ROAD BOARD

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7027, 11 June 1901, Page 4

ROAD BOARD

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Manawatu Road Board was held yesterday afternoon. Present—Wardens Luxford (chairman), Sanson, Lovelock, Manson, Nathan, Ybss, Willsher. COHBESPONDENCE. Prom the Public Health Department, enquiring number of rats destroyed in Board's district during the plague scare. —No rats were destroyed.' From Messrs Hankins and Loughnan. forwarding copy of letter received from the chief Engineer of roads with reference to land to be taken for Awahuri bridge protective works. From. .Messrs J. Hatch and Co., Invercargill, forwarding samples of poisoned grain for destruction of small birds and asking that supplies should be purchased. A lengthy discussion took place on the matter, reference being made to the apathy displayed on former occasions when the Board took the matter up, and it was decided not to take any action on the present occasion. From P. Pedersen, resigning his position as roadman. —Accepted. AWiLHTJBI BHIDQE. Discussion took place as to the repairs necessary at the Awahuri Bridge, and it was eventually decided that a deputation consisting of the Chairman, Mr Voss and the overseer be appointed to confer with delegates from the Manawatu County Council and Palmerston North Borough Council in order to consult as to the protective works required. In his repoit on the'tbridge, the overseer stated the whole of the orates on the first two tiers of pile's were washed away and the river was encroaching on the banks. He advised the Board to have repairs effected. MISCELLANEOUS. It was decided to have Gillespie's road from Mr White's to No. 1 Line formed with the road machine at a cost not exceeding one day's usual cost. TRACTION ENGINE. Considerable discussion look place with reference to the damage done to the roads by the traction engine, and it was decided to write to Mr C. Anderson complaining of the damage done to the roads in genera], and to the KairangaBunnythorpe and Aorangi roads in particular ; also pointing out the damage done by keeping the engine to one road rut continually.

DEPUTATION. Mr McHardy waited •on the Board and announced his intention of fencing his property on Setter's road up to the survey pegs. His action would-mean the unavoidable destruction of about 100 chains of road, which was on his pro-: perty. He had .commenced the fence, but before continuing the' work he desired to ascertain if the Board had any proposals to make as to remoying the metal on the part of the road to be fenced in. He was willing ta allow the metal to be shifted within one month as he had no wish to destroy it. Mr McHardy was thanked for his offer and it was decided to write to him stating the Board did not propose to take' any action. MAINTENANCE. In accordance with notice of motion "Warden Nathan moved that fourteen days' notice be given to the present roadmen of the termination of their engagement and that applications be called for by advertisement for three roadmen with horse and dray on the conditions drawn up and approved by the Chairman, "Warden Voss and the mover. Seconded by Warden Voss and carried, Warden Willsher alone dissenting. GENERAL BATE. The clerk reported that he had worked out the general rate on the basis of a rate of one penny in the £ and also at the rate of one penny and one sixteenth in the £. The former rate, he stated, ! would produce £2309 10s 7d on the unimproved value and the latter would return £2453 175.6 d. Warden Nathan moved and Warden Manson seconded, that a rate of Id in the £ be struck. Warden Willsher moved as an amendment that the higher, rate should be struck, Seconded by Warden Lovelock. The amendment was put and lost and the original motion carried. The rate struck will produce £40115s 8d more than was raised last year by the rate of one penny and one sixth in the £, owing to the increased valuation of the district which now stands as follows :— Gross valuation, capital value! £804,921; unimproved, £566,714. The capital value is subject to a reduction of £17,689 on account of exempted lands comprising railway and education reserves, native and Crown lands, etc., and the uaimimproyed yalue to a reduction of £12,427 on the same account. The net valuations therefore are—capital value, £787,232; unimproved, £554,287. The rate is struck on the latter amount. The capital and unimproved values last year were £640,528 and £405,168 respectively, the difference of £149,119 representing the increased valuation in the district during the year.

A special meeting will be held on the 27th inst. to strike the rate and deal with applications for roadtneu.