LEVELS ROAD BOARD.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 6238, 10 June 1890, Page 3

LEVELS ROAD BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Levels Road Board was held to-day. Present—Messrs E. T. Rhodes (chairman), 0. N. Orbell, A, Mee, W. Hall-Jones, and W. Balfour. Among the correspondence inward was the following: From the Colonial Secretary respecting an appeal to him by the Mackenzie County Council to fix the board’s proportion of contribution towards maintenance of road from Cave to Pareora, the board having refused to contribute, alleging that the road was not a boundary road. —The secretary produced a Gazette of seven years ago, containing a definition of the boundaries, which showed that the road is undoubtedly a boundary road. The old map of the Road District also showed the road as boundary.—Mr Orbell said the creek was formerly the boundary, and this board had never been asked to contribute to the cost of the road. When the boundary was altered this board ought to have been notified, and he felt sure that was not done. —The County Council to be written to admitting liability. From the Railway Commissioners promising consideration of the board’s application for a level crossing to connect the Soadown and Main roads.

From the Geraldine County Council, asking for payment before Ist June of £291 3s 2d,half the year’s assessment for Hospital and Charitable)Aid purposes.—lVstand over, A form of agreement was received from the General Survey office to be signed, to regulate the expenditure of £SO on reserve 1263 (Police reserve Beaconsfield). Half the amount was spent some lime ago. Mr William Hay wrote objecting to a proposed drainage work near his place as he was sure it would result in injury to bis fence.— The overseer said he had no fear of any injury being done, as the wq,ter had no current to speak of.—/The work tq be watched and if it does any damage steps to be taken to remedy it. From the Auditor-General returning the balance-sheet to 31st March 1890, certified to be correct.—The balance-sheet to be advertised for the information of ratepayers. From Mr Pitman, steward of Education reserves, re Three Mile Creek, reserve 1203, that the Commissioners would pay half tho cost of reducing the intake to the relieving ditch, if the board would be satisfied with

that. They thought, however, it might bo well to wait and see the effect of alterations already made. —The overseer said he would prefer to see the whole ditch filled up. The x-educed ditch was too large for the course lower down. Reply to be sent that the Board will be satisfied with any steps the Commissioners may take that remedy the nuisance of water overflowing the road.

From Mr S. A. Bristol that, he cannot come to terms for giving liberty to quarry stone until the board rescind the resolution passed at the last fmeeting, to the effect that the quarry required would bo taken under the Public Works Act unless Mr Bristol makes more reasonable demands. —Resolved that if the overseer can moke satisfactory arrangements with Mr Bristol, the resolution of last meeting be held in abeyance. The overseer stated that ho was getting stone from other people for.4d per yard; Mr Bristol used to be paid fid, but for the later lots had been paid sd. A price was fixed as the maximum to be paid. Members expressed surprise at any freeholder placing difficulties in the way of procuring metal for a road near his own properly. From the Geraldine County Council asking the board to allow their overseer to look after any small repairs needed from time to time to the Tengawai bridge so as to keep it safe for horse traffic, the accounts to be sent to the council.—Mr Mee described bad planks in the middle of the bridge, and spoke strongly of the neglect of the County Council to keep it in repair. Mr Balfour said he had heard of a narrow escape from a serious accident and he asked the Overseer to attend to that at once, and he did so. The question of the maintenance of all the county bridges would be settled by the case of the Pareora bridge, which would be decided in a few days.—Application granted. From Mr Geo. Talbot asking to have clay cuttings on Talbot’s road Kingsdown shingled, as they were very slippery and the bare clay washed away rapidly in wet weather. — Tenders to bo called for the work at once.

A petition from F. R. Oldfield and others, asked for culverts and a bridge on Seadown estate near section 37, and a bridge over drain at section 19 The road was impassable in wet weather for people on foot or for sheep. Overseer to report From Mr George Lambert, Pleasant Point, forwarding sample of wheat poisoned with a new substance, “ very deadly ” but without the bitter taste of strychnine. Mr Mee said the ordinary poisoned wheat was too bitter, birds would not eat it.—Members agreed to take samples and test the new medicament. The overseer reported for the month as follows :

“ Contracts in hand.— Owing to the continuance of favourable weather contracts in hand have made satisfactory progress. Contract No 45, carting broken metal and shingle Mam'South Road is now finished. Contract No 44, shingling suburban roads, two-thirds of the contract amount is now out. It will be necessary to extend the contract amount by about 300 yards. “ Works etc. attended to.—Hanging gates on road to reserve No 130. Clearing watertables and shingling Main South Road. Repairing road and putting in culverts, Hamlyn’s to Pringle’s. Clearing water-tables and putting culverts in suburban roads. Repairing Sutton Road. Metalling Totara Valley Road and repairing fords on Blue’s Road. “ Works etc. applied for.—The shingle reserve arranged for on sub-section No 40, Seadown, on being tried was found to bo useless for that purpose. Arrangements have been made to get shingle on same section for contract No 49

“ Blackler’s application, cleaning ditch on Swamp Road. —The distance asked to be cleaned and deepened is 40 chains in length cost say £—

“Poisoned wheat —Some poisoned wheat has been prepared during the month for distribution.”

It was agreed to extend the spalls contract as recommended. Tenders were received as follows :

Contract No. 48-Carting metal to Totara Valley road and Blue’s road—Waterhouse £BS ; Booney £Bl 9s 2d ; Pearson (accepted) £7B 6s Bd.

Contract No, 49 -Metalling road Arowhenua'station to Cargo’s—Pearson (accepted) £2115s 4d.

Contract No. 50—Getting and delivering blue stone spalls for Timaru-Qlen-iti and Claremont roads—Stevenson £l2l 17b fid ; P. Stratford £llß 15s ; Schofield (accepted) £llO 18s 9d.

. The formal resolulion was carried striking a rate of |d in the £ for the current year. The Board instructed the secretary to summon defaulting ratepayers ot once. Mr Mee spoke very strongly of persons being allowed to fall into arrears, as those who paid promptly had to pay interest on the amounts due by others. Accounts amounting to £255 15s lOd were passed for payment.

Mr Orbell informed the board that he would be leaving for a visit to the Old Country in a few days, and inquired whether they thought he had better resign or no. The members thought there was no necessity for it and Mr Hall-Jones moved, and it was carried unanimously that Mr Orbell be given six months leave of absence, and the members wished him a pleasant voyage. The board then rose.