Parihaka Road Board.

Opunake Times, Volume X, Issue 471, 21 March 1899, Page 2

Parihaka Road Board.

Monday, Maech 20. Present—Messrs McGloin (chairman). Elwin, Rothery, Malcolm, Phillips, Coombridge, and O'Connor. Minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. ABAWHATA BOAD. Mr Stronge waited on the Board, and presented a petition signed by Messrs D. Markham (per Macfie and Markham) andS. H. Stronge, offering to advanee £5 eaon to assist in putting a bad portion of the Upper Arawhata Road into passable order, if the Board would spend money acoroing, with a grant which could be obtained from the Public Trustee, on the work desired. Mr Malcolm said he had been over the road and had seen where the work required to be done, and he estimated that £2O would meet requirements. A letter from the Public Trustee to Mr Stronge was read, in which the former stated that though he did not recognise any liability for future work at present, he was of opinion that the improvements asked for would benefit the -natives' land on the road, and so he would be willing to contribute onethird of the cost of any work undertaken, the one-third share not to exceed £25. The Chairman thought the Board should have some more specific evidence that the Tustee would contribute. A letter written to a private individual on the subject would soarcely be acted upon by the Board. On the motion of Mr O'Connor, seconded . by Mr Maloolm, the Clerk was instructed to write to the Public Trustee asking him to contribute one-third of cost of works on Arawhata Road; and also that plana be prepared and tenders called for next meeting.

OPUA BOAD. Mr Wilcock waited on the Board, and asked that a bad place on this road, somei 70 chains from the Main Boad, he put in order. Some four or five chains of ditching, <xo., were required. ... Mr O’Connor said other settlers, who did not live on the road, made use of it, though Mr Wilcock was the only one living above the place in question. It was pointed out that the road was m debt. . . The Chairman thought that some assistance should be given, and suggested that to be voted. This would leave still a good, sum to go towards paying off the overdraft on the road. The case was a bad one, and deserved attention. . , _ . Mr Malcolm thought that a bad precedent would be created, and all other roads would ask to he treated similarly in regard to repairs, whether their roads were in credit or not. Mr Phillips moved, That £6 be voted for work on the Opua Boad. . Seconded by Mr Malcolm, and carried; tenders to be called for next meeting. Mr Wilcock presented a new petition, asking the Board to take steps to raise a loan of £I6OO ta form and metal apportion of the Opua Boad. f Some discussion arose on the matter oi the rating proposal to be fixed on the comer sections of the Wirimu Boad. The petition proposed to levy a full rate on these. It was pointed out that a portion of certain sections , included in the proposed new rating area was already rated for a special loan on tha Ihaia Boad. . _ , ~ - Mr Wilcock said that if the Board altered the petition in the direction of relieving the corner sections already referred to the rest of the settlers in the proposed area would not go to the poll. , Mr Elwin said in that case he would move that the petition lie on the table. _ The Chairman seconded the motion, which was carried.

WABEA BOAD. Messrs J. Lawn and G. Jones waited on the Board as a deputation from the settlers on the Warea Boad, to ask that some steps be taken to repair that road. The Chairman said that the Board would no doubt do the best it could when the accruing money was in hand. He stated that there would be about £l2 available for expenditure, an! the question was—how could this best be expended ? , Mr El win moved that the overseer be instructed to view the road and confer with the settlers as to the best means of repairing it, and report to the Chairman and Clerk, and that tenders be called for next meeting; the amount voted to be £l2. . _ Seconded by Mr Malcolm, and earned. Mr J. Duggan also waited on the Board to ask that a bad place near the projected bridge be put in order. About £5 would make the road passable. The Chairman explained that the Wares Boad moneys were all allocated, and the only thing that could be done was for the settler* on the Newall Boad, who would be benefited by the worn, to allow a sum from their road to be taken for the purpose. He did not believe in the Board spending money from one road on another, unless the settlers themselves so desired. The matter was allowed to stand over.

LOWEB ABAWHATA BOAD. Mr Macfie waited on the Board, and asked that the overseer have a good look at the road, and see how the amount of money ac* cruing, some £l4 10s, could beat be utilised. The Chairman moved that the overseer id* spect the road and report, and tenders for work to the extent of £l2 be called for next meeting. Seconded by Mr O’Connor, and earned.

