OHAI RAILWAY BOARD.

Western Star, 19 March 1920, Page 3

OHAI RAILWAY BOARD.

The 'monthly meeting of the Board, held on Friday, was attended by Messrs A. W. Rodger (Chairman), W. J. A. McGregor, W. Excoll,« D. D. Macdonald, D. Jardiue and W. Crawford.

Tho Chairman reported that the F.A. engine, while being overhauled at Hillside Railway Workshops, would have a steam brake fitted. Tho Board’s C engine was undergoing repairs at Wairio. The delay in the Coaldalo Coal Company opening up their mine would call for some modification of the agreement entered into with the mine-owners on the Board’s main lino.—On the motion of Messrs, Macdonald aind Jardine, the Chairman waa authorised to see Messrs Tinker Bros, and arrange a tentative agreement, pending the Coaldale Company fulfilling the conditons of the previous agreement made between the Board and the coal owners.

The Clerk submitted a provisional statement of coal haulage and income <for the past three years, showing substantial increases in quantity carried and' revenue earned.

The Chairman reported upon the financial position, and was authorised to complete such temporary overdraft as required to complete the line formed..

Rails, sleepers, and fastenings being now mostly on the ground, an agreement was made with Mr W. Baird to do the whole of the plate-laying on similar conditions to his original. contract with the Board for formation work.

It was resolved to. intimate to the Railway Department that their present method of settlement for railages of coal over the Board’s line was so unsatisfactory that unless remedied the Board; ask them, to make their arrangements Avith the Coal Companies direct.

The Engineer reported that a. satisfactory arrangement had been made with Mr Soper for the delivery of the .balance of sleepers, and that plans of the Railway had been forwarded to the Railway Engineer. He also submitted quantity of timber on which royalty was payable on behalf of sleeper contractor.

Two tenders for the manufacture of points and crossings .were received, and that of Messrs J. Sparrow and Son, Ltd., Dunedin, was accepted at £240 .delivered at Wairio in four weeks. The Clerk was directed to obtain from the engineer full particulars regarding ballast required for the four miles of line to Tinker’s, and the Chairman and Messrs Crawford and McGregor were appointed a Sub-com-mittee, with power to arrange a contract for ballasting the line. The manager recommended that 300 sleepers be obtained for replacement work on the Wairio-Moretown line, and it was decided to obtain these in red birch (fagus fusca). The manager was authorised! to obtain a Remington typewriter for use in the Wairio office, and to arrange a course of typewriting tuition for Miss Bates at the Board’s expense.

On the motion of Messrs Macdonald and Jardihe, the Clerk was directed to advise the Chief Postmaster, Invercargill, that the Bprad would carry the mail free to and from! Wairio and Moretown, provided the Postal Department arranged to deliver it to the guard and take delivery from the train.

W. S. Hunter claimed £23, on behalf of W. F. Egan for a. cow killed on the line.—Mr Crawford and the Chairman to ascertain particulars of the accident ’ from the manager. A claim) for loss sustained through cattle straying was referred to the contractor.

It was decided that in future the Board meet as a Finance Committee fifteen minutes before the ordinary meetings, any number present to form ai quorum. Accounts amounting to £'3366 11s lOd were passed for payment, and the Board adjourned.