PORTORELLO ROAD BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 3100, 13 August 1913, Page 4

PORTORELLO ROAD BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Portobcilo Road Board was hold on the 7ti inst., tuere being present tne Chairman (xVLr J. M. Dickson), Messrs 11. V. Pulton, A, Johnstone, IT. Allan, D. Seaton, J. Bacon, S. Hihkley, P. Seaton, and \V. B. Taverner. CORRESi’UNDENCE. Alex. Clark wrote complaining of water being dammed back on his property owing to tne insufficient outlet through the roadway deviation across Hooper’s Inlet. Having drawn attention to this matter on several previous occasions, he hoped the board would attend to the matter without further delay.—The board decided to erect a floodgate in order to facilitate the outflow of water at ebb tide. Samuel Miller wrote drawing attention to the necessitous state ot two recipients of charitable aid in the district, and as both wore very deserving people the writer hoped that something further would bo done to make their living conditions more tolerable, and assist them in improving their present mode of living.—The board considered that both were very deserving cases, and resolved to forward the letter to the Charitable Aid Board for favourable consideration. Messrs Clarkson, M‘Aslan. and Sneddon wrote complaining of the manner in which the road to Moana crescent was being cut up by heavy traffic. Building materia!, etc., nad been dumped on to ttie footpath, which had been seriously damaged in consequence. The result had been the blocking of a drain, which caused the water to scour through the footpath and damaged it severely. —Referred to inspector, with power to act. A statement was received showing that the total cost of licensing election expenses during the year ending June 30. amounted to ±l2B 6s 3d, of whicn amount the Portobello Road Board’s share was ±1 13s 3d. E. H. Clark, M.P., wrote acknowledging the list of grants required for urgent work in the district, ami stated that the matter would receive his carctul and prompt attention, also that the board's objection to the proposed harbour rating area would be attended to in due course. —Received. SLAUG HTEBMAN ’ 8 LICENSE. The application of Mr Hugh Clark, for the renewal of a slaughtering license at Portobcilo, was granted. TRANSFERS. The following transfers were granted:— Oliver North, leasehold farm, to William Dickson; Jas. Seaton, section 209, to John Lunn; Mary M'Cartney, section 120, to James Clark; John Seaton, scctiojis 38 to 42, Upper Harbour, to James H. Johnston; R. P. Dunn, section 27, Macandrew’s, to James Brown. inspector’s report. The Inspector rejrortcd that the surfaceman had been engaged during the month attending to the road :n North-East Harbour district, and the balance of the stone had been quarried for Reid’s road, Wavcrie; Several landslips had occurred owing to iho heavy rain, entailing a good deal ot labour for their removal. Metal was being placed on the School road, which was being icpairod as quickly as metal could be procured. Broad Bay Subdivision. —If weather proved favourable the balance of metal would be spread on Wilson’s road within a few days. A damaged pent ion Q f the sea wall had been repaired and the balance of metal had been spread on the Margate township road, which was now much improved. Allan’s road and the load near Raynbird’s was now under repair, stone for that purpose being available in the vicinity. Portobcilo Subdivis on. —The worst portions of the road near Draper and M'Kay’s boundary had been pun in lair order and more metal was required in that vicinity. Repairs had been eifected from Hay's to Cross's properties, and 100 yards ol metal would soon bo available lor repairing roads in that local.ty. Several new culverts were required for the Beach road, and a wall two chains Jung was required along tiro beach between D. Seaton's and D. Morrison's properties. Tne cost of additional work required in this subdivision was estimated a: ±129. The report was adopted. FINANCE. Some discussion took place concerning the boards financial pos tuon, and in order to keep down current expenses until the rates were leviable it was decided to dispense with the services of the sunacemen tor a month. MOTOR TRAFFIC. Mr D. Seaton drew attention to the fact that a motor car iiad visited Portcbello that afternoon, and he asked the board what should be done to secure a conviction of the owner. It was further stated that the notice boards erected by the board prohibiting motor traffic on tlic Beach road were delated as fast as they could be put up. He urged the board to secure a conviction. Mr Johnstone suggested that the board should make some concession to owners of motor bicycles residing on the upper portion ’of iho district as a matter of simple fairness to the residents concerned. I Mr Fulton said a large majority of the I residents in hi-s localey desired to have the motor traffic placid under proper restrictions and granted permission to use the road as far as Macandreyv s Bay. I hut being so, he did not think it fair that a minority at I’ortobello should be able to dominate the majority of residents at the other end of the district. A discussion ensued concerning the board’s legal position in this matter. The Chairman remind 'd members that a conviction had been recorded against one offender, from which he inferred that the board’s legal position was sound. If, however, members were desirous of bringing a test, case at. the present juncture it would be difficult to say what the upshot might

bo. Iji the general discussion that followed it was evident that a much more conciliatory feeling existed on this subject than at previous meetings when motor traffic was being discussed, and eventually the meeting closed without any decision being arrived at as to whether a prosecution should follow or not.