CLUTHA ROAD BOARD.

Clutha Leader, Volume V, Issue 216, 30 August 1878, Page 6

CLUTHA ROAD BOARD.

The adjourned annual meeting of this Board was held at Warepa on Saturday last. All the members were present. The minutes of last meeting were read and approved of.

Mr James • M'Neil moved that Mr Christie be re-elected Chairman of the Board for th« ensuing year. — jSTot seconded.

Mr Monfries moved that Mr Dalgleish be elected, chairman. Mr Sarginson seconded, and Mr Dalgleish was therefore declared duly elected.

The Clerk read the Engineer's report, wliich stated that he had ordered timber for replacing the Puerua bridge, and advised that the Board should do the work by day labour rather than by contract, on the ground that it would be cheaper and better done. He had also inspected the approach to Downie's, and had. sent the surfaceman to do the necessary repairs at a cost not exceeding L 5. The report was approved of. Mr Dalgleish reported that in consequence of the stormy weather he had not yet completed the negotiations for a transfer of roadline with Mr Ayson, Corrydon, but that in the meantime Mr Ayson was willing to accommodate the settlers at the back of the bush by allowing tho Board to cut a bridle path along the roadline to be appropriated. On the motion of Mr M'Neil, seconded by Mr Monfries, it was resolved that Mr Dalgleish be empowered to confer with Messrs Dabinett and Ayson about the terms on which a roadline of 60 links could be obtained all the way through to the Major's road, and to report to next meeting.

The Clerk read the following petition to the Board : — !

" We the undersigned settlers, interested in the Pour-mile Creek road, regret to learn that you have granted permission to Mr Whitelaw to erect two gates [across this road thereby putting us to much unnecessary delay and inconvenience every time we pass along it. We understand that according to the Road Ordinance such an intention as that of applying for liberty to erect gates on any road-line sliould be advertised in the local newspaper sometime before-hand, so that objections can be made if necessary. We are not aware that this has been done ; and as we have to traverse this road veiy frequently, we hereby protest against being subjected to the trouble ancl annoyance of opening and shutting gates on this our own thoroughfare. We hope you will re-consider your decision on this matter and forbid the erection of gates on this road. — (Signed) Thomas Smith, Martin Eahey, Henry Coghill, Alexander Smith, Wm. Munro, J. B. Porteous."

The Chairman (Mr Christie) asked the Clerk if the law in regard to advertif ing the matter was such as stated in the petition.

The Clerk, in reply, said that in regard to the necessity for advertising the intention to erect gates, the petitoners had evidently been misinformed, for neither in the Otago Roads Ordinance nor in the Public Works Act was their any such proviso.

The Chairman explained that Mr Whitelaw wished the gates "put up in consequence of the bad state of his road-side fences, but that as soon as he got them repaired the gates would be removed.

It was ultimately resolved to ask the Clerk to write to the petitioners in terms of the above explanation. The Engineer was instructed— -I. To repair culvert on .Four-mile Creek. 2. To visit and report on the widening of riverside road at Invertiel prior to the erection of tho fence, with an estimate of the probable expense. 3. To report on the roads generally, and on that portion of the Otanomomo swamp road at Waitepeka Creek in [particular ; to state the works required, along with an estimate of their expense, and to report to next meeting of the Board.

The Board then adjourned till the third Saturday of September: