PELORUS ROAD BOARD.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXIX, Issue 133, 8 June 1906, Page 1

PELORUS ROAD BOARD.

The usual monthly meeting of this Board was held on Tuesday last, there being present:—Messrs H. M. Reader (Chairman), Hodgson, Palmer, Storey, Nees, and Dalton. The Omaka Road Board notified that the maintenance of the Wairau and Opawa river fords for the expired year had cost £53 19s, of winch the Ptlcrus Board's proportion was £17 10s Bd, being one-third of the cost. The Omaka Road Board also wrote informing t3ie Board that after three months from Bth inst., the Omaka Board would be no longer responsible for the control and up-keep of the Wairau and Opawa river fords.—After discussion, it was decided to ask the local bodies interested in the up-keep : of the fords to meet at Blenheim on Tuesday, 10th July next; to suggest that each local body appoint two delegates; that the Blenheim Borough Council and the Havelock Town Board be invited to send representatives ; and that Messrs H. M. Reader and W. Hcdgson represent the Pelorus Road Board at the conference now proposed.

The Chief Engineer for roads, replying to the Board's request for a grant of £200 towards cost of gravelling and repairing the Rai Saddle, Havelock road, stated that enquiries were being made with a view to the request being considered.

The Hon. C. Hr. Mills, writing in the same regards stated he was supporting the Board's request in a communication to the Minister for Public Works. Mr Mills, later, wrote handing a letter from the Minister for Public Works stating that £100 had been authorised for expenditure upon the work. The Treasury notified the payment to the Board's credit of £12 16s Bd, being the Board's 25 per cent, alloca-. tion of the goldfields' revenue for the period. The Roads Department handed Gazette notice of intention of taking land for road, and closing road through Blocks IV and VIII, Wakamarina survey district (Kaiuma). The Picton Hospital and Charitable Aid Board informed the Board that the rate struck for the current year was one-sixth of a penny in the £, and that the Pelorus Board's contribution was £198 19s.

A resolution was passed setting the limit of the Board's overdraft with the Bank of New Zealand, Blenheim, at £1200.

Mr H. Lankow, Tua Marina, wrote the Board in connection with an alleged trespass upon his property at North Bank.—The Secretary was instructed to confer with Mr Lankow in order to ascertain the position, and report to the Board at its next meeting. Mr C. F. Hart, Canvastown, handed a communication to.himself from Mr John Graham, M.H.R., regarding the proposed swing bridge over the Pelorus River at Canvastown. In this Mr Graham stated that in response to his request the Minister had agreed to the suggestion that the Road Beard's Engineer undertake the erection of the bridge, and this it was understood Mr Matthews was.. with the consent of his Board, willing to do. Mr Graham felt sure the Board would place no difficulty in the way of such an arrangement.—Messrs Dalton, jfees, and the Inspector reported that 'tiioy had, together, visited the site of the proposed bridge, and expressed the opinion thai jt was useless to try to complete the erection of the bridge with the funds available for such purpose.

Messrs Hewitson and Parkes notified the Board that it was their intention to haul lighter loads with their traction engine plant, and to use the roads only in good weather. They also requested that their plant be given a trial in metalling the road through the Rai Valley at- a cost of £2 5s per daj' and fuel. The Board decided that in view of its finances it could n6t entertain the suggested expenditure in metalling the R|ii Valley at present. It was stated the road was in fair order until used by the hauling plant of Messrs Hewitson iand Parkes, and the Secretary was instructed to notify them that the Board strongly protests against their working the engine and plant when the roads are soft, and if more consideration be not given to this the Board will have to consider the advisability of proceeding against them for extraordinary damage done to the roads by their haulage plant. Mr T. Cawte, Mahakipawa,- having written the Board respecting repairs to the Mahau outlet road at Mahakipawa, the Inspector reported that the suggested repairs had been executed since receipt of Mr Cawte's letter. Mr G. Houldsworth, Chairman of the Omaka Road Board, and Mr J- Bary, a member of the same body,. interviewed the Board in regard to obtaining the Pelorus Board's assistance in erecting a cart bridge over the Omaka River between lienwicktown and Blenheim.—The Board, after giving every consideration to the proposal, decided that it could not, in its present financial position, see its way to adopt the suggestion of assisting in the erection of the bridge. The Secretary was instructed to write the Minister for Lands suggesting that the existing Timber and Flax Royalties Bill be so amended as to permit of local bodies obtaining half the royalties from timber and flax cut on State Forests, or, if this be not desirable, that the proclamation declaring lands in the Rai and Wakaniaring to be State forests be withdrawn, thus enabling the Board to obtain half royalties on timber cut in these localities.

The Mines Department notified the Board that the necessary additional grant had been authorised for the erection qf the new bridge over Deep Creek, W^kiimarina. The Secretary reported that, midt?r instruction from the Chairman, the tender of Messrs Barton Bros., had been accepted, the bridge to be erected with Australian hardwood within six months from the signing of the contract.

It was decided to purchase bird poison, each member of the Board to hold a supply for distribution to settlers upon application. Votes of thanks were recorded to the Minister for Mines for the assistance given in erection of the Deep Creek bridge and to the Hon. C. H. Mills for supporting the Board's requests for grants for necessary works throughout the district, and the meeting adjourned after passing accounts for payment.