ROAD BOARD MEETINGS.

Waikato Argus, Volume II, Issue 110, 23 March 1897, Page 3

ROAD BOARD MEETINGS.

CAMBRIDGE BOARD. ; The above Board met at Kerr’/s Criterion Hotel, Cambridge, on Saturday. Theic were present Messrs 0. Day (Chairman), W. H. Wright niid W. Main. ! The Narrows Road. —Thu Chairman said about ‘2O chains of a draif.i through Mr Casey’s ground, that had been made by the- hoard, needed cleati’iig, as it was all overgrown and had not had anything done to it for, ten or twelve'years. He had been authorised to get what was ntcess,try done to clear the Narrows Hoad ot water, hut lie did not feel justified in having this dngin cleaned out until other members of the Hoard had seen it and expressed their opin on upon it, for it was a second edition of Selby’s drain. He understood this drain was made when Mr Graham was upon the Board, and- it really appeared to him that in past days members usually benefitted to a much /larger extent than the other ratepayers from works executed by the Board.—Mr Main objected to the Board c oing work upon private land. If Iho culvert under the road was cleared it would take all the water off the road, and that was all the Board required. It was resolved to clear the culvert, and, if necessary, put in larger pipes. Finance. —At date the Board had a credit balance at the Bank of £55) Is, During the month £42 had been received on account of subsidy, anil rates amounting to £s‘2 2s fid have yet to come in. Fencouet Road. —Mr Main reported he had let the work at Kite’s Corner to Mr J. McCann, the forming at 4s Cd per chain and the gravelling at Is per yard. The woik was progressing satisfactorily. The Tamaiieke Board.—ln an informal talk after the business of the Board had concluded some rather severe comments were made upon the tardy manner in which the Tainaherc Board had dealt with a bridge that had broken down pn the Victoria road, and also about the bad state of the road over the Tauwhare hills. The bridge referred to has been almost impassable for a long time because of the approaches having been washed away, whereas a man with a few planks could have fixed it up temporarily in half a day. PDKEKDRA ROAD BOARD. This Board met in the Oddfellows’ Lodge Room, Cambridge, on Saturday. There were present:—Messrs E. Allen (chairman), W. Scott, D. Caley and Thornton Walker. A Drain Wanted. —Miss Hooper, of Cimbridge West, wrote to the Chairman on the Ist ultimo as follows : “ We have for several winters been annoyed by the overflow of the ditch just outside our stockyard. Would you come and look at it ? We think the Board would graut us some drain pipes to put in at the entrance to the gateway.”—The Chairman said he had inspected the place and it certainly was bad. There was also a little hill in the road near Miss Hooper’s that was very slippery, and he had engaged Mr G. Keeley to prude the hill, and also attend to the drain.—The Chairman’s action was endorsed. Te Bapa.— Mr Alex. V. Jones, of Te Bapa, wrote to the Board on the Bth ultimo as follows : “I beg to draw your attention to the bad and rough state ot the road leading to my gate (about 20 chains), which being reclaimed swamp, it is, in the winter months, almost impossible to get a load along. Last winter 1 had on several occasions to get permission from Mr Norrish to go through his property. Trusting that your Board will do something in the matter, I am, etc.”—Mr Jones subsequently wrote on the 10th inst. as follows : ‘‘Mr Hughes has promised £1 towards the forming of the road. I will also give £1 and raise the small culvert if the Board provides the extra timber required ; or would put in pipes if found. These donations and labour will only be given on condition that 30 chains of the road is formed.”—Messrs Scott and Caley were deputed to inspect the toad and see what is required. Ohaupo. —Mr J. Bukousky wrote:— 41 1 wish to draw your attention to the slate of the road leading to my farm, as it is getting into a bad state. The drains are all blocked and when it rains the water has to run over the road, and it wants partly re claying. I am not the only one that makes use of the road ; Mr Kusahs makes more use of it than I do, as he has every day about 30 head of cattle and horses going over it, and I think it is time Mr Kusahs was made to repair the road where he burnt it out last year.”—This matter was also left for Messrs Scott and Caley to report upon Cambridge West. —Mr W. White wrote asking the Board to put a culvert on Longfellow street, as there is a great flow of water, and he contemplates improving his property adjoining that street ; and Mr Win. Harris requested the Board to repair Wordsworth-street before the wet weather sets in.—The Chairman and Mr Walker undertook to attend to both these applications. Graved.—Mr Jas Dean wrote “ I beg respectfully to ask your Board for permission to take a few loads of gravel from the gravel pit near the schoolhouse at Cambridge West.—Mr Walker said the Board had resolved some time ago not to let anyone take gravel from the Board’s pits.—The Chairman said that was so, for he distinctly remembered applying for permission to take gravel fiom one of the pits, before he was u member of the Board, and it was refused. He thought it rather hard at the time, hut it xvas quite right' for w hen private individuals went to get gravel they undermined the sides of the pit and caused considerable trouble and annoyance. Mr Dean wanted the gravel for school property, hut they would have to diaw a hard and fast line. —The Secretary searched for the minute re forbidding the taking of gravel, hut could not find it. so a motion was duly moved, seconded and earned not to let anyone take gravel from the Board’s pits except its employees. —Mr Caley said he hardly agreed with such a stringent motion, but he presumed it was neees sary. Another Drain Wanted. The Chairman said Mr Jas. Hicks had offered to make a drain that would keep the road near his property dry, if the Board would supply 15 nine-inch pipes.—Mr Walker said 15 pipes seemed a lot for the job.—Left to the Chairman and Mr Walker to attend to. Briars. Complaints had been received that some individuals had not yet cleared the loads opposite their properties of furze, briars, etc.—lf it is not done forthwith the Board intend taking the necessaty steps to cause the law to he complied with. Accounts. —The following accounts were passed for payment : —W. Harris, £l9 18s (id ; W. Souter and Co., 14s l)d ; the Clerk, £5 ; Waikato Arcus. 18s ; C. Jarrett, 10s; G. Keeley, £1 4i ; C. Nickle, £7 13s. Beer’s Hied.—The Chairman said Mr Jarrett, who had repaired the culvert at the bottom of Bell’s Hill, told him the whole of the timber was rotten, and would soon need renewing.—Mr Walker undertook to inspect it. Ho thought timber could bo dispensed with altogether. Contracts.—A discussion ensued about coutractois transferring contracts from one to another, hut the Board decided not to have anything to do with the matter. This was all the business.