INANGAHUA LOCAL REVENUES BOARD.

Inangahua Times, Volume IV, Issue 10, 2 May 1877, Page 2

INANGAHUA LOCAL REVENUES BOARD.

An adjourned meeting of the above body was held at the office Broadway, on Monday afternoon, there being present Messrs Brennan (Chairman), Davies, Kelly, and ; Aiken. I The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Secretary reported that he had collected £91 9s outstanding rates, and there still remained unpaid £140. Summonses had been issued for the recovery of £62, and a distress warrant for £7. He thought the whole sum would be col* lected by the date of the next meeting of the Council. Mr Aiken said the first and most im> portant matter to deal with was that of road maintenance. There was hardly time, ne thought, for calling tenders to do the work, and it had been suggested that they should employ pick, and shovel men, Mr Kelly- was entirely opposed to the employment of day labor upon the roads, as the cost would be greater than they could afford. He was of opinion, however, that something should be done at once. Too much time had already been lost, and he was in favor of taking imme- | diate steps in the matter. The Chairman said that he should strongly be in favor of employing wages r men, but that he was afraid the County finances would not stand it. There could be no question that wages men under proper supervision would make the best j road, but it behoved the Board, while paying all due attention to suoh an im< j portant matter as the maintenance of the principal roads of the County, to also have some care for other works. It was unfortunately but too true that a great l waste of time had taken place in the preparation of the maintenance contracts, and it was for the members to say that they wonld now take instant action. In reply to a question, the Secretary gave an estimate of the cost of maintaining the road for twelve months by day labor. Mr Davies was under the belief that the work could be performed by day labor at a much 'ess cost than was genet rally believed. The last contract for the Saddle road for twelve months was about £580. He thought that if £1200 per annum were expended upon the road in day labor it would be kept in first-class repair. A long discussion and figuring oa paper ensued, and eventually it was decided, on the motion of Mr Davies, tint Mr Carreras prepare specifications for the maintenance of the road by contract, such specifications to contain specific conditions as to penalties, an 1 to require substantial securities for the- contra^, and to be submitted to, the Board at its next meeting. An account was presented by P. Hampson for £7, for horse hire, incurred by the County Engineer. The account was ordered to stand over. After some farther discussion, it was moved by Mr Aiken and seconded by Mr Kelly, that the meeting stand adjourned 1 until the following day. Meeting adjourned accordingly.