AWATERE ROAD BOARD.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 114, 12 May 1909, Page 7

AWATERE ROAD BOARD.

The first meeting of the new Board was held at Seddon yesterday, when there were present Messrs S. M. Neville, A. Mcßae and .D. J. Scott. DECLARING THE POLL. The returning officer notified the Board of the election of Messrs S. M. Neville, A. Rutherford, D. J. Scott and P. Meehan to the Board. CHAIRMANSHIP. Mr Neville was voted to the chair, and he said that this was the meeting at which they elected their i Chairman. He did not feel disposed to go on with the election, as there were so few present. He thought that they should wait until they had a larger meeting. He did not wish to do any injustice to Mr Armstrong. Mr Mcßae said that was very well, but Mr Armstrong should have an explanation as to why he was not present. The Secretary said that before lunch Mr Neville and Mr Meehan had put in an appearance, and it was thought that there would be no meeting, as it was not thought that the members would come owing to the state of the fords. - Mr Meehan went away to make arrangements to . drive himself and Mr Neville to town, and Mr Meehan was to tell Mr Armstrong that in all probability there would be no meeting. After Mr Meehan had gone, Mr Scott and Mr Mcßae put in an appearance, and that was the position. The Act laid it down that the Chairman had to be appointed at that meeting . Mr Neville said it was an unfortunate position under the circumstances. Was it not possible to send word to Messrs Meehan and Armstrong? Mr Mcßae said there was one of two things to do: to elect their Chairman or go on with the business. He had a long way to go to get home, and he did not want to ford the rivers in .the dark. They would have to do something, and that auickly. ~ The opinion was expressed that the fact of appointing a Chairman pro tern, would not be questioned, and so the Board unanimously decided to appoint Mr Neville Chairman pro tern. THE MEMBERS RETURN. • Messrs Meehan and Armstrong here put in an appearnnce and took their seats, Mr Neville continuing for the meeting in the chaii". APOLOGY. An apology was received from Mr Rutherford stating that it was impossible for him to attend the meeting that day ,and asking to be excused. Mr Rutherford was accordingly excused. MORE COMMISSION. Mr W. S. Short, officer in charge of the Department of Roads, wrote forwarding a copy of a letter refceived from the Amuri County Council asking that a commission be set up to allocate the cost of constructing * the Mason, Lower Waiau, Pahau and Hurunui bridges. Mr Short, in his letter, said that it would be necessary for the Awatere Road Board to state their objections in writing to Jiis Excellency the Governor against the proposed allocation. The proposed allocation debits the Awatere Board as follows: —Mason Bridge, 15 per cent; Lower Waiau, 5 per cent: Pahau, 10 per,cent; and Hurunui, 10 per cent.; the Amuri County Council to be the controlling authority in each case. The Secretary said he had written to Mr Short, objecting to the allocation on the grounds that the Awatere Road Board v/ere not a contiguous body, and that the proposed bridges, were not of any benefit to the ratepayers in the Awatere Road District. NOXIOUS WEEDS. In reference to the eradication of noxious weeds, in which connection the Awatere Board had approached the contiguous bodies with the object of having the operation of the Act made universal in the adjoining districts', the Omaka Road Board wrote stating that they were in sympathy in the matter. The Waiau Road Board also wrote stating that they were in favour of joining in with the . Awatere Board in connection with declaring borage and winged thistle noxious weeds under the Act.

The letters were received, and in the same connection it was decided to take steps to make a spepial order to bring winged thistle and wild borage under the provisions of the Noxious Weeds Act; and that the Omaka and Wairau Road Boards be informed of the action of the Awatere Road Board. SMALL BIRDS. Mr F. A. Whiteford wrote offering a supply of his bird poison on the same terms as last year. The Secretary was instructed to procure what was necessary. A CLAIM. Mr Charles Goulter, of Hawkesbury, wrote complaining that the road men had been digging holes in his property for the purpose of getting gravel, and claiming £5 for the damage done to his property. He was willing to sell land to the Board for a gravel pit. Mr Mcßae said he did not think ife' was necessary to open up the pits so close together. The Inspector explained that the men were putting sand on the road, and he had sent them back to their old pit. For years the Board had been in the habit of getting gravel, oat of this pit. He had no thought that Mr Goulter would object. The Board would have to make some arrangements with Mr Goulter. He (the Inspector) had stopped the men immediately he had received Mr Goulter's letter. Mr Goulter, however, had allowed the men to go on and finish the work they had in hand. The land was practically valueless. Mr Neville moved that the matter be left in the hands of the Inspector and Mr Mcßae, and it was so decided. > TENDERS. The opening of tenders for gravelling 40 chains of the main road at Flaxbourne (screened metal) and gravelling about 50 chains from Cunningham's gate towards Adams's (unscreened metal) caused a discussion! on the relative merits of screened and Unscreened gravel. Mr Scott thought that more should be done to their roads with unscreened metal. The rates would go very much further. The Inspector: Yes, and have poor roads. Where there was any wear on the road they would find that screened metal was the best. Mr Scott said that the screened gravel was costing too much. Men were making eleven and twelve shillings a day at it. He did not agree to the paying of this amount for unskilled labour. Nino or ten shillings was too much to pay. Eight shillings per day was quite enough to pay for *lJ!Sfc.iJJecl labour, and he did not

think the men should be allowed to get any more. Mr Meehan moved, and Mr Neville seconded, that the lowest tender in each case be accepted. This motion was carried. Mr Scott said he wanted it distinctly understood that, as long as he represented Flaxbourne on the Board, he would strenuously object to any other than unscreened metal being put upon the roads in his district. The Inspector said Mr Scott would be convinced before he was with them long that the only way to make good roads was to use screened gravel. The tenders accepted were: No. 7 contract, Jeremiah O'Connor, at £2 18s 6d per chain; and No. 6 contract, George Adams, at 17s 6d per chain. WORKS. Mr Mcßae said that in connection with road work on the Medway Road the want of- a barrow was felt, and he had purchased one. His action was approved. THE MEDWAY ROAD. Mr Mcßae was authorised to interview the settlers interested in this road, and request them to meet the Board at their next meeting and discuss the matter, with a view of coming to a decision as to what they really wanted. GENERAL. It was resolved that Mr Atkinson be sent a copy of the resolution in reference to removing intermediate gates off the roads, excepting boundary gates, these latter to be kept in proper repair, to the satisfaction of the Inspector. Mr Scott asked that the Inspector obtain an estimate of a footbridge over the Flaxbourne River on the Deviation Road; it would be a boon to the children going to school. The Inspector said he would take a note of it.

It was decided that the Board re sume possession of the piece of ground above the Awatere Bridge, at present rented by Mr Mackersey; that Mackersey be allowed to run his horse free of charge in the paddock, and that settlers be allowed to run milk cows in the reserve at a fee of 5s per quarter, payable in advance, not more than two cows belonging to any one settler to be allowed to take advantage of the commonage. It was decided to call for tenders for gravelling Ward Street (a byroad to the Ward railway station).

The Secretary was instructed to write to the Department of Railways and draw attention to the dangerous encroachment of the river above tho Awatere Bridge.

The Board then rose