SOUTH RAKAIA ROAD BOARD.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8464, 1 June 1916, Page 4

SOUTH RAKAIA ROAD BOARD.

The fu-st meeting of the recentlyelected -South Rakaia Road Board was held to-day. Present: Messrs H. .)■. Harrison '(chairman). P. Drummond, A. J. Magson. R. 0. Gill, .and 3. Lambie. - '

Mr H. J. Harrison proposed that Mr A. J. Magson be appointed chairman. Mr Magson Mated that although he had promised Mr Harrison that ho would take the chair, ho felt it his duty to decline. Mr Harrison had ably conducted the business in the past, and there was no reason why he should not continue in office. He know that Mr Harrison would be absent for some time, and he would promiso to act as chairman during tho interval. Mr Harrison then consented to act, and was unanimously re-elected chairman.

The chairman welcomed Mr, Gill. the now member, id his seat on the board.

A ballot \\ ::s Laken for tho two members to retire sit the cud of the year, and Messrs Magson and Drummond drew the blank papers.

Tho tender of I*. McGirr was accepted for metalling on tho Barr HiilLav vision Uoad. T. Blackbourne's tender was accepted for the remainder, of tho road.

The dork reported that the contractor hud carried out his fencing work satisfactorily at tlio Tvyle Cemetery. New sign-boards htitl been: put up at the pound and cemetery, and signs for, finger-posts were also being painted. 31 r Magson gave notice to move at {the next meeting th.it the ■same general Irate of {d in the £ be struck for the i ensuing year. The "clerk was authorised to purchase small birdh' hos/ds as usual. It was decided to make application* to .the County Council lor a supply of poisoned grain. A letter was read from the Ashburton County Council regarding the-supply of pipes for w;i tef-raco crossings.—Thechairman stated xhat the water-races paid the- council welL Ho did not agree with the action of the council in reserving the right to say where pipes should be put in. Tt was unjust for the council fco refuse* to maintain rac« crossings after the- board had purchased 20 feet of piping for a crossing.—Mr 'Drummond stated that out of the whole County the council took about £4000 in water nates, and now, under the recent resolution, it did not intend to spend anything in cleaning crossings. There was one way of looking at the matter, find that was that the council could not rom pel tho boards to clean the crossings. Tie- contended that if tlie council could clean water-race crossings at 2s 6d each, it was muck cheaper than Ihc boards could do it, and the council .should do the whole of the work. lie was certain that this board could not do the work at 2s 6d per crossing. In some localities, where the traflk- was light, they might do thowork at that price.—Tho clerk said tho council's resolution was unfair inasmuch as it ,was intcuded to pay for cleaning crossings where 10 feet of pine« had been puc in, and not whore 20 feet of pipnh had been installed. He also stated that a man who cleaned a crossing in this district for 2s 6d earned his money, because more silt accumulated in the races than higher up.— Tho chairman said it had cost the coxmcil ,£3 for 20 foot of pipes, and the board £5 to put tho pipes in.—Mr Magson said the matter should be'referred to the ratepayers. —Tho clerk R'Md that in ronnor years the council did the f loaning, but made such'an unsatisfactory iob of'it that the ratepayer?! asked to !>!■> allowed to do the work themselves. —The board decided, under the circumstances, to refuse to maitrfnin water-nee crossings for a sum less than 4s ea^h, whether piped or otherwise.