NORTH RUATANIWHA ROAD BOARD.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 50417, 19 April 1878, Page 2

NORTH RUATANIWHA ROAD BOARD.

A meeting of the board was held at Hampden on the Bth inst. PresentMessrs M'Lean (chairman), W. Hastie, T. Holden, J. Craven, and J. Mathews. It was proposed by Mr Craven, and seconded by Mr Holden, "That Mr Ingles' bush contract (road making) be passed and paid for." — Carried. Proposed by Mr Mathews, and seconded by Mr Holden, "That roads required by the board on Messrs Stokes' property be defined, and roads offered in exchange by the board to the Messrs Stokes be defined likewise." — Carried. Proposed by Mr M'Lean, and seconded by Mr Hastie, "That Messrs Holden, Mathews, and Craven communicate with the natives of Tikokino, near Hampden, for opening road through native reserve, leading to Messrs Knapp and Holden's properties, and the back country generally. " — Carried. Proposed by Mr Craven, and seconded by Mr Holden, "That the chairman communicate with the chairman of the Waipawa County Council as to what sum of money was allotted for the district." After aome discussion, the motion was generaly approved, so that the board would be furnished with such information as to enable them to distribute the district funds with more mature consideration and equality in the repairing of the main and various branch roads before the winter sets in. Proposed by Mr Craven and seconded by Mr Mathews, " That the main line of road between Hampden and Waipawa should have a general repair, and tenders for same be called for immediately." — | Carried. j A despatch from the Colonial Secretary was read by the chairman, acknowledging his readiness to accept any suggestions j that his (the chairman's) experience might ! offer for the benefit of the district. The Chairman said that he would receive with pleasure any assistance the board might give him in the matter. Among other suggestions he considered that road districts would be represented in a more liberal manner if they were represented in proportion to the number of ratepayers. In not being sp represented, perhaps, the North Ruataniwha district suffered the most. As warden, he brought this motion forward at the last two annual meetings, when he showed that the district was allowed a board of five wardens ever since the formation of road boards ; that since, in consequence of an alteration in the boundaries of the district, a large tract of valuable country was added to the district, valuable both from its position and quality of soil combined, including the whole country lying adjacent to the railway line from Te Aute to Waipawa, and extending backwards to the Ruataniwha Plains, consequently adding upwards of thirty ratepayers to the roll, and still the board was composed of five wardens only. He thought that, whatever satisfaction the alterations of boundaries had given in other parts, that this alteration was gratifying to all concerned in this district, from the formation of the county giving more access to two railway stations — the Kaikora and the Waipawa railway stations. Various contracts in road-making, to the amount of upwards of £100, were passed, and were ordered to be paid. This terminated the proceedings.