LEVELS ROAD BOARD.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 5006, 14 May 1889, Page 3

LEVELS ROAD BOARD.

The ordinary meeting of the Levels Eoad Board for the month was held to-day. Present —Messrs C. N. Orbell (chairman), A. Mee, W. Hall-Jones, W. Balfour. The first business of the meeting was the election of chairman. JMr Jones proposed and Mr Mee seconded that Mr-Orbell be elected chairman.—Carried. ,

The returning officer’s report on the recent election (which made no difference in the personnel of the board) was read. Mr Balfour drew attention to a paragraph in the papers to the effect that the elections should have been held under the new rolls, which were not yet ready. He did not know whether there was anything in it, perhaps not. It would not affect the results of the election, but if there was anything in it, the question was whether they wore legally elected. Correspondence was read as follows:

From the Property Tax Commisioner, re rales on crown lands, half rates for 1888-9 and quarter rates for current year,now payable. From the Geraldine County Council, requesting payment by Ist June of this board’s half year’s contribution for Charitable Aid and Hospitals, £BO9 16s lOd. From the Chief Commissioner of railways approving of a level crossing being made on Kingsdown, and with reference to exchange of roads in connection therewith.—Stops for exchange of roads etc, to be begun de novo. An opinion was received from Messrs Perry and Perry on the question whether the liability for the half cost of maintenance of the Upper Pareora bridge rests upon this board or the Geraldine County Council. Counsel were of opinion that the Governor had power to fix it, as he had fixed it, upon the board, but if the whole circumstances were properly represented to the Government, the board would probably be relieved of the responsibility by its transfer to the Geraldine County Council.—Stops to be taken to bring the whole matter before the Government.

The opinion was expressed that the bridge will be a constant source of expense, as, like the lower one, it is only half a bridge and the next big flood ,might wash away the south approach. Mr W. C. Fendall asked to have the claim for rates against him withdrawn, as ho had a larger claim against the board for road compensation.—The chairman explained that the claim for compensation could not be entertained, as the land had passed into other hands.

An offer from Messrs Fleming and Hedley to sell two acres on section 29, Seadowu estate, for a gravel pit, at £lO per acre was accepted. An application for remission of rates on account of poverty, was ordered .to “ stand over.” The wife of one of the board’s surfacemen who had been discharged, wrote for an explanation of the sudden dismissal of her busband without notice. He bad been many years in the board’s service. Some people thought it was *• because ho knows too much ; but you cannot blame him for that.”—The Chairman made an explanation and denied that the man had been dismissed without notice, Mr Mce added a few remarks, and the letter was ordered to be “ received.” Mr B. E. Stewart drew attention to a drain on Swamp road that needed clearing.— To bo attended to.

The official assignee, Wellington district, asked whether the board, as a creditor (for rates) in the estate of J. 11. Slansell, would guarantee a pro rata share of the cost of' legal proceedings to endeavour to upset a bill of sale which if upset would improve the value of the estate to the creditors. —As the board’s claim is under £l, and can bo collected from the present owner of the property, the proposal occasioned some amusement. Some ratepayers of Pleasant Point directed attention to the road opposite Levels Valley farm, which is dangerous,—Overseer to I'cport. An offer at so much per ton was received for the metal in an old iron road roller now lying near the Levels, and another for the old road engine at the yards.—lt was decided that tenders lie invited for the articles, to bo in by Saturday, the clerk to accept the highest. The chairman thought the offer was made for the engine for the purpose of shipping it to the North Island for a llax mill. There was quite a demand for old portable engines to run flax mills. Mr P. O'Connell asked for some improvements to Total a Swamp road.— Overseer to attend to it.

On a chemist's circular price list of poisdnod wheat, a discussion took place on the small birds nuisance and the eilicteccj of poisoned wheat aa a sparrow bane,

Several resident* of Kensington applied to ( have the main road shingled before winter.— Overseer to report. An application for the formation of a road by Mr Fitzgerald, was referred to the overseer.

Notice was given of a motion for next meeting to strike a general rate of fiveeighths of a penny in the pound for the current year, payable in one sum on the Ist August. Tfas chairman said the board was £1570 to the bad, but there was about £IOOO of rates in arrears, and if that was got in the board would bo in a fair position, as nearly two months of the current year had already gone. Mr Mee said there was not'another road board in New Zealand that allowed the rates to fall so much in arrears. Summonses should bo issued without any delay, excepting none, small or great. —The clerk was instructed to proceed to issue summonses at once for all arrears.

The overseer reported in detail on the progress of contracts in hand, and repairs attended to during tho month. On an application for the improvement of Balfour’s road, ho reported Length 175 chains. Tho steep portion of this road has become deeply rutted by storm water, and is dangerous for traffic. A number of paved fords ought to bo put in to cut the water off at short distances.

The overseer was authorised to purchase a horse next Saturday for odd jobs and surfacing, etc. The Wowing tenders were received : Contract 31, reforming and shingling by Cabot’s —R. Forgan,£4s 2s 6d; R. Calvert (accepted) £4O 18s 4d.

Accounts were passed amounting to £336 6s, and tho board rose.