PORTOBELLO.

Otago Witness, Issue 1597, 1 July 1882, Page 13

PORTOBELLO.

(FROM OUE OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Juno 27th.

We hRd our share of the heavy rain that fell throughout the country on the nights of the 19th and 20th of this month ; from that time up to yestorday ,vo had fine weathor ; heavy showers fell in the forenoon and in the evening of yesterday, and also to-day, which, together with the cold, made It very disagreeable outside. Things are vry quiet here just now. Wo have nothing to disturb ub except an occasional blow-up at our Roa I Board meetings. On Saturday last the monthly meeting of the Board was held ; as uaual, something like a scene— a veritable storm in a teapot— happened. At the beginning ot the business objection wa» taken to a minute of the prwioui meeting, at it was passed at the end of the business, when thero were only four members present, and therefore it wai not legal, as it requires five to mako a quorum. One of the objectors politely said it was done ou purpose, as the others had waited until several of tho members had left. The obnoxious minute was scored out. Harmony being restored, the buniiiesu was proceeded with, but upon the Chairman reading a letter from the Public Works Office stating that s. sum of iJGO odd had been placed to tho credit of the Board for tho Main road on the beach, another explosion took place ; but oil was thrown on tho troubled waters by the Chairman reading a telegram from ,Mr Seaton, M.H.8., Baying that the letter was a mistake The money which is the bone of contention is tho balance of a vote for bomc road in the district, I believe, and so sure were the Board of getting the money that tendera were called for work on tho county road above the Portobello township, in the Broad Bay subdivision ; in fact, I am led to bolievo that as this is the road to the residence of ourM.H. *„ the money, if got, was to be expended wholly there ; but as the Board do not see their way, if I may judge from what passed last meeting, to expend it ail on this portion ot tho county road, I would not be surprised if they never got the money at all. The sitting of tho Board was prolonged, a'i tho circular i>i re the local governmentproposals was under considrration. When tho accounts of the Licensing Committee were laid before them for payment, tho Board wero highly incensed, and decided to postpone the payment until they should think over it They strongly demurred to tho account for travelling expenses of the Committee, and were of opinion it should not bo paid. Their objection came with a very ill grace from them, as they ha»l scarcely drawn breath since they had decided that the board themsolvcs should bo paid travelling expensed, as if I remember aright, county councillors can be paid tiavolling expenses ; and the Board had recommended that the road boards should havo all tho powers of the Countie-i Act. A number of ratepayers were presont bogging the Board to do Hometliing to repair tho roads that they respectively used, but thsy wore all refused on the plea of want of f unda. A letter was received just at the conclusion of the meeting cqu-

talnlng the solicitor's opinion In regard to the d!s* puted eleotlon in Sandy mount. It statod that the aoti-n of the returuing-ofnuer was correot, and thus Mr S, Morrin was legally elected. 1 thin* that an ){ M. Co>ut could think different. Some 't the members ltft tl.o meeting, as it wnj yetting on foi 6 jVljclt, and th-. bu«ine»s was all ovur apparently when I left; but I biiVutK'en informed tlittt the Hoard \otfld ft>nio money to tliako ft pilvato cnt.Rnce fora ratopajUr in Hooper's Inlet. If thi» be true, Uis a inostij'iqi»«o»s iiroiTtding on their part, anU one that lhey will near about jet. In KrUay's Time* I *cc it sta.oJ t.hat a petition had been presented to the Hoiwe from Alexander ( lurk. There is only a portion of tho jmtition surely stated, or thore is a mistake, a* thu (iuneral Govi'rnineut acknowledged the liability to find a road to the block in question, and a grant of £-.00 wjw oxpended within tins last two years in purchasing and burveying a toad to it. -still it conveys Bonie uew» to me that I wiu not tl\Varo of- Vis! , "he Was deprived of the use of thn land " ; and I »houM have known that, &4 my land adjoins this block IV, Otajo, Peninsula.