GREY VALLEY ROAD BOARD,

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1751, 16 March 1874, Page 2

GREY VALLEY ROAD BOARD,

A meeting of the above Board was held at the Court House, Ahaura, on the 12th inst. There were present — Messrs Jones (chairman), Lash, Gillfin, and Campbell. After the minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed, The Acting Secretary read his report, from' which it appeared a list of such tracko and works as were of urgent necessity had been forwarded to the Superintendent, and that the members for the Grey Valley in the Provincial Council had been requested to use their efforts to have those works completed Replies had been received from the Provincial Government referring to unexpended votes available, and forwarding Blue Books for the years 1872. and 1873, together with copies of the Nelson Highways Act, and giving the Board permission to inspect the plans, &c, in the Survey Offices in the district. Advertisements have been inserted in the Greymouth, Kokitika, and Nelson papers, calling for tenders for the office of secretary and overseer of works to the Board. Several applications had been received. Letters were received from the following with reference to the unfinished portion of the Reef ton and Grey Valley Road :— The Provincial Secretary, the Cobden Road Board, the Borough Council of Greymouth, and the Reefton Road Board. A memorial had been received from the residents of Allen's Terrace, Nelson Creek, praying for repairs to the track, from Hatter's Terraces The Acting Secretary called attention to the number of complaints made to him in - his capacity of Chairman of the Board to the condition of the tracks in various parts of the district, especially in the upper parts of Nelson Creek. The Provincial Secretary had been interviewed with respect to the unfinished portion of the Grey Valley road, and Mr Greenfield had intimated in a general way that he would do his best to have the work completed, but would not make a specific promise. The report was received and its recommendation adopted. The Chairman was authorised to obtain a suitable office, with furniture, forthe use of the Board at its meetings. The Provincial Secretary was to be written to to ascertain if any reply had been received from the General Government as to the matter contained in the circular of .tho_ Provincial Government No. 15, January, 1874. The accounts of Kerr, Arnott, and Co., Frank GofF, C. Sommers, and the secretary^ account for incidental expenses were passed for payment. Votes were passed for paying the following works :— Removing fallen timber on the No Town track, the track from Ahaura to Callaghan Creek, No 2 track at Nelson Creek and clearing the track along No. 1 creek, Nelson Creek ; for mending a culvert on the Half-Ounce and Duffer Creek tracks, near Mr John Doolan's farm ; for making a bridge across Noble's Creek at the township. A sum of LlO was passed as a subsidy to Marr and Lock, for making a track from Napoleon Hill to Browne's Terrace, Noble's. A memorial was received from the residents of Allen's Terrace, Nelson. Creek, praying that the track should be repaired to that place. The memorial was received and LI 2 was voted to subsidise the cost of the work. A deputation was appointed to wait upon the Warden to request the grant of a site at the Ahaura for a Road Board Office, and Messrs Jones and Lash were to select such site on obtaining permission to do so. The Board then proceeded to consider the application for the office of surveyor, overseer of works and secretary. The tender of Mr George Willis, of Hokitika, was accepted, contingent upon his references and securities being found satisfactory, the applicant to take charge of all the works in the district from the Arnold River to the Inan^ahua boundary of : the Road Board district, to pay his horse hire and other expenses himself, and to perform the duties qf secretary and clerk to the Board, at a salary of L 3 per week. The Chairman was directed to communicate with Mr Willis, intimating to him the conditions under which his offer Tiyould be accepted, and directing him to hold himself in readiness to com-: mence his duties on Ist May. The Chairman was authorised to employ extra clerical assistance in the meantime. On the motion of the Chairman, the Board proceeded to decide by lot which of the members should retire in accordance with Clause V., of the Gold-fields Local Revenues Act, and the following names were drawn in rotation: — William Smith Campbell, Robert Alcorn, Patrick Gillen. These members are to retire in the first week of April, and the Chairman was authorised to make all the arrangements prescribed by the Act for the election of three new members of the Board. After the transaction of other unimportant business, the Board adjourned to the 17th April.