OMAKA ROAD BOARD

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVI, Issue 164, 11 July 1912, Page 5

OMAKA ROAD BOARD.

The Omaka Road Board met this morning, the following members being present: Messrs R. J. Be.ll (chairman), R. McArtney, R. Ham, S. Tapp, and J. Bary. RATEPAYERS' REQUESTS. As one of many ratepayers living in what is known as Adams's ttoad, Springlands, W. McAllister Wrote representing the need for immediate attention to that locality, as at present the road was in a very bad state, due, no doubt, to the continued wet weather and lack of attention since its formation. It waa stated that the road had never been gravelled since it was formed last summer, and consequently was how a stretch of mud and slush.

Mr Tapp moved that this road be metalled as- soon as the time was favorable. At present it would be impossible to do any work on the road.

Mr Bary (Seconded the motion. The necessity for attention to the road at a favorable time was recognised by the members, and the motion was carried.

G. Gee wrote drawing the Board's attention to the necessity of a, footbridge across the ditch adjoining his property to give him access. The application was. favorably reported upon by the Inspector, and on the* motion of Messrs Tapp and Bary it was decided that the request be granted. The condition of .the water-tables in Laking's Road was the subject of a letter received from Messrs J3. Brodie and J. Col well.—The Inspector was instructed to do what was necessary in the locality.

W. H. Franklin applied for permission to cut the willows shading the Old Renwick Road at a corner between Farnham and May-field1, as they materially affected the condition of ,the road during the winter months.—The matter was held over for the Inspector's report. A reminder was given by Mr. J. Fawcett of the fact that some' time ago the Board carried out certain improvements on the main road' from Clouston's to Neville's at a. distance ■of about 20 chains by way of grading the sides of the road and water•tables to within about lj. chains of the drain crossing the road at MiNeville's residence. The surplus earth from this work was placed on the footpath. Owing to a culvert not haying been fixed to convey the surface water from" the "road into the drain, storm water was now impounded in the water-tables, ana. percolated through the footpath into adjoining properties. To drain the water from the- tables the Board hod put a culvert in the footpath, and allowed the water to go into his property, to which he «took exception. He requested that the culvert be removed, or legal proceedings would follow.

Mr Bary thought that there was nothing to justify the letter, and ho expressed faith in the work done by the Inspector. He moved that the Inspector's action be approved. Mr Tapp seconded.—-Curried. The Chairman explained that a proposition had be-an put to Mr Fawcett regarding the division of cost in having the matter remedied, but there was evidently no answer to it.

Mr J. Vorbach, Ren wick, f\sked to be permitted1 to have the road on the west end of his property opened again, as he wished! to have the noxious weeds cleared. The party who had used the road gratis, lie thought, should have been responsible for the cleanliness of it. He complained about the action of the contractor for Gibson's Creek bridge in removing" the soil next to Kis fence to the road above referred to.

Respecting the first matter, Mr Bary moved that the road be cleaned as agreed by Mr Perrett by1: next meeting, failing which he would^ forfeit his right to the use of the road. Mr Tapp seconded the motion, which was carried. ■•■■■:■' BATTY'S DITCH. Mr Tapp, who with the Chairman was deputed to inspect Batty's ditch, reported that owing to the large volume of water in the ditch and; surface, water contiguous to it, they had been unable to make the inspection, but they would do so when the conditions were favorable. '~:■■' r ■;<*.

• Mr Ham asked if the money paid to Mr Batty, for cleaning the ditch was well spent. ' ' .'' Mr Tapp said it was not, as Mr Batty cleaned out only a certain portion of the ditch which affected him, and left the other portion. He thought it was necessary for the Board to take over the whole work. The matter then closed. UTUWAI CREEK.

Mr H. D. Vavasour waited upon the Board, and-pointed out that the Redwood Pass Road needed a good deal of attention. The Utuwai Creek was a source of danger at the present time, and he considered that it had not had the attention it should have had during the past few years. The Board was in sympathy with Mr Vavasour's recommendations, and the Chairman said that they had contemplated spending. some of the loan money in bridging the Utuwai Creek. ■ Mr Vavasour thereupon withdrew.

