MANAWATU HIGHWAYS BOARD.

Manawatu Times, Volume V, Issue 140, 23 July 1881, Page 2

MANAWATU HIGHWAYS BOARD.

Wednesday, July 20th, 1881. The usual monthly meeting of the Manawatu Highways Board was held iv the Board Room Town Hall, P?"merston, on the above date. Present — Wardens B'uce (chairman), D. Knight, Perry, "Row, Edwards, and Skerm;* j, MINUTES. The minutes of tlie previous meeting having been read and confirmed, the Chairman read the following correspondence : — FALLING BUSH. A letter was received from Mr. Michael Prendergast asking to be allowed to fell the bush on the road line facing his land at Fitzherbert, at the rate he wai paying, 3<ss per acre; also ask*. -to have the bush fallen at section 196 ; and also the road line between Mr, Bruce's, Mr Fit?simons, and his. The Chairman said he could not well understand the first part of Mr. Prendergast's application, as the bush on the load m question had been fallen five years ago. However, if it met the wishes of the Board, he would have an interview with Mr. Prendergast, so as to understand what the request was. With regard to tbe application for fallins: the line leadine: to Mr. Fitzsimous" property, he (tbe chairman) would strongly recommerd that the work should be done Although the road was not a county nor a main road, it was a main distilct road, and if was most desirable that the work should be done m ord. r to give Mr. Fitzsimons and other settlers access to the : r properties. 4 s showing the absolvce necessity for the roa'l, he miirht monti -n that on oae occasion Mr. Fitgsira/ms was, with a, horse and dray, within hulf a mile of his house, but mnUug that he could not proceed farther was compelled to retrace bis steps and make a detour of ten miles m order to. rc^ch home {fthe Board would' sanction the work hi* felt convinced Mr. Prendergast would have i* executed, and accept compensation by the remhs'cjof his rates until he had been recouped his outlay, The feeling ofthe Board was that the work should be done, nnd the matter w?s left m the Chairman's bands to arrange with Mr. Pnndergast. MORE APPLICATIONS. From Mr. VV. L. Hirst, of "Wellingtoi, stating that he was about to have tne whole of his land m he Kairanga Block cleared, and asking the Board to. make a road leadiur to sections 1583-4. * The Secretary was instructed to communicate with .Vlr. Hi'sfc, and inform him that the Board were already taking steps tq have tbe wo'-kdooc. A SIMILAR APPLICATIOV. • Mr. Divid Temoleton, of Te Metai, wrote, asking the Board to have abont twenty chains fallen fronting his section 158, Kairanga Block. M»*. Templeton was to receive the same answer as that given to Mr. Hirst. ROAD COARD VALUATION. A letter was received from Mr. G. S. Cooper, Under-Secretary, asking for a return of amounts paid by local bodies during 1880, for valuiug property, and making up the valuation rolls. The B<crel ary intimated tbat he had complied with the reque t, and forwarded the required documents. THE KAIEA^GA BLOCK. A communication was received from tb,e Surveyor-General, intimating that as

