FOXTON LOCAL BOAD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue 45, 4 February 1881, Page 2

FOXTON LOCAL BOAD.

+ Tuksday, February 1, 1881. The Board met at 7. T0 p.m. Present— Messrs Eiston, (Chairman), Coley, Jon3on, ami Reeve. Minutes of previous ordinary meeting and of the special meeting held on Fri ay, January 2S, wore read and confirmed. *■ GRAVEL TIT TRAMWAY. Lf!*tor read from Me J. Sounders, asfolows : — "I bog to apply for permission to lay a tramway along the road through newroad lately made, along Tramway road, across from Mrs Burr's corner to Howe's to ji>in the railway line on river bank, opposite Mr C -ink's, for the ptirpo^e of bringing gravel for my reclamation contrac\ If you grant this concession I think it will bo a great adv mtage to the Board as when I have finisned there will be a good grave' pit which the Board might arrange to get gravel from for road purposes for less than half the pre3unt cost." — The Chairman explained that the Foxfcon Highways B »ard had given Mr Saunders permission to la_\ down <i tramway over the roads under their authority. — Mr Coley said the Board had no authority over some of the roads mentioned iti Mr Saunder's letter. He though' if they agreed to the request they should bs careful to insist on tho roads being kept in good order. — The Chairman said they shouM insist on a stamped agreement bein>: entered into by which Mr Saunrlera would be compelled to place the tramway on a part of tho road approved by the Board, and also to leave the roads in as good if no better repair than they are at present. The other members agreed with these views, and the following resolution wapassed: — Proposed by Mr C«l*y, sec ouded by Mr R;ove, "That M<- Saunder> ba allowed to construct a tramway on threads under control of the Local Biard for ' the purpose of bringing gravel to the reclamation works, provided that au agreement is entered into by him to leavo the 1 roads in good repair when finished, and ' provided also that no obstacle is put in the : way of traffic, and subject to the approval of the Local Board." \ RATE DEFAULTERS. \ The Chairman reported that the Clerk [ had collected only £4 Is Sd of rates durin<j '. January. He thought greater euerg\ should be displayed in collecting rates, and , that efforts should be mad'; to obtain tin unpaid rates uf 1870 before tho two yeai* expired. 1 Mr II i«ve considered thai: the first persons to be summoned should be those who , owed tho rates the l-'ivjest. [ Mr C i'ey said the B iard would be likuh to lose ;i considerable amouut unless aocion wero at once taken. Tie Clerk produced the rate books fo> ! 1579 and 18S0, wliich were looked thnm^li . l»y the Board. It was found a considerahlt portion of the rates owing for 1870 wenfur absentees. For ISSO a great manj names were read out of local residents, wln- : are undoubtedly able to pay. The opinion <>f tut; Burd \vn>i that etep.- , should bo taken to summon defaulters, ami the following resolution, proposed by Mi Coley, and seconded by Mr Jonson, was passed :— " That the collector be instructed m sue all defaulting rcitepiyers. " Th< Board passed five pounds to provide the Clork v.ith the ''sinews of war. THK KANHKH. Mr Reeve enquired what was tho position of the Ji-wger. Purhvj; tho la9t month tin : I' ui^er hud done nothing, ami horses h;iiS Uci'u again waniiei-im,' all over the township. Tlio C tairmm tli >v Jib ih:* pres-uit position was most un.sati.sf'^utory. Ever sine tiie Ranger had lost the case a^aiusr Air Baker he ha<l simply let the matter rest. ; As to his position as Inspector of Nuisances the only work he had done was to insist on the owner of a d-a>l uoj, burying ifc. : It was pointed out that the Hanger had , power to impound all cittle wandoriuu on , roads fenced on both sides, ami the Board resolved, proposed by Mr Jonson. sec nded by Mr C 'ley, "That the Cha.rmau sec t.hat th« R inger keeps the roads clear of cattle ami horses by driving tho same to the pound, and not to make any charge fur driving." In moving the above resolution. Mr Joihou s.ii-1 there wii3 a great obj action b\ puoplo to the driving fee, as the R inger wis paid out of the public rates, and any ratepayer whose borse had broken out would tind it haril to pay driving fee, and the R inker's silary also, E^'ery one was liable to accident. Mr Coley said tho Ranger had been charging tho shilli'i^ a ho id even when the cattle wero not impounded. " Mo knew, for instance, that seven of M- Putter's animils wt>ro be ing driven to fio pound, an > upon Mr Futti'i' giving the Ruiger7s foi driving foe lie relea^-d them. Ot' oour.se h\ th.vt means Mr Kutter saved tho 7s poun liigi\ I'ho Cuiiruiati sii.l if that woro allowed tho constable nti^lit do the s.-uno tiling A drunken niiin mi^ht say. " Merc, I am hound to bt< liuod «"> i, so I'll <;ivo you th.i .iimiimt not to run nii< in." Ho thought it woidd ho ln:ttor to liol.l a spoci;il nicotiu^ (c oo'i.sidi-r this m-it'or. Tho roKiduti >n w»s passed. llli: KIKK lIKLI. Littor road ir >ni Mr Wm. IJobinson, agont of tlio Niitiouil itMuraiu'c* Co. at l'oxtou, ir rroi-tion of a lire ivil, st.iriu^ that the Cimp.iuy "arii quito willing to oantiibuto wiili tho o'licr ina'ir.uitv ooiiiM.tnie.s roprosoiitod at K-ivt.in in proportion to th«> .•unoiint <ii preiniuiis they rn.vp from the ti».VIl risks." Tiu: Clerk explained that !io had written to tho l'\i\t"U agents of the otlmr insu ,uu'.< »: nii'i inio-i, an I to tho U.iilway Manager, sdiiiting donations to tlio hiiiio olijoft, but hud as yet received no jinsvkor. Tim Ciuiirinan thought somnthing should l>o d.mo in the initter, as a tiro bell was a necessity in the town. A conversation took placo as to tho material to hn used in tlio ouist-ruction uf tho tower, and tho Board agreed upon certain si/. -8 of timber to bo employed. Regarding tin Kite, there was some difli salty in determining tho most suitable p isition. One Buy;gestiou was that it should bo placed itf tho road between the Herald ntfuo and London's stoie.f mother tuat it should bo placed on tho knoll in the sch x»I re«erve, whilst Mr C dey said he* i would bo quite willing to allow it to be placed on his section, opposite Howe's Hotel. It was felt, however, that a m^ro central site was necessary, and a sugaestion was male that perhaps the Government would allow ifc to bo placed on tho railway reserve, near the prevent station. Proposed by Mr Cvley, seconded by Mr

