NGAIRE ROAD BOARD.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 78, 8 January 1881, Page 4

NGAIRE ROAD BOARD.

Monday, 3bd January.

The board met at 2.30 p.m. Prevent — Messrs. Southey (in the chair), Hawke, Mabey, Quin, Calvert, and O'Donovan. Mr. Twigg, foreman of works, was also in attendance.

WITHDRAWAL OP RESIGNATION.

Before the business of the meeting -commenced, Mr. O'Donovan said that he wished to withdraw his resignation, as the settlers in bis part of the district were anxious that he should remain on the board until some work ■was done on their roads. He had private reasons for resigning, and in fact it did not suit him to be on the hoard. But as there was a change pending in the constitution of the board, he thought he might as well remain on for a short time.

FOIIEMAN OF WORKS.

After the reading of the minutes,

Mr. Calvert asked what arrangements had been made with the foreman of works ?

The Chairman said that Mr. Twigg Lad agreed to act for the board on the same conditions as he was doing for the Hawera Road Board.

Mr. Twigg explained that he received 10s a day from the Hawera Road Board, and he had explained that in his letter to the chairman.

Mr. O'Donovan asked Mr. Twigg if he was going to tender for works in the Ngaire" Road District? He understood from the chairman that that was one of the conditions he (Mr. Twigg) had insisted upon when accepting the appointment. Mr. Quin suggested that Mr. Twigg should put the conditions in black and white, as the board would then know exactly wlnt it was doing. After some further discussion,

The Chairman said he thought that it ought to have t ilrt n place at the last meeting. A resolution was then passed that Mr. Twigg should be requested to act on the same conditions as he had been doing for the Hawera Road Board, and that had been done. He thought the present discussion out of place. Mr. Quin said that he had proposed the resolution, asking Mr. Twigg to act as foreman of works. He was not aware that there was any person in the district competent to perform the work. If he had been, he might have acted differently. But that was the time to have spoken, and not now. Mr. O'Donovan said he did not like to speak then, as he was personally interested. He thought that settlers in the district should have an opportunity of tendering for the appointment.

The minutes were then confirmed.

Mr. Twigg, in answer to a question, said that the road going into Messrs. Gordon and Nash's land on block 11., could be done for about ,£25.

On the motion of Mr. Quin, it was agreed that ,£2O should be expended on the road.

On the motion of Mr. Quin, seconded by Mr. Hawke, it was resolved that a plan of the district should be prepared by Mr. McCutchan, at a cost of 355. j to be ready for use by next meeting.

A discussion took place as to whether roads could be made through land sold for cash out of deferred payment money, as the chairman explained that he and Mr. Twigg were in doubt on the subject. Mr. Quin said that the Hawera Road Board were spending deferred payment money at the present time on cash land, near Robson's mill. The works would have to be submitted for approval to the Land Board, and objections could then be made, if the Board saw fit.

A letter was read from a large number of residents on Skinner and Bird roads, asking that some work should be done, as a lot of bush had been felled. — Mr. O'Donovan explained that a good deal of bush had been fallen on those roads. The Bird road was six miles in length, and went as far as the Patea river. It was the most important road in the whole district, as it opened more land than any other. He suggested that some deviation should be made to the northward, so as to get a good grade. The Skinner road ran three or four miles parallel with the Mountain road. He proposed that ,£2OO be expended on Bird and Skinner roads, and that the foreman of works be requested to prepare plans and specifications for the works thereon, paying particular attention to the deviation required on the first three-quarters of a mile, so as to avoid the terrace. — Mr. Quin seconded the resolution, which was carried.

The application from G. Marchant and others, for work on the road through sections 53 and 54, block 1., postponed from last meeting, was again considered. — Mr. O'Donovan proposed that the foreman of works should inspect and report at next meeting. — Mr. Quin thought those who Had been the first settlers should Teceive consideration before those who had only recently purchased. — The Chairman considered they should exercise great care in expending the money in hand. They would have more work to do than they could possibly get funds for. Mr- Quin proposed that the foreman of works should inspect the Finnevty road, and prepare plans and specifications ; tenders to be called after next meeting. — Mr. Calvert seconded the motion, which was carried. A letter was read from H. R. Baker* Hawera, asking whether anything could be done on the road through block VI, He wan-ted to carry in

grass seed', and he believed that it would not take much to make a bridle track there.

Mr. Calvert proposed that the foreman of works should inspect the Cornwall road, and prepare plans and specifications, and that tenders be immediately called for. There were some settlers living there, and about 50 acres of bush had been felled. He (Mr. Calvert) was living on his land, and Mr. Godkin intended to build after the next burn. — Mr. Quin seconded the resolution, which was carried.

It was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Quin, seconded by Mr. Hawke, that the foreman of works should inspect all the roads in the district, and report as to the most necessary works ; the chairman to call a special meeting as soon as the plan was prepared, and the report ready. CLERK TO THE BOARD. Applications were received from the following persons for the office of clerk to the board: — C. H. McCutchan, jun., ... £U 14s Southey Fowler 21 0 W. H. E. Wanklyn ... 25 0 R. J. Moore 34 0 On the motion of Mr. Quin, seconded by Mr. Calvert, Mr. McCutchan was appointed. RESIGNATION Of A MEMBER. Mr. Gray tendered his resignation as a member of the board, as he was about to part with his land. — Accepted. MOUNTAIN ROAr>The Chairman readatelfgrumfrom the Hon. Major Atkinson in .uference to the Mountain road. It Ttas received with a good deal of satisfaction by the board, and the chairman was thanked for the trouble he had taken in the matter. BYLAWS. Mr. Quin proposed that a dozen copies of the bylaws should be printed. Mr. Calvert seconded the motion. Mr. O'Donovan opposed the printing as being an unnecessary expenditvre, and warned the board as to the costs of advertising. He proposed that the matter be held over till next meeting, and that the chairman be requested to ascertain the cost. Mr. Calvert thought they were asking too much of the chairman. He had already given a great deal of his time to the business of the board.

The amendment fell to the ground for the want of a seconder, and the resolution was carried. The boare adjourned at 5.15 p.m.