Central Road Board Report
CENTRAL ROAD BOARD. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21. … Northern District. The following is the Superintending Surveyor’s report to 21st February:— Contracts Completed. Satisfactorily —No. 2,903, Virginia Bridge road, for 930 cubic yards rough stone between 17th and 18th mileposts; No. 2,927, Kooringa and Port Wakefield-road, for 1,000 cubic yards of rough stone between Mintaro and Wockie Creek; No. 2,919, North-road, for making eight chains road near Fennel’s, north of Waterloo; No. 2,950, North-road, for making eight chains road opposite Section 487, near Waterloo; No. 2,973, Virginia Bridge-road, for 800 cubic yards, rough stone between 16th and 17th mileposts. Contracts Proceeding. Satisfactorily—No. 2,951, North-road, making 15 chains road opposite Section 488, north of Waterloo; No. 2,952, North-road, making 14 chains road at Mayor Hill; No. 2,953, North-road, making 10 chains road opposite Glasson’s section; No. 2,954, North-road, making 10 chains road, opposite Dunn’s section; No. 2,987, Thebarton Bridge and Kapunda-road, making 67¾ chains road near Sheaoak Log; Nos. 2,924, 2,925, and 2,926, Kooringa and Port Wakefield-road, supplying 1,000 cubic yards rough stone between Mintaro and Wockie Creek; No, 2,958, North-West Branch, making 60 chains road between Watervale and Penwortham; No. 2,981, North-West Branch, making 64 chains road between 19th and 24th mileposts. Re-advertised.—No.2,959, Thebarton Bridge and Kapunda-road, making 33 chains road north of Kapunda and Light; No. 2,957, North-West Branch, making 72 chains road between Auburn and Leasingham. Nothing doing—No. 2,970, North-road, making 386 chains road near Summer Hill. Contracts nearly finished —No. 2,927, North-road, making 416 chains road near Maryvale Scrub; No. 2,937, North-West Branch, making 48 chains road between Watervale and Penworthem. In hand—No. 2,967, Wallaroo and Moonta-road, supplying 700 cubic yards of rough stone between 13th and 14th mileposts; No. 2,974, Wallaroo and Moonta-road, supplying 600 cubic yards rough stone between 24th and 26th mileposts; No. 2,982, Wakefield-road, supplying 350 cubic yards rough stone near Section No. 1. …
Central Road Board
CENTRAL ROAD BOARD. Tuesday, January 17. … Contracts in Progress. … Nos. 2 924, 2,925, 2,926, and 2,927, Kooringa and Port Wakefield, supplying each 1,000 yards rough stone between Mintaro and Wookie Creek; …
Mintaro and Walkey Creek Road
MINTARO AND WALKEY CREEK-ROAD. The Stanley District Council wrote, requesting that sufficient metal might be provided on the road from Mintaro to Walkey Creek to make the road as far as Walkey Reserve, which portion was impassable in winter. Mr. Macaulay was directed by the Board to see if he could do anything more for the road in the next appropriation. …
Mintaro, December 1870
MINTARO, December 27. The township has assumed a more lively appearance. On Thursday the examination of the Day School took place in the presence of Dr. Vogt, Messrs. W. Bowman, G. Faulkener (sic), H. Jolly, District Councillors, and others. The proceedings began at 10 a.m., when 57 scholars were present, several being unavoidably absent through harvest operations. After three hours’ drilling several gentlemen expressed satisfaction with the scholars’ attainments. About 50 volumes were then awarded. The scholars then enjoyed themselves till summoned for refreshments provided by their teachers, Mr. and Mrs. Fry. The Primitive Methodist Chapel anniversary sermons were preached by the Rev. Mr. Raymond, of Wallaroo. On Monday a Christmas tree, adorned with articles ornamental and useful, was well patronised. A good number had tea and attended the public meeting, when excellent speeches were delivered. The proceeds, over £33, were considered satisfactory. Farmers are generally busy with their machines, and seem sanguine as to having a pretty good yield, though in some places it will scarcely meet their expectations.
