FOXTON LOCAL BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 61, 28 March 1879, Page 2

FOXTON LOCAL BOARD.

— - — ♦" ■ Tuesday, March 25. Tho Board met at ;J p.m., at the office. Present— Messrs. Crowtber (Chairman), Cook, Easton, and Dr Rockstrow. The minutes were read and confirmed. CORBESPONIJKNCE BEAU. Petition frnm Messrs. McCulloch, Port, and o**h-_s, asking the Board to bridge the ! Awahou drain across the street line facing j sections 1 and 2, Foxton ; also, to form part i of said line. Mr. Baker requested the Board to form a branch road from the Avenue, opening up sections 314 and 315 ; also, to drain the same. Messrs. Nye, Purcell, and others, applied to the Board for the formation and protection of a part of No. 4 line. The Chairman laid upon tbe table the bond for £100, executed by Mr. W. G. Robinson, Clerk to the Board. -'IKAXCrAI. POSITIOK. Dr Rock-trow asked what was tho financial position of the Board. The Chairman replied there was a balance in hand of £313 ; liabilities for present contracts would amount to about £200 ; after payment of salaries for the year, about £80 would be available for futher expenditure. Rates to the amount of £ 133 were still unpaid, but putting the amount at a low estimate they might calculate on having £170 to expend between the present time and September. new wonxs. Mr Cook called the attention of the Board to two resolutions passed at previous meetings regarding the formation of the footpaths from the Awahou Bridge to Burr's corner. He recognised tbe importance of the works asked for by Messrs McCulloch, Baker, and others being done before winter but thought resolutions having been passed on two occasions, the footpaths should be douo first. If forir ed further damage would be prevented to the road the County was making. As the contractor for that work, he had suffered to the extent of £10 or £12 through the footpaths not being made. Were he not a member, he would claim that amount from the Board ; he might do so still. The Avenue road had the first claim ; that work had been started ; the footpaths should be next. Dr Rocltstrow thought they should ignore what had been done in the past; if Mr Cook would, move a fresh resolution to have the work done he would support it. The Chairman asked what the cost would be? The Engineer repliei probably about £50. The Chairman suggested that iv any resolution the gravelling of the footpath on the west side of the street should be included. Mr Cook moved that £80 be voted for tbe footpaths from AWahou Bridge to Burr's corner, and from the Local Board office to Membery's. The resolution was not seconded. Dr Rookßtrow then moved, "That the Engineer be. instructed to', -write out specifications to form footpaths from Awahou drain to Burr's corner, and from the aaid drain] to the opposite oorner, and call for tenders." It would be useless to vote £80 when they did not know what the cost would be. Mr Easton seconded tbe resolution, whioh was carried. AWAHOU AND AVENUE iIRAIKS. Dr Rookstrow proposed, " That the Awahou drain be cleaned out from the mouth to the junction of the Avenue drain, and that the Avenue drain be deepened by 2ft ; the Engineer to call for tenders." He said that for the health of the residents it was absolutely. necessary this work should be done. It would also accomplish whal Messrs Baker and McCulloch desired. II would require to be done before the wei season. He thought £25 would be sufficient for the whole work, as the deepening of th< Avenue drain could be performed for aboul 3s 6d per chain. The resolution wai secondedby MrEastoi and carried. no. 4 LINE. Mr Cook proposed, That the Enginee: be authorised to spend £10 on No 4 line, ii accordance with the request of Messrs Ny Purcell, and others." In doing so, h pointed out that as the chief supply of fire ' wood was brought) along No 4 line, it wa , necessary to keep it in good order. Seconded by Dr Bockstrow, and carried AVENUE CONTBACT. Dr Rockstrow asked what had been doni regarding the Avenue road contract. Mr Cook explained that his son and himself had been prevented from pushing or with the contracts in hand, owing to the gravel pit being pre-occupied. However, on Monday last they hsd visited the pit, and men were now at work taking out gravel for them. Several trucks would arrive by each train, half going to the Avenue contract, and the other half to 'the Mainstreet, r .; * Dr Rockstrow complained that the Engineer had not specified the size of the stones to be used. The footpath near the Mana* watu Hotel was like a boulder bank. It was pointed out that tbe County En. gineer also made no restriction as to metal, the large stones being simply raked off, and afterwards broken. BALANCE SHEET. • Dr Rockstrow said that by section 64 in the Act, the Board was required in Anarch to issue a balance-sheet. He moved " That the Treasurer be instructed to prepare c balance sheet, and lay it before the Board at its next meeting." Seconded by Mr Easton, and carried. STBBET LAMPS. By request, Mr Rotherham, Manager oi the Railway, attended regarding the street lamps. He said he would gladly be rid of the responsibility of having them lighted, as the Government was not paid sufficient for doing so. He had never seen the aarreement between the Government and Uie Board, but would like to do so. He would see the lamps were regularly lighted in future. MISCELLANEOUS. Accounts amounting to 14s lOd were paßs<-d. Dr Rookstrow was authorised to sign cheques. The Clerk aud Engineer were instructed to certify to accounts before laying them on tho table. The next meeting of the Board takes place on Tuesday, April 8.