WELLINGTON DISTRICTS HIGHWAY BOARD.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4884, 16 November 1876, Page 5

WELLINGTON DISTRICTS HIGHWAY BOARD.

A special meeting of the Wellington Country Districts Board was held yesterday at 11 o’clock in the office of the Board, Laing’s road. There were present—Messrs. Mason (in the chair), Speedy, Taylor, Smith, and Dick. MINUTES. • . The minutes of the last meeting were read, and, on the motion of Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Speedy, were confirmed. WHITEMAN’S VALLEY ROAD. ■ 1 _ In regard to the proposed extension of the above road, the Chairman stated that 1 the Work was quite impracticable, as shown by the plan which had been prepared, in consequence of the large amount of money that would have to he expended on it. A considerable amount of filling- in would have to be done, and culverts would have to be made owing to the road running along the creek. In fact, it would simply be a tramway. He suggested that the line of road should be along the foot of the hills, where a good hard road could easily be made.

It was generally agreed that to undertake a work for which the Board had not sufficient money to pay woiild be very, unwise; but Mr. Smith suggested that before making any alteration in the original proposal the Board should communicate with the residents of the particular localities through which the road would pass, and who had contributed a sum of money towards the work of extension. The Chairman assured members that those people would have every opportunity of obtaining information. After discussion,

Mr. Smith moved the following resolution : —That the Chairman be instructed to employ professional assistance towards the preparation of plans for a line of road to Whiteman's Valley from the end of the road now formed, and leading to the lands in the occupation of Messrs. Swanson, Gorrie, and others. The motion was seconded by Mr. Dick, and carried unanimously. ; TEE NEW ASSESSMENT. The Chairman, after reading the circular referring to the Rating Act, Regulation of Bocal Elections Act, the Public Works and Financial Arrangements Acts, which has already been published in our columns, said the first business before the meeting was to make arrangements for • the new valuation which the change in the constitution demanded, Their time was limited, as the valuation had to be completed by the 15th of-January, 1877. The question for them to consider was, whether in calling for tenders they should call for a separate valuer for each ward, or one to perform the entire work; or whether it should, be left to the option of the valuer himself. He thought it might be wise to leave it to him.

. Mr. Smith submitted that no man could value a'district impartially without some local knowledge. ■ The Chairman, for the information of members, read that clause of the Rating Act referring to the valuation, as now required to be made. It is as follows :—The rateable value of any property means the rent at which such property would let from year to year, deducting therefrom ten per cent, in the case of houses, buildings, and other perishable property, and ten per cent, in the case of other heriditaments, but it shall: in no case be less than five per cent, on the value of the fee simple thereof : provided always that in valuing the fee simple the value shall be guided by the actual selling price, and not by the prices of any Waste Lands Act: provided also that any person occupying waste lauds of the Crown, or other Crown lands, for pastoral purposes shall be rated only in respect to the annual value, having regard to the tenure under which lands are held.”

Mr. Smith thought it would be better that the local collector should make the valuation for each ward, mentioning that Mr. Wallace, when he made his first assessment, obtained all his information from one settler. The local men were really the only ones that could efficiently perform the work.

Mr. Speedy did not altogether agree with the last speaker. His suggestion might suit very well where there happened to be local collectors, but he would point out that all of the wards did not possess that luxury. He agreed with the opinion expressed by the Chairman.

Mr. Taylor entertained the same opinion. Mr. Speedy then moved that tenders be called for the valuation of the district, either as a whole or in parts, and that the valuation shall be made for each ward separately, with an alphabetical list of those who are liable for rates ; all tenders to be addressed to the chairman on or before the 27th inst,, at 11 o’clock a.m.

Mr. Taylor seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. The Chairman drew attention to an important matter in connection with the question the Board had been discussing, namely, where was the money to come from ; suggesting that the Government might be asked to contribute the cost of the valuation, as the necessity for it had arisen out of the change in the government of the colony.'

Mr. Smith then moved that the Chairman be instructed to wait upon the Colonial Treasurer in order to ascertain whether the Government will defray the expenses to be incurred by the new valuation, the Board having already undertaken a valuation under the provincial Act, being without funds at their disposal for that purpose. The motion was seconded by Mr. Speedy, and carried.

On the motion of Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Taylor, it was resolved that the Clerk be instructed to write, asking the Government to supply copies of each of the Highway Boards Acts, for the information of the, different wardens. THE WAINUI ROAD. A sum of £7 3s. fid, was received from Messrs. J. and D. Sinclair towards the improvement of the Wainui-road. It was ordered to be suitably acknowledged. TAKAPU. Mr, Taylor, Warden of No. 1 Ward, was authorised to expend a sum, not exceeding three guineas, on a culvert on the lower Takapu Creek. The meeting then adjohmed until Monday week.