EXPENSES. Mr Elwin moved that a sum of £1 Is be voted to cover the expenses of the Clerk in connection with the late by-law case.—Seconded by Mr O’Connor. The Chairman moved an amendment that the amount be 7s 6d. He explained that in previous cases no costs of the kind were allowed. He thought that as the Clerk received a salary this matter should come within the scope of his duties,—Seconded by Mr Malcolm. Mr Phillips moved another amendment that the amount be 10s 6d.—Seconded by Mr Eothery. Mr Elwin withdrew his original motion in favor of Mr Phillips’ amendment. The Chairman’s amendment was then put and lost, only the mover and seconder voting lor it. The amendment becoming the motion, was then put and carried. FOREMAN ’s REPORT. * The Foreman’s report was read.—The va« rious contractors were proceeding with their works; but one, E. Blackball, was not making satisfactory progress with his metalling contract on the Warea Eoad, The decking of the bridge on the Eahui West Boad was in a bad state, needing immediate attention* Mr J. Duggan’s claim for extras on the Newall Boad works was recommended to be paid. The Chairman referred to the contract at present in hand by E, Blackball; The man was making very slow progress, and there was no satisfactory chance of his getting the \ work done in a reasonable time. He had a second contract as yet untouched. The Foreman, who was present, said the contractor was making very unsatisfactory headway with the work. The general conditions of contracts were read. The Chairman moved, That notice be given to E, Blackball to forfeit his second contract of one mile metalling, unless he proceed with the work immediately.—Seconded by Mr Malcolm, and carried. Be the contract at present in hand, Mr Malcolm thought the Board should take the work over.—The Foreman said the contractor was doing the best he could; but it was almost impossible to obtain labr at present. —Matter held over. In the matter of extras, for which payment was claimed by Jas. Duggan, the foreman and contractor were present and explained the position of the works.—The claims were agreed to. A DRAIN FILLED IN. Mr O’Rourke waited on the Board and asked that a crossing be made made over an ~ outlet drain which had been cut from the Etna Boad into a property of his wife’s. The drain was now blocked, and the water ran over the land* The Board had agreed at one

