PELORUS ROAD BOARD.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIX, Issue 10, 13 January 1915, Page 2

PELORUS ROAD BOARD.

The adjourned monthly meeting of the Peioims Road Board was-held on Saturday. There were, present: Messrs C. Nees: (chairman), It. F. Crispin, J. Storey, W. C. J. Bryant, and J. Leslie.!; The chairman congi-atulated Mr J. S. Storey, who has been, seriously ill, on his return to health. The chairman also desired to place on record the Board's congratulations to Mr J. Fulton on his re-election as a member of the Marlborough Land Board. The secretary expressed his appre-

ciation- to the members for consenting to adjourn the meeting, which had enabled him to extend his holiday in Nelson over the New Year. He took

the opportunity while in that district to examine the road works, and particularly the method of dealing with

culverts and small bridges. These were, all built of concrete reinforced with metal, making the work of a I permanent nature. Another point he had noticed was that the Council were making their own culvert pipes, and turning them out cheaper than the imported glazed article. He had 'interviewed a blacksmith in Nelson and had ordered one 12-inch and one IS-incto mould for the Board's use.

• Mr Storey said he was strongly in favor of the Board making its own pipes.

The secretary's action was ap proved. Mr Crispin expressed the opinion that the secretary, for his own sake, and for the sake of those he was serving, should take a similar holiday every year. It was very necessary, and their secretary always combined business with pleasure, and never failed to bring back something in the way of information which was of value to the Board.

NOXIOUS WEEDS

A letter was read from the Board of Agriculture on the noxious weeds question. -The letter stated that it was impossible to enforce the conditions of the Act in all cases—especially in regard to Calif ornian. thistle— and asked if it was the desire of the settlers in the districts under the Board'? control that the Act should be rigidly enfoi-ced. The Agricultural Board further specified a particular method by which Californian thistle can be successfully coped with, and recommended settlers to give it a trial.

A -further communication, was received from Mr Gibson, Wairau, in reference to his request for exemption in clearing gorse from his river-bed property. Mr Storey pointed out that to exempt one man from his obligations in clearing gorse" would mean that the Board would, soon be flooded with.

applications for exemptions. He was of opinion that the Board should keep the roads clear only^ and that the question of keeping properties free from noxious weeds was a matter for the inspector. Attention was -drawn to the increase of foxglove in the Pelorus | district. Further consideration of the moxious weeds question was deferred till next meeting. CLOSING A ROAD. ! Further correspondence was received from Mr Wratt in reference to the recent decision of the Board | to close the old portion of the Waikakaho road passing through Mr Lankow's property. Mr Wratt, in behaif of /himself and others, gave the Board notice that it was their intention to claim full compensation for loss of frontage, etc. ' _ , After some discussion and examination of boundaries, Mr Storey moved that the secretary be authorised, to close the road in question on receiving a letter of indemnity from Mr Lankow. This was seconded by the chairman and carried, Mr Leslie dissenting. DOG TAX.

, The secretary reported that the amount of dog-tax collected during the past year was very unsatisfactory compared to previous years. He had a batch of about 100 collars on hand. The difficulty of getting a suitable collector had been . th©r ca-use? d$ So matay dogs. being missed.

j Mr Crispin' said that Mr Newman j (tihe Board's former collector) had j come to him the previous evening and j had given him authority to state at this meeting that he> was prepared to do the dog-tax collecting for the present year on condition that he ! received 6d a dog, and that he could start immediately. ]" A quotation) was received from Mr j F. N. Jones, Nelson, to supply dogl collars at 56s per 100. An offer from j the local saddler to supply collars at 9d' each was also received. After some discussion, the dog-tax for the ensuing year . was fixed at 2s 6d per dog, Mr Storey, who favored 2s, dissenting. It was also] | decided that Mr Newman be ap-« i pointed coliector at a remuneration « lof 6d a dog, and that Mr Jones's j [offer to supply collars at 56s per 300 !. be accepted. | MISCELLANEOUS. j The 'Department of. Internal Affairs { \ wrote notifying'the gazetting of the; ! special order for the Wairau Hospital , loan. i Mr Sutlon, Mahakipawa, wrote i asking that part of the road grant j i of £200 be spent on the Mahakipawa ; ! track. The secretary reported re-.!■ ceiling a letter from the resident ; ; engineer, approving of the specifica-! 1 tions for the expenditure of this ; grant, and stating that the work J ; would be put in hand as soon as the j t formal authority from Wellington j cam© to hand. I Mr W. Robinson wrote asking for j an increase of Is 6d a yard for cart- j ing metal and > also for closer carting, j owing to the increase in the price of j 1 horse feed, etc. After the matter ( j had been discussed at some length, ! !Mr Storey moved that the Board ; j could r>ot see its way to make any '. I increase at present. Mr Leslie» I seconded. The chairman moved as

ian amendment that all the horse i teams be granted a rise of 5 per cent. i The amendment lapsed for want of ] I a seconder, and the motion was, I carried, the ctaairm-an dissenting. i I Mr Storey reported a further ; encroachment of the "Wairau River near the first groyne, and stated that j the fencing required attention.—Left ; in Mr Storey's hands to attend to. : ] Mr Storey referred, to the old | trouble of cattle straying in the : ( Kaituna, and Mr Bryant reported a, s great improvement in this; respect in | the Pelorus since the recent proseeu- j J tions. 1 ] Mr Bryant drew the Board's atten- ; ] tion to the state of the Peloms road , j for about 50 chains above Mr Norman j Jones's. If it was not metalled very ' soon the road would give trouble in ; the winter. It was decided that this ) work be put in hand at once. j" It was unanimously resolved that: i the -'secretary's salary be increased by i £25 a year; from January Ist, 1915. I —Guardian.