WAIMATE ROAD BOARD.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume III, Issue 235, 14 April 1882, Page 4

WAIMATE ROAD BOARD.

The Board anet one hour behind time, ■at 8 p.m. Present— Messrs. Dingle, Inkster, Glenn, Sutherland, and Yorke

MINUTES,

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. In connection therewith Mr. Sutherland reported that lie had examined and passed the gravelling on the Manaia Road. That he found the work had been well done, especially the contract near the bush. In respect to Mitchell and Hughes's works they had been done to specification, but not neatly finished.

The chairman reported that, as the A.C. had been removed almost immediately after the last meeting, he liad taken upon himself the responsibility of calling tenders for the clearing of the Manaia-Skeet Road 33 feet wide, as agreed at last meeting. His -action was approved.

DEPUTATION.

Messrs. Buckthorpe and Casey waited on the Board, to ask for a bridge over the Waingongoro on the Skeet road leading to. 4 ,' the Te Roti railway station. The work was much needed, and would be generally serviceable to tKe bush, settlers.

The Chairman reported that Messrs. Bullock, Bryson, and Brineau had waited upon him in respect to the same matter ; and that he had ascertained from the Treasury that there were some .£3OO available for expenditure in the bush to the east of the Manaia road. But he could not recommend that the whole should be spent upon this bridge. After discussion, the Chairman, in the absence of Messrs. Young and Wilkie, moved that d£2oo be granted towards this bridge, and that the Hawera Road Board be asked to contribute; the engineers of both bodies to consult and agree as to the best form of bridge to be erected.

The resolution was carried. It was pointed out that before the plans could be completed, tenders advertised and let, and the bridge erected, another set of instalments would be due, when the Board might be in a position to supplement the grant if insufficient.

Messrs. Casey and Buckthorpe thanked the Board,* and withdrew.

RESIGNATION.

The Chairman stated that he understood it was Mr. Wilkie's intention to resign, and that whenever that resignation was received, he was prepared to recommend Mr. Brisco for appointment.

The Clerk stated that he had, at My. Wilkie's request, written out his resignation, but it had not been signed.

COERESPONDENCE

Was read from the Treasury, showing balance to the credit of the Board on deferred payment an amount of £71B } the major portion being due on account of the bush blocks.

From Mr. Bainie, asking that work be commenced on Ramie road. — On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr. Glenn, it was resolved that the contractor be informed that unless the work be proceeded with within seven days, the penalties will be enforced.

SCOTT ROAD.

The Chairman reported that in accordance with the resolution passed at last meeting, Messrs. Dingle, luk«ter, and himself had met the settlers interested in Scott road, and had agreed upon certain improvements required. Tenders had been called and would be,/ brought before the

meeting.

HUNTER ROAD.

Mr. Knauff and paaty wrote urging that they might be allowed to complete only half the contract.

Mr. Inkster moved, and Mr. Dingle seconded, that the request cannot be entertained by the Board. — Carried.

A letter was read from nine settlers asking for works on Inaha Road. Mr. Yorke moved, and Mr. Sutherland seconded, that necessary repairs be undertaken on this road, but that no new cuttings can be authorised at present, there being no funds available.

Accounts were received from Port Manaia to the amount of £43 13s. for work done by the A.C.'s, of which was passed for payment at last meeting. The above payments represented 873 days' work for one man. The total cost, including horse-hire, ploughing, &c, was .£7B. The work was valued by the engineer at ,£ll2, if done by contract. The Board expressed itself well satisfied with the work done. It was admitted that much more work had been done than would have been required by a contractor.

EEPOET.

The Engineer reported to the following effect : — " That three contracts bad been completed for gravelling the llanaia Road, and that payments amounting to over £'622 were • due. Thai the contractor had started Burton's ltoad. That repairs and new culvert on Norman by Road had been completed. The cost hod exceeded the amount authorised, and the balance would be applied for. The accounts in connection with this work were passed. Specifications had been prepared by instructions from Chairman for clearing Manaia road, and improving iicott and McLean roads. The latter portion of the cuttings on Manaia road had been undertaken by the contractor, and had been completed

for £7 Is. 9d. Tenders for gravelling Normanby road, near Waingongoro bridge, had been called, to close on Saturday next, the County Council having granted a subsidy for the work."

