TIMARU AND GLADSTONE BOARD OF WORKS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 817, 18 November 1872, Page 4 (Supplement)

TIMARU AND GLADSTONE BOARD OF WORKS.

A general meeting of the Board was held at Mr Perry's offices, on November 6. There were present — Messrs Luxmoore, (chairman), Mendelson, Healey, Clilf, Dr Fisher, and the Engineer. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. TE3IUKA BRIDGE. The following tenders for construction of a bridge over the Tcmukn river were opened: — Bush and Smith, £10 il 3s <kl ; Blybhe and Cuvric, £1226 18s 4tl ; W Stocks, 1159 Gs ; Allan and Stumbles, £1254 13s 6d j J .Derby, £1180 14s 6d. During the discussion on tho subject of the timber to bo employed — as to whether it should be iron-bark or jarrah — the Board adjourned for luucheon. Upon tho Board ro-assembling, Mr T W Hall was present. Tho Engineer explained to tho Board that thero were great difficulties m getting ironbark, there beiug none m the Colony, and that freights were very high from Sydney. Jarrah could be obtained but it was a question as to whether it would stand driving, the general opinion being that it would not. Mr Clifp said that if tho iron-bark could not be ]md m time to linve the bridge completed before tho next grain season, it would be better to try jarrah. After some further discussion on the subject, it was decided to employ iron-bark. Moved by Dr Fisuku, second by Mr Mendelaon, and carried — "That Messrs Bush and Smith's tender for the construction of the Temuka bridge for tho sum of £1041 3s 4d be accepted." SATWATEH CREEK BRIDGE. A letter was read from Messrs Parker, Bros, requesting that the Saltwater Creek bridge might not be closed before the time specified m the contract, aa it would interfere with their carting. The Engineer made a statement respecting the progress of the work, and said that it would be completed m about three weeks. Ho also stated that the bridge would bo 2ft 6iu higher than the road, necessitating the making of approaches. EIGHT TO PLANS, ETC. Mr Mendelson asked the Engineer to whom the original plans and specifications of works undertaken by the Board belonged after their completion. His reason for asking was, that he thought the Board should have at least a true copy of them for reference. Owing to their not having a copy of tho Opihi bridge specifications, they were unable to tell with whom tho fault of that work rested. The Engineer said they properly belonged to himself, but he would give them to the Board if they desired, without any further charge. Mr Hall thought Mr Babington's reply should be recorded on the minutes. Mr Healey said if Mr Babington addressed a letter to the Chairman to that effect, it would be better. Mr Babington promised to do so. EXTENSION 03? CONTRAOT3. Mr Mendelson said there was another question he should like to ask. If a contractor made application for an extension of time for the completion of his contract, who paid tho extra cost for inspection ? He thought that it should be borne by tho contractor. The CnATBiiAN rend a letter from Mr Hayes, the contractor for the Rangitata bridge approaches, requesting an extension of six wocks' tinio for the completion of their contract ; stating that they had been hindered m their work by bad weather, and by freshes m the river. Tho Chairman also read two reports on tho work, addressed to the Engineer, from the inspector, Mr Annaud, m which he stated that tho work was progressing as favourably as weather and freshes would admit, and that the work was being honestly performed. Moved by Mr Mendelson, seconded by Dr Eisher, and carried — " That Mr Hayes' application be acceded to on condition that the extra cost of supervision be deducted from the contract." ME BLAIR'S CLAIM. A long letter was read by the Chairman from Mr Blair, C.E., acknowledging the receipt of tho cheque forwarded by the Board, stating that as the Board had been advised that he could claim nothing further, legally, he would request them to reconsider his claim m the light of the correspondence which passed between the inspector of the Rangitata bridge works/ the contractors, and himself (which he enclosed) ; . and .he would accept their decision as a fair expression of their opinion. Moved by Mr Heabey, seconded by Mr Mendelson, and carried — " That the Board cannot acoede to Mr Blair's application." WORKS IN THE SODTH. The following letter addressed to the chairman, was