OXFORD ROAD BOARD.

Oxford Observer, Volume 1, Issue XXII, 28 December 1889, Page 6

OXFORD ROAD BOARD.

The ordinary meeting of this Board was held on Monday last. - Present Messrs Ryde (Chairman), Engelbrecht A. Wright and P. Wright. Mr Booth attended and asked for leave ox absence, which was granted. Mr W. H. Simpson waited on the Board with reference to his contract on the Woodstock Road, and stated he had made a mistake m his tender, as he did not know that the gorse along Mr M'Grath's boundary was included m the contract. He asked the Board to allow him £2 extra for this. It was decided to consider the matter. The Surveyor's report was read and considered. It was decided to post up notices that the Wharfedale Road was unsafe for traffic, and any person using it would do so at their own risk. It was decided to clear the shingle out of the drain running through Mr Ivory's property before the winter, and to iniorm Mr Reed that the work was to be done, also that he would be held responsible for all damage. The Surveyor reported that ,the culverts on M'Jarrow's Road were getting unsafe for traffic. It was decided to put m fords, tenders to be called by next Board day. It was reported that the Main Drain through Mr Gorton's property was nearly choked with weeds last week, and that men had been put on to dear it.-— Approved. „: , . „..:.-■,'

In reference to the work at the Main Drain, the Surveyor reported that the contractors were pushing on with the work as fast as possible, but that the contractor for the bridge portion kept the water dammed higher up than there was any occasion for, and Mr Fiulay was complaining about it. It was resolved that the contractor be instructed to clear the shingle away at once. The Surveyor stated that the drain m front of Mr Finlay's house would require to be cleaned out as soon as the .water was sufficiently lowered to do the work, as the stench arising from decaying vegetation would be very offensive. — The work to be done. The Smweyor estimated that the contractors at No. 8 tail were entitled to a draw of £28 8s 3d.— .The amount to be paid. Mr C. Blank was allowed a draw of £10 on his contract. It was decided to call for tenders for — Carting boulders where required ; Supplying 100 sleepers ; The right to cut flax on the Ashley Gorge Road, near the Bridge ; Leasing all the Board's Reserves that are unoccupied. A good deal of correspondence was read and considered. A letter was received from Mr D. Bourke stating that he had made an error m his tender for grubbing gorse, as he had omitted to include the cost of grubbing along the front of R; S. 9230, and asked to be allowed 15s extra.^ After reading the specifications of this and Simpson's contract, the Board resolved, That they would on no account granji any addition to the contract price for any work, as they considered it would be unfair to the other contractors, and . that if anyone could not carry out the contract at the stated price they should throw it up. Mr J. Flanagan wrote stating. that until lately he had been employed by the Board repairing bridges and culverts, but. had now to give way to a man who did the work Is a day cheaper. After a deal of discussion, it was resolved, That m future the Board adopt the following rates: — Man, with two horses and dray, 12s per ' day ; man, . with horse and dray ox- trap, 9s 6d per day; manual labor, 6s per day. ; The Surveyor to use his own judgment as to whether it was more to the interest of the Board to use a spring trap, or dray to do the class of work required. Tenders were then opened, and the following accepted :— Carting 50 yards boulders to site near Mrs Lee's store : M. Dalley, £2 7s lid ; Carting 50 yds. boulders to site on Depot Road: W. Harvey, £2; Leasing land - adjoining View Hill Pound :. "VrML Simpson, £2 10s per annum. : Resolved, That the Ranger be instructed to impound all sheep found near the groyns at Mounsey's, "as the willows were being destroyed; ; ' -^ ' The Board then adjourned..