ROAD BOARD.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXII, Issue 8246, 11 December 1911, Page 7

ROAD BOARD.

>'■; ' :: : ; '.'LONGBEA'OH.

The monthly meeting of the Longbeacli Road Board was held on Saturday. Present: —Messrs W. T. Lill (in the chair), T. McKay,! G. W. Body, and W. J. Taylor. The debit balance at the bank was shown to be £146 13s 7d. On the application of Mr J. S. Jessop, it was decided to .substitute for his name on the roll that of Mr R. A. Peorse, who had purchased his property. The- Chairman reported that the Ashburton County Council had agreed to pay half the cost of clearing out the Wheatstone drain, and had instructed its overseer to report with regard to the removal of willows. —The Chairman said' that an far as h© was concerned he would object to spending any more of the ratepayers' money in clearing the Wheatstone drain. —The Clerk suggested that there might be liability in the event of the drain being allowed to become foul. —The Chairman said that such a case could be fought out with the County' Council, which .was responsible for the drain.-—The advisableness of having the drain closed was discussed, but members agreed that this could riot be done without an official Act of Parliament.—The Chairman said they / could let the matter drop for the present, as-the drain .would not require any ■'■further attention for a year or.'two. ■ '* . . The Chairman announced that Mr Giddings had made the ford on the Boundary Road, and it was decided to write to the County Council drawing attention' to the unsatisfactory state-of this ford, and asking it to have it placed in good order; : also to write to Mr ""■ Giddings informing him that he would be responsible for any accident that?: might occur as a. result of the state of the ford. The Chairman announced that the outstanding rates amounted to £355, and it was resolved, on the motion of Mr McKay, to notify defaulting ratepayers that 10 per cent, would bet added to their rates after January 9, and the amounts owing to be sued for without further notice. The ranger reported that seven horses and two cows had been seized for trespass during the month. The clerk and Mr Taylor .were authorised to inspttet the pound with a I view 1 to'having some repairs done. The question of disposing of cocksfoot on the Board's roads was considered, and it was stated by Mr Taylor that the harvest would be later than usual. —It was left in the hands of the chairman to call for tenders for the, privilege of cutting it. . Mr EL Muir, who had been spreading metal for the Board in connection with Mr Spring's contract, waited on the Board, and asked for an increasel in his wages of Is a day. He stated that for three weeks he had only been employed 12 days.—The Chairman said that they did not wisli to establish a bad precedent, but they had to see that Mr Muir was paid a fair wage. — Mr Body said the weather had not interfered with the delivery of the metal. —-Mr Muir also brought before the Board the need for having a proper fence erected between the metal pit and the cemetery, and Mr Taylor was asked to inspect and report on the matter, Mr Muir agreeing to have the fenca made temporarily secure. | Mr Beech waited on the Board and .asked that the-) stank in the 'Whon-tstcne drain opposite his property be removed. He would be willing to remove it himself for 10s.—Mr Taylor said there- w,as no doubt the stank would have to be removed. It was a bad case.— The Clerk said that the stank had been put in by Mr Prebble, with the Board's consent. —The Chairman said that if they complied with the request they might lay themselves open to an action by Mr J. Bell.-r-Mr Body said that if all the creeks were open and in good order the drain would not have to carry half the quantity of water. —After further discussion it was decided to authorise Mr Beech to remove the obstruction complained of. The Surveyor was instructed to have the ford in FusselPs Creek properly graded. ' It was decided to. inform the metal contractor that unless metal was delivered in sufficient quantities on each fair day to enable the spreaders to earn 8s a. day, he would have to make up any deficiency, there might be in the men's wages. • It was also decided to inform Messrs Skilling and Muir that they would be granted a bonus at the end of the contract, bjit that the Board 1 could not consent to an increase in their wages. Accounts amounting to £137 13s 3d were passed for payment 1, and the Board adjourned.