WELLINGTON DISTRICTS HIGHWAY BOARD.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5548, 9 January 1879, Page 3

WELLINGTON DISTRICTS HIGHWAY BOARD.

The usual monthly meeting of the Board was held at the Lower Hutt at 11 a.m. yesterday. Present—Messrs. Mason (chairman), Smith, Taylor, Speedy, Dick, and Morgan.

Accounts to the amount of £278 6s. lid. were passed for payment. One tender was received from Henry Fleet and Co., Kaiwarra, for the making of 48 chains of road to Gollan’s Valley at £2 16s. per chain. The tender was declined. A letter was received from Mr. James Gorrie, stating that if the board undertook the formation of 50 chains of road commencing at Whiteman’s and ending at Thomas’ he would metal the road from the river to the mills free of cost.

Mr. Morgan thought the offer a very liberal one.

It was resolved that tenders for forming and metalling about 50 chains of road should be called for by the Warden of No. 6 Ward, and that Mr. Gorrio should he informed that his offer was accepted with thanks. Mr. Smith brought under the notice of the Board the fact that the Hon. Wi Parata held a grant for the block of land known as Taupo, at Fahautanui. The same was now advertised for sale. The owner had refused to pay rates, and he (Mr. Smith) thought that the Board should summon him for the money. The Chairman said that the Board had no power to recover rates from the Maoris. If Mr. Smith chose to spend a few pounds in testing the matter he could do so. Mr. Smith said he did not feel disposed to go to any expense in the matter, but it seemed to him to be a disgrace that a Maori who owned a large block of land and used the public roads should get out of paying rates, while a poor man with a large family was made to pay rates the moment he rented a couple of acres from the Maoris.

The Chairman said that there was no help for it under the existing state of the law. The matter then dropped.

Mr. Lett waited on the Board to ask them to make a road to his property from the main road at the Faukaratahi.

The Overseer was instructed to report on the subject at the next meeting of the Board.

Mr. W. H. Brown waited on the Board, to request them to continue the present road in the Horokiwi district to his property, a distance of about thirty chains. The Engineer and Overseer were instructed to go to the place, and report on the subject at the next meeting of the Board.

Mr. Lett waited on the Board relative to rates which he had refused to pay to the collector for property at Mungaroa.

The Board informed Mr. Lett that he would have to pay the collector, and he could then send in an application to the Board, asking that the rates might be remitted. After the transaction of some routine business, the Board adjourned.