INVERCARGILL DISTRICT ROAD BOARD.

Southland Times, Issue 2052, 15 January 1875, Page 3

INVERCARGILL DISTRICT ROAD BOARD.

♦ ■ The fortnightly meeting of thelnvercargill District Koad Board took place in the office, Barhnm'» building, on Wednesday night. . There were present— Mr James Brown (in the chair), and Messrs Cross, M'Ewan, Findlay, Brownlie, Warren, and Warnock. The minutes of previous meeting having been read and confirmed, Mr Warren said that before proceeding with tbe business, he wished to refer to a paragraph which appeared in the Southland Timea's report of the last meeting of the Boardfe in which Mr Cross, who was represented as the Bpeaker, used language of an insulting nature in reference to the ratepayers of Campbell town. Mr Warren read the remarks made by Mr Cross, namely, "It was a disgrace to EDglish settlers to do as the Campbell - town people did — live on without improving their properties except by money collected in other parts of the subdivision, Woodend, Greenhills, and Mokomoko." He would move that Mr Cross apologise for his hasty statement. Mr M'Ewan seconded the motion pro forma. The chairman said it would be better to let the matter drop, as it would only lead to a discussion which would delay the business of the meeting. Mr Warren said he would withdraw his motion, hoping such language would not occur again, and that the action he bad taken would bo a little bit of a check on bad language in future. The feeling of the majority was against Mr Warren being allowed to withdraw his motion, deeming that Mr Cross should have an opportunity to defend himself. Mr Cross then atofced that what appeared in the newspaper as having been said by him waß perfectly correct ; he certainly did use the very words quoted by Mr Warren, and however unpleasant the expressions might be, they were true. Therefore, instead of apologising for the statement, he would repeat it. It was a disgrace to see Campbelltown as it was ; instead of progressing it seemed to retrogress, and it was larger eleven years ago than it was now. The inhabitants did nothing to improve the township. Mr Warren— What do you mean by the township? The Chairman— You're out of order, sir. Mr Cross said that one of the Bluff members— Mr Waddel— had made a statement at a public meeting, namely, that " the Board had taken advantage of the Campbelltown subdivision," which was far more damaging to the interests of the Board than anything which he (Mr Cross) ever said ; and the remark was not justifiable— but as Mr Waddel ■was not preseut, he would say no more about the subject. Mr Warren replied, and the motion, on being put, was lost. The business then proceeded. Mr Cross reported that, with reference to the drainage works at Gladstone, the Engineer, the sub-committee, and the deputation appointed to inspect and consult in re the same, had done so, and they had come to the conclusion that the ends aimed at by the inhabitants would be gained by the Engineer altering hia specifications so as to include a box-drain along the North road, and a cross-drain from Lewis to Herbert street. He would move that the Engineer be instructed to alter the specifications. This was agreed to. The Engineer sent in specifications for works on the Mill Road, and they were ordered to stand over till next meeting. Specifications for works in Ness and Ythan streets, Appleby, having been sent iD, Mr Brownlie moved that tenders should be called for the same, the Engineer's attention to be drawn by the Clerk to the fact that he had omitted to specify anything in regard to ditches. The correspondence was then read and considered. The first communication was from the Provincial Government, and it showed that Government was willing to contribute one-third of the money needed to make a footpath along the East road as far as the cemetery. The Secretary (Mr Scandrett) of the Bailway and Immigration Committee wrote forwarding a resolution, passed by the Committee at its last meeting, asking the co-operation of Koad Boards and similar bodies in securing Southland its just rights in the matter of immigration, and the fulfilment of a principal condition of the reunion compact — namely, that every third ship coming with immigrants to Otago should make the Bluff an advertised port of call. The Chairman said that the communication dealt with one of the most im portant questions the public of Southland had to do with, and unless they took it up earnestly, they could not expect to effect the desired result. He might state that, during the last twelve months, eight ships had arrived at the Bluff with merchandise, having previously landed immigrants at other ports. Had they come direct to the Bluff with immigrants and cargo, Mf'Vogel'fl promise of a ship every six weeks would have been fulfilled. Mr Cross quite agreed with the remarks made by the Chairman, and if the Board was wise for the country it would help the Committee to the fullest extent of its power. It was an undeniable fact that Southland had never bad its fair share of immigrants. It was a bad day for Southland, and he had always said so, when she united herself to Otago j but that was past, and it was now their duty —an important one — to bestir themselves in procuring justice in the matter of immigration. He would move:— " That the Clerk be instructed to acknowledge receipt of Mr Scandrett's letter re immigration, and that be be informed that the Board is alive to the importance of the subject, and will use its best endeavors to further the same. That Mr Lumsden be requested, as one

of the member? of tFep^go "Executive, to insist that the terms bf reunion re immigration be fulfilled, and that Sir F. D. Bell and Mr Cuthbertson be requested to use their influence with the General Government to have Mr Yogel'a promise carried out, namely, that a ship with immigrants arrive at the Bluff every aix weeks ; and that the Clerk be instructed to communicate directly with the General and Provincial Governments on the subject, and that a Committee consisting of Messrs M'Ewan, Brown, and the mover be appointed to draft letters. That this Board is of opinion that if the terms of the reunion re immigration were complied with at once, this district is capable of absorbing and finding profitable emp'oyment for all that would arrive ; or, if Mr Vogel's promise were fulfilled, they could all be profitably engaged." : Mr Warren seconded the resolutions, land spoke strongly in favor of the principle they embodied. Mr M'Ewan also spoke cordially in their favor, and ■ when put to the Board they were carried unanimously. Messrs Dawson Brothers wrote asking leave to construct a tramway along one side of an unused road leading to Seaward Bush. It was resolved that a subcommittee should inspect the road in question, prior to any reply being sent to Messrs Dawson. Mr George Webster applied asking that something might be done to render a portion of Elles Koad, near his residence, properly passable. The Clerk stated that Mr Webster had told him personally that the Corporation were willing to contribute their share of the expense; and it was resolved that Mr Webster be asked to put his request and remnrks to the Clerk in writing. Mr Warnock asked if nothing could be done to make contractors, whose bullock teams, heavily laden with timber, destroyed the district roads, contribute towards the maintenance of such roads, or to prevent them from carrying on such traffic. The Crombie and Hollylea road was being destroyed in the way referred to. After discussion, it waa [resolved that a committee of the whole Board, three to form a quorum, should be appointed to draft bye-iaws dealing with the question raised by Mr Warnock, and also the question of impounding cattle and horses trespassing on the roads and destroying the footpaths near town, raised by Mr CroBS. A resolution requesting tbe Engineer to draw out specifications and prepare estimates for making footpaths and repairing the roadway in Lowe street, Harrisville, was passed on the motion of Mr Cross, seconded by Mr Findlay ; but not without considerable opposition from Mr M'Ewan, who deemed it inadvisable to pass it without notice of motion. The Chairman held that calling for specifications had always been considered equivalent to a notice of motion. Mr Warnock gave notice of moving at next meeting— That the Engineer be requested to draw up specifications for tussocking and gravelling the formation of Crombie and Hollylea road. The Board then adjourned.