PELORUS ROAD BOARD.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 30, Issue 19, 8 March 1918, Page 6

PELORUS ROAD BOARD.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the above Board was held on Tuesday, the following members attending: Messrs J. S. storey (chairman), J. Leslie, J. Kennington, J. Fulton, C. Nees, and R. F. Healy. CONDOLENCE, The chairman, in moving a vote of condolence to Mr J. Duncan in the recent loss of his wife, said that the late Mrs Duncan was a woman who, with her husband, had always taken a keen interest in public affairs. The secretary was instructed to forward to Mr Duncan the sympathy of the Board in the sad loss he had sustained. SECRETARY’S MONTHLY REPORT. The secretary reported on the month’s operations as follows: Finance. —The debit balance to date stands at £2282 I6s Bd. The month’s receipts since the previous meeting total £196 2s 7d. This month’s paysheet represents £203 13s lOd, of which £194 11s lOd is chargeable to general account, and £9 2s 6d to grants account. Outstanding accounts total £164 19s lOd.

Mahaklpawa.—Owing to a serious break in the road bed just off Pask’s bridge it was necessary to carry out immediate repairs, the matter being urgent. Messrs Lovell Bros, were sent over for this purpose, and it is recommended that these two men be put on for a few days on new work on Maha-kipawa-Havelock road, as this would enable application to be made for part of Mahakipawa-Havelock road grant £2 fox £l. Mrs Beauchamp asks for something to be done to road from Mr Thompson’s to her place to enable milk being sent out to factory next month.

Kaituna.—Nothing has been done during the month in this riding outside of repairing plank on Wairau bridge. Special size timber had to be cut for this work, and also to replace broken planks in small bridge near Mr Hodgsons. The railing on bridge at Inman's Crefek. had to be replaced owing to it having been knocked off by a motor car. The account for repairs' will be forwarded to the owner of the car which caused the damage. Pelorus. —Owing to bad state of decking on bridge near Mr W. Ahern's Wakamarina, necessary repairs had to be- effected. One or two bad blockages in water tables at upper end of Wakamarina road will take two days to clean out. Metalling operations on the main road, under Government specifications have been resumed, but owing to the fimount of work required to be done before the winter sets in Mr Wright suggested that another team should be put on. Complaints having been received from settlers as to the dangerous condition of the Upper Opouri ford such repairs as would make the crossing safe were effected. In reference to a settler's complain'- re overhanging rock on the Eonga Road it would be necessary to shoot off about 300 yards to make the roadway safe at this point. A few days had been put in clearing and improving the track from Brooklyn Bay to Mr J. Moore’s to enable stock to bo brought out. General.—The Inspector of Mines was in the district on 28th February and passed the Battery Road (Wakamarina) contract. The contractor for the Mahau track notified that he completed the work according to specifications, and it was inspected on February 26th.

WAIRAU BRIDGE. The following recommendations in reference to Wairau Bridge approaches and proposed protective measures were forwarded by the Wairau Road Board for consideration: Blenheim, February Ist, 1918. Chairman and Members, Wairau Road Board: Gentlemens Re the Wairau Bridge. The different things which I have to report upon are as follows:

(1) The raising of the road from the Bridge to the main terrace which the Public Works have recommended to act as a- stop-bank and roadway together, and if the work is carried out it will, of course, only stop the overflow of water; it will not stop the river washing its banks away. I think, therefore, that some groynes will have to be put in at different points below the mouth of the Onamalutu creek, and a bank put across the flat near there, which would stop the Muter coming down to the road, and could be done much cheaper than raising the road. The only thing is that the raising of the road has a Government subsidy. (2) The approach on the northern side of the bridge I consider is far too narrow for the height and length of it, being only 12 feet on the top with the exception of one bay, which is not enough for the amout of traffic along that road. (3.) The deck of the bridge. I consider it is a great pity that this could not have a good coat of asphalt laid on it. I consider the last dressing it had did it more harm than good, for it is now only like a trough to hold water, which soaks through the longitudinal planks on to the bottom floor, keeping it always wet, and you will find it will bo the means of it rotting in a very short time. (4.) I would recommend that more willow planting bo done on both sides of the river, in good M r ide strips, and it would not cost much, as there are plenty of willows to be had close by.

(Signed) J. BOYLE. The following letter was read from the Minister of Public Works (Hon. W. Fraser) to the chairman of the Pelorus Road Board;

“Sir. —I regret to find by your clerk's letter of the 2nd February that your Board is unable, owing to stress of finance, to proceed with the work of raising the northern approach of the Wairau bridge at present. Under these circumstances, and as the matter is urgent, I am issuing an authority for the total amount of the cost of this work which wih be proceeded with at once, and must request your Board to send me a letter intimating that it is prepared to pa}- one-half of the cost of same M'hcn finances are easier with you." Mr Fultcn moved that Mr Boyle's report be endorsed by the Board and sent on to tho Minister of Public Works.