read from the Provincial Secretary, under date October 16 : — Snt, — I have the honor to inform you that the Provincial Government would be glad to receive from the Board any recommendation (accompanied with estimate of cost), they may consider fit to make with reference to the public works m the district south of the Rangitata, either m connexion with those already under charge of the Board, or such other as the Board may deem advantageous to the interests of the district. And will you take steps to bring tho matter under the notice of the Board. Mr Healey said he intended moving a resolntion standing iv his name with reference to the letter juet read. He should suggest that m order to ventilate the subject fully, they should go into committee. The Chairman said they had 110 power to do that ; if necessary the bye-laws could be suspended during any such discussion. Mr Healey said he was prepared to go on with his resolution. The Government had voted several sums for special objects ; but m no case was the grant sufficient for the purpose; the consequence was, tho money was locked up, amounting to between £23,000 and £25,000, and nothing could be done with it. He should move that the Waihou should be bridged to the extent of about 35 chains, and the Pareora 40 chains; the Temuka, to span the whole river ; and likewise the Opihi continuation of bridge. And a tramway or railway from tho Point to tho Washdyke, including platforms and stations ; also a wuter supply for Timaru. The whole to cost about £53,000 m round numbers. - It might sound, at first, a large sum,

and more than might perhaps be expected. He believed that be had underrated the amount -which would be available for the Board to spend next year. On the Ist January lust, the debit balance against the South was £1000 ; on the 30th September they had to credit £26,000, thus showing that the South had bettered its condition financially, after paying all charges — including departmental, loan, &c, and General and Provincial Bond Board grants, and the 25 per cent, from land Bales — £30,000. The land sales accruing to the south for the pa3t year were £45,000 ; this year thoy would, at the lowest calculation, amount to £55,000 — that is from the Ist of October to the 30th of next September. Already this current year the sales amounted to over £17,000, for lands sold m the district. The pastoral rents would increase after the Ist of next May, which would give them another £9000. £55,000 less the twenty-five per cent would be £41,000; they had m hand £26,000 which after paying all expenses leave £67,000 be to appropriated for the South, at the next session of the Provincial Council He proposed to expend, £55,000 or £56,000 on public works. The Waimate tramway grant he had not interfered with, and had not included at all. The Road Boards last year had received m special grants £7000 ; he proposed to give them this year £10,000. The balance could be applied to protective works at the Rungitata, nud Ovari rivers, &c. He felt sure if the Board recommended these works, tho Government would carry out their wishes. The Chairman suagested that the works should be placed iv the oi'der that the Board deemed advisable they should take preference. Mr llv.ajsey thought Unit tho Pareora bridge was much more necessary than the AVmhou. He had not the same data to go upon m giving an approximate estimate of tho cost of the latter work as with the re3t. The Chairman thought it desirable that the bridges should bo constructed on the railway line, so as to save the district the cost of two bridges, and also tho interest on the amount expended. Mr Mendmson asked the Engineer what the difference iv the cost would be between a combined bridge, large enough for rail and traffic, and constructing two separate bridges? Tho Engineer said there would be but little diiferenco, but a bridge could be built to be used for drny traffic certain hours of the day, when trains were not expected, for a little over what an ordinary bridge could be constructed for. The Chairman snid he would not be prepared to give his vole unless the bridges were constructed on the railway line. Mr Hall said there was no reserve between Timarn aud the Pareora for a line of rail, aud ns it was so very uncertain who would be m the Ministry by the time the bridges were constructed, and they might be served by the Government as theyhad boon m the Rangitata bridge matter, perhaps it would be better to get a traffic bridge constructed. Moved by Mr Healey, and seconded by Dr Fisher — " That thi3 Board do recommend to the Provincial Government that the following public works be constructed, and pray that his Honor the Superintendent place on the Estimates the sums presented below " : — £ Pareora bridge ... ... 