KAITI ROAD BOARD.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 279, 4 December 1901, Page 3

KAITI ROAD BOARD.

The Road Board held its monthly meeting yesterday. Present: Messrs G. Mattbewson (Chairman), Bridges, Harding, Harris, and Bull. Messrs Nolan and Sheet forwarded a report on tho appeal case of Tucker v. Kaitilload Board.—Mr Bridges considered ibe matter hod been sufficiently threshed out.—Mr Harding said it was unfortunate, but thoy had acted on the bost advice.— The Chairman said tho Board should not have allowed the petition to go through.

A communication was received from the County Engineer, pointing out that the Board had taken no steps to fill in the large drain cut on the main road near the junction with DeLautour road.—Mr Bridges said there was not much danger now that the summer was coming on, and the drain was empty.—The Chairman said the drain was dug its present depth owing to the Hood scares. The Board should not provide for anything beyond taking off the average rainfall, or they would be continually digging canals.—Mr Bridges said that if tho drain was filled in it would send the water on to Captain Tucker’s land.—The Chairman said if a railing were put along it it would getover the difficulty. —lt was decided that Messrs Harding, Bridges, and the Board’s engineer meet the Council with reference to the matter.

A request was received from Mr Bright, agent in the Montrose Estate, asking the Board to tako over the in that vicinity. The Chairman said he had informed Mr Bright it was utterly hopeless to expect this. Mr Bridges said an injustice was being dono to the settlers who were paying rates and special rates and could get nothing done to the roads. The Chairman said he did not think the settlers could get roads unless thoy formed themselves into aseparate Board, and borrowed money for the purpose. Mr Harding thought the Board could not take over tke roads until they were formed as provided by the Act. The Chairman thought the Board could .‘ take the roads over if necessary. Mr Harris said they could tako the roads over, but it would not be neeessary to spend anything on them. Mr Harding did not think the;Board could spend money on the roads, and it would be useless taking them over. Mr Bridges said it >vas a bad position for the Board to take up. The settlers had not only been paying rates, but also special taxes for loans, and yet had not a penny spent in return. Mr Harding said if the Board took over the roads, they accepted the responsibility. It was decided to defer the matter, the Chairman remarking that even if the roads were taken over the settlers could not expect any expenditure on them at present.