ibe various contracts for roails and drainage works m the Kairanga Block were completed, the necessary steps should now be taken by the Board for their maintenance, and the prevention of damage from slip.7 m drains, and lorn settlers falling tress ove: the drains ?nd ro ds. Mr. Row sajd that that was a matter which he had intended to have brought before the Board, as several complaints had been made to him on the subject. However, as the work had not been f'orimlly handed ove to the Board, he bad of course, declined to interfere. The veceipt of the document fro/n the Survey-or-General, just read had, however, completely altered the aspect of -the matter, aud as the Block was virtually m the hands of the Board, some stringent measures should be taken m the direction indicated. Not only were the roads being destroyed by the fulling of trees across them, but m many places the drains were choked up and m fact the river wash was scouring into the formation. It was decided that a most peremptory notice should be given to those failing, that they should be held liable for all damage to roads or drains. A SUBSIDY. From Mr. James Gavin, the Secretary to the Treasury, notifying that the sum of £151 12s 6d to the credit of the District Fund Accouut of Manawatu Road Board had been lodged m the Bank of Australasia, m payment on account of land disposed of on deferred payments m the Kairanga Block. Received and acknowleged. GATE WANTED. From My. Fred Bryce, asking the permission of the Board to erect a fence on the District Road running through his property. The applicant stated that the road m question was only used by himself and Mr. Robert M'Beth; and that he had gone to considerable- expense m the erection of bridges upon it, which were beihg destroyed by the cattle grazing on the road. Mr. Perry, the Warden forthe district, warmly^supp rted the application, which was granted conditionally, that it should be removed at any time that the Board should make snch a request. A SIMILAR APPLICATION. Mr. Jim J. Waldegrave applied to be allowed to erect a gate across the highway at Karere, as it led only to his property. Mr. Row said he would most strenuously oppoie the grantm-jo'" any such application ; but m doing -,o he did not act as a warden altogether, but rather as a settler w!io was interested, although even m his official capacity, he did not think he would be doing his duly if he did not oppose it, The effect of such a step would be to make the road nothing more nor less thin a grazing paddack for Mr. Waldegrave's stock, and as his (Mr. Row's) property Jay on one side of the road, and be had been put to considerable expense m fencing, he could not see the equity of a neighbor rnakidg use of his , outlay. He wou'J ). :yq no objection, . . whatever to Mr. W;iTeg,*c.e erecting a , gate at the other end of the road ; by erecting one at its mouth, or facing the Foxs ton Line, it would simply be converting the road lalu a paddock for running stook. Ilec;uld well understand permission being given for bush roads, but certainly it should not extend to formed roads like the oue alluded to. BcsMe the draius would be destroyed by the trespass of tbe cattle. In opposing the application . he could honestly say that he was not actuated m the slightest by any personal feeling against Mr Waldegrave, for whom ! he entertained the highest respect ; but , merely acted on a matter of piinciple, and the duty which he owed to himse-.f ai 1 other settlers Ui on the motion of Mr. Row, seconded : by Mr. Ku'ght, it was resolved— " That the application of Mr. Waldegrave could not be entertained, as Mr. Row, as a settler, objected to it," TH« MANGAONE BRIDGE. A letter was received from the Palmerston Borough Council, asking the Board to contributea moiety toward theerection of a bridge over the Mangaone Stream at Boundary Road West. The applicant pointed out that as the rates from the Kairanga Block would go to the Board, and it would be materially benefitted by increase of settlement, and as the erection of a bridge would have a tendency to that end, the request was not an unreasonable one. The majority of the Board endorsed the fairness of the claim made by the. Council, but held that there was no immediate hurry for the erection of the bridge as there were no settlers as yet J liv'rj; upon tbat portion of tbe olock ; f. jey were agreeable that the work I-,.; tl be p-oceeded with at once. IV. '. Edwards thought that a bridge quite suitable for all requirements could be erected for £60, aud eventually Mr. Skerman moved, and Mr. Edwards seconded — "That the Manawatu Highway Bowl will contribute a moiety, not exceeding £3P, for the erection qf a bridge over the Mangaone, the said a nic -int to be pid on receipt of rates from the "Cai ranga Block, and that a copy Qf this resolution be for- " wu; ded to the Borough Council." Carried, DEPUTATION. Messrs. Milvertou and Stephens waited upon the Board to ask that about ten chains of formation on Milson's Line should be raade. After some discussion, .- ". a recommendation from the tv .' "ard ens interested, the Board sc .: wedged the necessity of tne work, aud steps are to be t.-ken for its execution. VAGRANT PIGS. Mr. Milverton a1..0 drew attention to rav;.jo3 to the drains and formation msde by vagrant pigs on the Bunuythorpe Road. He explained tbat when h 3 and others bought property from the Provincial Government, it was on the disiinct understanding that the road should be formed and metalled. However although the mi x/ was voted for the put pose, by sou.* > cess of manipulation it had been e. -.„-.. ded somewhere else. The Chairman explained that unfortunately the master was one beyond the province of the Board, as there was some doubt ?i to what body had control of the roa,d. MILSON'S LINE. Mr Edwards produced plans and specifications for tbe erection of bridges on Milson's Line, for which tvfo tenders had been seqt m. The Chairman said he had some doubt as. tn the iegality of the Board letting tenders for work which had not b«en adyertised,

Mr Edwards said that Mr Parkins had forwarded a tender, and if ha received the contract he was willing to wait for ha I .' ofthe money for six months. The Chairman said that on consideration he thought the Board might accept Mr Parkins tender should it prove to be the lowest. If they called for public tenders they might get the work done a little cheaper, but they would have to pay the ready money, and that was a consideration, Mr Skerman— -Beside the cost of advertising. The tenders were then opened, with the following effect:— T. Parkins ... £34 17 6 P. Stevens ... 37 0 0 Mr. Skerman then moved, and Mr Edwards seconded - " That the tender of Mr. Parkins for the erection of two bridges upon Milsoa's Line, and the approaches thereto ; also clearing, formation, &c, m accordance witb specification, for the sum of £33 17s 6d he accepted on the following terms — that he be paid one half upon the completion of the work and the balance m six months after." Carried. work m &i\yitea. Mr Perry moved, and Mr Skerman seconded — " That the sum of £50 be spent upon the District Road, known as the Kimbolton, and leading to Perry's Corner, and £42 8s lid upon the Kiwitea Road, and that the Secretary write to the chairman of the Waste Lands Board asking sanction for the expenditure." Carried. FALLEN TRE2S. The same Warden drew the attention of the Board to the nuisance which existed from persons failing bush, and allowing the trees to impede the thoroughfare. Jt was resolved that Mr Perry be authorised to advertise, and place notices on 'he road, cautioning settlers against a continuation of the offence. vagrant cattle. Mj Row directed the attention of the Board to the fact th^t at least on settler m Jickeytown. Mr James Buick, was m the habit of pasturing his stock on "the Jackeytown Road, to the danger of tbe! residents and the destruction of tbe roads. ! The reason why he mentioned Mr Buick's nama was, that he knew the cattle which he had seen at large to be his, as they were^some of the stock which had been purchased by Mr Buick I from himself. j Proposed by Mr Row, seconded by Mr j Knight — " That the Secretary write to Mr Buick warning him about his cattle straying on the Jackeytown Highway Read, and cautioning him that if the nuisance were continued an information would be laid against him." THE AWARD.. Moved by Mr Skerman, seconded by Mr Edwards — " That the Chairman write to the Sandon and Carnarvon Highway Board for the sum of £300 on account of the sum due to thera by the award, and also that the Chairman have power to take farther steps for the recovery of the whole amount ofthe said award." Carraid. HAMIX,TOw's IiISE. The Secretary intimated that Mr. M'Ewen had threatened that if the contract between himself and the Board were not carried out without del ty, he would instruct his solicitor to commence proceedings. The Chairman said the matter had been m Mr Stake's hands, and the delay was occasioned by some difficulty between him and his agents Messrs Buckley and Co. The Secretary stated that he had written some time previously to Mr. Buckley, ask ing him to forward his bill of costs, but np to that time no answer had been returned. This concluded the business and the next ordinary meeting was ordered to he convened for Wednesday, August 1,7 1881.