AVON ROAD BOARD.

Tho usual meeting of the Board took place on Wednesday, March 11. There were present Messrs Peacock, Norman, Duncan, and Dickinson. In the absence of tho Chairman, Mr Peacock was Toted to the chair. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The Clerk reported the receipt and payment to the Board of tho following sums, viz. : — General rate, £20 10s ; Waimakariri do, £1 Is ; footpath, Ids 8d ; belt, 15s 9J ; and there had been paid in by the Government the sum of £456 ss— making together £179 6s 3d. The balance to tho Bourci's credit is £235 16a lid. Mr Haughov and others saw the Board with respect to carrying out the promise to form the road between sections 325 and 288, Bingsland. They were informed that it formed one of those works put down to he done, and Bhould be one of the first to be attended to. Mr Selfe and others saw the Board and presented a petition asking the Board to make the road by tho New Brighton school to the Bottle Lake. After considerable discussion it was decided that the Surveyor would take the levels, and those interested in the road being made, ■were to send in a tender for the Board to consider next meeting. Mr Eeece requested the Board to continue Preston's road to his farm at Bottle Lake, as he considered it more convenient than the one proposed by the previous speakers. Mr Eeece was informed that the Board would consider the matter. Mr Joblin also spoke as to a different road being made from that proposed by either of the previous speakers, which he considered would answer the purpose, and also wished the Board to consider the making of a road by way of tho canal reserve, as it was impossible for him to get out in the winter. Mr Daniel's man brought a letter, which itated that Mr Homer was filling in the main drain, and requesting the Board to interfere in the matter. The Board promised to attend to it. Mr Shaw and others from Bingsland saw the Board, asking that tho bridges on the road through Bection 325 might be repaired, ao they were dangerous. The Board directed the Surveyor to inspect tho bridges, and if found to be dangerous, to repair them at once. Mr A. Philpott saw the Board, and asked that tho drain by his land might be cleared. Tho Board said that if tho matter required attention it should receive it. Mr Philpott also spoke of remarks made at j a previous meeting with respect to hi 3 contract at New Brighton, which he considered unfair to him. Tho Board replied that as he was aVpnrty to the contract it could not interfere, but any j remarks made by the Board with respect to | tho manner of carrying out the work were quite called for. A letter from Mr Homer was read, informing the Board that lie had determined to fill in tho drain running through his land, whicn the Board had cut. It was decided that Mr Homer be written to to inform him that if he filled in the drain to tho injury of the district, he must do it at his own risk. A petition was read, asking the Board* to mend and shingle the Waimakariri Sandhills road . Tho Surveyor to report on the cost of doing the work. A letter was read from Mr Paget, complaining of t ho water opposite his hotel. It wa3 decided that Sir Money be applied to requesting him to furnish the timber ns promised for kerbing the footpath, and the Clerk was directed to call the attention of the Commissioner of Police to the continued trespass and damage done to the footpath, and request him to take means to put a atop to it. A letter from the Provincial Secretary, in-

forming the .Board of. the cessatioii of tolls -from the Waunakariri bridge. .' ./:'..'■■ . The Chairman was requested to write to the Government and request it to recoup the Board for the loss of the tolls, as it had, in making provision for works for the current year, taken into account the tolls to be received as one of its assets. Another from the Government, informing it that £175 had been paid to its account on account of vote for Riccarton drainage. A letter from Mr Newton was read, as to the state of the Northcote road. Resolved that tenders be called for the formation of the road and filling in of the drain. A letter from the Church Property Trustees expressing their willingness to pay the £20 asked for clearing out the creeks through section belonging to the Church was read. It was decided that tenders be called for clearing the drain at once, and the chairman be empowered to accept one. A letter from Mr Alport wa-3 read, complaining that the Board's workmen had cut a part of Mr Duncan's fence away, without permission. The Clerk was directed to reply that the Board had permission of Mr Duncan to cut the drain, and had it been known that Mr Alport was interested in the land, application ; would have been made to him also. A notice was read from the Board of Conservators, informing the Board that a general rate of one penny in the £ on the whole of the district, and a special rate of one penny on a portion of it had been struck. Mr Duncan moved — " That notice be given that it is the intention of the Board to strike a late of one shilling in the £ on the whole of the rateable property in the district for the current year;" which was seconded by Mr Norman, and carried unanimous^ . A letter from Mr Ellen was read, asking the Board to remedy the bad drainage caused by Mr Moor having filled in the ditch. The Surveyor was directed to take steps to meet the complaint. A letter from Mr Eeighley was read requesting the Board to form and shingle the Edgeware road before winter, and offering £6 towards the expense. To be informed that the Board expected to get the road made a chain wide, and then the matter would be attended to. A letter from Mr Bing was read, in answer to the Board's request to have a strip of land dedicated for drainage purposes ; also with regard to forming Kennington's road ; also asking the Board to clear a creek ; also to have a new culvert put in to replace the one taken out by the surveyor in St Albans creek. Reply that the surveyor would attend o the creek through section 41. With regard to the obstruction in Dudley's creek, it was resolved that notice be served on Mr Savage, that unless it was removed within 10 days proceedings would be taken. A letter from Mr Harman was read complaining that the contractor had done nothing towards building the bridge over the Styx. Reply — that Mr Scaforth, the contractor, had three weeks still to complete the work, and that the Board hoped it would be finished in that time. The surveyor's report was considered. It was resolved, to inform the applicants for a footpath on the East town belt, that as the work was outside the district, applications must be made to the City Council. The surveyor was directed to clear the drain by Fisher's land. Also, to call for tenders to clear the creek through sec. 1048. The membei'3 who visited the New Brighton road' reported on it to the Board, and said that the surveyor would not pass the work, which they quite agreed with. The Board therefore declined to pay for the work until it was passed by the surveyor. Accounts to the amount of £140 17s 8d were passed and ordered to be paid, and the Board adjourned. .