Parihaka Road Board.

Opunake Times, Volume V, Issue 222, 20 October 1896, Page 3

Parihaka Road Board.

Monday, October 19tn.

Present: Messrs M. Fleming (chairman), C. McHardy, W. J. Wells, and F. Alexander. Minutes of previous meeting read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. From Mrs J. 0. Crisp, re drainage, stating that Mr J. Fleming was clearing out the drain, but she objected to his doing so, as it was the duty of the Board to do the work, and Mr Fleming was removing obstructions which might be required by her in a court of law. Mr McHardy said if he remembered rightly, at the last meeting Mr J. Fleming said rather than waste time interviewing the Board or having to pay a special rate, if Mr Crisp would not assist him he would clean the drain out himself. Now it appeared Mr Fleming had started to do the work himself and Mrs Crisp asks the Board to stop him. Mr Crisp, who was in attendance, wished to discuss the matter with the Board, but the Chairman said the matter had been dealt with at the previous meeting, and they could not waste further time on it. Resolved, That Mrs Crisp’s letter be dealt with by the Board in committee. , (McHardy-Alexander) Mr Vickery waited on the Board in connection with the works on the Opna Road. He thought it would be much better if the contracts were let in a different form. At present the ditching was in one contract and the formation and gravelling in the other. In his. opinion the ditching and formation should go together, because there being metal in the bottom of the ditch it could then be used to good effect in the centre of the formation, and after it had set then go on with the gravellingLeft over till tenders were being dealt with.

From A. Pole, stating that the ditch in front of W. Pentelow’s place was blocked up and ashing to have it cleared out, the cost of same to come oat of special rate. To be attended to in summer.

From J. Kothery, resigning office of poundkeeper, and from J. McDonald, applying for position. .Resolved, That Mr Bothery’s resignation be accepted, and that Mr J. McDonald be appointed in his stead. ( W ells-McHardy.) From F. 1 E. Evans, objecting to valuation placed on Section 17, Block 8 and 6, Opunake Survey District, bv the Board, as it was in excess of that fixed by the County Council. The Clerk to enquire. * From M. Deegan and P. Dalton, asking that a ditch be made to give an outlet for water on Arawhata Boad, so as to enable them to get to factory. Held over till funds in hand.. From Mrs M. Higgins, stating that Section 8, Block VII, had a frontage to both the Ihaia and Opua Hoads, and she did not consider it fair that the section should pay full special rate for both the Ihaia and Opua road loans. Mr McHardy said it was only fair that it should pay half to each. The Chairman said it was a pity the objection was not 'put in before the proposal was advertised. Now that the proposal had been advertised and the poll taken and carried it was beyond the power of the Board to interfere. Resolved, That Mrs Higgins be written to informing her that the Board has no power to alter the area as the loan has been carried. From A. Cross and D. O’Sullivan stating they had been working on the ' "Waiteika road to try and make it passable but they could not afford any more time. They, however, were %ißing to give a subsidy of £ for £ towards ditching work required. The Chairman said it was a pity that the Board was not in a position to accept such a liberal offer, Tie always believed in trying to help those who were willing to help themselves. The road, however, was overdrawn and nothing could be done at present. Mr McHardy said he had been spoken to about the manner in which the road came in debt. The ratepayers in the upper part of the road had complained of their money being spent on the lower road, thus bringing it in debt, but such he understood was not the case, as it was through some transaction with Mr Crowther on the upper part it had got into debt, and the ratepayers on the lower part objected to being charged with getting the benefit of any but their own revenue. The Chairman said now that Mr Orowther’s name was mentioned it called the circumstances to mind. He was a member of the Board at the time, and Mr Crowther approached the_ Board to get them to do some drainage to a swamp on the upper road. The work came to somewhere about £4O. Mr Crowther undertook to find the money, if the Board would call for tenders, and wait till the Board was in a to repay it. Tenders were called, the work done, and as Mr Crowther did not pay, the Board had to stump up the funds itself. That would account for the debt. TENDEBS. Contract No. 1, Namu Road.— Cameron and McHardy—£l7B 19s; schedule prices : ditching, 10s ; ditch , cleaning, 8s; formation, Gs ; gravel, 2s 5d per yard. E. O’Sullivan—£l6l 2s 8d ; ditching, 9s ; ditch cleaning, Is 6d ; formation, 6s; gravel, 2s 2d per yard. W. Humphries—£l3B Is 6d ; ditching, 9s 6d ; cleaning, Is 6d ; formation, 5s ; gravel, Is 10d per yard. J. Carter (accepted)—£l3s 9s 6d ; ditching, 9s • cleaning, Is 6d; formation, 6s ; gravel, Is 9d per yard.

Contract No, 2, Namu Eoad.— Cameron and McHardy —£lsß 19s

6d ; ditch cleaning, 2s 6d ; formation, 5s ; gravel, 2s 3d per yard. G. Dunton—£ls4 18s 8d ; ditch cleaning, 2s ; formation, 6s ; gravel, 2s 2d per yard. W. Humphries (accepted)—£l2B 4a 4d ; ditch cleaning, la 6d ; formation, 5s ; gravel, Is lOd per yard. Contracts 8,4, 5, and 6, Opua Road.—The tenders for these works, in the aggregate, exceeding the amount of the loan, it was resolved to call for fresh tenders on amended specifications. Contract No. 7, Kina Road—Ditching—Joe Allbnby, £l7 4s, or 16s per chain ; Jas. Pask (accepted), £lB 8s 9d, or 12s 6d per chain. Contract No. 8, Kina Road —Ditching.—There was only one tender, and it being considered too high it was resolved that the overseer be empowered to let the work at 12s 6d, or if not let to call fresh tenders for next meeting. UPPER OPUA ROAD. Resolved, That the special rate be stuck. (Fleming-McHardy.) Resolved, That the next meeting be adjourned till November 23rd, to confirm special order striking rate. (Wells-Alexander.) The Board then went into Committee to consider Mrs Crisp’s letter. 60RSE ON ROADS. Mr Wells asked why steps had not been taken to get gorse cleared off the roads. The Clerk said he had seen Mr Fisher, the Reserves Agent, who said he would notify the Maoris, and if within a reasonable time they did not not comply, he would either have it done at their expense, or let the land' on them. Thg following accounts were passed for payment:—W. J. Gorkin, £1 13s; J. McDonald, £1 ; Harbor Rate, 8s 4d ; Auditor, £1 6s Bd. Mr E. O’Sullivan waited on the Board to complain of the action of the ranger in impounding his cattle. He could prove that tbe ranger had told the poundkeeper that he would pound them whenever he got the chance. The members of the Board recommended him to keep his cattle in, and thus disappoint the ranger.