Reeve, " That tenders be called for erecting lirebell tower, and that the Chairman be empowered to purchase the bell from Mr Liddell." A further resolution was passed, authorising the Chairman and Messrs Coley and Jonsou to wait upon the District Engineer to ascertain if the Government would allow • he bell to be erected either in front of the Custom House or on some other suitable part of the Government reserve. Mr .Jomon said that some steps should be taken l>y the Board to pass a bye-law, tftcr the bell was erected, to punish larrikins rin« n ; the bell at night. Ttie Cnairman said that was a matter which the police would have to look after. THE NEW JIAIN-STCEKT P.RIDOr. The Chairman read the subjoined resolution passed at a special meeting held on the 28 ch January. He said that in answer to a telegram from the County Engineer, asking if the Board would authorise him to call for tenders for a wooden culvert the whole width of the street, the following resolution was passed : — " That the County Engineer be informed that the Board regrets that it is unable to contribute any sum of money towards the cost of constructing a bridge on the Main street, as die funds of the Board are too low at present to justify the expenditure." He did not desire to see the work Btopped, but thought that in connection with this matter the Board had not been properly treated. No oHicial communication had been received as to the cost of the Board's share >>f the work, but he had merely been told by the two Comity Councillors — Messrs Gray and Itockstrow — it would not be more than £50, which was a much larger vmount than the Board could afford for such a purpose, while so many important matters were unattended to. There wonld be only the two footpaths to be made. Mr Reeve said that if the cost would be only about £20, he would vote for it, bnt he was opposed to £50 being spent. Mr Coley said that some time ago Messrs Gray, A, Eaaton, Nathan, Cook, Howe and himself promised certain subscriptions for che purpose of erecting a footpath over the stream, but he did not believe all the amounts would be forthcoming. Tlie Chairman said a suggestion had been nade, that a light- bridge could be constructed suitable for f cot- passenger traffic, o aa to join the footpaths, for a very small sum, say £15 or £20. He thought that as •he C iiincillors had ignored the B »ard so completely, they should simply wait until the new bridge was finished, and then put up footpaths in the cheapest manner possiM". Mi" Reeve thought that perhaps it would be better to ask the Engineer for his estimate of the cost of the Board's share of the work. He moved, " That the Chairman write to Mr Hayns, County Engineer, asking him what wonld be the share of the L)cal Board in the estimated cost of contributing a bridge over the Awahou creek, Main street." Seconded by Mr .Tonson. and carried. Accounts amounting to £16 3a 7d were pissed for payment.