MOUNT ROSKILL ROAD BOARD.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 211, 7 September 1927, Page 20

MOUNT ROSKILL ROAD BOARD.

A meeting of the Mount Roskill Road Board was held last night, when there, were present Messrs. E. F. Jones (chair- 1 man), W. W. Kerr, E. Brewer, E. R. Allen, T. Davies, J. R. Robertson, L. A Tozer, E. W. Footer and A. St. C. Belcher. The chairman extended a welcome to Mr. J. R. Robertson, who has been absent in Australia for tome weeks for family reasons. Without a Title.—The board's solicitor advised that lot 850, section 10, at the corner of Three Kings and Mount Albert Roads is a reserve of one acre, and no tills has been issued in respect of it. He suggested that the board write to the Minister of Lands, asking him to cause the control of the land to be vested in the board as a reserve for Road Board offices, and to issue a title accordingly. The board decided to obtain the consent of the ratepayers for the transference of the remaining balance of the loan of £4800 for the purpose of building municipal chambers for the accommodation of the board and staff, and that the architect had been invited to accompany the committee on a visit to various municipal chambers for the inspection of their layout.

Concrete Roads.—A poll will be taken on the proposal to raise a loan of £88,000 for concreting Mount Albert Road and Three Kings Road. Members of the old board strongly urged the necessity for this concreting work, and offered to meet the ratepayers and advocate the scheme. Mr. E. R. Allen objected to the proposal, as it was unfair to do a few roads and leave all the others. He preferred the proposal of Mr. T. Davies, to repair all the roads at the same time. Mr. J. R. Robertson considered that it was in the interests of the district to get on with the concreting, for all the ratepayers expected the same facilities as were being given to other districts. Further' consideration was deferred till next meeting.

Drainage.—The committee reported that should the special area of Queenston and Seacliffe Roads be desirous of connecting up with the eastern area drainage, the compensation required to be paid will be 4.49 per cent on the valuation of £16,830, approximately £918 1/.

Town Planning.—Mr. L. A. Tozer furnished a detailed report of the meeting held in connection with the Town Planning Committee, and as it was deemed inadvisable to form this committee, he now recommended his board to elect a Town Planning Committee of its own, to make the Act operative in the general welfare of the community. For the future he will act in conjunction with Messrs. Robertson and Belcher and the chairman.

Xew Roads.—Following notice of motion, Mr. E. W. Foote moved: "That the resolution passed by the board on April 7, 1925, resolving 'That the acceptance of a bond for the due construction of roads on newly subdivided estates, from the proprietors thereof, and the acceptance of dedication of the roads prior to their completion, to the satisfaction of the board , be rescinded." Messrs. Tozer and Robertson submitted that the board had to exercise discrimination, for any individual would accept a bond from a wealthy man, where he would want the cash from a man of straw. This was only human nature, and as a board they often found it better to accept a bond. Mr. Belcher also urged this attitude, and the motion was deferred.

Drainage.—A ' full report was furnished by Air,. U. A' Tp*er, deta»hng. aU negotiations with the Drainage Board since October,- 1923, • when • they- -advised • that authority had been given for extending No. 8 sewer 'to the boundary -of ' Mount Eden and Mount Roskdll. He described subsequent negotiations, from which he strongly refuted the recent statement by the chairman of the Drainage Board, in which the impression was given that the Road Board had done nothing, or next to nothing, towards draining its own district. On the contrary, up till now the whole delay had been on the part of the Drainage Board, and even now the Road Board were unable to get the sewer levels which were necessary, for preparing plans required before a poll of ratepayers could be taken for draining the area. He thought the Drainage Board should be urged to expedite this work. The board received Mr. Tozer "s report.