EAST HEATHCOTE DISTRICT ROAD BOARD.

Press, Volume IV, Issue 448, 6 April 1864, Page 2

EAST HEATHCOTE DISTRICT ROAD BOARD.

On Thursday, 31st March, the East Heathcote District Road Board met, pursuant to notice, at the office of Mr. Montgomery, Cashel Street, Christchurch. All the members were present except Mr. Ollivier. The minutes of the last meeting having been read and confirmed, the Chairman laid before the Board various communications which had been received, viz.:— From the Provincial Secretary, m reference to a road which had been made by mistake across Mr. Wakefield's land at Sumncr. From the Chairman of the Port Victoria Road Board, about the Dyer's Pass road. From Mr. Hichens, on the necessity of fencing the river near his house, as it was in a dangerous state, as also a piece of road near the slaughter-house. From Mr. Palmer, for permission to quarry stone on the Suinner road for ballasting vessels. From the Eev. J. Wilson, stating, in answer to enquiries as to whether he would allow a road across his section to make the approach to Wilson's bridge safe, that he would sell a piece for that purpose, and that the price would be £60. From Mr. J. Kerr, in reference to a road being made through his land. The following resolutions were then passed:— " That Mr. Brunsden and Mr. Fisher do see Mr. Kerr upon the spot and endeavour to arrange with him for tlie purchase of the necessary land for the new road, and report to the Board at the next meeting."—" That the Surveyor be directed to report upon the piece of road referred to in Mr. Hichen's letter."—" That the Surveyor be directed to see what terms Mr. Palmer would propose for quarrying stone for ballasting vessels."—" That the Surveyor be directed to inspect the road in the neighborhood of Mr. Wakefield's section, and report to the Board at its next meeting."—"That the ofler of the Rev. J. Wilson of 25 perches of lus land for making the approach to Wilson's bridge safe, be accepted." The report of the Surveyor was] then read and considered. It was resolved—" That the Clerk write to the Chairman of the Port Victoria Road Board, to ascertain to what extent that Board would be prepared to assist the East Heathcote Board in the formation of that portion of the Dyer's Pass road alluded to in Mr. Potts's letter of the 22nd March." "That the Clerk be instructed to write to the Provincial Secretary, to request he will *be pleased to cause the footpath on the Ferry road to be proclaimed in the Government Gazette" "That persons shall be allowed to remove sand from the Stanmore road, subject to the Surveyor's direction." "That the Surveyor be instructed to direct the placing the necessary metal near the Heathcote bridge ; also, to have the section purchased by the Board fenced, and a water-closet erected thereon." " That the Surveyor be instructed to advertise for tenders for forming the bridle path leading under the railway to the hills." " That the Clerk notify to persons through whose land the old natural gully or drain runs from the Stanmore road to the Ferry road, that all obstructions must be removed immediately, to allow the drainage to have free course." Bills to the amount of £40 Bs. 2d. were ordered to be paid. After some routine business, the Board adjourned until Tuesday, the sth April.

Gold IN Christchtjech.—Some of the inhabitants of Christchurch were thrown into a state of excitement by the report that gold had been discovered in the artesian well now being sunk in front of the City Hotel. The rumour appears to be not without foundation. We ourselves saw several pieces of clay out of which were extracted many specks of the precious metal which stood the test of the strongest nitric acid, and, unless it was the prank of some old hand at prospecting, who, for the sake of taking a rise out of some of us, had " salted " the earth, it may be put down as a bona fide discovery. The gold was a fine scaley gold and wae brought up in a stiff greasy blue clay. Christ's College Grammar School.—An examination was held at the College on Thursday hist, for the purpose of electing a Free Scholar to this •chool. There were five candidates for the scholarship, who were examined in Scripture, Church Catechism, History, Geography, Arithmetic, Reading, Writing, and Spelling. Tho result was that Day, p.f Kaiapoi school, obtained 75 marks ; Jacobs, Souter» and Winny, of Cliristchurch (equal), 66 ; Orton, Upper Heathcote, 60. Day consequently was elected. Prixcess Theatre.—" The Peep o'Day Boys " and " H.M.S. Spitfire" were repeated last night, with as great success as on the previous night. Tonight the performance is under the patronage of his Honor the Superintendent, for the benefit of the Orphan Asylum, and will include "Romeo and Juliet" with the farce of a " Pleasant Neighbor." With so great an attraction, supported by so excellent and charitable an object, the house ought to be crowded to the full, as we have no doubt it will be.