OMAKA ROAD BOARD.

Marlborough Express, Volume XII, Issue 945, 15 August 1877, Page 6

OMAKA ROAD BOARD.

The ordinary meeting of the above Board was held m the Literary Institute, Blenheim, yesterday. Present : Messrs O'Sullivan (chairman), Jackson, Shaw, Houldsworth, C. Redwood and Dr Home, The minutes of the previous meeting, were read and confirmed. THE COLLECTORSHEP. The following applications were: received for the office of Collector to the' Board under the Eating Act :— Geo. Watson, 5, per cent; E. Maddock, 5 per cent ; C. Purkiss, 4§ per cent ; 0. Griffiths, 6 per cent • and Geo; Stenhouse, 4| per cent and 2s 6d for each summons. : It was unanimously resolved, on' the motion of Mr Hottldswobth, seconded by the Chairman — That Mr Purkiss be appointed Collector to the Board. DASHWOOIO PASS ROAD. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr Bedwood, seconded by Mr Houldsworth— That the Inspector do visit the Dashwood Pass Road, from the gate to the high land through section 18, and report to the next meeting of the Board. renwxck old road. Mr Jackson called the attention of the Board to the dangerous condition of the Renwick Old Road, and said that as the wool traffic would have commenced before the Middle Boad could be made available, he would move — That a sum not exceeding £30 be voted for the repair of the road, and to be expended under the direction of the Inspector. He was sure, with such, a lot of honorable members present, they could not refuse his request. Mr Redwood seconded the motion, which was supported by the Chairman, and carried unanimously. Mr Jackson said that the main body of the water running down the road came from a breach at the lower end of the Seymour embankment. Mr Redwood promised that ihe would draw attention to this matter at the next meeting of the Rivers Board. Dr Home moved, That the Secretary do furnish to the Board at its, next meeting an account of all moneys expended on the Renwick (Old Road; and said that it was a perfect white elephant, or Solomon's horse leech. Mr Jackson said he hoped to see Dr Home driving along the road when it was put m order. Dr Home said that he did not want to go to their shingle bed. •.•■<;■ ;.-.;. Mr Houldsworth seconded the motion, which was put and carried nem. con. GORSE HEDGES. _„;,■ The Chairman moved, That for, the enforcement of Clause 98 of the Public Works Act re Gdrse Hedges, the Inspector, subject to the approval of any two members of the Board, do make such arrangements with the proprietors of lands adjoining roads where gorse abounds, that they will to a certain extent receive some compensation for having to comply with the regulation ; such compensation only to be awarded, where it can be shown that the gorse has spread on ithe road by, other means than the hedge. He then alluded to. the spread of gorse by floods, and said that Mr Seymour's had spread from. Tyntesfield. to Blenheim. Mr Redwood seconded the motion, which was carried nem. con. ALABAMA ROAD. Mr Houldsworth moved— That the Inspector be authorised to expend a sum not exceeding £5 m clearing the ditches on the Alabama Road. • • Mr Jackson seconded the motion, and hoped the expense would be as little as possible. It was then put and carried nem con. It was resolved on the motion of Mr Houldsworth, seconded by Mr Redwood— That the Inspector be authorised to expend a sum not exceeding £7 10s on the formation of Weld Street from the Alabama Road to Redwood Town.

,■ ■ ■ ONAMALUTP ROAD. : The Chairman moved— That the Inspector 1 tlo visit and report upon such portion of the Onamalutu Road as lies within the Omaka District. The Wairau Board had unfortunately found out that a portion of the road was hot m ' their district and had| stopped short m their 1 work. Mr Shaw seconded the motion, which was ' carried nem. con. B.ENWICK OLD ROAD. . It was resolved on the motion of the Chair* man, seconded by Mr Shaw — That the lnspec* tor do visit and report upon that portion of thfr Ren wick Old Road lately fenced by Mr Mclver.. THE CHAIRMANSHIP. The Chairman stated that iately a stigma had been thrown upon them by it being stated that their Board was' illegally constituted ; that the action of the Returning Officer at the late elections was illegal; and that their rate waa invalid. This was rather a grave matter, and he had taken the best legal advice upon it, which was perhaps almost as good as the opinion of the Express. He would read them Mr Conolly's opinion, which was as follows :— "In reply to the questions 'proposed by yon, I am of opinion : — "1. That the person who was appointed oik the 10th June to hold the next election of members of the Omaka Road Board was qualified soto do, notwithstanding the bringing into, forceof the Regulation of Local Elections Act. The; interpretation clause appears to me to. be intended to meet such a case. Probably the' Returning Officer should, before acting, have made a declaration according to the Bth section of the Act ; but even if he omitted so to do, it would be a. matter of penalty only, and would not invalidate the proceedings. , "2. That whether Mr Jackson was entitled!; to sign the notice referred to would depend upon, whfether he had been previously declared elected,, which must be by publication m a newspaper. If he had been so declared, I' think- that thenotice would be good as from the day on. which it was actually signed, and that the erroneona. date is immaterial. : i;: "3. That the words " Chairman for the time being" mean the member who is lawfully iv.the chair at the time ; that is to say, the member who has been appointed Chairman for theyear, if present, or m his absence • the member who has been appointed to preside at that meeting." — This opinion would give them confidence to proceed with their work, and . the ratepayers would know that they were not' expending pub^ lie money; illegally. He was. sure one, and Vail would be pleased to hear it, and he handed the . opinion to the reporter of the Express, requesting that it might be published, and hoping that m the future they might go on unmolested from, such little quibbles. . • RATES. . ' ;.',,. : The Chairman said that he had some conversation with Mr Conolly as to the recovery of rates from absentees, and he had expressed an opinion that proceedings should be taken at once, as tney might lose a year's rates. "Mr Conolly ; had some cases m hand tor Ficton, and he thought the work might all be done at the same time. : Dr Home said he did not see why they should go to Picton when they could employ local talent. ■ ; ' The Chairman moved that Mr Conolly be. forthwith instructed. . . Mr Redwood seconded the motion, which was carried nem. con. It was resolved on the motion of the Chairman, That the Secretary do communicate with,, the Government Printer as to the supply of Statutes. DASHWOOD PASS . ROAD. . A letter was read from Mr Tindall, the contractor for work on this road, stating that he had been underpaid, as Messrs Atwood and Pike had not. paid their share of the cost of the work. i It was resolved on the motion of the- Chairman — That Mr Tindall be forthwith paid, .'and that Messrs Attwood and Pike's proportion of the cost be demanded from them. MIDDLE ROAD. i It was resolved on the motion of the Chairman — That £3 be expended m clearing the water tables on the Middle Road. | ■ -.;.•■ MEETINGS* . ■ ■'. -. - '■ It was resolved on the motion of Mr Shaw -r-That the future meetings of the Board be held at 11 o'clock m the forenoon. ! j - \ PAYMENTS. ' ' ' i The following accounts were passed for payment :— Wm. Tindall £8, Walker £18 8s 2d and Charming £54 12s 6d. 1 This concluded the business and the Board adjourned.