AWATERE ROAD BOARD.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLI, Issue 239, 9 October 1907, Page 5

AWATERE ROAD BOARD.

THE MONTHLY MEETING

IMPORTANT RESOLUTIONS

The monthly meeting of the Awatere Road Board, held in the Board's office at Seddon was attended by Messrs J. G. Armstrong (Chairman), P. Meehan, Jas. Bell, Cunningham, and A. Mcßae. A long letter was received from Mr Shirtliff, of the Muller, Upper Awatcre. In the course of ifc he complained of a contractor's neglect of the roads. On a recent Saturday, he stated, he saw Mr Mahon engaged in private work that had taken him for three days off the road.—lt was resolved that Mr Shirtliff be asked for further information.

In response to a circular from Booth, Miacdonald and Coy., Christchurch, it was resolved that a four-wheeled scoop or scraper be taken on trial, as offered by that firm. Mr C. Murray, Wharanui, wrote asking the Board to take over a certain length of useless fencing on the road near Flags Creek.—lt was decided that 10s be paid for the fencing. WATER FOR POWER PURPOSES.

The Waimakariri-Ashley Water Supply Board wrote with reference to the Christchurch Power and Loan Empowering Act now before the House of Representatives*. The above Act proposes to give a city power to over-ride the rights in water and irrigation now held by a county council or vyater supply board; thus benefiting a city at the expense of the country. To that district their legal advisers and engineers distinctly told them that the damage would be incalculable and endure for all time. If this principle were entertained and agreed to by Parliament in this case, other districts throughout the Dominion would be treated in like manner whenever a lara;e corporation wished to improve itself at the expense of the country districts. The co-operation and help of the Awatere Road Board was asked in opposing the principle from being established in the Dominion by the passing of this' Act. The Board resolved that the Member for the district be written to and asked to oppose any interference with the water-supply boards, and that the Secretary forward the circular to him. DUMGREE EXCHANGE OF ROADS

Mr Young, manager for Mrs Renwick, waited on the Board with reference to the proposed exchange of Dumgree trespass roads to the' Board for the Board's gift of paper roads to Dumgree. Plans had been prepared, and were carefully inspected.

The object of the exchange is to enable the Board to construct a dray road from a point near the old cemetery, Taylor Pass accommodationhouse, down the north bank of the Awatere, and across Dumgree flat to the Dashwood railway station. The effect of the opening of the new road, for the construction of which £500 was scheduled when the Board's loan of £4000 was raised some twelve months ago, will be to enable the produce from the whole of the Upper Awatere to be brought down to the railway without the necessity of fording the river. There will be a slight saving of distance, too, by reason of the railway being met with at a point both nearer Blenheim than Seddon and nearer the Upper Awatere than ■Seddon.

After mature consideration of the question by the Board, Mr Young offered, for" Mrs Renwick, to exchange on equal terms, and that Mrs Renwick should pay half tho cost of the exchange, such as plans, advertising closing notices, etc. He remarked that the fencing Dumgree would have to erect would cost more than the land granted by the Board was worth. On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr Cunningham, Mr Young's offer was accepted. It was further resolved that the Chairman sign the plans on behalf of the Board. The plans were accordingly signed by both parties. Mr Meehan: And that settles a three-year-old job. Mr Young: A thirty-year job, so far as Dumgree is concerned. In reply to the Chairman, who asked whether there should not be an agreement signed, Mr Young said the agreement to effect the exchange on even terms had been signed by himself and Mr Neville, as Chairman of the Board, before the Government surveyors had anything to do with the matter. ,

, 'A vote of thanks to Mr Young concluded the matter. .Mr Bell said that whilst they were on this ' matter . they might as well consider what they were going to <io towards opening the road. The Chairman said there were no funds available at present. They should first make certain whether a further instalment of the loan money was available from Wellington. j TENDERS. Tenders were read for various road metalling contracts as follows: —No. 1, one mile at Tar Barrel Hill— Smith, £5 5s per chain; W. Porter, 5s 9d per yard; Michael Higgins, £4 ! 15s per chain; Hayward and Adams, i£3 6s per chain; J. O'Connor, £3 5s per chain. No. 2, 60 chains at Grassmere—Smith, £4 4s; Hayward and Adams, 7s per yard; Beamsley, £3 8s; J. O'Connor, £4 5s per chain; J. Higgins, senr., £4 per chain; A. Marfell, £4 18s per chain. No 3, 50 chains at Richmond Brook—E. Bishell, £2 6s per chain; J. Higgins, jun., £3 per chain; A. Marfell, £2 5s per chain; Hayward and Adams, 7s per yard; J. O'Connor, £3 per chain; R. McNamara, £2 5s per chain. The Inspector stated his estimates were as follows: —No. 1, £4 per chain; No. 2, £4 10s per chain; No. 3, £3 per chain. The Chairman remarked that it was a long time since there had been so many tenders before the Board. The Secretary stated that there was £1200 of the borrowed money in the Bank. He remarked that the gravel for the Tar Barrel- work would come from the Ure River, and there would be a distance of five miles to . cart it. It had cost the Roads Department £3 15s, or 10s dearer than the lowest tender the Board had received, to do the work adjoining. The Chairman thought the tenders, considering the present price of horse feed, were very reasonable.

