LEVELS ROAD BOARD.

Timaru Herald, Volume L, Issue 4843, 14 May 1890, Page 4

LEVELS ROAD BOARD.

The ordinary -.meeting of the .Loveb Ttoad Board wa« hrlJ ycafenlay! Present— Messrs U N. Orbell, K. limartr Khorirs, A.-Mee, W. BMfour, «t,d W, Hall- Jones. ■■ -J'lie-, -first • business- was , the election of a chairman" for the year. On; the motion of Mr Orbell.eec.Vded by. Mr Meo, Mr E. T. Rhodes war unanimously elected to the office. In moving that Mr Ernest- Timaru Bhodes be elected chairman for the ensuing year, Mr Crbell said ho had much pleasure m making the proposal. He could not himself consent to act even if asked as he could not spare tho time and give the attention necessary, und ho moved that Mr Hhodea be chairman. Mr Rhodeß thanked the members for this mark of their confidence, and said ho would strive to do his boat m the interests of the board. ; Mr Mcc m proposing a cordial vote of thanks to the retiring chairman congratulated the board on tho very able way m which during the past year the business of the board had been conducted, as shown m the greatly improved financial position of the board. Mr Jones, m seconding this vote, also referred to the satisfactory business done, and to tho improved financial position. The vote was unanimously passed. Mr Orball thanked the members for their expressions of approval, and said he had striven to do his duty fairly without fear or favour, and m this he had been ably assisted by the other members of the board, who had each and nil done their best to carry out the business of the board fairly. He had heard it stated outside that members of the board had got roads made to their own properties, but he would say that this had not been dotib m the case of any member. Mr Orbell aIBO spoke with satisfaction of the improved position of the board financially, andnaid if ratepayers looked into tho proceedings of the board for some yeare past they would find that the members had been guided by two considerations, economy and the keepini passable of aU-~»Jo »p m« auwiot. Correspodence was read as follows : — From the N Z.L. and M.A. Coy, re transfer of one acre on 8.8. 14437, Washdyke, and expenses thereon £3 4s 6d. — Transfer t-> be obtained. From Mr Owen Blackler, complaining of the state of a ditch on Swamp road. — Overseer to examine and report, or if only a small matter to attend to it. Mr David Bae applied for pipes for a culvert at his farm, Point-Cave road. — The overseer said an open crossing would be better, and he was instructed to make one. Mr J. Moßeath complained of a piece of road near Dugald Blue'B, Totara Valley, as very unsafe, owing to the encroachment of a creek. -The overseer said Mr Blue v had damaged the road by constructing a dam or rather by the traffic of his cattle to the dam. — Mr Men said the road ought to be shingled, but on the statomant of the cost, said the board could not afford it. It was suggested that a portion of it be done this year and another portion next and following years,dividing it into three, and this was agreed too, lenders to be called for shingling ona third of; tha road, the worst parts to be done first. A letter from the Harbour Board acknowledged receipt of letter respecting the Wai-iti road tramway, demanding that the road be properly restored when the rails are taken up. The letter had been handed to tho contractors. — It was stated that the road crossings were cut of order, and two or three accidents had happened, the wheels of buggies being wrenched off, and ono lady bad been seriously hurt. It wa» suggested that aa' the contractors were not using the tramway they might lake up the crossings at once. The chairman thought if tho crossings were kept m order they would be safe ; the timbnr guards had been worn away and made dangerous — The Harbour Board to be further communicated with. On a btterfrom Mr Brooklsnd and another, re Pareora beach road, it was decided to haog proper gates ; fencing to be deferred. An offer of an acre of land on lot 31, Seadown Kstate, for £30 for a shingle reaerva was accepted. — On this acceptance tenders to be called for shingling work m the locality, held over for want of a Bupply of shingle Ou the letter from the Harbour Board l-ci.cctinj the harbour rate, a conversational discussion took place. Same members thought