GENERAL ROAD BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 250, 8 October 1862, Page 5

GENERAL ROAD BOARD.

A meeting of the General Road Board was held y yesterday at the Provincial Secretary's Office. There were present —His Honor the Superintendent (in the chair), Messr^ Reynolds, M'Glashan, Dick, and Kilgour. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

THE ANDERSON'S BAY ROAD,

Mr Mill, as attorney for Mr Hugh Robinson, wrote claiming £130. as compensation for injury done to him by the mode of reconstructing the Anderson's Bay road, instead of procuring material from the dry bills at tlie east side of the road, or consulting the proprietor; the soft surface and sub-soil to tbe depth of 2 feet or 3 feet, and to a width of 12 feet, had b°en taken, thus cutting off communication (except at. considerable cost) between some of Mr Robinson's land and the r>ad. The £130 was "considered to be within the mark," irrespective of the land used ia making the road.

It was resolved that, on the production by the attorney of sufficient power to make the claim, an attempt would be marie to come to an understanding as to the amount, to be paid, failing in which, arbitration wou hi be resorted to.

Mr Cumin ing had made a c'aim tor compensation for damage done to a section held by him at Waihola, as towh'ch the surveyor a: Tokomairiro reported that the damage was very slight indeed.and that..£swould be ample compensation. It was directed that Mr dimming should make a specific claim. Mr Burns, East Taieri, wrote complaining that eomc drains which bad been cut and connected with the Silver Stream, caused floods, which uot only flooded much of liis own land which had never been flooded before, but as the water got upon land of bis neighbours, he feared that he might be held l! able through his having -iven about 105 chains, by half a chain in width, through which one of th c drains was cut. Mr Roberts had reported that th; flooding did occur, but only in times of flood. 1* might, be rr-medied by continuing a large ditch eight or ten chains further, so that ifc might again connect with the ilver Stream. If arrangemerts were made to carry all the drained water into one channel, wbat was now and Ind always been a swamp migbt be converted into a wheat field. The Provincial Engineer in a letter said he be'ieved thafc Mr Burns's complaint was altogether uncalled for. He (the engineer) had heard evidence which convinced him that tbe land bad been mucb benefitted by the works of the Government.

Mr Burns attended and gave some explanations. Tlie Provincial Surveyor (Mr Thomson) said there was an understanding with Mr Burns that the work (should be well and effectively done ; and it was ordered that the necessary steps should be taken for remedying wbat was complained of.

THE CAVERSHAM DISTRICT BOARD.

This Board forwarded resolutions in favour of a district rate of fid an acre, and of a special rate of Ll an acre on the owners of the sections along the existing line of road from the Edinburgh Castle Hotel to the top of Look-out Point. The special rate would raise TL2OO. which it was hoped the Government would supplement with a like sum. Mr Fulton and otber members of the Caversham Board attended to support the rates. It was explained that it was necessary to mefal the road and otherwise improve it, and then it would not only he beneficial to the owners along the line; but would be very useful for traffic towards Dunedin.

His Honor thought it would be most dangerous to establish anything like a precedent for giving supplementary grants in such ciises, and thafc nothing oufrht to be done until the Provincial Council ha/1 had an opportunity of coming, to a decision on the general question. Mr Sidey protested against the special rate. The road ran through property of his, but it had not been and would not be of use to him. He declared that he had not had a chance of going before the District Board to urge bis objections.

Mr Fulton said that tbe district board were unanimous in favour of the-rate, and he believed that Mr Sidey bad all along been cognisant ot what was doing. His Honor thought it would be well for the district boaid to grant Mr Sidey a hearing, and this was agreed to. As to the general question, it was resolved that the Government should be recommended to put an item of L2OO on the estimates, simply that the Council might have the matter before them for discussion, and that the Provincial Engineer should be called upon to report.

The rates were allowed, subject to the hearing o: Mr Sidr-y.

The Caversham Board also asked for a special rate of LI per were, for the purposes of a line of road to the Ocean Beach. Mr Fulton said that all the owners interested had consentfd.

The matter was referred back to the distrtet board, with directions to them to supply a list of all who would be affected by tbe rate, and the signatures of Ihose who consented to it.. A request'for a supplemental grant was dealt with as in the preceding case. There,was a long discussion respecting a refusal to consent to take compensation for allowing tbe south

road to be carried through two sections in the Caversham district, on the ground that in the original grant from the New Zealand Company, there was no stipulation for such beine done, and the case was referred to the Provincial Solicitor for an exposition of the law and to tbe Engineer for the facts as to the constructional necessities. GREEN ISLAND DISTBICT BOUNDARIES. Tlie Green Island District Board, by resolution and deputation called attention to the inconvenience ofthe present northern boundary of that district. The cart track to the upper part of the district, wliich leaves the main South Road at Look-out Point was very circuitous, besides rising over a hill that might be avoided by leaving the main road at a lower point, and passing over part of the Caversham district, But the Caversham district would have no interest in the making of this new road, and Green Island would not vote money for a road over which it had no control. Therefore it was asked that the northern boundary should be altered. Mr M'Loren and Mr Johnson, the deputation, said that the boundary should be brought down the south road until it reached Anderson's. It was directed that intimation should be given to the parties interested, thnt the question would be considered at the next meeting. The Board adjourned at two o'clock.