MOTUEKA HIGHWAY BOARD.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 284, 7 December 1878, Page 5

MOTUEKA HIGHWAY BOARD.

The monthly meeting waß held on Saturday. All the members present but Meaars. Carter and Grooby. The Secretary made the following report : — I have arranged with two men to repair the Sandy Bay Track, and have pointed out to them the work required to be done, but have not yet let the work required for the Sandy Bay Landing, not having had time to prepare specifications ami make an estimate of the cost of the work. The chairman, when in Nelson, procured a small quantity of dynamite, and I have had it tested for bringing down gravel at the Moutere Hills. The day on which this was done turned out very wet, but I think from the experiment made that gravel can be loosened at a much less cost by blasting, than in the ordinary way with the common pick. I have been unable to hear of a suitable barge for sale for boating gravel. I have arranged fur the course of the creek near Mr Beatson's to be diverted, the costot which will be tnly trifling. Tfca road between Pocock'a Bluff and the Dove River has been cleared, and is now passable, a deviation had to be made into Mrs Wright's land, where the old road was washed away, several new culverts have been put in on this road, which is now (or will be when settled) in a better state than before tbe flood of 1877. Mr Salisbury haa undertaken the repair of the Table Land Track, so as to make it passable for horse traffic, the Board contributing as agreed the sum of £5. I have received notice that the Orinoco cart bridge is completed. I have set out and invited tenders for the approaches. Several large coutracts in the Pangntotara Valley are on tbe eve of completion, the late bad weather has considerably delayed tbe work. Copy of memoranda from tbe Secretary to the chairman of the Board read, and tbe latter explained what he bad been enabled to do respecting the same when in Nelson. Copy of letter from the Secretary to the Graham Valley settlors read, having reference to the road there.! The Secretary stated that no reply had as yet been received. The question of the new road at Pangatotara and a letter from Mr Haddow were considered. Resolved that the necessary 3teps be taken to complete the road as soon as the Board oan come to terms with the owners of property through whose land the line passes. Circular from Colonial Treasury read, informing the Board that £86 4s 2 J had been placed to the Board's credit, being its share of the funds to the credit of the Waimea County on the 30th September last. Resolved, That the Secretary write for information as to wbiit part of the county revenue the above sum has been derived from. . Letter from Mr C. Kelling read; drawing the Board's attention to some gorse growing upon land in possession of tho Board, and adjoining his pro-; I perty. Resolved — That the Secretary 1 have the gorse complained o', cut down and burnt as soon aa convenient. Letter from Mr R. Lloyd of Orinoco read, asking for assistance to improve the road leading to his laud, and offering to contribute £5 in labour towards the same. Resolved — That the Bpfird' has no funds that con be devo:ed to roads, that will benefit one person only. : Copy of a letter to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, read asking for permission to lay off a road through a i portion of section No. 29, Sandy Bay,; { | such section being Crown Land. TheSecretary said that no reply had beenj received but tbat be had eeen |q a

published report of a meeting of the Land Board, that the required permission had beon granted; Resolved — That the hill on the main road at Hammerich'a corner, bo lowered, provided the revenue of the Board will admit. Reeolved — That tho Rising Sun Valley road be improved 'at a cost not exceeding £12, provided the settlers interested contribute one half of such sura. Resolved — lhat tenders be invited for cutting down gorse and briars on Drummond's Flat, Upper Moutere. Resolved — That the ditch on the upper side of the roa,il by Maconochie's be deepened, in order to prevent the water from flowing ncross the road, and thnfc two necessary pieces of wattling be done on the side of the Company's ditch, to protect the road. Resolved — That it ia not desirablo to employ carts on tha road by the day, except when it is not possible to let the work by contract. Resolved, That the Sacretary write to the Minister for Public Works, and describe the condition of the Riwaka Harbor, and the great risk to vessels entering the same owing to logs and snags, ami make enquiries aa to whether the Board or tha Havbor Master, Nelson, should bo empowered to keep the channel clear. Resolved, That an order be signed for the gorse to ba grubbed up upon the side of tha road adjoining Mr Harling's property, Upper Moutere. The following tenders were accepted, vix. : — Motueka. ; — Cutting ond burniug gorse upon side of main' road adjoining gravel reserve, Lower Moutere, J. Jamieson, £3 11s; aud upon side of roed leading to Waiwero, including ail that is growing upon the resarve, 8. Siarnes, £8 Lower Moutere. — Gravelling main road near Drummond'd, John Allcott, £1 3s per chain. Upper Moutdra. — -Gravelling part of Neudorfßood, William Dacker, £i 10i per chain; gravelling; Moutere Hills, Frederick Ducker, 19s 6i and 14a per chain. Ngatimoti. — Making approaohea to the Oranoco cart bridge, R. Goodman and Co., £18 19a per lot; carting gravel ot per yard per half mile, J. Hbath, 2a per first half mile, and 6d for each additional half mile. Riwaka. — Gravelling road leading to Messrs Thomas Bros.'s property, H. MacMahon, £1 2s 6J per chain. Warrants were signed for £656 3s lOd.