HAWERA ROAD BOARD.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume III, Issue 196, 11 January 1882, Page 4

HAWERA ROAD BOARD.

The Board met at 2.80 p.m. on Saturday. Present— Tbo Chairman (Mr. Morrison), Messrs. Hobbs, Milmoe, and Allen ; later, Mr. Duirs.

CORRESPONDENCE.

From Treasury, forwarding detailed statement, showing amount at credit on account land sold at Whakamara. The .amounts totalled £1581 35.

Messrs. Webster, McKellar, and Co. wrote, saying they would adhere to letter •of 12th November, viz : that they would pay £25, provided the Board spent £50 •more on the Tawhiti Road. The offer of the Board was to spend £25. Letter from Chairman Hawera County 'Council, asking if the Board would cooperate with the Council in forwarding -work en main roads, and if so, to be good 'enough to send in estimate of works re•quired. Letter from Mr. Treweek, saying he could not attend meeting, but urging that another ranger should be appointed, as cattle and horses were increasing on hie .line, and that ploughing and forming -should be done on Tongahoe and Mana■wapou Roads, and repairs to Muir's Culvert.

FINANCE.

The Secretary reported that £316 13s. Si. had been received on account of Whakamara deferred payment money, and £154 15s. 3d. on account of Ngaire deferred payment money.

THE WHAKAMARA DEVIATION CASES.

The following letter, a copy of which had been forwarded to the Minister for Lands was read : — " Hawera Boad Board, " December 22nd, 1881. 11 Hon. Minister for Lands.

11 Sir,— l have the honor to lay the following case before you for your favorable consideration.

11 Sometime after the Whakamara Blook was sold in 1878, the above Board commenced road making to enable deferred payment settlers to get to their land, but they were continually met with iihe difficulty of making practicable roads on the road lines laid off by the surveyor •of the block, and in many cases had to make considerable deviations through •Bettlers' land, in order to get a proper line. Such deviations are shown in the accompanying plan. The Board represented the matter to the Chief Surveyor, who, after inspecting the lines, admitted the necessity of the deviations, and sent a surveyor to survey them, the result being the plan above alluded to. " In consequence of these bad surveys the Board is now threatened by several parties with claims for compensation, more particularly one from Messrs. F. G. and G. W. Gane, a copy of which I send you herewith. At the time these roads -were made, the Board (Mr. G. W. Gane being a member of it at the time), were under the impression that every expense ■and compensation arising out of those deviations would be chargeable to the •deferred payment money; but upon -application to Captain Wray, he refused •on the ground that no such expenditure can be allowed from that source under the Act.

"The Board would now wish to lay their case before the Government, and ask for their favorable consideration, and would point out that it is through no fault of the Board that they are threatened with these claims, but through the faulty surveys of the department, and further that as the income of the Board is only about £500 from rates, it would be to the great injury of the whole district were these claimß to be deducted from the rates account.

" I may also mention that the Board considers that Messrs. Gane's claims are excessive, " I would be glad if you would return the survey plan, when you have done with it. — I have, &c,

" James Morrison, "Chairman."

TAWHITI ROAD. The Board proceeded to consider Meßsrs. Webster and McKellar's letter. In answer to a question, The Engiueer said the road could be •cut down to 1 in 12 for

Several members of the Board recognised there was a necessity to do something, but said there were other places which required works, and as the Board had not very much money to spend, it would not do to spend much here. It was unanimously resolved to cut the hill down to 1 in 12, at cost not more than £60, provided Messrs. Webster and McKellar •contributed £25, this being the full extent to which the Board could go.

THE COUNTY CHAIRMAN'S IJBTTER.

After conversation,

Mr. Milmre proposed that a reply be sent, stating that the Board would cooperate, and that the Engineer be requested to furnish the required estimate. He thought the proposal of the County Council an excellent one, and should be forwarded as much as possible. The Chairman seconded the proposition, which was carried. WOBKS ON TONOAHOE AND MANAWAPOU ROADS.

The proposal of Mr. Treweek was considered.

The Chairman pointed out that only £20 was available for the two roads.

Mr. Allen said he had been informed by Mr. Muir that the work would coat £40. They should have an estimate before they proceeded, or they might be throwing money away. He believed, however, that Muir and others would contribute either money or labor.

It was resolved that the engineer should report at next meeting.

AUSTIN ROAD.

The Chairman said he was felling bush on a section abutting on Austin road, and he wanted the bush on the road felled, so that he could fence. He thought it would cost about £1 ss.

The Board empowered the chairman to get tbe work done.

LYSAGHT'S DEVIATION.

Mr. Allen asked if anything had been done about Mr. Lysaght's deviation. Mr. Duira said Mr. Lysaght did not wish to put the Board to any expense, and would not ask for any transfer of the land.

Mr. Allen questioned whether it would not be wise to transfer it at once.

The Chairman said that would involve closing the old road, proclamation, &o. It was resolved to get au estimate of the cost of surveying the deviations.

TKNDERB.

Dalziol tojid — Accepted : John Munro, £81 12k. Bejected: Charles West, £88 10s. ; Holioyd, £UZ 10s. ; J. Hardaml,

£99 155. : Campbell and Co., £107 55. ; Ryan and Tuche, £100. Stewart road— Only one tender was received— Arthur Gibson, £18 14s. It was about the estimate, and was accepted.

West road— Accepted : K.W. Foreman, £55. Eejected: O'Connor, £75; D. Murphy and Co., £81 15s. Kemoval of slips on Mells and West roads— Accepted : R. W. Foreman, £10. Rejected : H. Williams, £13. Noonan road — Accepted: A. Bremer, £14 10s. Rejected: G. T. Baiter, £18; Cheevers (informal), £18; O'Connor, £15 10s.

RANGER.

John Parry offered to become ranger for driving fees. On the motion of Mr. Milmoe, Parry was appointed.

NOBJIANBY-MANAIA BOAD.

Allan Wilson, Okaiawa, wrote, drawing attention to the bad state of the road running through Mr. Caverhill's property. The Chairman said the matter would be attended to by the engineer when the work now pioceeding near the road was finished.

ARREARS OF BATES.

The Board resolved that the Secretary proceed forthwith to recover outstanding rates.

It was stated that there was nearly £250 to come in.

ACCOUNTS.

The following accounts were passed for payment : — H. Williams (contract), ; W. Edwards, £15 10s., subject to contract being passed ; Secretary (salary, stamps, &c), j£B 18s.; Stab, £<k 13s. 6d. ; John Twigg (engineering), £20 3s. 6d. ; Hoiroyd (Boylan road contract), £85.