PICTON ROAD BOARD.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 117, 15 May 1909, Page 7

PICTON ROAD BOARD.

The first meeting of the Picton Road Board for the year was held yesterday, when there were 'present :— Messrs D'Arcy Chaytor, Law, Taylor, Seater and F. Smith.

ELECTION

The returning officer declared the result of the recent election as follows:—Messrs G. Randall, D'Arcy Chaytor, and Frederick Smith, jun.

CHAIRMAN.

Mr D'Arcy Chaytor was re-elected unanimously' as Chairman for the enSUM? Chaytor briefly returned thanks for the honor conferred upon him. It was satisfactory to him, as it showed that his actions, whilst Chairman of / the Board, had met with the approbation of members.

FINANCIAL

Accounts amounting to £35 16s lOd . were passed for payment. The credit balance at the bank was shown at *^79 14s 9d: Outstanding rates, rent, and subsidy v will swell this amount to. £482 18s Bd, leaving a working balance' of £447 Is ,10d. Th 6 Spring Creek Boad Board wrote stating that the contractor for, the Ferry bridge had applied for a procress payment, the share of the Piclon Board being £543 15s, and asking for a cheque for the same. . The Chairman said that they could overdraw their account to the extent of £600. With what they , had in hand they would have to overdraw £200. l .' , • Mr Law moved that the account be passed: for payment; Mr Smith seconded and the account was passed. CONSOLIDATED ACTS.

A list of Consolidated Acts was approved of, and the Secretary authorised to procure a bound copy of same.

TRANSFER

Bridget Martin' gave notice of transfer of part section 28, Waitohi Valley, to Albert H. Cresswell, the purchaser. Transfer approved, aiid the recommendation ordered to be sent on to ■the Minister. , Mr ' Aldridge wrote asking permission, to erect a gate across the road at the corner of their boundary fence and the pilot reserve, in order to !keep his stock from'wandering. Agreed toj the gate to be erected to the satisfaction of the ii> pector.

THE WAIRAU BRIDGE.

The Chairman said 'that it was thought that a joint committee of the two Boards be appointed to manage the punt, and overlook the building of the bridge, and Messrs Chaytor and Law were appointed to act in conjunction with.Messrs Gane and Murray, the appointees of the Spring Creek River Board. The Chairman read a statement of finance in connection with the running of the punt. For the 75 days the punt was. running the average "daily takings amounted to £2 7s sd, and the profit to date was £100 12s 2d. ; During the past fortnight the daily average was £2 10s, and'on one day £7 was taken. It was not the intention to make a profit over and above the cost of the punt and the working, and they had made arrangements to issue/concession tickets." If it was found that the profit kept up, they; might still -further reduce the tariff. -Taking the full cost of erecting the: bridge at £6500, thus allowing for extras over and above the contract, the quota of the Picton Board -would'come to a little under '£2500. H© thoufirhtVthat. a loan should be arranged for for this amount under the ■ LoanSf to Local Bodies Act. If the amount borrowed, was not wholly expended the surplus would be returned. A special rate would have to be Struck to cover .interest and sinking fund, and-it was for the Board, to say what period the loan would be spread over. The rate would have to be struck as a "guarantee, but it was not compulsory to call it up. It would not be necessary to have a poll of the ratepayers on the question. He would move that an applicationl be made to the Treasury for a loan of £2500, tinder part 2 of the, Local Bodies Loans Act, and steps be taken to have a special rate struck over the whole of the ratable property in the Road Board district;; the loan to be spread -over a period of 32 years. - Mr Seater seconded the motion; which was carried. . It was decided to convene a special meeting of the Board for Saturday, May 22,, at 10 a.m. in Blenheim, at "the A. and P. rooms, for the purpose of proposing a special; order to raise the loan and strikingl a rate for interest and sinking fund thereon.

STRIKING A RATE.

Notice was given to strike a rate of £d in the £ for the current year on the old valuation,; the rate to be payable on the first day of July. INSPECTOR'S REPORT.

The inspector reported on the works done during the -month, and made certain recommendations of work require^ to be done. t . ■ In reference to new piles required for the Koromiko bridgej it was decided that the work required be done by the Inspector, the question of obtaining the timber to be left iul the hands of Messrs Chaytor and Law. It was decided that, the members inspect the various bridges', and report at next meeting. _ The Inspector was authorised to get the grader for a fortnight's work in cleaning out the water-tables, and other small works were authorised.

A MENACE

The Inspector said an accident had happened owing to certain posts and. bricks which had been left on the road at the Elevation by Mr H. I*. Daikee. . _, ' The Chairman said Mr Daikee was personallyXresponsible if any accident occurred. " . -, . Mr Law said if it was a danger to traffic they should be removed. It was decided that the Inspector draw the attention of Mr Daikee to the matter.

TENDERS

Tenders for gravelling were then, considered, and the following accepted:—No. 1 contract (70 chains at Thomas's road), Mr Fred Neal, at 2s 3d per yard; and No. 2 contract (42 chains of the main road) Mr Frank Neal at Is lOd per yard.

The utility of the motor-car has been largely extended by an Oamaru inventor, who (says the North Otago Times) has constructed a car for his own use as a builder. The car he has ■ built travels at a good speed, and takes him in a short time to his objective in the country, wherever it may be. On arrival there he disconnects the travelling gear, and with the aid of pulleys and a bench starts the engine off in the cutting of the timber to the necessary lengths required in the building. This it will do with a circular saw with a rapidity that would discount the work of lialf a dozen men.