the Harbour Board might exercise more economy than they do, and it wbb suggested tbat thsir rating powers should be limited m some way. It was decided to approve of the Harbour Board's proposal to alter the mode of collecting the rate. Notice of motion waa given for next meeting to strike a general rate of 5-Bth penny m the £, for the year ending March 318t1891, payable m one sum on December 2nd next. Mr Balfour desired that the Government be again asked to make a crossing over tho railway io the Seadown district, on a road near King's which waa a surveyed road at the time tho railway waa constructed. The Department do not refuse the crossing, but want the. board to pay for it, £90.- It waa agreed to make fresh representations to the Government on the subject, demanding the crossing aa a right. I JThe overseer, Mr Annand, reported for the month as follows : — " Contracts m hand :— Nos. 41, 42 and 43 are now finished. No 44, supplying shingle, over half the contract amount is out. No 45, carting broken metal for repairs to Main South road, the contract amount is out ; there is about 160 yds available which v being carted oat at contract rate. " Works etc., attended to : — Bepairiog Spring bridge, Main South road ; making cuttii,g etc., on road to reserve No. 6(0, repairing Opihi road and Millar's road with shingle; repairing culvert* etc., Levels valley road, and repairing lower Fareora road and Brasaell's road with shingle. " Walton mill bridge : — Some repairs were done to tbis bridge and its approaches laat month, and bs the bridge spans ths mill race, and will have to be rebuilt shortly, the Board ought to determine whether they or the owners of the mills shall bear the cost of such rebuilding and maintenance. "Works, Ac, applied for :— Shingling a porlion of Levels valley road. The nearest available shingle is about 2 miles distant. Bluestone : Some difficulty has been experienced m getting blaestone, on the old terms, for repairs to roads ; tenders fur the supply of spalls have to be delayed -m consequence. " Saltwater Creek Bridge. — Opportunity ought to be takon after the first fresb m the creek, to have the rust cleaned off the piles and braces, and paint them with hematite. " Moa Pass Road.— About four chains of the crrek m Hay's land require widening and clearing A small creek diversion made on road side, and a stop bank at th« bridge would prevent the creek overflowing the road as formerly." As to the cost of spall* for Otipua, referred lo in the report, the overeeer explained that the owner of the stone, Mr Bristol demanded double t!io usual price. Mr Meo proposed that the owner bo given notice that tho board will take the quarry under tlie Publio Works Act,— that was the way to deal with people who made such exorbitant demands. This course was agreed to. As to the Mill bridge, this being over a private raco, it was considered tho mill owners should look after tho bridge, and pay for the repairs recently effected. Tho overseer to take the first opportunity to get tho Saltwater creek bridge painted. A complaint by Mr Ohisholm that he had heen deprived of a road access to land near tho Cavo by an exchange of one road for n new ono, was spoken of. Mr Orbell stated the Government closed tho road and sold the land, without consulting the board, and it would cost £300 more to m»ko the new road than tho old one. Mr Mcc suggested that at the original mad waa not closed m the manner required by law it was not closed at all and must be re-opened on the board's demand though the Government had sold the land. The •ecrotary was instructed to write lo tho Land Office, pointing out tho defect m tho closing, and demanding the reopening of tho road required by Mr Chisholtn, first looking up thi correspondence with tho Land Office on the subject. Tenders were received at follows : — Contract No 46 — Spalls for main road — J. Pearson £83 6s Bd, W. Stevenson £81 6s J. 11. kcilly £77 1b Bd. _ SohoGald £75 (ae-fpterJ). Contract No. 47 — Shingling Washdyko road from foot of downs to railway erotiiag

alternative tenders for screened and unßcreened shingle -W.- Btev<mßoo £113 6s 8d and £86 1 3 4d, J. Pearson £96 13s 4d and £80, R. Cnlvert £86 13s 4d and £70 (fonder of £70 for unscreened sninglo accepted. Accounts were passed and tho meeting closed. •