PELORUS ROAD BOARD.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 140, 11 June 1909, Page 2

PELORUS ROAD BOARD.

TUESDAY, JUNE' 8. < Present:—Messrs JV, Storey (chairman),; .Hodgson, Fulton, Nees, Bown, and Crispin. CORRESPONDENCE. The Treasury, Wellington, notified the payment to the Board's credit of £24 17s 7d, being, half, the balance at credit of "The Mining Districts Land Occupation Act, 1890," account. Mr Duncan, M.P., wrote with reference to an application made in connection with a grant for road purposes at Waikakaho. He stated that he had brought the matter before the Land Department at Blenheim, and the reply of the Commissioner was that when he got instructions to make the survey the,following statement was made: "It will be for the Pelorus Road Board to consider the deviations that are necessary, and when they have made arrangements for the acquisition of the deviations you might get them surveyed for the Road Board." Mr Duncan added that the amount of thirds available is £45 6s, and asked for a reply as to what the Board intended doing in the matter. —Full information had been sent to Mr Duncan. ' W. Murray, Canvastown, notified that he had acquired the interest of !W. Picard in section 45, and residence area, Block X., Wakamarina, and requested that his name be placed on the roll in respect thereto. The Secretary of the Spring Creek Road Board wrote statins' that the contractor for the Wairau traffic bridge had applied for a progress payment of £1450, and the Board would Ibe glad if the Pelorus Board would forward a cheque for £108 15s, their share of the amount' required (7* per cent, of the cost of construction.)— The secretary explained that the Board would have to strike a special rate to raise the money necessary to pay the Board's share of the cost of this bridge and of the bridge across the Omaka, but that it was not necessary to take a poll of the ratepayers on the subject.—Mr Nees moved that the Spring Creek Board be notified that the Board were making arrangements to raise a loan for the purpose, and desired to defer any payment until that was done.—Seconded by Mr Hodgson, and carried. The Department of Agriculture forwarded slaughtering licenses for T. Dillon, Mahakipawa; H. L. Elliott, Pelorus; and Wadey Brothers, Flat Creek; and stated that the application of C. W. Mills, Rai Falls, would receive attention. The Town Clerk, Blenheim, wrote asking if the Board would consider the advisability of co-operating with the Borough Council and other Boards in the acquisition from Mr D. Bishell of a traction-engine road roller on the following conditions:—"That the Borough employ the engine 45 days in a year, and for four years in succession, at tho-rate of £2 10s per day, the Borough to find coal for same and a shelter shed for the engine; if a scarifier for breaking up the roads is required the engine must be employed 55 days, instead of 45." The Town Clerk added that the Borough had not sufficient work to keep the roller going 45 days per annum.—Members ,considered that the roller would not, be suitable for this district, as the roads were not wide enough.—Mr Nees said he was favourable to the idea, but it could not be put into practice here.—Resolved, on the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr Crispin, that the Board could not entertain the offer.

E. H. Stratford, Canvastown, wrote asking the Board to widen to a full chain the road between Mr S. Gardiner's fence and the property occupied by Mr McArthur.—Left in the hands of the Inspector and the Belorus members.