It was decided to accept the lowest tenders for contracts Nos. 1 and 2, those of Messrs O'Connor and Beamsley respectively. In the case of the .Richmond Brook work, Mr Meehan urged that, instead of balloting between the two lowest tenderers, A. Marl'cll and 11. McNamara, whoso tenders were both £2 5s per chain, Mr McNamara should be given the preference. He had been kept on all the winter in the worst parts of the district, averaging very poor time, and it was only fair, now a chance of good weather and full time came, that he should bs given the preference over

a tenderer who was a contractor solely. Besides, Mr Marfell had a liiverlands banking contract to do. The Inspector said McNamara had made only 16i days last month. On the motion of Mr Cunningham, it was resolved that Mr McNamara's tender for .Richmond Brook be accepted. In view of the comparative lowness of the tenders, the Chairman said he thought they should decide to invite fresh tenders for the next meeting. There was tho urgent metalling of Flaxbourne .Road, also that at King's Plat, to say nothing of the Dumgree Road. INSPECTOR'S REPORT. The Inspector (Mr George Horn) reported having visited the Upper Awatere as far up as Molesworth. Slight wash-outs had occurred, and these had been attended to. In the Lower Awatcro district similar small repairs had been effected. In the Flaxbourne subdivision the White vSlip wa.3 causing a great deal of trouble, and a part of it appeared to be slowly slipping into the sea, caused through the top surface lying on a greasy back formation. It required attention every day, it being almost one man's work to look after it. However, nothing could be done except re-filling the depressions with fresh earth and fascining it, which would be done. Several large and many small steps had come down on the newly-made Flaxbourne roads, and two men were clearing theni off. Regarding the proposed deviation of the road south of Kekerangu, the distance would be about two miles. He was of opinion it would be a very costly road to make, as the whole of the beach was sand, and what was known as the sand slip was 20 chains long. This slip abutted on to high water mark. He noted also that the route of the proposed Blenheim-Wai-para railway line took up the best part of the beach. The Inspector verbally urged the necessity of metalling the whole of the Ward Road from the Flaxbourne shearing-shed to ElvyV Corner, a, distance of two miles. The formation of this road, which lay through the township, had been completed, the width of formation being 31ft. The Chairman said that, in view of the fact that the overdraft was £1559 7s 2d, without the day's vouchers, and that the limit of the overdraft was being rapidly approached, he thought the Board should stop all works outside those provided for by loan money. The Inspector said the worst section on the Flaxbourne main road was that running to the foot of One- ! tree Hill.

Mr Cunningham urged that about half a mile of gravelling was urgently necessary beyond Elvy's blacksmith's shop. It was decided to call for tenders for these two works, and that in the meantime the Secretary write asking the Treasury to,forward £1000 more of the loan money. It was also resolved that tenders be called for the contract at King's Flat. THE DUMGREE ROAD AGAIN. In reference to the Dumgree Road, the Chairman reported that the members of the Board had visited the locality, and it had been agreed that the best way to deal with the ravine intersecting the route was to place in a 4ft culvert, and then when the cuttings were started the filling of the ravine could proceed. On the motion of Mr Meehan, it was resolved that the Inspector have the culvert put in by day labour. The Inspector was instructed to report at next meeting on Avery's Road. GENERAL. On the motion of the Chairman, who said he was only proposing to fulfil a duty, the Board decided mat the Inspector should, receive a commission of 2£ per cent, on the loan money expended.—Mr Horn thanked the Board. Tho dog tax for the current year was fixed at 2s 6d per dog. Accounts were passed for payment, and, tho Chairman having criticised the hotel account in particular in respect to a Board member's putting down horse-feeds to the charge of the Board that were dated nearly a week after the monthly imeeting-day, the Board rose. . .