HAWERA ROAD BOARD.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 15, 2 June 1880, Page 4

HAWERA ROAD BOARD.

Saturday, May 29. The first meeting of the newlyelected Board took place on Saturday. Present — Messrs, Hunter, Gane, Riddiford, Robson, Morrison, and Allan. CHAIRMAN. On the motion of Mr. Gane, seconded by Mr. Riddiford, Mr. Hunter was re-elected Chairman of the Board for the ensuing year. MINUTES. The minutes of former meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. From W. Best, cashier to the TreaBury, telegram, stating that the Bank of New Zealand had been requested to instruct the manager at Hawera to place to the credit of the Board .£209 Is., being payment on account of lands sold on deferred payments. From J. Barleyraan, stating that the County Council had concurred in the action taken by the Hawera Road Board with reference to the deviation of the road at Croftmoor, and requesting the Board to authorise the issue of a notice in reference to the matter, and that it would cause it to be published. — It was resolved that the letter should be complied with. ALLAN ROAD. On the motion of Mr. Gane, seconded by the Chairman, it was resolved that the Engineer should be requested to give a certificate to the County Council, stating that over .£3OO worth of work had been done on the Allan Road. It was explained that a portion of the road had been called the West Road since the grant had been voted by the County Council. ABOLITION OF SUBSIDIES. Mr. Gone said that, in view of the probability of the subsidies being withdrawn, it was desirable that the Road Boards should co-operate, with the view of securing 20 per cent, of the amount of the land sold, so that it might be expended in the making of roads, and he thought the chairman should write to the other Boards in the Patea County, asking their cooperation in the matter. He moved that section 6 of the Financial Arrangements Act 1876 Amendment Act should be altered, so as to substitute the words " Roods Boards " for that of " County." The section now reads as follows : — " A separate account shall be kept of the land revenue accruing within each county, and there shall be paid to such county out of the Consolidated Fund quarterly a sum equal to 20 per centum, of such land revenue bo accruing in each •county." Mr. Gane moved that the Road Boards should urge upon the Government the desirableness of altering the clause, so that it might read as follows: — "A separate account shall be kept of the land revenue accruing within each Road Board, and there shall be paid to such Road Board out of the Consolidated Fund quarterly a sum equal to 20 per centum of such land revenue so accruing in each Road Board, and shall be expended in the blocks from whence such revenue is derived." The Chairman said that he understood when the Bill was before the House, the original intention had been to give the money to the Road Boards. There was a good deal of dissatisfaction with the County Councils, and he thought there would be no difficulty in getting the alteration mode. Mr. Allan seconded the motion, which was carried. FINANCE. The Treasurer stated that the Board was in arrears to the amount of .£ll7. BTRIKING A BATE. Mr. Gane moved, and Mr. Riddiford seconded, — " That a rate of 3d. in the «£ should be struck at next meeting. Mr. Allan moved as an amendment, — " That the rate should be 6d. in the £. His object in doing so was to enable them to pay off their liabilities, and to provide ways and means for the year. Notice had been given by the Government that the subsidies "were to be withdrawn, and he could not see how they could do with a threepenny i*ate. Mr. Robson seconded the amendment, which was lost. Mr. Morrison moved, as a further amendment, and the chairman seconded, — " That the rate should be 4d. in the «£," which was carried. Cutting up a gate. The Chairman said that Mr. Andrew Middlemas wished to have the privilege of erecting a gate across the Whereroa road, and he moved that the necessary permission be granted, provided that Mr. Middlemas removed it within a week after he was requested to do so. Mr. Robson seconded the motion. Mr. Allan thought the matter Bhould be postponed till next meeting, so as to give any persons interested an opportunity of objecting. The Chairman said that the granting of the request was a mere formal matter; indeed, the Board had no power to grant the request. All they could promise was, that they would not interfere with the gate, if put up. Mr. Gane moved, and Mr. Allan seconded, — That the Board should take no steps in the matter, as it was a question for the residents in the vicinity to arrange between themselves. The motion was carried. MEBEMERE AND ALLAN BOADS. Mr. Allan said Mr. Baird had informed him that a culvert on the Meremore Road wanted repairing. Some filling which had been done on the Allan Rood, adjoining Mr. Baird's

land, was disappearing altogether, in consequence of the Maoris riding over it. He moved that a two-rail fence should be erected, and that a little i filling-in should be done where necessary. The Treasui*er stated that there was a liability of .£124 16s. 9d. on the contracts which had been already let on the roads through the deferred payments land. The chairman said he had been speaking to Mr. Twigg about the matter, and the Overseer of Works ' stated that the filling would have to be done from the bottom. At jjresent, the Board had overdrawn its account at the bank, and he thought the work could be allowed to stand over till the rates were appropriated. There being no seconder, the motion fell to the ground. coghlan's contract. Mr. Allan asked if Coghlan's con- ■ tract had been passed by the Board, because he had noticed a large number of slips on it. Some of the work was very rough. Mr. Gane thought that it had been passed, as Mr. Twigg stated that the work had been done according to specification. Some trees that were standing had been felled since Mr. Twigg saw the work, and other little things which he had left to him (Mr. Gane) to see carried out had also been done. He moved that the contract be passed for payment. Mr. Robsou seconded the motion. Mr. Riddiford proposed, and Mr. Allan seconded, " That the Foreman of Works should inspect the road, and see whether the work had been properly done." The amendment was lost, and the motion carried. THE OLD MOUNTAIN ROAD. Mr. Morrison stated that the approach to the bridge, near Mr. Casey's place, had burst out, aud it was now impassable for drays. He moved that the Foreman of Works should inspect the bridge, and report to the chairman, so as to have the work done at once. — Carried. MEETINGS OF THE BOARD. Mr. Riddiford moved that the meetings of the Board should be held on the first Saturday in every alternate month, the next meeting to be held on the first Saturday in July. — Carried. MELLS ROAD. Mr. Allan said that at last meeting Mr. Gane had been authorised to sow grass-seed on the embankment. Several settlers had complained to him about it, as they considered it would only be an inducement to horses to climb over it and break the earthwork down. Some discussion took place, but no action was taken. THE SECRETARYSHIP. The following tenders were opened for the office of secretary, treasurer, and returning officer to the Board : — J. & C. H. McCutchan .£3O per annum G. V. Bate ... 30 „ „ W. H. E. Wanklyn 32 „ „ Mr. Riddiford proposed, and Mr. Allan seconded, " That Mr. Bate's tender be accepted." The resolution was unanimously passed. INSPECTION OP ROADS. It was resolved that Messrs. Gane, Williams, and Allan should inspect the Whakamara Roads ; Messrs. Robson and Morrison, the roads towords Keteuiarae and the bush ; and the chairman and Mr. Riddford the beach roads. ATTENDANCE AT BOARD MEETINGS. Mr. A. Illston claimed .£4 10s. for attendance at nine Board meetings. On the motion of Mr. Allan, seconded by Mr. Gane, the account was passed. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to ,£197 4s 7d were passed for payment. The Board then adjourned till the first Saturday in July.