Stanley, December 1870
[District Councils.] STANLEY. December 10.—Present—Chairman, Messrs. Bowman, Jolly, and Faulkner. Letter from Clare Council, declining to assist in making ford by Section 508. Public to be cautioned against any infringement of the Bush Fires Act. Clare Council to be written to to know if they will assist in repairing boundary road near Trilling’s Hill. Overseer of Works to get some panels of fencing put up both sides of made road in Wakefield-street. Application to bring Cemetery under Real Property Act to be forwarded to Mr. Cotton. Mr. S. Roberts to be noticed to destroy Scotch thistles. Messrs. Fry and Horan, licensed teachers, allowed £2 and £1 10s respectively for prizes. Rate notices to be issued. Works ordered:—Crossing near corner of Section 306, Hill River; repairs to creeks at Wockie; near Gubbin’s; near Company’s Gate; Wakefield; Kite-street; Mintaro; and near Mr. Torr’s. Payments, £35 15s.
Request for Platform at Mintaro Station
Sir G. S. Kingston, M.P., and Mr. H. E. Bright, M.P., waited upon the Commissioner of Public Works (Hon. J. Carr) on Wednesday morning, December 7, to request that a platform might be erected at the Mintaro Station, on the Northern Extension Railway. A memorial was presented, to which was attached the signatures of 61 interested persons. It spoke of the great convenience that a platform would be, and mentioned that during last season 80,000 bushels of wheat were sold in the township. Sir G. S. Kingston pointed out that the Mintaro neighborhood was one of the best wheat producing parts of the North, and stated that he did not believe any station would give a larger amount of traffic in wheat than the Mintaro Station if there were a platform. Mr. Bright hoped, as the memorialists were not asking for much, that the request would be acceded to. He reminded the Commissioner of the necessity, if it were decided to comply with it, of the erection of the platform being at once proceeded with, as the carting of wheat would speedily commence. Mr. H. C. Mais, Engineer-in-Chief, in reply to the Commissioner, said no provision had been made for a platform at the Mintaro station. Sir G. S. Kingston mentioned that persons using the railways complained of the delay in receiving their goods, which he understood was in consequence of carriers retaining goods till they had a full truck. One of his constituents purchased two ploughs in Adelaide, which were handed over to one of the agents to be taken to a station on the Northern Extension Railway. The charge for carriage was £2 10s., whilst last year they would have been carried for 5s. each. A week after the purchase they had not been delivered, the carrier giving as his reason that he had not a truck load. The Commissioner, in answer to Sir George, said the Government carried goods on the railways; but they charged 3d. per ton for a single ton per mile. Any person could, however, hire a truck on the same terms as the agents. Mr. Bright referred to a letter which had appeared in the Advertiser from a resident in the Alma district, who complained of very great delay in the delivery of some goods from Adelaide, and stated that he went to the Alma Station fruitlessly so many times, that had he gone to Adelaide for the goods he would have only had to travel about five miles further. The Commissioner had seen the letter, and considered it was a disgrace for a man to have written such a letter to a newspaper without having made any complaint to the railway authorities. He protested against such sweeping accusations and charges without complaint being made. Mr. Bright observed that many country people did not understand the routine of Government business, and the only remedy they thought they had was to address a letter to the public press. The deputation then withdrew, it being understood that a platform would be constructed at the Mintaro Station, on the western side of the line.
