SPRINGS.

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

SPRINGS.

The annual meeting of ratepayers to elect three members, in the room of Messrs E. Curry. F. H. Ranger, and W. B. Andrews, who retired by rotation, but were eligible for re-election, was held in the office, Springston, on Thursday last.

The annual statement of accounts was as

follows :— '■ The total receipts of the Poard during the past year have been, including: a balance of £2063 173 2d from 1873, £7354 7s Td ; and the expenditure, £5725 Ss 2<l ;

leaving a balance, includiue the deposit of £1000 at the Baukof New Zealand, of £1628

j 193 5d The outstanding assets amount to £?70 16s 2d. and the outstanding liabilities £3045 9s 3d. This will leave, after all assots are in, and all liabilities discharged, a deficit balance of £G45 13s 103. Last yoar there was a credit balance of £758 18s Id. The difference is mainly caused by the lanrp appropriation for uevv main bridges, which has been exclusive of the special grant being £740. The amount of works carried out dunng the past year have exceeded that of the previous year, as will be shown by the two balance sheets placed before you. The works executed during the past year have been—Forming roads, 2821 chains 64 links, or a little over thirty-five miles ; the length formed last year was 286 chains, or rather over one-tenth part of what has been done this year; drains cleared, 1155 chains 23 I links ; roads shingled, 298 chains; the length shing'ed in 1873 was 58 chains. Works in band —Forming roads, 450 chains ; roads being shingled. 414 chains. The main roads in the district have been thoroughly repaired by day labor during the past year. Three large new main bridges have been erected : one an iron girder bridge, with stone abutments, and wing walls, at Lincoln, which has been built by Mr J. Anderson, of Christcnurch, at a cost of £972 10s, under the superintendence of the Provincial Government, they having given a special grant of £620 towards the work, and two wooden ones, one on the Springs road over the LI river, and one by Silvester's over the No 2. were erected by Mr John Wilson, of Saltwater Creek, at a cost of £360. The Provincial Government have erected five immigrants' cottages upon the reserves in the district, which will b°. completed shortly, and will then, be under the management of the Board. A large number of pipe and wooden culverts have been put in throughout the district, and a quantity of stone has been ordered for culverts and small bridges, to take the place of wooden culverts now in use, which in many casfs are becoming unsafe for traffic. The con • tract for clearing and maintaining the LI and No 2 Rivers expired in August last, and tenders have been invited for maintaining the same for fhe year 1875. The assessment of the district has been made by Messrs Hill and Archer, which has been, as far as the information in the roll is concerned, a great improvement upon the old roll. The district maps which were sent to Melbourne to be lithographed came to hand early in February. To secure material for repairing tho roads in the Green Park district, which are of a very sandy nature, the Board purchased a piece of clay land on the bed of the Lake, at a cost of £21 4s, the title of which will be vested in the chairman of the Board for the time being. The Hoard has obtained authority from the Provincial Government to form . the Tramway Reserve road, this being the most direct road to the new bridge. The Board was very desirous of getting the work done, but thought it advisable to leave the matter to the new Board, so that the ratepayers may have an opportunity of expressing their opinion on the subject. The ford through the River Selwyn, at the end of Gourlay's road, which has been open some time back through the courtesy of Mr W. Miles, has been closed by that gentleman fencing off this land.

" The Board are now in a position to carry out such works as will re-open the road for traffic, but it being on the eve of the annual election, the Board deemed it advisable to postpone the matter for the new Board to commence and carry out, as it would have been impossible for this Board to complete the works during the term of their office.

" The salaries and office expenses including the valuation of district, plans, drawings for bridges, and superintendence of same, have been £308 12.$ 7d or 52s 3d per cent upon the total expenditure, less the £250 paid on account of cottages, which were under the supervision of the Provincial Government."

The statement of accounts showed the receipts to be £7351 7s 7d, and the expenditure £5725 8s 2d; liabilities £3045 9s 3d, leaving a debit balance of £645 13s lOd.

The nomination of candidates for the three vacant seats was then proceeded with, the chairman announcing that he did not intend to stand, as he was about to proceed to England, and thanking the ratepayers for the confidence placed by them in him. Messrs W. Miles, R. Watson, W. B. Andrews, Chas Malthus, and J. Hurst were proposed, and a show of hands was taken with the following result:— Mr Wm. Miles 20 Mr Robert Watson 18 Mr W. B. Andrews 17 Mr Chas. Malthus H Mr John Hurst ... ... ... 3 Mr Ranger demanded a poll on behalf of Mr Malthus, which the returning officer stated would take place at once and close at 4 p.m. At a few minutes to 5 o'clock the returning officer declared the result of the poll to be as follows :— W. B. Andrews ... 67 Robert Watson 61 Charles Malthas 61 Wm Miles 60 John Hurst 27 And he had to declare Messrs Andrews, Wat« son, and Malthus, duly elected. A meeting of the new Board was then held. Present all the members. The Rev A. P. O'Callaghan was unanimously elected chairman for the ensuing year.