THE LUCERNE ESTATE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 145, 18 June 1912, Page 8

THE LUCERNE ESTATE.

■ » ■ —■ l ROADING AGREEMENT QUESTIONED The roading of Lucerne Estate came up for further consideration' at the meeting of Remuera Road Board last night, when Messrs. Earl and Kent wrote asking the Board to make a pro press payment to tbe contractor. This involved an interpretation of agreement between Messrs. Karl and Kent and the Board, -and it was decided to fret an opinion from the Board's c-nlicitor as to the Board's obligation. Mr. E Bond entered a protest on the rines of those made by him at meetings of the old Board. He said that on the engineer's original statement the roading would cost £12,000, and the Board stood to lose £7,000. No attention ought to be paid -to Messrs. Earl and Kent's letter. He moved that an independent engineer be appointed to so - into -the cost of the roading. Mr. J. B. Paterson moved that the j Board's engineer (Mr. Munro Wilson) be asked to prepare an estimate of cost. so as to give the Board something concrete to deal -with." Mr. J. G. Rutherford remarked that it was not in the present Board's power to vary an agreement entered into by the last Board unless it could be shown that the agreement was invalid. Mr. Paterson then moved. 'That Messrs. R. McVeagh a.nd M. G. McGregor be asked to give an opinion up- I on the agreement -with Messrs. Earl and | Kent, by which the Bonrd undertook to road" the estate for £.i.OOO. and that j the engineer give an estimate for the | kerhing and i-lianne]ling of the roads I under the .-pecinr-ations. now in us? in I this district." Mr. Bond seconded this motion, which was carried -after some discussion, the i other motion having been withdrawn. The discussion was complicated by the appea-ranc-p of the contractor. who claimed the protection of the Board on the ground that the road- he tva= forming were unfenred. and the cattle grazing on the estate were allowed to run at! over them. He had complained t.i owners of the land and the owners of the cattle, but could get no satisfaction. Several courses of action were proposed, but it vras eventually decided to leave the matter till after the legal ojjhiion, had. bsca soured.