PELORUS ROAD BOARD.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 29, Issue 44, 8 June 1917, Page 4

PELORUS ROAD BOARD.

. The usual monthly meeting of the above Board was held on Tuesday, the following members attending: Messrs J. S. Storey, J. Leslie, James Kennington, J. Fulton, E. ,F. Healy, and G. Nees. The secretary (Mr C. A'Court Opio) was also in attendance. This being the first meeting of the new Board, the secretary took the chair and invited nominations for the position of chairman for the ensuing year. Mr Storey was unanimously re-elected, and briefly thanked members for the honour they had again conferred upon him. He trusted all would continue to work with unity for the good of the ratepayers. STRAYING STOCK NUISANCE.

A letter was read from the secretary of the Rai Valley branch of the Farmers’ Union (Mr Haswcll) stating that Mr W .Turner was willing to act as ranger for that district. Mr Nees moved that Mr Turner be appointed poundkeeper and ranger for the Rai district, subject to the conditions of the Impounding Act befflg complied with. —Carried. HOSPITAL EXPENDITURE. The secretary read the statement of expenditure and allocations to local bodies forwarded by the Wairau Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. The Pelorus Board’s levy for the current year had been increased from £330 11s for the previous year to £398 18s 6d—a rise of £6B 7s 6d. Mr Nees said that a good deal had been said about the rise of £6B, but he asked if members had ever considered the rise in cost of provisions, etc., in their own households. As long as the cost of living was going up the maintenance rate to the hospital was bound to go up in sympathy. i The subject was not further discussed. UNEXPENDED GRANTS.

A list of unexpended grants in the Pclorus Road District was forwarded by the Public Works Department. The Department asked for information as to whether the money would be required , as allotted, or if the Board wished any portion of it transferred to more urgent work. After some consideration, it was decided to inform the Minister of Public Works that the grants wore all necessary. < PELORUS REPRESENTATION.

A largely-signed petition from the Rai Valley settlers urged for separate representation on the Board. Mr Nees said that when ho had on a previous occasion suggested the Pelorus subdivision was entitled to another member the chairman (Mr Storey) objected on the ground that the Board had received no request from the ratepayers for further representation. The petition now before the ■ Board swept away all objections. Ho held that the Pelorus subdivision was entitled to a third representative. He pointed out, however, that there was a good deal of work in forming a separate subdivision. He moved that the petition bo favourably considered. ‘ Mr Healy thought the Board would be more in order to deal with the matter after a notice of motion was given. Mr Fulton said that as far as he understood no notice of motion was required if all members were unanimous. On the motion of Mr Nees, seconded by Mr Healy, it was resolved that the request of the petitioners be acceded to, the proposed alteration not to take effect till next annual election. Tlir secretary was instructed to go into the matter of arranging preliminaries. SECRETARY’S REPORT. Finance. —The debit balance at bank : stands at £20.14 18s 3d. The receipts for the month from all sources total £lO2 14s (id. The month s pay-sheets represent charges against the general account amounting to £269 10s Id. Outstanding rates total £IOO 13s 3d Kaituna.—The continued wot weather Has hampered metalling operations considerably along the Kaituna road. The grader had been put to woik along the Kaituna and North Bunk roads raking metal and taking off side combings where practicable. Mahakipawa.—The only work done in this riding was slight metalling repairs. He asked for authority to put a man and team on to repair the Ma-hakipawa-Havelock road with metal, also to put the little grader along the hill road for a few days. , Pclorus.—The heavy wet weather during the month has weakened the roads throughout the Pelorus and Upper Rai valleys considerably. The continued cartage of timber along the already weakened roads, coupled with tho constant car traffic in all weathers, was putting the roads into a state which the Board’s finances were altogether inadequate to copd with. Metalling had been continued between Havelock and Canvastown where possible. Patchmetalling had been done also in the Wakamarina. The Ronga, Rima, and Carluke roads were breaking up badly, and arrangements have been made to patch up the worst places. Slight repairs to Tinline road have also been effected, and other patch-metalling and culvert work along main road is necessary.