MAIN BOAD.

The Chairman reported the allowance made by the County Council for. the Main road [as published], and a letter from the Clerk to the Council to the same effect was received. Attention was called to the damage done to the Main Eoad by the cartage of gravel. It was stated that it was ÜBual for contractors to make good such damage. Accordingly, Mr. Sutherland moved " That t\e contractors for gravelling Manaia Eoad he requested to make good the damage they have done to the main road by carting the gravel along it." Seconded by Mr. Yorke and carried. A number of accounts were passed for payment, including £30, C. Days, on account of timber for culvert ; £12 os. 6d, H. I. Jones, stationery, stamps and rate-book; .£23 135., A.C.; £31, labor at culvert on Normanby Eoad; secretayy and engineer, £15 10s. dingle's eoad.

Mr. Dingle asked how it was that McDevitt's contract ort the above road -was not being proceeded wrfcn. ? The Engineer stated that the contractor would be required to proceed with the work according to specification.

TNSTBUMENTS.

The Chairman stated that the Board was no longer in possession of any instrument, the borrowed theodolite having been returned. The Engineer having retired, it was resolved that the Board would allow him £2 per anuum to cover risk to wear and tear of instruments.

NOBMANBY BOAD.

Mr. Inkster moved that Mr. Yorke be authorised to accept tenders for gravelling on Normanby Road, near "Waingongoro, if tenders do not exceed a definite amount.

TENDERS.

Tenders were received and opened in committee for Scott and McLean's Road— Hugh Shanks, £25 ; Gall and Tyler, £69; C. Blennerhassett, 6d. per yard ; Kearin (informal.) On the motion of Mr. Dingle, seconded by Mr. Yorke, Mr. Shanks' tender was accepted. Tenders were received for contract 28, clearing and stumping ManaiaSkeet Road, 180 chains, Messrs. Vickery and Murphy (accepted), 19s. 6d. per cuain ; Blennerhasßett and Kearin, 335.

The Board resumed, and resolved thai the lowest tender be accepted. The Secretary presented a balance sheet, showing that tlie following amounts had been expended on the several roads, exclusive of cost of drain pipes, which had not yet been separately assessed : — Ormuturang road, £28 75. ; Taikatu road, £27 25.: Dingle's road, £16 10s. ; Auvoa road, £15 165.; Round Bush road, £56 125.; Glenn's road, £136 Is. lOd. ; Nor nanby road, £97 Bs. 4d. ; Sutherland's road, £70 7s 2d. ; Kaepe road, £18 11s. 6d. . Mitchell's road, £17 7s, 9d. ; Scott's road, £77 18s. 6d.; Ahipaipa t*oad, £56 14s. 10rt. ; Inaha road, £168 15s. 3d. ; Division road, *76 25. ; Normanby road, £75 125. ; Ahipaipa road extension, £13 45. ; Manaia road, £132 45. ; Hughes' road, £15 6s 3d. Total expended p.-.or to March 81, £1100 os. sd. Balauce in bank to credit of Deferred Pay nent Account, £579 3s. lid. Less cheques outstanding. £125 6s. 3d. Available balance, £453 17s. Bd. To set a^ainßt which there were the amounts due fo* 1 contracts completed or in hand.

The Chairman requested the Treasurer to show at next meeting the assets and liabilities of the Board, so that they might be in a postion to regulate the letting of new works accordingly.

COUNTIES V. EOAD BOARDS.

Mr. Glenn in the course of a discussion on the advisableness of the Board purchasing instruments, thought that if he were in order, he would move that the Road Board be abolished, and that the county should take its place. So far as he could see so long as the two bodies existed, ratepayers would have to put up with a double rate, and he did not thlak such was required. Mr. Sutherland agreed that one rate ought to be sufficient, and would be willing to see one body undertake the work.

The Chairman declined to open so large a question when the one before them was simply whether an allowance for instruments should be granted to the enginee.* or not, and the matter dropped. The Board adjourned at 5.44 p.'n. till Tuesday, May 9th, 1882.