WAIMATE ROAD BOARD.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 131, 16 July 1881, Page 4

WAIMATE ROAD BOARD.

The first meeting of the above Board was held on Wednesday last, -at the Government offices, Manaia, which were kindly placed at the disposal of the Board by the Crown Lands Ranger, Mr. Robinson.

The Board met at 2.30. Present: Messrs. Crawford, Glenn, Sutherland, Inkster, Yorke, and Young. ,

On the motion of Mr.. Crawford, seconded by Mr. (Sutherland, Mr. Yorke was appointed chairman. The Chairman said he would be happy to undertake the duties, ' but that when any question arose • about advertising, as he was connected with the firm of Qalvin and Co., he should decline to take any part whatever in the matter, leaving it entirely in the hands of the other members of the Board. He had acted as chairman of a Road Board elsewhere for nearly six years, and the Board had always worked amicably together,. and he had no doubt that this Board would do the same.

COEEEBPONDEKCE.

Correspondence was. read from Mr. Yorke to the Comminsioner of Crown Lands re deferred payment moneys, asking whether such moneys were available for office and incidental expenses or not, and whether, as a test <juestioE, he, as Commissioner, would pass clerk's salary ; also drawing his attention to the fact that here and there deviations on roads through deferred payment sections might be required, and whether in such cases that fund would be available, as it appeared to have been made use of by the Ngaire Board for the purpose. The following reply was received : — " Patea, 11th July, 1881.— Dear Sir,—Referring to your letter of the Bth instant, in which jou ask my opinion as to what expenditure may fairly be charged by the Waimate Road Board against moneys derived from the sale of deferred payment sections, I am glad you have given me an opportunity of expressing myself on the subject, as it may save some misunderstanding in the future. I may say at once that I see no reasons under the existing conditions of settlement on the Flams for deviating in any way from the manifest intention of the Act, that the whole money payable to the Board should be disbursed entirely in the interest of the deferred payment selectors, and exclusively in the construction of roads to give access to the lands they occupy. Each road on which deferred payment sections are situated should as nearly as possible receive the proportion accruing to it, to be expended in the way most favorable to the selectors. All salaries should come out of general rates, and I take it that deferred payment moneys are not available for these or any other incidental expenses, except perhaps for a- share of the advertising concerning contracts on deferred payment roads constructed or repaired out of deferred payment funds. With regard to the disbursement of deferred payment money for land taken for roads, and such liko purposes, I am not aware that any provision exists under which thio can legally be done, and I should of course not authorise any expenditure which I suppose to be illegal. With regard to the tracings of the standard plans, I must refer you to the Chief SurTeyor, New Plymouth. Ido not think the survey authorities permit such tracings such as you require being supplied, and wo 'have no means of doing the work at the Patea office under present arrangements. Trusting I have made myself sufficiently clear in answer to the points raised in your letter, — I have, &c." Resolved, that the thanks of the Board be sant to the Commissioner for the important information re•ceived.

Letter was read from Mr. W. Box, applying for leave to erect a gate on a bye-road. — Resolved, that the Chairman write to Mr. Box, stating that until such time as objection be made by other ratepayers affected, the Board sees no reason why a gato should not be erected, and would not oppose the application. Letter from the clerk of the County Council tt&B read, showing that out of ,£502 received by the County Council cut of deferred payment funds about Xlf 0 had been expended r and there was a fcrthejr balance, believed to be about J&I8, ptill due for extras. — The Chairman pointed out that as tho fl<l?:edul8 of works authorised by the Commissioner of Crown Lands had not been forwarded, he had telegraphed for it, and hoped to receive it in a d&7 or two.

GENEBAXi BUSINESS.

In a discussion which .followed, it ■was admitted by all present that the terms of the Commissioner's letter left no course open to the Board but tarlevy a rate as soon as possible. The Act clearly contemplated both sources of revenue being made use of; and, as had been pointed out by one deferred payment selector, it was questionable whether it was fair to make the selectors pay for all the roads. The chairman was consequently authorised to write to the Colonial Secretary, asking that the time for preparing a valuation list by order in Council be extended, as had been done in other cases within the district. The chairman was further authorised to request, at the same time, that all statutes affecting the action of road boards be applied for, It was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Crawford, that applications be invited for the position of clerk and

collector to the Board, it being arranged that office hours should be fixed from 10 till 4 on Saturdays, at the Government Offices, Manaia, until further notice.

Also, that applications be invited for the office of foreman of works ; it being understood that no person would ba considered eligible who could not show that he bad had previous experience, and could take out quantities and prepare plans and specifications. On the motion of Mr. Glenn, it was resolved that tenders for the joint offices of secretary and foreman be received.

It was agreed that, until other rules had been provided, the Board would work under the by-laws lately amended and adopted by the New Plymouth Harbor Board.

The consideration of Mr- Casejs application for work in the bush was postponed.

VALUATION LIST".

A discussion arose as to the position occupied by the Board in respect to .i valuation list.

Mr. Yorke stated that he believed Mr. Bate was inclined to proceed wibh the compilation of his list for the County Council. Several members doubted whether the valuer had ever been over the ground to see and examine the different properties. Mr. Inkster was of opinion that the Board, being now the local body, the County Council had nothing more to do with it.

Resolved, that tenders be called for the preparation of a valuation list, in accordance with the provisions of the Rating Act, 1876, and Amendment Act, 1879.

DIYi3ION OT? TH*! '.niSTBICT.

Mr. Yorke coved, a resolution ihai the Waimate Road District be divided into wards, every member being primarily responsible to the Board for work done within his ward. The mover stated that in practice it would be found that rerj few members knew much about the work required at a distance from their own homes, and that such a resolution enabled parties wanting work done to apply to the right person. Mr. Crawford supported the resolution, and said he knew in Auckland district every member of a Board was a warden over a particular block, and the system worked well.

Other members also approved, and the following division was agreed to:—

No, 1 Ward.— Blocks I. and V., Waimate, J. Crawford, warden.

No. 2. — BlockH 11. and VI., Waimate, G. Glenn and W. S. Young. No. 3.— Blocks 111. and VII, Waimate, A. Sutherland.

No. 4.— Block VIII, Waimate, J. 0. Yorko.

No. s.— Block IV., Wpimate, G. Inkster.

No. o.— Blocks XV., XVI., and XIII., Kaupokonui and Ngaire, D, Wilkie and W. S. Young.

Resolved, that each member of the Board report upon the works most urgently required within the ward allotted to him to ihe next meeting. There was then some discussion as to whether' four or five members should form a quorum. A majority of members being strongly in favor of the smalier number, it being a clear majority of the whole Board, that number was adopted.

It was also agreed that the next meeting of the Board should be held on Saturday, July 23rd, up to noon on which day tenders for tlie several offices, &c, would bo received at Mr. Langley's store, Manaia.

The Chairman was requested to draw out particulars of the duties required of the clerk ov foreman, for the guidance of tenderers, and to leave copies at the Stab oiftce, and also at Mr. Langley's store. On the motion of Mr. Inkster, it was resolved that this Board begs to tender their best thanks to Mr. Gane, and the other members of the Patee. County Council who assisted him., for their untiring exertions to secure the appointment of & Road Board, to manage local road works. The Board adjourned at 5.30 p.m.