The matter was afterwards discussed in connection with the raising of the loan for various works.'

xtie Chairman stated that, consequent upon a fresh in the Fairhall River a few days ago, the Middle Renwick Road had been flooded to the e-x----tenjt of about half-a-mile. He considered that the River Board should take steps to confine the waters of the stream.

Mr Tapp moved that the attention of the River Board be drawn to the dangerous state of the Fairhall River near the Middle Renwick Road.

Mr Bary seconded the motion, which was carried.

THE LOAN

Regarding the loan of £2500 which it was decided to raise, the Chairman said that they would have to take a favorable poll of the ratepayers before the loan would be operative.

The amount of the loan and to what works it was to be allocated were discussed1 at some length. Mr McArtney moved that the quostion of the loan be considered at next

meeting, and that in the meantime j the Inspector prepare an estimate of ; the probable cost of a bridge across the Utuwai Creek; the A water© County Council to be asked to what ; extent it will contribute towards the

( cost of the erection of such ajbridge. j arid inquiries be made, regarding tit© I increase of the loan. I Mr Ham seconded! the motion, i which was carried. THE REDWOOD PASS ROAD. Mr Bary moved that as the Redi wood Puss Road was of a. dangerous

; nature the Public Works Department I be asked' to instruct the local engij neer to confer with the Chairman to I arrange for an inspection of the Redi wood Pass Road with a view to placj ing it in a reasonable condition for general traffic. Mr Tapp seconded the motion, l which was carried.

THE ALABAMA DRAIN. A largo account was received from the Borough Council for the Board's share of the cost of cleaning out the Alabama Drain. Mr Bary took exception to one item in the account for material, which he- considered was greater than it should be. He mov?d that the Borough Council be asked to furnish a detailed statement regarding the material.

The motion was carried

GROYNES

Mr Bary asked the opinion of the Inspector respecting the need for an extra groyne near the iienwiek Bridge. . The Inspector said that one groyne was needed at the bridge, while at the Wairau crossing a corner required to be .taken oft", and a few groynes were necessary. Mr Bary said that unless something., was done iii the locality of the Wairau crossing their plantations would be .endangered. Mr Bary moved, and Mr Tapp seconded; that the Inspector put one groyne at the Reriwiek bridge, and that the matter of groynes on the Wairau Road be left in the hands of the Chairman and Inspector.

The motion was ■carried. RENWICK WORKS

The disgraceful state of the roads nt Renwiek was commented upon by Mr Barv. He said that this had been mentioned in the I/ispector's report. He considered that* it was false- economy to pile np a » credit balance- at the bank while the roads were in such a. bad order. There ■wore several- localities at Renwick which required immediate attention. Tho matter of attending to tho urgent works at Benwk-k was left in the hands of the Inspector, with the? instruction that he should procure, il1 possible, some extra men.

GENERAL

On the suggestion of Mr Ba;y, it. was decided to make an inventory of the Board's assets. ,

The matter of making inquiries regarding the procuring of a whuvo was left in tlio hands of the Chairman.

Accounts amounting to £229 lls 8d were passed for payment.

A number of transfers were approved. It was decided to draw ibo attention of the Lower Wairau River Board .to the state cf a culvert near the- High" Street bridge. The Inspector was instructed to report on oho condition of O'Dwyer's Road, and to clear the gorse-on the by-road over the High Street bridge. Mr Ham stated that another culvert was needed at tho juattioii of Hawkshaw and Opawa Streets. — It was explained that tho Inspector* had this matter in hand.

Mr Ham also represented the necessity for immediate attention to 'the culvert at th« junction of .Redwood Street and Alabama Road.—The matter was left in the hands of the Inspector. " . ... ■ The Chairman stated that the'Wai-rau-R-oad Board anticipated fencing oil their plantation below the approach to the Opawa Bridge, and he considered that it would be" wise, for the Board to have the fence continued so as to protect tvtheir plantation above the approach. H.o moved that the inspector have tho fencing done.. Mr Bary seconded the motion, which was rarried. . ; ' r

The Board than 'rose1.