Parihaka Road Board.

Opunake Times, Volume IV, Issue 162, 21 January 1896, Page 3

Parihaka Road Board.

The ordinary meeting cf the above Board was held on Monday, January 20th. Present: Messrs M. Fleming (chairmauj, Billing, Wells, Dew and Wright. Minutes of previous meeting read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. From Stratford County Council forwarding resolution against the reserve near Patea for higher education in Tarauaki being diverted to any other purpose. —Resolution endorsed. From Messrs Stonex and Smith asking that the Parihaka Road fronting sections 20 and 21 should be felled as they wished to fence their back line.

Work already scheduled out of land fund.

From Messrs Stonex, Smith, Townsend, Duggau and Kirk re proposed works on the Kahui East Eoad.

The olerk explained that there was

an unexpended balance of loan of £SO: about £6O of D.P. money had accrued; and these settlers wished the Board to raise the extra 10 per cent on the loan, viz., £IBO and to expend the money in gravelling. The signatories to the request also

waited on the Board, and Mr Townsend said he understood there was a sum of £ll6 available for continuing the work and they wished the Board to raise £IBO being 10 per cent on the loan and they were anxious that the money should be made go as far as possible. They would also like the opinion of the Board as to its raising a further £2OO, which he thought the Government would advance, to be added to the loan without taking any further poll. He had been informed from outside sources that this could be done. The Chairman said no further amount could be obtained from the Treasury without going through all the forms necessary for a new loan. Mr Townsend said those who had already got the metal past their places would naturally not roll up to vote and that could not be carried. The Chairman asked the deputation what they wished done. Mr Townsend said there were 96 chains to be metalled and also 120 chains to be formed up to the reserve. The 96 chains being done would give access to nearly every settler living on the road.

Mr Dew asked how far it was proposed to take it when the loan was raised. • Mr Townsend replied as far as Mr Barton's section, but he wanted to get some side cuttings done so that he could get to bis land with timber for building. Mr Smith another member of the deputation said the principal reason they waited on the Board was because they heard the foreman intended using the money available for patching of the road and formation up past Townsend's. They thought it would be better to do the work out of a face as far as it would go. He said they also understood that the land fund'accruing at the upper end of the road, was being used for maintenance of the lower end which was a great injustice to the upper end and they trusted that steps would be taken to prevent any more of it being used in that way. Mr Townsend said he understood in letting contracts that there was a imposed for nonfulfilment. Was this penalty being enforced in the contract of Wi Kupe. The Chairman said it had been mutually agreed between Wi Kupe and the Board that he should suspend operations. The Engineer said he might explain that his proposal to form a part of the road above Townsend's and also to metal a few bad places was based on the ground that there would be only £ll6 to expend but if the 10 per cent were raised it would go a long way towards completing the lot. Mr Smith said the metalling and Culverts would only benefit one man who was not living on the land at present,.whilst settlers there now had to swag up provisions. The Chairman said it must be re-

merribered that these men, even if absent now were made liable for the spe- _ cial rate, and when they came would have to carry up their provisions in the same manner and consequently they were deserving of just consideration. He thought the proposals of the Engineer were very fair to all parties. Mr Dew moved that the money available for Kahui Eoad, excepting £lO to be expended to give Mr Town- • send access, be expended in continuing metal. Seconded by Mr Billing and carried. Eesolved, That steps be taken to procure ten per cent on Kahui East Road as provided by the Act. (WellsBilling. V Mr Townsend asked if it was legal to expend thirds from from upper end on lower end of road. The Chairman replied it was, and that it was done all over the district with the sanction of the Land Board. Eesolved, That the engineer employ a man to prospect for gravel on the Upper Kahui Road. (Wright-Billing. ) Tenders for finding gravel on Minirapa Road were dealt with :—T. Allenby, Is per yd (accepted) ; Edgecombe, Is 3d per yd. Resolved, That the Engineer grade the Parihaka Road prior to metalling. (Wright-Dew.) • Resolved, That tenders be called for the Kahui East, Parihaka, Pungarehu, Newall, and Arawhata Roads, to be dealt with at a special meeting to be held on February 10th. (WellsDew.) The special rate to cover loan for Opua Road was confirmed. Notice was given of making a rate of 1 l-12d in the £ to secure the loan ■ of £4OO for the Narnu Road. (Flem-ing-Wells.) Resolved, that the next ordinary meeting of the Board be adjourned till

Monday, February 24th. BiliingDew.) Besolved, That all rates remaining unpaid after Ist February be sued for. Accounts were passed for payment and the Board adjourned.