman, £7O; James Beard, £94 ; Louis Hintze,£ll2. The tender of D. Stevens was accepted, and th 6 others declined. applications. . ■ : Messrs. Barnett and Coote made application in person for the formation of about 40 chains of the bridle track into a cart road, in addition to what they have already in hand, to enable them to get their produce out to market. Resolved that tenders be invited for the required work, to be opened at the next meeting of the Board. Mr. Charles Allsop made personal application for a right-of-way as an outlet from his property. Resolved that the Warden and Inspector be appointed to examine and report at the next meeting of the Board, upon Mr. Allsops's requirements. treasurer's report.. The Treasurer read his usual monthly statement, from which it appeared that there was at date a credit balance of £521 12s. lOd. ACCOUNTS. | Accounts* amounting in the aggregate to £236 6s. 3d., were passed for payment. The meeting then adjourned until Saturday, November 6, at half-past ten a.m.