ROAD BOARDS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12479, 19 April 1901, Page 7

ROAD BOARDS.

AVON. The usual monthly meeting of the Avon Road Board was held on Monday last; present—Messrs A. B. Morgan ..(chairman),' M. Howken, J. Duhlop, I. Parish and E. j Spencer. Mr W. H. Jones interviewed the ! Board, asking that something should be | done to improve Ferry Road east'-, Mr R. I Wright wrote on the same subject. The Board agreed to have the road attended to. Mr R- Gibb waited on the Board, complaining that the Ranger had impounded his cattle and left those of another owner on the road. After hearing the Ranger, the matter was adjourned for further information. Mr Hawken moved—" That in future the Board do not make any drain or water-course, c.r erect or construct any bridge or culvert, or lower any existing bridge or culvert, or maintain, clean or deepen any drain or water-course (except in oases where the Board is already liable to do so), unless the performance of 'such work is, in the opinion of the Board, for the drainage cr benefit of a road in the district, or .unless the persons benefited by such j work subscribe suoh sum &s the Board may I from time to time decide towards the cost of. 'same." '. Mr • ' Dunlop. moved as an ' amendment that the resolution should bo held over to the first ordinary meeting of the Board, to be held in May. The amendment was not seconded. The Chairman put the motion,'which was lost. The Chairman* moved that in future the Board will not lay out or construct any footpath in the district unless 1 the owners i?r occupiers of land or. buildings 1 fronting on same pay such proportion of 1 the "cost of the work as may from time to time be determined by the -Board. The motion was rejected. Messrs Walters and Da«3 interviewed the Board relative to drainage matters on M'Saveney's Road. The Board agreed to-meet at the place at three o'clock on "Saturday afternoon. Correspondence was received Iron* Mr. Allan Hopkins, giving-the Board notice to remove a *gn on the New Brighton Road, which it had given permission to have erected. It was resolved that the ownershould be asked to remove it. - The Eyreton Road Board wrote, giving the Board permission to take shingle from the river-bed at White's Bridge. J The thanks of the Board were accorded to the Eyreton Board." A petition was received from residents of Belfast, asking that the Belfast drain should be cleaned and deepened.' If was resolved- to do the work provided the petitioners subscribe the cost. Mr W. Double-day-wrote; asking the Board to form a footpath, along Ferry Road from the .railway crossing to the footbridge. Held over. The Secretary of the Royal Visit Executive Committee wrote, forwarding a copy of resolution passed by it relative to payment by the Board of part cost. The' matter was held over for further information. The Clerk was instructed to advertise,- asking farmers and others interested in arranging an exhibit for competition at the coming Winter Show -to communicate with him,j and to write to the Ricearton Road Board,;asking them to take* joint action in abating an alleged nuisance on the main road, Belfast. Accounts amounting to £3lB 9s on the general account and £227 10s 5d on. the loan'account were passed for payment, and the Board rose. TAITAPIX' The ordinary meeting of the.Tai Tapu Road Board was held on April 6; present —-Messrs T. Leathern (chairman), T. M'Artney, J. J. Herrick and W. Gilmour. An apology for the absenoe of Mr Fox-was re-. ceivftd,..-»"nd,. correspondence was read from: the Department of Agriculture regarding! slaughter-house inspection;; from Jubilee Memorial Committee; and Ifrom the'Treasury, announcing payment of subsidy. It' was resolved.that the contractor for carting shingle be communicated ..with rega'iding starting his . " work; and if he' is not prepared to go ■ on with it, that fresh tenders be invited, and also tenders-* for breaking 100 or 200 yards of metal at Reserve 1107.; It was reported that the main and 1 township drains were satisfactorily cleaned, also that, ten-. 'ders<-were~locaily called '.for breaking- metal',"' but ncie were received. It was resolved to hold the annual election on May 3. Payments amounting to £27.18s 3d were passed for payment, and the meeting ended. . ..-.'.-...' TEMPLETON. The monthly meeting of the Templeton Road Board was held on Saturday j present —Messrs W. J. Guy (Chairman), Wm. Bailey, T. Dawson, Geo. A. Mangin and Geo. Witty. The Clerk-reported that arrangements had been made with Mr Wm. Gilberthorpe for thie erection of a fence between Reserves 326 and Ms land, the Board finding material for two-thirds of the length, and Mr Gilberthorpe finding the remainder and doing the labour. A letter, was read from the Selwyn County Council, stating that the City Council had applied to lit for permission to erect an abattoir at Sockburn, adjoining the Midland Saleyards; also enclosing copy of letter" from the Town Clerk, giving particulars as to drainage, etc. The Council also wished, to learn the views of,the Board as to the -'"suitability of site, and whether the proposed sanitary measures were satisfactory. The letter from the. Town Clerk stated that the drainage was to be treated in septic tanks, all effluent water to be used ou private lands by agreement with owners, tie offal, including all blood, to be sold to freezing works. Also that the Government Veterinary and the Medical Health Officer had approved of the site and the proposed sanitary measures. Mr H. H. Ellis, Secretary of the Midland Saleyards Company, waited upon the Board regarding the same matter, and fully explained all arrangements made. After consideration, it was unanimously resolved that a reply should be sent stating that the site for the abattoirs and the proposed sanitary measures having been approved by the Government Veterinary and Medical Health Officers, the Board do not consider themselves in a position to place their views against expert evidence. It was also resolved' to. send' a copy of the above to "'the Oily Council." " (Mr G. Witty was absent from the - meeting during the discussion on the above question.) It was decided to call for tenders for drays, and applications for day men; also to hold the election for No. 1 Ward at the Midland Saleyards, Sockburn, on May 1; for No-s. 2 and 4 Wards, at the Library, Templeton, on May 2; Nos. 3 and ,5 Wards,': at the Road Board'Office, Yaldhursfc; on May 3;. andlthe annualjineeting of the Road Board: and-,the'-.aranial- meeting of'ratepayers, on; Monday,' May 6. A'fter passing 'accounts! for' £46 4s'2d the meeting .closed.* . ' - - ASHLEY. - : ' ' ; The ordinary meet-jog.of the. Ashley.Road' Board was held on Friday; present—Messrs Pulley, Miles and White—Mr Pulley in the chair. The date of the annual meeting of ratepayers .was.-fixed for the first Thursday in May. Several tenders were received for the erection of a dwelling-house in place of the one recently burned down, and that of Mr G. Thompson, of Raogiora, at £263 for a six-roomed house, was accepted. After passing several accounts for payment the Board rose. .'.•'.;• LITTLE RIVER. .-,-.,;-. ■ ■ The ordinarymeeting was'(held onApril 1; present—Messrs White, Coop and Gebbie. Mr -White was elected to take the chair. Correspondence was read from Mr Geo. Stanbury, asking that some metal may be carted to the road.at"the back of the railway station at Little River. It was resolved that this matter be attended to as soon as convenient. The Board's solicitor wrote regarding transfer* of parts of Perati Valley Road deviation. The Clerk intimated having- attended to the matter. The Department of Agriculture wrote re-' garding slaughter-house inspection and •licenses. Relative to the ten per cent penalty on rates not paid at due time, some complaints were received that being charged on over 200 acres of land which are the property of other ratepayers, it was scarcely fair to add this penalty, and make bad worse. The Board explained' that the Property Tax Depart-

