ROAD BOARD MEETINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10125, 7 May 1896, Page 3

ROAD BOARD MEETINGS.

MATAIiOHE.

Nominations were invited to fill two ordt» nary vacancies up to '2 p.m. on April 25. The two retiring members (Messrs. Smith and Pheasant) were returned unopposed.—[Own Correspondent.] PAPARUKA. The annual meeting of the Papakura Road Board was held at the office of the Board, Papakura Valley, on the 2nd instant. Present Messrs. G. D. Smith (chairman), Barkly, Enabling, Trimble, and Morgan (clerk). Mr. G. D. Smith was re-elected chairman and Mr. Barkly treasurer for the ensuing year. The chairman reported on the | conference of Road Boards held at Papakura to consider the proposed Local Government ! Bill, with the result that they almost unanimously voted for the continuation of the present system in preference to that proposed in the Bill. It was decide to put on about six loads of scoria to repair the road between this district and the East Tamaki, also to get some 9-inch pipes for Cockertou's road, he having agreed to put them in if the Board would gel them to the station. It was also decided to have the metal at the foot of Whitechurch's lane spread as soon as there was table weather. The next meeting oi the Board was fixed for the 13th of June. Accounts passed for payment: W. Diprose, cutting furze, 13s 3d; A. Larder, cutting furze, 10s; G. H. Lupton, carting scoria, £3 0a 2d.

The annual meeting of ratepayers took place on the 2nd instant, in the Presbyterian building. Mr. G. I). Smith, Chairman of the Road Board, presided. The balancesheet showed receipts: Balance from last year, £23 13s 6}d ; received for rates, 1895-96, £126 Is 2^d : arrears from previous year, £3 12s 3d; Government subsidy, £107 17s 4d; do); tax, £11 12s Grl; donation from settlers in the road going one via East Tamaki, £2: refund of Court cost and furze cutting, £610 a 6d: total, £2817s 4d. Expenditure: Salaries aud allowance, ill 5s 3d ; office expenses, £3 6s 2d; law costs, £310* ; advertising, £1 14s; miscellaneous, £6 7s 9fd; dog collars, £27« 8<1; audit fee, £1: Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, £33 14s lOd; roads and bridges construction and maintenance, £81 8s 4d; refund to East Tamaki Road Board, £5; Manurewa Road Board, £21 os lsd; Papatoetoe, £4; interest on overdraft, 12s 8d; balance in bank and in band, £105 15s 5|J. Statement of assets and liabilities: Balance in hand, £105 15s sfd ; rates collectable, £4 14s 31d; law costs, £3 3s; owing by Manurewa Road Board, 12a (xl; subsidy, £19 17s (5d : total. £134 2s 9d. Liabilities : Contracts let, £67 17s 6d ; other accounts, £13 10s 8d : total, £81 8s 2d. On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr. S. H. Reid, the balance-sheet as read was passed, subject to the approval of the Auditor, the clerk having explained that it was not yet audited. There wore not man-' grievances to air, and after a vote of thanks to the trustees, the meeting terminated.-[Own Correspondent.]

MAHURANGI EAST. A meeting of the Mahurangi East Road Board was held in the schoolhouse, Mulle! P'lint, ou the 27th April. Members present: .Messrs. J. Suell (chairman), W. Darrach, R. Goldsworthy, and G. Scandrett. On the motion of Mr. J. Snell, it was agreed to accept the explanation of members in reference t« the expenditure on contracts Nos. 1 and 2 for extras. Tenders were opened for work on Duck Creek, Hamilton Road. The tender of Mr. S. Viall was accepted for £6 18s. The clerk was asked what credit balance was in the bank. In reply he said that the balancesheet was not yet made out, but he thonght il the above contract was accepted, their credit balance would be very small. Rate defaulters of two years are again reminded that their rates should be paid immediately to save further expenses.—[.Mullet Point Correspondent.] PUIvEKOHE WEST.

The monthly meeting of the Pukekohs West Road Board was held iu the Masonic Hall 011 the 2nd ay. There were present:— Messrs. J, Ueory W right (chairman), Hickey, and Potter, with the secretary, Mr. T. 6. Usher. Messrs. Glasgow and Guerney, old members of the Board, sent in their resignations, which were accepted; thus causing two extraordinary vacancies. A petition was before the Board from a number of settlers on the north-west side of the district praying the Board to improve the road opposite T. Cox's property, as it was in a dangerous state. The Board cons'dered it was too li.te to carry out formations at present, but the matter would be attended too in the spring. Correspondence was dealt with, and accounts to the amount of £40 were passed and cheques issued for the same.

At half-past three o'clock, the annual meeting of ratepayers was held at the same place. There were about 40 ratepayers present. The chairman of the Road Board, Mr. Wright, staled that by virtue of his position he could act as chairman of the meeting, but would much rather one of the ratepayers present would act instead. Mr. Wright was called on to preside, Mr. Wright went into a lengthy report of the Board's work during the year, stating that the Board had about 80 miles of roais to look after, about five miles being macadamised. This portion of five miles cost the Board annually to keep in repair more than two-thirds of the rates, £214 being spent in road metal last year, and a short portion of new road made, less than a quarter of a mile. The metal roads cost over £528 per mile to make, so that the Board was not likely to increase very rapidly the macadamising of new roads. On formations, etc., the Board spent nearly £50, and in bridges and oulverts close on £'20. The bridges and culverts were now in a first-class state of repair with one exception, the bridge on the tramway, near Puni, which in due course would be attended to. Under general work, £82 8s 9d, had been spent, such as cleaning out drains and watertables, culverts, when choked, and other jobs. After going through an exhaustive report, the chairman, as treasurer, submitted the balancesheet subject to audit to the meeting, which showed that the total receipts on the general account amounted to £434 3s OJd; the expenditure showed a balance in hand on March 31 of £9 9* 3Jd. The assets were valued at £157 14s Sd, and the liabilities at £14919s 4d. The balance-sheet was adopted, and after passing the usual votes of thanks theineetingaeparated.— * WAIUKU. The election of two persons as members of the Waiuku Road Board took place atthe< Board office on May 2. There were three candidates, and great interest was taken in the election. The result of the voting was William Sanday, 53; 0. L. West, 45; George G. Hull, 43. The first two were the old I members, and were declared duly re-elected. i —[Own Correspondent.]