The secretary further reported that Mr McCallum, M.P., and Mr T. A. H. Field, M.P., had both visited the district since the previous meeting, and had been shown over the roads for which grants were applied for. The Public Works Department had intimated that there were two small grants that may be obtained for roads, viz., Wakamarina £47 2s lid, and Muhaki-pawa-Havelock £33 14s 3d, and these had been applied for accordingly. Mr Wright, district engineer, had visited the works which were in operation under Government grants, and also inspected the Opouri road. Mr Fulton, commenting on the inspector’s recommendation to metal parts of the Havclock-Mauakipawa road, said that some of the water-worn ruts down the middle of the road were IS I inches deep, and were liable to capsize a trap. A slip on Hie ro id allowed barely enough room for a vehicle to pass.—The inspector and Mr Fulton were empowered to get the more urgent work done. WAIRAU FLOOD DAMAGE. A letter was read from the Public Works Department, in reference to the damage to the northern approach of the Wairau River by the floods in November last. In the opinion of the En-gineer-in-chief (the letter stated) steps should be taken to protect the approach owiug to the manner in which

it had been constructed, and to the recent change that had taken place in the river. There was always the possibility that the river would break through and cause considerable damage. The Engineer-in-chief had thoroughly considered the matter and prepared plans and specifications for remedial measures, which consisted of raising the north approach for a distance of 25 chains, repairing the netted groyne at the north end of the bridge, and making good the stone-work in same; also diverting Lambert 'a creek and dismantling the 25 feet span bridge over it. The estimated cost of carrying out this work is £650, and the Public Works Department was prepared to find half of the amount, invite tenders, and supervise the work, if the Pelorus Road Board would deposit £3OO to the credit of the Public Account, and also undertake to find ho If of any expenditure which may be required in excess of £6OO to complete the work.

After some discussion Mr Kcnnington moved, and Mr Healy seconded, that the matter be held over till the plans and specifications were before the Board.—Carried. It was further resolved that the terms of the letter be put before the contributing local bodies, and that they be asked if they are agreeable to the scheme, and if so, provided the Board goes on with the scheme, when could they pay their amounts in. > WAIRAU BRIDGE. The chairman said he did not feel r ' satisfied with the asphalt on the Wairau bridge. He was afraid that it was proving, a failure, as the wood was already showing through in places. The s-jcr3tary stated that the heavy traffic had got on to it too quickly. RIVER COMMISSION. The chairman reported that he had attended the Wairau River Commission, and had protested against the Pelorus Road Board district being included in the proposed special rating arqa.

NOTICE OF MOTION. The chairman moved the following notice of motion:— “That this Board strike a general rate of one penny in the pound, l-7th of a penny bridge rate, 2-9ths of a penny in the pound for hospital maintenance and interest, and l-sth of a penny in the pound to provide for the £396 hospital expenditure at tho Wairau Hospital for the year ending March, 1918.” Mr Noes gave notice to move at next meeting that the resolution to dismantle the Ronga bridge and stacking the timber be rescinded.

MISCELLANEOUS. The Marlborough Brewery Company wrote for permission to run a traction engine up to Mountain Camp, Wakamarina.

Mr Squires, North Bank, wrote asking when the fence round the river would be completed.—The secretary stated that instructions had been given for the work to be completed to Mr Squires’ satisfaction. ' A tender from Mr V. Geary-for £3 3s, to open and clear drain at Elliott’s Tpad, was accepted.

Mr Nees drew attention to the condition of the decking of , Farnell’s bridge (Kaituna), and- tho inspector was given instructions to have the broken top planks stripped off. Mr Nees also drew attention to the condition of Alfred Creek bridge. Reference was made to the bad quality of the metal used lately on the Kaituna road. Mr Kenningtpn and other members expressed the opinion that metal from the Wairau,. though , more expensive, was cheaper in the end, and it was decided to uxpsii the remaining portion of the Government grant in Kaituna on river metal. Or the motion of Mr Fultcn, the secrev,ary was instructed to write to owners of sections with overhanging trees to remove same where shown to be detrimental to the roads.

amounting to £384 were passed for payment.