ASHLEY.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8478, 9 May 1893, Page 6

ASHLEY.

The monthly meeting of the above Board ■was held on Thursday, the 4th iuet., all the members being present. Before entering on the ordinary business of the day, the Board desired to place on record their sense of the loss the country has sustained in the death of the late Premier, and further ordered a letter in accordance with this minute be forwarded to Mrs Ballance. A copy of the Board's accounts as forwarded to the Auditor was examined and approved of. Messrs Hodges and Philpott reported on the visit of inspection to Tracy's road, and the Clerk was instructed to wnte to Mr Tracy, calling hie attention to thegorse between the S.E. corners of sections 8268 and 8514. The Board decided to grant five yards of shingle to be spread on the road opposite Mr Tracy's gateway. Mr D. Martin's tender for forming part of No. 2 road was accepted. The claim made by Mr D. Banks for opening a shingle pit was left for consideration at the next meeting of the Board. D. Fitzgerald's claim for removing landslips on the Glentui Forest road was allowed. The Board decided not to pay on contract No. 35 till the work was completed; to tie inspected by a member of the Board in company with the Surveyor. The application of Mr Miles for compensation for work done in opening a road through land sold by the Midland Railway Company at No. 2 Hill, was deferred for further information. Accounts amounting to £136 3s lid were passed for payment. The Chairman took opportunity to give his reasons for retiring from the Board, and to thank the members for the kind assistance at all times accorded to him in the execution of his official duties. The Board expressed unanimous regret at Mr Millton's. retirement, and on the proposal ,oi Mr Thilpott,' seconded by Mr Stewart, a vote of thanks was accorded to him for his services as Chairman during the past two years, also expressing a hope that at some future date he would find time to give the district the benefit of his services. At the annual meeting of ratepayers of the Ashley road distnot, all the members of the Board and about twenty ratepayers were present. Mr J. D. Millton, Chairman' of the Board, presided. The meeting desired to record its deep regret for the loss to the colony through the death of the late Premier, and that this expression of regret be included in the Board's letter of condolence to Mrs Ballance; and further, that it be recorded on the minutes of this meeting. The Chairman ordered a copy of the Board's accounts for the past year to be read, and on the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr Barker, the accounts were approved, subject to being passed by the Inspector of Audit. Mr Whatman drew attention to the share which, according to the Commissioner's allocation, the Ashley Road Board had to pay towards the maintenance of the traffic bridge, »nd proposed the following resolution, which was seconded by Mr Brock, and carried unanimously—"That the ratepayers consider the proportion at present paid by the Ashley Road Board towards keeping the Ashley traffic bridge is excessive, and recommend the Board to take steps for a revision of proportionate payments for the future." Mr Whatman likewise drew attention to the heavy contributions demanded by the Charitable Aid and Hospital Boards compared with the very meagre returns made to the district, and proposed the following resolution, which was seconded by Mr John Brown, and carried unanimously— "That the incoming Board consider the great expense entailed by the Charitable Aid and Hospital Board is excessive, and hope to see a conference of local bodies to appoint smaller districts for the distribution of charitable aid." Mr White stated that a portion of Sinclair's road, which was in bad repair, had never been conveyed to the Board, and proposed that it be a recommendation to the Board to take steps to have this portion of Sinclair's road legally transferred to the Board. Several other roads in the district would require to be similarly dealt with. A vote of thanks to the Chairman, proposed by Mr Brock, was carried with acclamation, and the meeting adjourned.