Parihaka Road Board.

Opunake Times, Volume VII, Issue 299, 20 July 1897, Page 3

Parihaka Road Board.

The oWU.my mouUfiv i\v< l\ g of the above Board was hsfidon .'.(outlay, July Ih.ii- Present : Me M. Fleming (chairman), Dew, McHardy, MoGloin, Julian, and Phillip Minutes of previous mec.iug read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. From County Council, enclosing a copy of a petition to Parliament praying for an alteration in the present mode of raising revenue for charitable aid purposes, by which 50 per cent of it fell direct on the land, whilst other forms of wealth escaped taxation. Resolved, That the Board use its best evdeavors to get it signed by all the ratepayers in the Parihaka district. (Fleming-Dcw.) ■ BY-LAWS. From Mr H. Brown, M.H.R., enclosing copy of a letter from the Colonial Secretary to the Inglewood Town Board, in which it was stated that it was not necessary to Gazette by-laws before bringing them into force. It was only necessary to advertise them. Mr McGloin said these by-laws had been dragging along since 1894 —for the last three years, and he thought it was time they were fixed up. The Chairman said tha by-laws which were initiated three years ago were disapproved of by the Minister, and declared to be u'tra vires, so that they had to start afresh and make them over again. Several members spoke on the urgent necessity of taking immediate steps to protect newly metalled roads, especially where settlers were liable to heavy special rates. POUND, Mr Julian said several complaints had been made to him about the charges inflicted at the pound. He had told those complaining that complaints should be put in in writing, or the Board could not take notice of them. He would like to know, however, whether or not the poundkeeper should produce the pound books to the Board to inspect his charges, as some of the amounts charged seemed to him to be extortionate. The Chairman said owing to the manner in which the ranging was done that it would be better to wipe the pound out. It was only a few roads that got any attention from the ranger. Mr Julian said there had never been a beast impounded off the Newall Road, although cattle were constantly straying on it. NAMU ROAD. Mr McHardy asked what the Board intended doing with regard to Mr Dobson running the water off his place in to the Board’s drain, by which the road had been flooded and considerable damage done to metal, . The Chairman said he had looked the matter up, and according to the Public Works Act Mr Dobson made himself liable to a penalty of £lO. The Clerk said he had received a letter from Mr Dobson, in which he stated that the damage was done by the flood water from the opposite side of the road, and that the drain running out of his place, to the best of bis knowledge, had been there for the last six or eight years. The Clerk, in answer to Mr McHardy, said it did not look to him as if the damage had been caused by the water from the opposite side of the road. Resolved, That the Clerk write to Mr Dobson re neglect of previous notice to stop draining into Board’s drain, and to notify him that if he does not attend to it at once that the clerk be empowered to take action against him under section 134 of the Public Works Act 1894. (FlemingDew.) KAHUX EAST ROAD. Mr Rotbery waited on the Board, and pointed out that this road was getting unduly cut up by carting metal over it during the recent wet weather for the purpose of repairing the Lower Kahui Road. Mr Dew said he thought it was absurd carting metal over a newly metalled road at this time of year, and it was not’ fair to those who had rated themselves specially to make the road. Mr Phillips said only one day’s carting had been done, and another day would finish it. It was decided to obtain the metal elsewhere. SPECIAL RATES. Mr Eothery asked if there was any way to force the natives to pay special rates. He considered it a great injustice to other settlers that they should be exempt. If the Board would bring a case in Court to test whether the natives wore liable or not the settlers on the Kahui Road would assist the Board in the matter of expense. Mr McGloin moved that Mr Samuel’s opinion be got as to whether the natives are liable for special rates, and that the cost of such opinion be charged to the Kahui Road settlers against their general rate. At the request of the chairman the Clerk read the section of the Loan Act, which specially excludes native lands, and in the face of that the chairman said it would only be a waste of the Kahui Road settlers’ money getting Mr Samuel’s opinion. SANDER ROAD. Mr Come waited on the Board, and asked that a culvert be put in on Sander Road. Resolved, That the overseer inspect and report. (McHardy-Julian.) Mr Corric also complained of excessive charges levied by the poundkeeper. Resolved, That in future the poundkeeper bring his pound-book to the Board’s meetings every month. (Phillips Dew.) Resolved, That the clerk write to Mr Coffey that unless he pays more attention to his duties as ranger that his services will he dispensed with. (Dew-McHardy)

RATES. The Clerk stated there were still about ill outstanding in rates. WAIT EIK A ROAD. Mr McGloin sail Mr Graham had sp men to him about the bad state of the Upper Waiteika Road, and the settlers were of opinion that a certain amount of drainage could be done with advantage, the cost to be debited to the loan. The Overseer thought doing drainage now would be of very little benefit. UPPER OPUA AND WAITEIKA LOANS. In answer to the chairman the Clerk said in answer to his last communication with the Treasury re both these loans that he had rece-ived a reply that the Upper Opua Loan of £ISOO had been sent to the Audit Department, but that he had received no reply relative to the Waiteika Road loan. ADVERTISING. Mr McGloin’s notice of motion was then taken—“ That in future all contracts, loans, &c , in the district north of the Arawhata Road, be advertised in the Taranaki .Budget in long primer type, cost not to exceed 2s per inch; contracts south of the Arawhata Road to be advertised in the Opunake Times, same price, type, &c., as in the Budget; that the Clerk write to the manager of the Opunake Times drawing his attention to the useles expenditure of decorating all little contracts with the royal coat of arms thereby increasing the cost of advertising. He asked to amend it by including the News with the Budget, and altering the kinds of type to be used. After a little delay Mr Phillips said he would second the motion to enable them to discuss it. (We are compelled owing to pressure on our space to hold over the discussion on the motion till next issue.) On division the motion was lost. Ayes: McGloin. Noes : Phillips, Julian, McHardy, Dew, Fleming. The following accounts were passed for payment :—E. Dann, 6s ; Martin and Preston, £9 7s ; Revell, £2 16s ; W. Julian, £1 19s; G. Jones, 8s 9d. Loan Account—R, Warner, £SB 7s. Interest Account, £lO5 2s lid.