Featherston Road Board.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1892, 4 October 1886, Page 2

Featherston Road Board.

This Board held its usual monthly meeting at Featherston on Saturday. Present—Mr John Tully (Chairman), A Matthews, W E Bidwill, H C Dowman, C Harris, F Mouokton and D MoDougall. The minutes of the previous meeting, as read by the Clerk, were confirmed.

CORRESPONDENCE. Correspondence inwards was read as follows : Mr H. Tyer, asking for two culverts at South Featherston (Kahautara way.) From Minister of Public Works, advising remittance of £IOO, being part of £l6O voted for Gross Creek Road. WAIHENOA POUNDKEEPER. There was no application for the post of poundkeeper at Waiheng«,‘ but Mr Olliver (poundkeeper) wrote asking the Board’s advice respecting the selling of an heifer in the pound, and as his time expires on 'lotobor 4, the Board extended his time of appointment for that date to allow the sale to be effected. treasurer's report. The amount to credit of ordinary account at date is £6ll Ills 3d, and to imprest account, £126 12a 6d. The receipts since last meeting have been—Deposits, £5; poundage fees, £1 19s ; general rate, £3lO Is 0d ; special rates, £4B 15s lOd, and £IOO part of grant for Cross’ Creek road. Final notices have been sent out respecting rates, and I hope to report the whole collected by next meeting. A claim has been made for rates on Crown Lands, but the roll of Native Lands has not been received, The financial position of each sub district is as follows, exclusive of Crown and Native rates, and against which to-day’s payments have to be plaoed No 1, credit, £l3l 19s lid ; No. 2, £202 9s 7d; No. 3 (including Cross’ Creek), £165 12s 9d ; No. 4. £62 2s lid ; No. 5, £137 16s 9d ; No. 6, £147 lsßd ; No. 7, £127 10s lid ; No. 8. £334 Hs sd.

engineer's report,

Mr Sheet reported as iollows ; I have made a careful examination of the bight beyond the Waibenga Bridge to ascer. tain the quantity of land required to make a deviation at Fetberiok's Bridge. I find the length of the new road will be 24 chains, and the area of land between the outside of this road and the present one will be eight acres. From the character of the land, whigh is all sandy, there will be no material on the ground for the formation. If you use the material on the ground the first heavy flood will sweep the road away bodily. I estimate the quantity of clay to be carted on to this road at sixty cubic yards, as it will need forming for a width of 24 feet, this at Is 6i per yard will come to £4 10s pet chain. The metalling may be done for 30s per chain, or a total of £6 per chain.

Cost of new road—24 chains at £6, £144 ; fencing 27 chains at £l, £27 ; two bridges, first £SO, second £IOO, £l5O ; total, £321. The accompanying plans will shew the deviation and the character of the formation. In addition to the eight acres required for the deviation, it will be necessary to purchase an acre of land for a gravel pit. Wall's Road.—l have examined and made a survey of the road (which Mr Wall pro* poses to convey to the Board) from the present road, known as Wall’s, or Station Bush Road, to the old Government Road leading up towards Gladstone through the Ahiarubi Block, The total length of the new road will be 144 links or a little over 1} miles. The line is a very good one, there is only one small culvert required, and about 10 chains round the Big Hill on to Cabbage Tree Flat. The average depth of the first cutting will be about 4 feet and the rest not above 3ft; cost of work required to make a good cummer road all tfaeyear round will be about £3O. I strongly recommend the Board to secure this road, as there is a large extent of country without a road at present, the only means of passing ;being through Martin's Homestead across those flats. Mr Morrison’s run and wool* shed can only be approached from this direction. Accounts general, £207, and imprest, £56 ss,'were passed for payment, MR. BIDWILI's MOTION.

Mi Bidwill, pursuant to notice, moved that the resolution of April 3 be rescinded and that the moneys accruing from the Waihenga toll be placed to Ur District Board account as originally. Mr Bidwill said the time was coming when they would require to do away wiih district roads and have a re-adjustment of wards. Mr Dowmau moved as au amendment that jC iOO cl the toll fees bo spent in No 5 ward, and stated that nearly all the Lower V Hey trallio passed through his {No. 5) ward, a d the district road was a most expensive one to maintain, having bridges, &o. Mr McDougall seconded the amendment.

Mi Matthews said be did not think it would bo wise to reduce the general fund at present. After the Loan Bill was fn force he should net be iu favor of retaining the toll, £260 per annum.

The Clerk, iu answer to the chairman, an, nonneed that since April, £l3O 19s 3d had beep received for tolls and £296 3s Id been tipenilpd on this road. Mces'S McDougall, Harris and Powmau --‘•a fur tire amendment, a n 4 Messrs BidVo *''*' AV *nn and Tally against, will, Matthews, . T he motion was carried.

It was agreed that a gate and lock be placed at the side of the road near the Waihenga Bridge leading to the river bank, where the shingle is obtained for the road.

Mr Dowman said he intended applying (or a towing pith on this side of the river. Mr Mouckton and other members of the Board eaid the public have no right for ft towing path without purchasing private property.

■ Mr Skeef, engineer, saul Mr Did bill’s C; own grant ended to within one Hall of (be first span of the bridge. Mr Bidwill produced tracings and a letter from the Chief Surveyor’s Office showing that tbe traverse pegs have nothing to do with the boundary of his land ; he only wished to show that the public could not claim a right to enter. THE WAIOHINB PROTECTIVE WORKS. It was resolved that the sub committee meet at Mr Sheet’s lioum*. Greytown, on Thursday next, at 10 30 a.m.,if Mr Elgar can come. THE DEVIATION AT PEIHERICK’s BRIDGE. It was resolved to take steps to take tbe laud required at this point under the Public Works Act, and the Olerk was instructed to make the necessary Mr Ring, the matter to be further considered at tbs next meeting of the Board. Mr Matthews said he believed Mr Martin would be satisfied to see the matter settled under the Public Works Act SUNDRIES. Mr Matthews asked that Mr Sheet take the levels of a certain swamp on Cross' Creek Road. Mr Tnlly asked that Ur Skeet take a survey of Martinhorongh-Fahaua Hoad from the end of Harrington’s contract to tbe bridges. Agreed to.