ROAD BOARDS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8485, 17 May 1893, Page 6

ROAD BOARDS.

AVON.

The ordinary meeting of this Board was held on Monday last. Messrs Dunlop and Mclntyre took their seats on re-election for Styx and New Brighton wards respectively. Messrs Homer and Dunlop, in eulogistic terms, moved and seconded the re-election of Mr C. Burgess as Chairman, which was ima-rimonaly agreed to. A deputation, headed by Mr F. W. Warner, asked permission to erect a boathou&e on the beach at New Brighton, which the Board could not see its way to grant. Letters were received from Mr Wilson re footpath on Bligh'a road. To be attended to. Mr White called attention to the state of Hawkes street, and suggested remedy which was approved. Mr Swarm, asking for formation of Cemetery road. Deferred. Webster and Co., respecting River road. To be reported on. Riccarton Road Board, asking the method the Board proposed for relieving suburban ratepayers of the drainage rate. To be informed that, in the opmion of the Board, power should be given to increase the rate in the sewage area, where the largest portion of the rate is spent. Messrs Cross, Garnet., Brings, Pickarskl, Finlay, and Tiach applied to have their names removed from the roll, and Messrs John Brown, Robert Crawford, Ed. Sleight, and Walker to be put on. In reply to inquiry a ratepayer to be informed that his name was omitted from the voters' list owing to all his rates not having been paid. Mr Manning's request to have ■and removed from the Esplanade was not entertained. An account for repairs of boundary roads was referred back for particulars and explanations. The reserve was let to Mr F. C. Day for five years. Messrs Henry and Corboy were successful tenderers for forming and claying streets at New Brighton; and Mr T. Storer for forming Blake's road, Belfast. The Surveyor's report, dealing with Lower Styx road, Walters, McSaveney's, Sea View, Papanui, St. James* Park, Grant's and Traviss roads, and alteration of North road, near White's bridge, and other matters was, after modification, approved. It was decided to give Pier Company final notice to remove fence on the Esplanade at New Brighton. A Committee was appointed to interview owners of Sparshot street, New Brighton, and to inspect and report on drainage, Belfast; screenings to be obtained for Several footpaths and metalling roads to be completed iorthwith ; vigorous steps to be taken to get in outstanding rates. After passing accounts and deciding to stack and ■ell old timber at New Brighton, the meeting ternunated,

TAI TAPU.

The ordinary meeting was held on May sth. Present — All the members. The Returning Officer announced the election of Messrs Forbes and Macartney unopposed. Mr Macartney was re-elected Chairman and Mr Gilmour Treasurer for the ensuing year. She Clerk intimated that the Board's accounts were du'-f audited on the 24th -ltimo, but had not yet been returned from Wellington, consequently tha annual meeting has to be unavoidably postponed. This Was approved of. Mr \Y. Hays waited ou the Board, asking chat the lower end of the ■back road may be metalled, and also complaining of the submersion of his land, owing to the state of the river Halswell, which he declared to be disgracefully neglected. Relative to metalling part of the back road, it was resolved that it would be attended to when practicable. A letter -was received from Mr J. G. Murray, intimating that the Finance Committee of the Selwyn County Council will _c willing to receive, a deputation from the Board on Monday, Bth inst., re maintaining part of main road, as between this "Board and the Springs Board, and also relative to the cleaning of the River HaiswelL It was resolved that the Clerk wait on Mr Murray and place in his hands a letter from the Board relative to the subjects referred to. It was resolved that twelve bushels of poisoned wheat be ordered from Mr Powell, Longbeach, and that Messrs Gilmour and Herriett be appointed to distribute it. Letters were also received —From Messrs Stringer and Cresswell, that Mr P. Wadsh is making complaints of reckless blasting by the Board's contractor, on the roadside near his house. The Chairman explained that he had arranged matters between the contractor and Mr Walsh. From Major Edmundson, asking that the Board may either metal Gerkin's road, which, in itsinpsacnt state is unfit for children to travel! to school on, or make the deviation road asked for some time since. It waa resolved that as the promoters of the deviation road have not yet complied with the conditions on which the Board fromised to consider the' matter, it cannot c gone on with, but the Board will be willing to do anything practicable to improve the old road, but during the present season cannot think of metalling it. From the Halswell Road Board, asking if .this Board is willing to pay half share of jthe cost of metalling Dunsford's Valley road as applied for to,that Board by Mr Heaton Rhodes. It was resolved that as this Board bad last year made a road to this property, Jt cannot in justice to its other ratepayers 'comply with the request at present. From the South Waimakariri Riverßoard, advising having levied a rate of l-16th of a Vienny in the . £ on class one, and •_-64th of a penny on class two district, and requesting that this Board may attend to the matter. It was resolved -hat this matter be attended to when levying the local rate. Tenders for quarrying -nd breaking 150 yards of metal at Reserve 1107 were opened and that of H. Melhopt, at 3s 2d per yard, was accepted. It was resolved that Mr Mangles be asked to clean the drain through his land at. Ahurijrij {That the Dairy Company be intimated that this Board cannot comply with its request re exchange of book cupboards. Relative to proposed bridge over the Halswell, it was resolved that the Lincoln Road Board's attention be called to the Board's letter on the subject, some months since, which has not yet been replied to. After passing .-counts for payment and other routine Batter the Board adjourned.