13,200 Temulca bridge 4,600 Opihi bridge 3,000 Poiut railway to Washdyke 17,600 Timaru water supply (not innid ... ... 3,000 Timaru drainage ... 3,000 Waihou bridge ... ... 11,500 £55,900 Dr Fisher snid that he considered the water supply and drainage items very important and necessary ones. It was well known that tho principal supply of water m Timaru was from wells, into which percolated the drainago from neighboring cesspools. There was a good deal of gastric fever about m the typhoid form, which he believed proceeded mainly fvom the impure water imbibed, und unless something was done to remedy the evil, m a few years Timaru would become one of the greatest pest holes m the colony. Mr Oltes thought aii abundant supply good water would remedy the evil without the drainage. Mr Mendelson was of opinion that the water supply was most necessary, aud should be glad to see it fivst on the list, but thought £3,000 far too much for drainage. After some further discussion on Hio motion it was put to the meeting and carried. MANAGEMENT O~E MAIN ROADS. Mr Mendelson moved— That this Board do uudertake the supervision of the whole of the main roads m tho district." Mr Healex said he had much pleasure m seconding the motion ; it was what had been wanted for a long while. The cost of supervision, &c, for rood-works from theßangitata to the Waitangi had been something enormous. It would be far less expensive if placed m the hands of tho Board, one Engineer could undertake all the works. The only difficulty there was m it was getting the various Road Boards to consent to it. Tho Chairman thought that as this was a very important motion, and as there was not a full Board present, it would be better to withdraw the resolution, aud put it m as a notice of motion. Mr Hall was of tho same opinion ; and he likewise considered the motion too crude. Mr Meistjelson withdrew the resolution, and handed it m as a notice of motion. TIMARU AND TEMUKA RAILWAY. Moved by Dr Fisher, seconded by Mr Cliff and carried — "That m the opinion of this Board it is highly desirable that the railroad from Timaru to the Waihi Crossing should be completed as soon as possible, and that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to his Honor the Superintendent, and the Provincial Government, asking them to bring their influence to bear upon the General Government to further the above resolution." Dr Fisher said tho present railroad works contract from Timaru to the Washdyke would bo finished iv a few weeks, and unless something further was done £9,000 or £10,000 would lie idle, returning no interest whatever ; whereas if the line was completed to the Waihi Crossing there was no doubt m the world it would return very handsome profits. If something of the kind was not done the Levels Road Board would have to expend about £10,000 on the roads to the Washdyke, aud perhaps nearly as much from there into town, before the next grain season. Mr dm? was of the same opinion. He expected it was only spite on the part of Mr Yogel their not getting tho line completed, 83 other lines had beeu ordored to be completed which had started long after their line had. LAND SALE 3. The land sales for September were read, which were us follows : — Acres. £. Geraldine 407 ... 814 Wuimate ]00 ... 200 Teniuka 94 ... 188 Levels 1575 ... 3150 2176 4352 ACCOUNTS. The following accounts were passed for payment— Rangitata bridge approaches, L 50 0; E H Tate, LSO ; Inspector Annand, L 22 16s 8d ; C Flockton, LlO ; G M Babington, Ll3 143 ; A Perry, L 6 193 4d 5 Timaru. Herald, L 5 83 3d. . .;■; . :,.. .._•-•- •■■. Moved by Dr Fishes, seconded by Mr Cliff

and carried — "That the Chairman and Messrs Cliff and Healey be appointed auditors of the accounts of the Timaru aud Gladstone Board of Works." Moved by Mr Haix, seconded by Dr Fisher and carried — "That the Secretary respectfully request the Provincial Secretary to furnish the return of land sales of the district of Timaru mid Gladstone to Nov. 19." The Board was then adjourned, on the motion of ileasrs Healey and Cliff until the 22nd inst. The meeting then separated.