doing, so, and the Board had no power to make any alterations on it no matter how ridiculous it may be; but it was agreed to allow this particular claim to remain in obeyance for the present. May 7 was the date fixed for holding '-election of members. It was resolved that tenders' should be invited locally to cart and spread about 500 yards of broken stone.in M'Queen's Va-.ley, to be an on April 13. After passing accounts amounting to £29 Is lid for pavmei.t and other routine business, the meeting terminated.

MANDEVILLE AND RANGIORA. The monthly meeting of the Mandeville and Rangiora Road Board was held on Friday; present-Mr F. Howell (chair-' man) and all the members. Mr F. Uuiliver ■ was- rc-appointed dog ranger for the. year. The Eyreton Road Board wrote,, giving an opinion that the free distribution of poisoned grain in May, June and July, and the purchase of birds m August, September and October, was the most effectual way of-dealing-with the small birds nuisance. The Chief Health Officer wrote as to taking steps "to place the district in, a thoroughly sanitary condition. It was resolved that in .the face of the Boards present financial position," it could not make Mr J B. Moody an offer for the gravel pit on his property. The Clerk was instructed to sue for all rates not paid by April 30. It was decided to invite tenders for the delivery of '2OO yards of boulders at the end of Lehman's Road for the stone-breaker to operate on. Mr "J. Buckley'* tender for shingling 26 chains of River Marsh Road at 2s per yard, was accepted. The annual meeting of ratepayers was fixed for May 6,at 3 p.m. It was decided, to sell the_ footbridge over the Little Ashley at Waikuku b y auction. The receipts for the month were reported to be £777 9s Bd, and the outstanding rates £7O 15s 2d as agamsfa £96 18s Id at the .same date last year. The bank overdraft was reported to be £243 Ids Bd. Accounts amounting to £153 bs od were passed for payment. RAKAIA. The Rakaia Road Board met on - : :,prii 15; present-Messrs Buokley (in the chair), Bealey, Wilson and Wallace. The tender of Messrs Wood and .Laurie to supply 10,300 ft o'f V.D.L. timber, required for rebuilding the bridge on Cordy's Road, at 18s 3d per 100 ft,. "iras accepted, tenders for the work of re-building the .'bridge (labour only) to be called for later on. The tender of T. Lamport ifor painting Glentunnel (Bridge at £7 15s was accepted. Tenders 'for the supply of 200 yards of shingle on Ardiiini Road' were ordered to be cAlled and other small works were authorised. It was resolved that the annua! meeting of ratepayers should ibe 'held on May 6, alt 1 p.m., "and *hat the next ordinary meeting of the Board- should be held at 10 a.m. on the same day. A petition was received from ratepayers at North Rakaia for a polling place to be appointed m that locality for local 'elections. " Mr Wilson moved, that ...the. pe :: tition-,should be granted. The motion -m>i not seconded, as the majority o'f members were of opinion that ratepayers in. other outlying- localities were equally entitled to more convenient polling places,- and that the time was too sliort prior to the 'May' elections to deal with t'he question withfairness to the whole district. The manager of the Hororata water-races" attended. His proposal .for the construction of a waterrace as applied for toy residents o'f Dunsandel township was considered and approved.