PORTOBELLO ROAD BOARD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15552, 6 September 1912, Page 3

PORTOBELLO ROAD BOARD

Tlio monthly meetiiig of the Porlobello Road Board was held yesterday, llicro being present: Messrs J. M. Dickson (chairman), Johnston, Fulton, Sealon, Grainger, lirunton, Millar, Raton', and Ikansgrovo.

COMIESrOXDENCB. Forsyth and Johnson wrote asking for a return of their £5 deposit on contract for breaking 1000 yards of metal, on tho grounds that iho board had failed to provide tho necessary spaco • for storing tho broken metal.—Tlio Chairman staled that the mutter had not been previously brought before tho board, which had already assisted tho contractors. After a short discussion tho matter was referred to the inspector for a report.

11. S. Ridley wrote drawing attention lo tho bad state of Arpj'lo street,- Unilash township.—Repairs to bo effected at n. cost not wcecdinf £3. At this stage Mr Johnston took strong exception to new work being authorised lwfore other necessary work wna completed. Ho referred to work previously authorised on the Old Mnnso road, and stfltcd that tho ■work had never been carried out.—Tho Chairman explained-that it was llio practice to do tho works authorised in tho order in which they were dealt with. FIIIK INSURANCE. Somo discussion took pkice with regard to insuring Hie new hall,' for which inoat of the loading insurance companies upplied. —Mr Fulton objected to the cover ixsinjj given to the State, on the ground that it was encouraging a monopoly. Tho Slato was carrying on itfi insurance business at a loss and tho sooner it caino to an end tho better. Several members took exception to Mr Fulton's strictures, and Mr Millar reminded the board that the Government had given a subsidy of £75 for the new hall, which, lie contended, ga,vo the Slato a claim for consideration in placing the risk on the building-. The matter was finally disposed of by olacing nil tho applications in a hat (including tho State's) and on being drawn in that way the Now Zealand Insurance Company's slip was the first to bo drawn and so becamethe successful applicant for the risk. ASDEIiSOS's BAY BRIDGE. Tho chairman reported having met members of the Bay Town Board and Dunedin Corporation to discuss the |>osilion in regard lo tho proposed new bridge. Tho Dunedin councillors were strongly in favour of keeping the road in its present position, and would not sanction any deviation. After a lengthy discussion tho JJuy Town members offered £100 towards tho cost of tho bridge, the' amount being less than that asked for. The city members were strongly of opinion that St. Kilda borough should also bo included as a contributing body. Soveral legal points had arisen, and these had been referred lo the board's solicitors, who had prepared tho necessary documents in order to plnce tho matter beforo the commissioner in duo course.

The chairman's report was adopted, and the legal documents bearing upon the position were approved, matters having reached tho stage preliminary to submitting them to the commissioner for arbitration in order to decide tho quota to bo paid towards the cost of a now bridge by the various road bodies interested. ISSI'KOTOR'S KEFoitT. The Works Inspector (Mr Hoy) renortod thai 70 yards of metal had been spread on Hinklcy's road, Tho approach to tho Anderson's Bay bridge was in a somewhat dangerous condition, and il was for the lx>ard to consider the advisability of erecting a notice warning tho public that those using it would do so at llioir own risk. The inspector estimated that over £100 per aununi was beinff spent in cleaning and maintaining water tables on the main road, anil suggested that, whero possiblo this work be done by plough and scoop, which would be cheaper, and the surfacemon could then bo employed doing moro necessary work. He recommended that where possible all road work should be dono by contract. Metal hod been spread on the Beach tout], and moro wjis required lo put it in good order. The road near tho Mncnndrow Bay School wa.s in u bad state, and could bo fairly well repaired at a cost of alwut £10. About 200 yards of metal wcro now ready at Clearwater's quarry and should be siuead on various roads'in the vicinity, The work authorised by the board had been completed on Hellycr's road and a. fair amount of work had been dono on various water tables. Repairs were necessary to the sea v/all in various places, and a number of roads wero enumerated on which repair met-s-l was required. The contract work entrusted to R. Scnton, and Cowan and Fleming had been complete/1.Mr Fulton complimented the insrfctor upon his report and the information submitted. Mr Bransgrovc drew attention to tho fact that a contractor was damaging the road badly in the vicinity of the Anderson's Hay bridge, and two teams of horses and drays, laden with metal, wore frequently on the bridge at one time. As tho bridge was supposed to carry only one ton safely, he feared,, an accident would occur unlcfe steps were taken to stop the practice complained of.

Mr Brunton loak exception to tho expenditure, of about JCW or moro on the Macau-drew-WicklilTc Bay road without being authorised by the board. It was a "oneman " road and served only one person, and there were other roads in constant use that were left to take care of themselves. Before such a large expenditure was entered ujxmi it should be sanctioned by the board.

Tho Chairman explained that the matter had been dealt with by the previous inspector, who was empowered to do so. If the inspector was to bo shorn of authority in such work the Iward might as well dispenso with an inspector. It had lieen staled at a previous board mootinjr that the road was in a very bad state, wid it was understood that the matter would be attended to by tho inspector without his being formally iwructrd to do so. More work had been done there apparently than members bargained for.

" Mr Millar drew attention to the fact that a number of street's Ind been taken over hv the Hoard too hastily in various townships, with a result that the |>oiml had Iw.'i involved in a great deal of expense for repairs lo -dire and other damace nrisinjt nut of faultv formation by the vendors. Referrin!* to float-water's qiiarr.v, Mr Milhir =ai<' the ""d loading ti it was unfit for traffic, aivt tho board hud tot a roor return far the £16 irrantod for the read formation. 'IV latter would mniir-* a (rood deal of work done to it before IHnc mndo fit for c-rtinr metal over.—Tho report was adopted. FINANCE. Mr Miltar drew attention to the fart that tho board*-? overdraft now nmounted to £853. and at his sitpewtion tho board ro-t-olve4 ft"" & special meeting of th«

wliolo board, on September 19 for the purposn of discussing tlio financial position, metal supplies, and contract work. A NEW TOWNSHIP. Mr F. B. Williams wrote informing fiio board that the township of Wharfdale, situated at Maciuulrew'fl Bay. had been surveyed, sjul forwarded plans of same.. All the streets were one chain wide, with the exception of the oxistinj? district road, known as the old Manse road, which was 40ft in width. Experience lmvincr proved tho hitter to l)c sufficient, bo asked the board to sanction its inclusion in tho plans submitted, in terms provided by the act.— Agreed to.