ANNUAL ROAD BOARD MEETINGS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5576, 6 January 1879, Page 7

ANNUAL ROAD BOARD MEETINGS.

pr.r.wgMktttt The annual meting of ratepayers was held at the office, Leeeton, on Jan. 8. About 40 persons wen present. The annual report was then read tod consuforod at. follows t

*< The Ellesmere Road Board presents the following report to the ratepayers of the district .—Owing to the satisfactory state of the Board’s Imos they have been enabled to complete a great amount of work daring the year. 36i mile* of roads have been formed, and 10l miles have been metalled. . About three miles of new drain, and 61 miles of drain out on bye roads in low land with formation on one side, betides many gullies filled in, &£., Ac. The Board have how under contract (but suspended for the harvest) about 16 mile* of formation aod about 7| miles of metalling in different parts of the district. In some few urgent cases where the occupiers of land hare no other moans of access to their properties, the Board' has expended district funds on the tramway reserves during the past year, and it is likely that these reserves will shortly be under the control of the Board. The accounts of the Board for the past year are open for inspection, and the balance sheet shoving receipts and expenditure over the different subdivisions of the district have been reposted up for the information of the people. It will be seen that the following sums have been expended in the several sub-divisions daring the past year, viz;— In toe Lake sub-division,... £1985 X 9

Ac. ... 416 1 0 The working expenses of the Board for the past year, including printing, salary, insurances, law, etc., are £BSB 210, “ The liabilities of this Board on Dec, 31, for outstanding works, are about £2IBO, and the asset* a* anown in balance sheet before you, inclusive of the balance at Union fiuik of Australia, Southbridge, amount to £22,717 6s 6d. “ The Board has carried out the wishes of ratepayers in having the regulations of Local Election Act brought with force in the district, and this ia the ’first election which takes place in the district under it. ~ ,r A mectlto of ratepayers was held on May 21. on petition of Mr W. J. G. Bluett and others to protest against the North Baikaia Board of Conservators borrowing large sums

of money to spend on proteotiveworka ; there were about flay ratepayer* pre*ent, and a petition was prepared asking the Government to remoro the present Board to allow the ratepayer* an opportunity to elect a new Board. Mr Bluett took charge of the petition.

“ During the year the Ckmnty Council have adopted the whole of the Counties Act. They have not had long enough trial yet to say what assistance they will be to the Board, but I understand they hare at present no intention to interfere.

“A Committee was appointed by several County-Councils and Road Boards foe the purpose of obtaining payment of the Canterbury portion of the land fund doe to them j the Committee decided to go to law with the Government with a view of compelling the Government to pay the money due to the Boards. “ Your Board objected to share expense of legal proceedings against the Government, as they thought it was a question for members of Parliament to settlein the House. “ Through the exertions of Mr B. J. Lee the public recreation and cemetery reserves have been defined, and a public meeting held, at which trustees we» elected and invested, and also a managing committee appointed in each case.

“ The Board has several times already given notice as to the encroachment of gone upon the roads in different parte of the distnet, and would strongly urge all who ate allowing it to spread to hare it out. According to section 98 of the Public Works Act a penalty of £5 is incurred for every day after due notice is given to clear. “ The valuation list is now being prepared and will be completed by Jan. 18. The valuation for the land tax is also in progress. “Mr Lunn having resigned his duties in connection with the Besident Magistrate’s Court at the request of the Board, ms salary has been increased by £7O, the amount be was receiving as clerk to the Bench, and he cow gives ms whole attention to the duties of the Board, which he has carried out in a workmanlike maimer, and to the satisfaction of the Board and the ratepayers.” The Chairman mid that the next business would be to elect two members in place of Messrs Chos. Bourne and J. Bong, who retinsd by rotation. Mr Lunn, the returning-ofiiccr, read the nomination papers as follows: Mr C. Bourne nominated by Messrs i, Bennie and J. Mr 3. Boag nominated by Messrs J. Cunningham and Ohas. Withell. sie*e being the only candidates nominated were duly elected. With a vote of thanks to the Board, which was proposed by Mr J. Cunningham, and seconded by Ur Chat. Withell, toe meeting terminated.

LINCOLN. The annual meeting was held at the office, Frebbletoo, on Jan. 2. The Chairman, Mr H. W. P«yman, read the financial statement and laid the balancesheet upon the table, by which it appeared that the balance to the credit of the Board on Jan. I was £3898 19* H added to which were assets amounting to £29 13* (ML making a total of £8928 18s 3d, against which were liabilities amounting to £1261 ISs 4d, Ifam* a balance of £2661 19* Ud aratlable for future works* It was moved by Hr Robert Aiken, seconded by Mr Wan Haaelhnrsh and ear; That tlm account* As wad be passed. Mr J. W. Anderson rose to prtpose a rote of to the Chairman for the able manner in which he had conducted the business of the Board during the past year. . In domg so he was sure that be gar* eiprcsswn to the unanimous opinion of the district. Mr Aiken asked Mr Anderson to include the other members of the Board In bis resolufiny. Mr Anderson expressing himself hePPJ - "? do so, and Mr John Willis haring tha resolution, it wae on being put to the raws* pressed himself to the same effect, *rid« the manner in which the work was oandofl on in the district would compare farourably with any district in Canterbury. . . Jtxs&ssj&fess tioa of Messrs H. W. Perymaa, OJ " e “ a n lay, and E. Prebblo. He then ndfdntes the ratepayer* present to nominate to fill the vacant scats. , \v. Mr C. E. Lcudley proposed, and air

Tod seconded Mr H. W. Porymanj Mr B, ; Aiken proposed, and Mr Lesley seconded Mr J. W. Overton j Mr J. W. Anderson pro* posed, and Mr J. Matkrey seconded Mr Edward Brabble i Mr John Will# proposed and W. Hasolhurst seconded Mr W. 0. Ladbroojf, a* fit persons to fill the vacancies. Mr H. White was proposed, but refused to stand. The show of hand* being in favour of Messrs Petty ffito, Overton and IgWprook, Mr Anderson demanded a poll on behalf of Mr Prebble. .... . _ At the close of the poll at 4 p.tn., the Returning Officer declared Messrs Perynmn, Overton and Ladbrook to be duly elected member* of the Lincoln Road Board. ’ ' The successful candidate* having brio fly addressed the ratepayer* present, the proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to Mr 0. L. Davies, the Reluming Officer.

„ Eillinohej „ 1882 10 I „ Coast 1808 4 6 Irwell 1040 4 6 409 11 3 In cost of timber, material,