UPPER ASHBURTON ROAD BOARD.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume I, Issue 18, 6 November 1879, Page 4

UPPER ASHBURTON ROAD BOARD.

The usual monthly meeting of th above Board was held at Westerfield on Tuesday at noon. Present—Messrs Heed (Chairman), M. Stitt, McLean, McCall and Sargent. On the minutes being read, there was some discussion as to the correctness of a a resolution to the effect that a contractor should be prohibited from doing any more work for the Council in consequence of insulting the Chairman whilst calling his attention to work not done to his satisfaction in connection with the maintenance of roads.

The minutes were ultimately passed. Thd Surveyor’s report was read. CONTRACTS.

Boyle’s contract for shingling Green’s road had been completed in a most satisfactory manner Black’s contract on the Lagmohr road will be completed next weeb. O’Neil is busy with his contract on the Timaru track. ROAD AT MARONAN. Mr McLean accompanied the Surveyor to inspect a road asked to be formed by Mr Carter, and found that it was one which had only been laid out some 12 months ago and it would be a costly work, as it would necessitate the construction of a bridge, which would cost £2OO, to span Shepherd’s creek ; independent of this, the main Maronan road, already bridged, was only 28 chains distant. —Ajiplication refused. ROADS, ETC., SOUTH OF HINDS.

The formation applied for by Mr Chisnall was unnecessary, the present track having had the boulders picked off, and it did not require any improvement at present. The well on Mr Carter’s pre-emptive was out of order, and would not cost more than £5 to fence in and make secure. It was a great benefit to the district, as there was no water within five miles, and when the Hinds was dry within ten miles in any direction. It was resolved to apply Mr Carter to forfeit his right to the land on which the well was excavated. Nearly all the roads in this portion of the district are in good condition for traffic. The survey of the gravel pits in this part would be completed in a few days by Mr Fooks. encroachment by the railway. The station master’s cottage at Tiuwald was built on the Main South road, and it will be necessary to apply to the traffic manager or railway engineer to authorise its removal. PROTECTIVE WORKS. A petition signed by 35 ratepayers and residents in the Forks ward, agreeing to be taxed at the rate of one shilling in the pound was submitied to the Board, and approved of, and a declaration ordered to be attached to it in terms of the Act, to the effect that the signatures were those of ratepayers, and it was further re solved — “ That this Board is willing that the roads in the Forks ward of the district be taxed at the rate of one shilling in the £ on their value, with the object of protecting them against the overflow of the Ashburton river, and that the County Council be requested, in compliance with the petition of the ratepayers and this resolution, to undertake the whole of such works in the district, a considerable portion of the works required not having yet been reported on by the County Engineer.” BRIDGE BY DIGBY'S.

The consideration of the cost of the bridge by Digby’s was then discussed, and it appeared from Messrs M‘Lean ami Sargent’s statements that when the Board received the grant from the Land Fund of £12500 it was a stipulation that the cost of the bridges in the district should be borne equally between the Board and the Council, and when the bridge was first spoken about it was understood that it was to be erected on the old crossing place, at a cost of from £7OOO to£9ooo, and upon that understanding the Board bad voted £3OOO towards the cost. Subsequently the Council had altered the site to a most inconvenient place, where no one would ever take advantage of it.

and the total cost, would be about £2900, ftr 1 r’.dge and approaches, so that if t ie Council compelled the Boerd to adhere to its resolution they would hive the work done for nothing, and a £IOO clear, and the bridge would probably at some tune rot or wash away, but never be worn out The Chairman defended the action of the Council, as skilled engineers had reported on the site and approved » f it DRAINAGE AT TINWALD. A letter was read from the County Council enclosing report from their engineer re the drainage at Tiuwa’d. The members could not see the liability of the upper Ashburton Road Board, as it was evident from the engineer’s report that ti e damage was caused by the embankments on the Mount Somers Railway, and the Chairman was requested to reply to that effect, and state their opinion that the cost of diversion should devolve on the railway authorities. PURCHASE OF GRAVEL PITS. Correspondence from Jle-ars Fooks and g on — re gravel pits pu "chased from church property trustees. Tlie arbitrators could not agree, and the matter was referred to the decision of Mr Robert Wilkin ; they were disappointed in not having obtained better terms, as the award* had been made at £2O per acre for 0 acres, and the Board be required to fence the land when called upon to do so, each party paying their own costs of arbitration. The members considered that the amount was exhorhitant, as better land had been sold in the locality at £4 per aerr, and it was resolved to pass a cheque for the amount, when the land had been surveyed. COUNTY DRAINAGE SCHEME. A letter was read from C. N. Mackie, Esq. , requesting the attendance of a member of the Board to a Conference to discuss the plans of the Engineers on the drainage of the Rakaia and Ashburton rivers. Mr Stitt stated he had attended, and reported what had been done at the Conference, and pointed out by utilising a large gully a deal of drainage to the roads would be obviated, and which had not been inspected by the Engineers. It was resolved that the Chairman be requested to take action in the matter in the County Council. GREAT SOUTH ROAD. Mr E. Mossman wrote complaining that through flax, gorse, Ac., growing on the road, and the quantity of storm water which cut off their frontages, he would request that Graham's road West should be formed, as being in a more direct line than the Lagmohr Road. The total length required to be formed will be about 13 chains. The Chairman to reply that the Board would ask Government for information respecting the Great South Road, and so far as Graham’s road was concerned the Board wmuld undertake that work, providing funds were available. NORTH EAST TOWN BELT. A letter was received from the Ashburton Borough Council, forwarding account for £135 2s, cost of forming the N. E. Town Belt up to date, and asking the Board to send a cheque for one half of the amount. Agreed to. TIMARU TRACK. Mr Taylor applied for certain works in the Ashburton river bed on the above road. To be reported on. PLANTATION RESERVES. The ChairmaL reported that as the County Council had granted £l5O for plantation purposes, and MrMarmsan had promised to do his best to give a grant of 100 acres, wliich would be given as soon as the land was planted. Mr Maclean thought the money should be divided between the Wards, and that the cemetries had a claim on the money. Mr McColl said it was too late to do anything now or until next autumn, and the land would require three ploughings before planting could be done. The Surveyor was instructed to report on the quality of a block of land at the Rangitata. The Chairman was instructed to apply for gravel reserves along the railway reserves. BRIDGE BY DlGßy’s It was resolved that the Board consent to pay half the cost of the bridge near Digby’s, and to request Mr Wright to assist Mr Reed in the matter. THE BOARD’S FUNDS. The balance in the hands of the Treasurer was as follows :—No. 1 Ward, £4OO ; 2, £358 ; 3, £232 ; 4, £lßl ; 5, £345 ; general fund, £362 4s ; total, £1,878 4s. MAIN MARONAN ROAD. It was resolved to call for tenders for repairs of the road from Hinds railway station to Maronan, and several other small works were authorised to be done. LEVYING A RATE. It was resolved to levy a rate of 6d in the £ on all rateable property in the district, and to advertise the same forthwith. Mr John Frazer applied for permission to take gravel from certain pits on the Mount Somers railway line, for the purpose of ballasting the same. —-Granted.