AVON.

Press, Volume XXIII, Issue 2927, 7 January 1875, Page 3

AVON.

Tiie annual meeting of the ratepayers of this road district was 'held yesterday at noon, at the office, Papanui road, Mr Wright, the chairman, presiding. The accounts for the year were read, of which the following is an abstract: —

Receipts—Rates, £1661 13s Id ; contributions, £175 4*» 4d ; Government grants, £255016 a ; overdraft on December 31st, 1874, £164 10a 10d; total, £45u2 4s 3d. Payments, overdraft on January, 1874, £128 10s ; Kprth road, £521 16s 3d ; salaries, £227 10s: advertising, printing, &c, £6519s 6d ; general expenses and tools for immigrants, £ 178 8s ; additions to office, £140; Caledonian road, £105 15s 6d ; Homer's drain, £7 18e ; East Chrietchurch road, £56 18s 9d ; St Albam, £105 2e 7Jd ; Preston's road, £153 18s 4d ; Papanui and Fendaltown road,'£4 14s 6d : Waimakariri Sandhills road, JSII6 6s 6d ; Avon Mill road, 103 ; Bpringßeld road, £57 3s IOJd ; gravel reserve road, £167 18s Id; purchase of reserve, £623; main drains. £121 10s 2d ; North town belt, £20 16s l*d ,- Knightstown, £43 4s 4£d ; Sawyer's Arms joad, £H ; East town belt, £40; Northcote TOad, £161 2s 3d ; Aikman's road. £12 15* Ed; Styx bridge road, £178 8s lOd ; Duncan's xoad, £91 10s; Church road, 15s; Toons Toad, £5 12s 6d ; Horseshoe Lake drainage, £143 ]2s 9d ; St Albans drain, £78 Is 9d ; Merirale road, £3 Is; Office road, £144 Is 10d ; New Brighton road, £33005)0d ; Winter's road, £6; Shirley's road, £31 3s sd; Innis' load, 7s; Daniels' road, £i 12s ; Board of Conservators, £21 4s lid: Bingsland, £97 14s; (Janal reserve, £27 15s 6d ; Riccarton drainage, £10 6s: Duncan's Creek, £60 4s 3d ; Boundary roads, £37 14s 3d ; Stanmore load, £201 19s 3d ; totat, £4417 13s 4d ; interest for the year on overdrafts, £6 0s lid; total, £4552 4s 3d ; by overdraft at U. B. A., £164 10s 10d. The balance-sheet showed the liabilities to "be £525 Is Bd, and the assets as follows :— Christie's contribntion to his road, £3 15s: [ Contribution towards forming and shingling toad to river from Stanmore road, £19 7s; general rates, £18 7s; Waimakariri rates, £3 Oβ 2d; Provincial Grant, £445; drain pipes in stock, £5; gravel reserve, £650; office, land, safe, and furniture, £500; forfeited deposits, £10; total, £1.654 9s2d. * 3?he chairman said if any ratepayer fished to speak of the accounts now was the time to do so. Mr Lame spoke of the large amount which had been used by the Board during the year, and particularly of the large item for a grayel reserve, which he would like to hear explained. The Chairman sxid that the district was Very bare of gravel, and it was, therefore, necessary to secure a gravel site. One offering, the Board hnd embraced the opportunity and purchased it. Mr Lame said he was perfectly satisfied ysb f&s explanation, gires, asd did. not wisb,

o[itto be understood that in asking questions Ihe was reflecting upon the Board. He then :s I referred to the expenditure on the outlet to d j the Horseshoe Lake, and the large grants i- J from the Government for the last two years, which he did not think would last. He thought that a road should be made through the swamp to open up the interior of the district. The Chairman said that such was the intention of the Roard, and with reference to the outlet of the Horseshoe Lake the fall was so inconsiderable that it required outlet of the nature made, to permit the water to flow away more rapidly, and he thought the drain cut would answer the purpose. Mr Lame said he was well acquainted with that locality, and thought that if the existing creek had been kept clear, it would have answered all the requirements of that part of the district. Mr Palmer said that a large portion of land in his occupation, which used to be covered with water, was since the cutting of the drain now dry; but he thought the drain should have been cut in a different place. The Chairman said be thought the fact mentioned by Mr Palmer should convince Mr Lame that the drain was doing its work, and he had no doubt it would be of great benefit to that part of the district, since the number of drains emptying themselves into the lake, and the badness of the fall, required a wide outlet to carry the water off, and it was not the intention of the Board to close np the old creek, but use both for drainage purposes. Mr Lame also drew attention to the large items down for keeping the North road in repair, and thought that of the large items in the balance-sheet some explanation should be given. The Chairman said it would be impossible to give the explanations require!, iv consequence of the great number; but if Mr Lame wished all the items making up any of the accounts as shown on the balance-sheet could be read over to the meeting. Mr Lame said he did not require that, as he had no doubt that the Board had seen that the money was properly expended. With regard to the balance-sheet, he said he saw an amount down there for £50.1 aa an asset, being the valuation of the Road Board ] office, land, &c, which was likely to mislead ] the ratepayers as to the actual available ' balance. The Chairman replied that he thought it ' was a fair valua'-iou, and that no ratepayers j would be misled by it. It was placed there , so that the actual position of the Board might be seen, were the district wound up c to-morrow. c Mr Kruse asked how the delay occurred ! in finishing the North road, as he considered J it in a very dangerous state. * The Chairman explained that the con- * tractor was to blame for not getting on with hia coDtract, for had he carried out his work f in a proper manner, the road would have P been nearly completed by this time. The | best time of the year had been selected for doing the work, and it was left with the contractor to do the work to the best advan- r tage. r Mr Kruse said he thought the road ought I to have been done five chains at a time. Mr Lame said that a large sum of money c had been expended on the New Brighton 8 road, more than he considered was necessary, but would move—"That ihe statement of accounts as read be adopted." 8 This was seconded by Mr Hinton and P carried unanimously. The Chairman said the next business was ° then- mination of three gentlemen to fill in ? the place of the three who had retired. The following were duly proposed :— ?' Messrs W. Munro, B. Duncan, Lame, F. j l , Dickinson, E. Jobblin, and W. Norman. A show of hands was taken, which re- ?! suited as follows :— t Duncan 13 ° L-iii>e ... ... ... ... 13 " Dickinson ... ... ... 13 c i Norman ... ... ... ... 13 v Munro ... .8 w Jobl.lin 8 Ci A poll was demanded by Messrs Brice and *' Salter on behalf of Mr E. Jobblin, which was ?' fixed to take place on Saturday, at the fol- .\ lp.ving polling booths :—Road Board office, School District schoolroom, Biugsland, and f* Moir's Styx mill. b A vote of thanks to the chairman brought ai the meeting to a close. Cl