Increased Railway Tariff
INCREASED RAILWAY TARIFF. … MEETING AT MINTARO. An orderly meeting was held in the Long Room of the Devonshire Hotel on Wednesday evening. Mr. T. PRIEST (District Chairman), who presided, said the proposed additional railway charges would fall heavily upon them as a district, and be felt by all indirectly. He was sorry that more notice could not have been given, but as the memorial must leave by next day’s post there was no time to spare. He here read a letter from Saddleworth embodying the resolutions of a public meeting, and one from Riverton asking for co-operation. Mr. Faulkner believed the scheme was an imposition, aimed chiefly at the farmers, for they knew that in all probability farm produce this season would be much increased, and the Commissioner was seeking to take advantage of this circumstance. The late Commissioner had conferred a benefit on all classes by establishing cheap railway fares. Now, however, it was said that railways did not pay, and the tariff must be increased. If such was the case greater economy should be used in working the line; such, for instance, as a reduction of the superfluous number of porters employed at petty places just to remind passengers that they had arrived at their particular stations— a work which could well be done by guards. The Chairman advised adherence to the object. Mr. J. MURDOCH moved— ‘That this meeting considers that the proposed addition to the present railway charges would be highly detrimental to the farming interest and to the colony generally, and materially injure the revenue.’ Mr. R. LATHLEAN seconded. He believed, from personal experience, that carters would be willing to take wheat down at a cheaper rate, provided they could get back loading; and, should the Government persist in their proposal, he for one should support the carters. (Hear, hear.) He could account for the railway not paying last year from the failure of the crops. In former seasons from 90,000 to 100,000 bushels of wheat were sent from the neighbourhood, and had the same quantity been produced last year, with other districts in proportion, he would have had no doubt about the line paying. Better accommodation should be provided at the Mintaro Station for the reception of wheat. He had been obliged frequently to pitch his wheat-bags down in the mud, and he could see no reason why their station should not be provided with a platform as well as others. Mr. FAULKNER supported, and hoped, if the charges were raised, that the storekeepers would unitedly support the carriers, and send the railway carriages down empty. Mr. DOWD also supported the proposition. He could plainly see that if the proposed scheme were carried, it would seriously damage the revenue. This year, he was thankful to say, there was some prospect of their having something to send down by some means, and it was evident that if the carriers took it the railway would be idle. He hoped the House would not sanction the measure, and believed the Commissioner had made a great mistake in proposing it. Carried unanimously, and a memorial, embodying the above resolution and requesting the district members to use their influence and oppose the project, was submitted. Mr. PALMER supported the adoption of the memorial, but suggested that two representatives should be sent to accompany the Riverton deputation. Mr. H. JOLLY did not think that representatives would be necessary. The interests of the Riverton and Mintaro people were identical, and the deputation while expressing Riverton views would represent theirs. He would like to see a rider added to the memorial, urging the necessity of constructing a platform at Mintaro Station. The Chairman thought a separate memorial would be better. The petition having been adopted, was numerously signed. …
Ferry auction, Piper’s Yards
SALES BY AUCTION. TO-MORROW (Friday), November 25, at 11 o’clock. AT MINTARO. To Farmers, Carters, and Others. HORSES. HORSES. SETH FERRY will sell by auction, at Mr. Piper’s Yards, Mintaro— 30 Head of HORSES Draught Colts and Fillies And Stanch Horses, subject to trials. These are an excellent lot, and selected expressly for this market. Terms—Three months’ approved bills, and discount of 5 per cent. allowed for cash. Note—For positive Sale.
Stanley, October 1870
STANLEY. October, 15.— Present — Chairman, Messrs. Faulkner and Smith. Tenders accepted— No. 8. R. Lindo, £15 10s, ; No. 12, M. Meany, £7 17s. 6d. Mr. Lindo to have £1 for extending south, end of cutting near Mount Rufus. Two chains, and 4s. per chain, for cutting drain on east side of ford near Frineler’s. Clare Council to be written to to know if they will assist in making ford on boundary. Messrs. Brady, Gibson, and Miller attended for trustees of Mintaro Cemetery, and offered to transfer the trust of the same over to the Council. To be referred to full meeting. Mr. Faulkner to get forming between Sections 140 and 141, Farrell’s Flat, extended two chains. Mr. Frineler to be informed that if he does not clear drain stopped by him by his place, Council will do so at his expense. Clerk to get surveyor’s chain. Works ordered—Metalling opposite Mr. G. Cumming’s to be extended. Ford to be made near Mr. C. Martin’s ; culvert near Mr. Tobin’s, Mintaro; fords between Sections 54 and 278, and 87 and 13, head of the Wakefield; ford near Section 364 to be repaired; road from Black Springs boundary to railway crossing to be inspected and reported upon. Payments, £38 18s. 7d.
Contracts signed
Contracts Signed. Kooringa and Port Wakefield-road, delivering about 1,000 cubic yards of hard quarrystone between Mintaro and Wockie Creek. Kooringa and Port Wakefield-road, delivering about 1,000 cubic yards of hard quarrystone between Mintaro and Wockie Creek. Kooringa and Port Wakefield-road, delivering about 1,000 cubic yards of hard quarrystone between Mintaro and Wockie Creek. Wallaroo and Moonta-road, delivering about 560 cubic yards of limestone between 24th and 26th mileposts. Wallaroo and Moonta-road, delivering about 500 cubic yards of limestone between 24th and 26th mileposts. Kooringa and Port Wakefield-road, delivering about 1,000 cubic yards of hard quarrystone between Mintaro and Wockie Creek.