COURTENAY.

A meeting of this Board was held on "Monday, May Ist inst,, at 11 a.m. Present—Messts J. Gough (Chairman), T. H. Anson, H. A Knight, J. Dysart, C. Rudd, IT. Needham and G. Watson. Correspondence was read :—From the South Waixoakariri River Board, with special order for levying rate of 3-64ths of a penny in the £ on so much of the rateable property in the district as is comprised within the boundaries of their district. From F. Searle, requesting his name may be removed from the roll on account of R.S. 9915, as he is no longer the occupier, and that of the Rev. J. Crump, the owner, inserted. From C J. Harper, T. Hancock and the Midland Railway Company, of similar purport re certain sections, requesting the names of J. B. Acland and a G. Tripp. J. Taylor, F. Carter and Clarkson Bros, may be put on in place thereof. Granted. The following tenders for leasing gravel reserves were accepted:—D. McPhedran 6s, J. Smith 9s, "W. Coggan 6s 6d, R. Reid ss, O. Saunders Zs, T. Anson 5s 6d, J. Gough 6s per acre fa annum. The books of the Board as audited by tbe Inspector of Audit were *_pproved, and the meeting adjourned. The annual general meeting of ratepayers was held the same day at 1.30 p.m., Mr J. Gough, Chairman of the Board, in the chair. The Clerk read the report and "balance sheet of the Board for the past year, and copies of the "balance sheet were distributed among the ratepayers present. The balance sheet showed the receipts to have been from rates £471 96, Government grant £83 15s 4d, grant from Selwyn County Council on account of roads £100, rents £143 3s '2d, interest on fixed deposits £178 10s, other sources £49 15s 9d, with a "balance in hand on April Ist, 1892, of £4231 5s 3d, making a total of £5257 18s od. The expenditure for the year amounted to £2055 19s 7d, leaving a balance in favour of the Board of £320118s lid on April Ist last. On the motion of Mr McNae, seconded by Mr McPhedran, the report and balance sheet —■ read were adopted. Considerable discussion took place relative to the traction engine traffic through the district, and the following resolution was passed—"That this meeting views with alarm the probability of extra rating for the maintenance of tnarn roads on acccount of the heavy traction engine traffic through the district, and in the event of the Selwyn County Council deebjung to take over the main roads in eaesUon as county roads, desires thenew ooard to take anch necessary action as may

seem desirable and lawful to prevent the district from being rated for the through traffic not their own." On the subject of the small birds nuisance and poisoned wheat, it was resolved to leave the Board to deal with the matter as formerly. A vote of thanks to the members of the Board for their services during the past year having been carried unanimously, the meeting closed.

ELLESMERE.

An ordinary meeting of this Board was held. The members present were:— Messrs G. C. Waby (Chairman), W, Watson, R. Lockhead, and M. Jones. Correspondence was read —From C. C. Smithson, applying to have the drain cleaned past Mr Andrew Anderson's farm, and also the drain in the tramway. The Clerk stated that the first-mentioned was iv hand, but the latter, in the opinion of the Board, was in good order. From Body Brothers, asking to have their names substituted in place of Mr A T. Body, in reference to R.S. 9676, and part 10378. Agreed to. From Mr Holderness, advising having forwarded pamphlets re description of blight, its cure, _c. From Mr Fincham, asking the Board to reconsider his former application, and claiming a further sum in aid re outlet on Tamutu road. It was agreed to give Mr Fincham 30s in full satisfaction of the claim. From Mr John Halliday, asking drain to be cleaned on tbe tramway reserve. Granted. It was decided to repair the Doyleston Drain road from the school to the station. Mr Myers waited on the Board requesting to be allowed to plough the side 3of the tramway adjoining his farm at Dunsandel. The application was granted, subject to the approval of the Overseer. From Mr J. King, Audit Inspector, covering charge for auditing the Board's accounts, and requesting that the sum of £1 be paid into the Bank of New Zealand. From Mr D. Cant, complaining of the bad state of Davies' road and asking to have the same cleared. It was decided to call for tenders for next meeting ; aiso, calling attention to a broken culvert near h.'s house, the overseer to attend to the matter. Mr Jones moved, pursuant to notice given at last meeting—" That a district road rate cf |d of a penny in the £ be now levied." The motion was seconded by Mr Watson, aud carried unanimously. The pay - sheet, amounting to £107 16s 3d, was examiued and passed for payment, and the Board adjourned.