Mr Ners said he was going to oppose the motion. As the Board did not ask for Mr Boole's report it was therefore not worth considering. In the second place he thought the offer of the Government to finance the work until the Board was in a position to pay their portion a good one! He reminded members that the Board was required

to pay naif the cost of the work, but as the controlling body was held responsible for the collecting of half the cost. The work had been held up pending financial arrangements, and now that a financial arrangement was offered he considered the Board should accept it. Apparently some of the members had changed their minds over the matter since the work was first proposed. Ho pointed out that the offer to finance was a recognition from the Department of the necessity of the work. He for one was willing to accept what he regarded as a munificent offer from the Government. Mr Leslie said that things have changed and the river has also changed since the proposal was made to raise the northern approach. The river was working to the centre of the bridge more, and he now considers that a groyne or two above the bridge is all that is required. Mr Kennington was of opinion that if the bank was built up to the proposed height it would certainly stand, as there would bo a big cushion of water to protect it. He was opposed to Mr Boyle’s report being sent on to the Minister of Public Works. The Government’s offer provided an easy way of financing the work. Mr Tlcaly referred to the change in

the course of the river, and maintained that if the proposed work of raising the approach was gone on with, the money may as well bo thrown over the side of the bridge if groynes are not also erected. He strongly advocated the groynes and the planting of willows. He considered that if the approach were raised it would still be necessary to put in stop banks. The chairman considered that it would be absolutely waste of money to raise the bank. He regarded Mr Boyle as a practical engineer, and being an old resident of the district he knew the ways of the river better than any man in Wellington. Ho therefore considered his report more reliable than others that have come before them. In answer to a point raised by Mr Nees he ruled that Mr Fulton's motion was quite in order. Mr Nees referred to the embankment erected on the other side of the island and on the northern side of the Opawa, which had stood intact for many years. Mr Fulton in reply said the embankment referred to by Mr Nees was merely a guide, while the bank in question was a dam. The motion was carried, Messrs Nees and Kennington dissenting. Mr Fulton then moved that the Board approach the Lower Wairau River Board and ask for a further report from their engineer on this river scheme. —Carried.

KAITUNA ROAD GRANT. The Under-Secretary of the Department of Lands and Survey, in reply to the Board’s communication of 14th February,' stated that he was directed by the Minister to advise that the Board’s previous request for financial assistance for the sum of £350 was referred to the Public Works Department when the Estimates were being prepared during last session, and as that Department has had control of the expenditure of any Government moneys on the main road, the Board had better communicate with it. On the motion of Mr Nees the secretary was instructed to write to the Mines Department for a straight out grant of £350 in lieu of timber royalties. NOXIOUS WEEDS ON CROWN LANDS.

The Under-Secretary replying to the Board’s letter of pretest upon the condition that Crown Lands wore being allowed to get into through the spread of noxious weeds, especially foxglove, advised that enquiries had been made from the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Blenheim, who reported that the eradication oi them was almost an impossibility. In any case the cost of the work at the present time is prohibitive, and he could hold out no hope that it would bo undertaken during the war. It was stated that if the settlers adjoining these reserves exercised a little more care when burning their own country, the reserves would remain in their natural state, or those already burnt would soon grow up again, and thus the menace of noxious weeds from this source would be done away with.

MOTION RESCINDED. According to notice, Mr Pulton moved that the resolution passed at the previous meeting “that the present dual position of clerk and treasurer and inspector to the Board be terminated on 31 at March next, and that separate applications be called for positions of' clerk and treasurer, and for working inspector” be rescinded. He spoke strongly against the Board engaging a working foreman. The present secretary engaged an assistant who, he held, was of material assistance to the Board, as it enabled the office to be kept open continuously. He did not consider a dying Board should make such an important change. What had transpired since the previous meeting had shown that statements made in regard to the present inspector’s work were false. He regarded the matter as a deep laid scheme to got rid of the present secretary. The chairman seconded the motion and upheld Mr Pulton’s statements. Mr Healy as the mover of the original motion, objected to Mr Pulton’s imputation that it was a “deep laid scheme” to get rid of their present secretary and inspector, whose secretarial work was second to none, and whom he respects as a man. He had always been opposed to the dual positions, and he had been complimented by the ratepayers for bringing forward tho proposal for separate positions of works inspector and clerk. He denied that ho had made any misleading statement in moving the motion. At the request of the chairman, Mr Pulton consented to withdraw the words “deep laid scheme.” Messrs Nees and Fulton were still of opinion that in the best interests of the Board applications should be called for tho separate positions. The motion was then put. and carried on the casting vote of the chairman, Messrs Healy, Kennington and Nees opposing.

MISCELLANEOUS. On the motion of Mr Nees, the secretary was instructed tc write to the Marlborough Land Board enquiring what right ol road had been given to Messrs Bobertson Bros., and the conditions of maintenance. The resident engineer forwarded a complaint from a settler re the condi-

tion of road in the Opouri Valley. The part of road referred to —from Tunakino junction up has got too deep wheel ruts into the gravel, and the settlers who use it express their willingness to give their time to help nap the stones, etc., if the Board will use the grader to level it off. —Left in the hands of inspector. After some discussion on the position of the Board in respect to the new subdivision, Mr Nees gave notice to move at next meeting (in the event of a general election being necessary) that the Board make a special order to dissolve. » Mr Nees moved that the Board meet as usual on the first Tuesday in May, but that a special meeting bo held at the end of April tc confirm the new bylaws as published, and in compliance with the Act. Expenditure up to £5 was authorised on road at Mahakipawa from Mr Thompson’s to Mrs Beauchamp’s. It was decided that the Lovell Bros, be engaged for one week on HavelockMahakipawa road. Inspector was empowered to put two meu on work of clearing watertables on Wakamarina road.