•>7adey Brothers,' Flat Greek, noti- J fied that the only vehicle road into j Carlufcp a g zlZaost impassable, asked that as the owners of vehicles in Carluke had guaranteed £5 for l-i-b pairs the Board have same attended to. H. Bennett and 0. Mills also wrote to the same effect.— Mr Nees proposed, and. Mr Crispin seconded, that the Inspector have necessary work done. James Jones wrote stating that owing to the heavy state of the roads he found it difficult to make wages carting gravel from the Wairau river-bed. He asked that he be allowed at the rate of 12s per cubic yard.—Request granted. H. C. Christian, Pelorus Sound, wrote offering for sale a launch.suitable for towing the metal punts.—No action taken, the opinion being expressed that if Mr Christian could work one for the Board for a couple of months there might be something in GENERAL. It was decided, that the services of the two men employed on the Mahakipawa road be dispensed with, and that fresh, arrangements be made. The Chairman reported the result of the interview between members of the Board and .the Minister for Roads, and added that the Minister stated he would probably re-visit the province during July and would then endeavour to visit Havelock.—Mr Nees moved, and Mr Crispin seconded, that the Board invite the Minister to visit the as early as possible, and that Mr Williams, Road Engineer, be invited to also visit the district at the same time.—Carried. The Secretary stated that he experienced a good deal of inconvenience through not having* a copy of the Consolidated Statutes, and it was resolved that the five volumes be purchased for £10, the published cost, and that the Town Board be asked if they will contribute to the cost of two of the volumes. Mr Hodgson moved that the necessary pipes be granted to Mr Cameron to put a culvert at the end of the OkaramiQ Road.—Seconded by the Chairman, and carried. Mr G. Gwillim waited on. the Board and suggested that they buy an oillaunch for the purpose of towing the metal punts. The present method was satisfactory neither to him nor the Board.—The members were not m favour of the Board buying a launch, and suggested that Mr Gwillim get a launch of his own.—The Chairman said if that were done the Board would take an unlimited quantity of metal. He knew what it could be done for, and if he made the Board an offer at so much per yard the Board would probably consider it favourably.—Mr Gwillim said he was willing to continue under the present conditions (3s 6d per yard), but the towing was not always to be depended upon on account of breakages, etc.—Eventually " it was decided to continue as at present. It was resolved that the Board be empowered to incur an overdraft of* £1200 for the ensuing, year, if necessary. The Secretary was instructed to inquire from the Spring Creek River JBoard if they could hire to the Board

a scoop for work on the Anakiwa Tracky>. ■ •■-■.•- = >', .•-. . \,. V ■} ;= With respect to:the Kaituna bridge, j the secretary submitted ,the, specifica-r tions regarding it, and ; -reported that,> a good deal of the timber .hadf.coniejAo : hand^but.that'some pilesr:iv?ere still required.—lt was decided .th'ft as soon as the .Secretary could 'se&>his way j clear to do so, he call tenders for the i erection of the bridge. { On Mr Hodgson's suggestion, Mr H. j Andrews, is to be given permission to . cut down the willow trees at Farnell s j bridge. „ . J Several Pelorus matters referred to by Mr Nees were authorised to be at- ; tended to, including the metalling of I ;the road from the Pelorus Hotel to '• the old schoolhouse, and at Miller s cutting. . . Messrs Hodgson, Crispin, and FulI ton also directed attention to various road requirements in their subdivisions, and the Inspector was authorised to have them seen to. ,_ , _ . The Chairman moved, and Mr Fulton seconded, that Mr Leslie be called upon to clean the blackberries from the ditch alongside the Okaramio School.—Mr Hodgson contended that the Board should do the work.—Mr Nees agreed that the Board ought to clean ditches, but not the blackberries in them.—Mr Hodgson moved an amendment that the Board clear out the ditch, but x.ais was not seconded, and the motion was carried. Mr Hodgson again brought up the question of appointing a working foreman. He contended that they would never get on properly unless they had such a man, who should be able to work the grader. 'With this object in view, he moved that inquiries be made with the object of get-ting such a man. —In seconding the proposal Mr Nees said he was thoroughly in favour ot such an appointment.—Mr Hodgson said it was impossible for the beoretary to attend to all the details oi the work required in the district.— The Chairman said he was dead against a working foreman, being appointed. They would find he would be walking about with a shovel on his shoulder, and not occupied half his time.—On the proposal being put to the meeting Messrs Hodgson, Nees, and Crispin voted for it, and the Chairman and Bown and Fulton against it. The Chairman gave his casting-vote against the motion, which was therefore lost. ' Mr Hodgson moved, and Mr Nees seconded, that tenders be called for removing the point of road near Squires'.—Carried. The question of the system of valuation of land being raised, Mr Nees moved that the Board approve of the present system of valuation by the government.—Seconded by Mr Hodgson. He thought that the old system of district valuation was not always satisfactory.—The proposal was carried, only the Chairman dissenting.