ftma to keep the drain clear, bat this had BOt been done.—The overseer was authoiised to get the drain cleared. TENDERS. The Board went into committee to consider tender*, and on resnming reported : Contract No. 4, Ngariki Road, ditching— G. W. Warden, 28» per chain (accepted). N 0.5, Ngariki Road—J. Jackush, culv.rting Is 9d per foot, earthwork 2a per yard, B«w ditch 19s 6d per chain, clearing old do. 18* 6d per chain, old culvert 2s per foot (accepted) ; H. Hopkins, new ditch 28s, old do. Me, earthwork 30s, cal verts 30s each. No. 6, Kahnißoad —T. Morrow, formation 8e per chain,- gravelling £2 17s per chain, ditch cleaning 2s 6d per chain, repairs 3s per yard (accepted); J. Hickey and A. B. Phillips, forming and gravelling £3 10s, ditch Cleaning 2s 6d, repairs 3s 6d. No. 7, Bahai East Road—Hickey and Phillipe, gravelling £2 17s 6d per chain and formation 5s per chain (accepted). No. 9, Kina Road —Hickey and Phillips, formation and gravelling £3 14s per chain .(accepted). No. 10, Kama Road—Cameron and MoHardy, ditching, £1 per chain, eolverting Is fid per foot (accepted); F. Martin, ditching £ll4s, eolverting Bs. No. 11, Panhaka Road—J. Hickey, formation 15s per chain, gravelling £3 2s 6d per chain, culvert Is 9d per foot (accepted); H. Corbett, gravelling £2 15s, formation £l, culvert Is 6d. No. 12, Panhaka East Road—W* T, Harvey, earthwork Is 6d per yard, culvert 2s 6d per fbot (accepted); G. W. Phillips, colvert Is, earthwork Is 6d. No. 3, Warea Bridge Cummins and Christie, bridge £133 11s, concrete £ll9s 6d per yard (accepted); £. Cave, bridge £157 15s, concrete £2 3s per yard. The report was adopted. SOS-COHFLIANCE OF CONTRACT. Masers Corbett and Simpson waited on the Board to ask that the fine for non-com-pletion of a formation contract on the Warea Boad be rescinded. They explained that the weather was very unfavorable, and it was impossible to do anything for several weeks. Mr Malcolm moved, and Mr O’Connor seconded, That the resolution passed, by which the fine was imposed, be rescinded. The Chairman opposed this on the gronnd of inconsistency. They should not resolve on one coarse at one meeting and at the next act in direct opposition. The circumstances had been exceptional, he agreed; but if they let these men off now, there were a number of contracts still unfinished and to be started, whose contractors would expect the same treatment, and would take no notice of the Board’s notices re fines, &a, Mrßothery thought the Board should be guided by the explanations given. The resolution was then put and carried) SHALL JOBS. The Chairman referred to a number of small jobs which were required to be done, scattered over the district, and he thought the foreman should inspect the places, and that tenders should be called by next meeting. The Waiteika Lower Road was in a very bad condition, with others, at both, ends of the district. He moved that the overseer inspect Lower Waiteika and Puniho Roads, and any others needing small works, and report. —Seconded by Mr Coombridge, and carried. ‘ The chairman and clerk were empowered to act on the report. EUAEEBK BOAD. Ur Elwin reported that the settlers had done work on tins road, bat the overseer had been unable to get there to work. The settlers wished to know il the foreman could coma at a future date.—The foreman will attend to the road as soon as he can spare the time. WITIOBA BOAD. Mr Malcolm said this road required a lot of work. Mr Lusk had done a good deal at his own expense, but the road was still very bad.—No action. SUSPENSION or BY-LAWS. Mr Bothery moved, in pursuance of notice given, that the Parihaka Boad Board by-laws be suspended.—Seconded by Mr O’Connor. Mr Phillips moved an amendment that they be not suspended until some other bylaws be formed to go in their place. Mr Coombridge urged that the members should not allow the motion proposed by Mr Bothery to pass. If the laws were suspended he knew of roads which would be destroyed by heavy traffic in wood-carting. Mr Malcolm pointed out that the enforcing of the by-laws would inflict a hardship on settlers who had to cart milk, as they were unable to put on sufficient horses to draw their milk over the bad roads. The Chairman thought the Board would not think of enforcing the laws in respect of milk-carts—it should be able to discriminate between these cases and those of such men as contractors and timber and wood-carters, who in a very short time would do more damage than the settlers in a year. He would like to see the matter adjourned, and in the meantime a committee of the members might be able to frame amendments in the present by-laws. It was most unfair to bush settlers to allow outsiders to go and destroy the roads by heavy traffic. Mr Elwin was in favor of doing away with the by-laws, which could not, in their present shape, be enforced. At present the Board was protecting one section of the community and oppressing another. He would like to see the present laws done away with, and in the meantime the Board might adopt (pro tem) the by-laws of the County Council. Mr Bothery said he had promised, when elected, that the matter should have his consideration. and he now brought it on. Personally he would like to see some laws for the restriction of traffic; but the present code seemed unworkable. A committee bad been appointed some time since to revise the laws but it had never met. Referring to the milkcart traffic, for which it had been urged that allowances should be made, he said this very traffic was the heaviest on the roads in the district. If a committee could suggest amendments to make the laws workable he would be only too happy to do all he could to assist; but having in mind the result of the previous appointment, he felt he must lake his resolution to the vote. Mr Elwin thought the whole seale might ibe reasonably subjected to a reduction of an nch in width of tyre. Mr Phillips’ amendment was not seconded, and the chairman moved a further one. That a committee, consisting of Messrs Malcolm, Bothery, and the mover, be appointed to revise the Dy-laws, the resolution to stand over for one month,—Seconded by Mr Coombridge. , The amendment was carried on division—ayes: Messrs Coombridge, Phillips, Malcolm, Elwin, and the Chairman; noes: Messrs Bothery and O’Connor. buthbefoed's case, The Board considered the matter in committee, and finally adopted the following resolution : That Messrs Rutherford and Son be invited to meet a committee consisting of Messrs Phillips, Elwin, and the clerk, to discuss the matter of expenditure on Manihi ’ Boad before the Board takes any further steps. (Blwin-Coombridge.) clerk’s report. The Clerk reported that since last meeting various works had been laid off and tenders invited, as instructed at last meeting. About £320 rata money had been received, leaving about £IOO outstanding. Amounts paid in to the Board’s account at the Bank since last meeting were—general account, £167 9s Id; interest account, £2O 10s 2d. KAHUI EAST BOAD. _ The Commissioner of Crown Lands wrote informing the Board that, in reference to the application of Mr F. W. Frethey to have all “ thirds” accrued from his property on Upper Kabul and Ngariki Boads spent on the Upper Eahui Boad, the Land Board had -adopted the report of the Banger recommending that money accrued from sections 19, block 3, and 3, block 4, Opunake SD, £54 Is 4d, be spent on Upper Ngariki Boad ; and from sections 27, block 14, and 5, block 15, Cape SD, £47 5s 4d, on Upper Kabul Boad. WAGES. T. Julian, junr., wrote asking the Board to > with-hold amount of wages due to him from a contractor on the Warea Boad.—No action.

KINA ROAD. A petition signed by J. Kirkwood, H. Barr, R. Malcolm, Wm. Ellman, Jas. Fleming, W. Fleming, J. A. Lusk, J, Malcolm, E. Lusk, J. F. Phillips, T. S. Alexander, F. E. Evans, F. H. Alexander, A. Pole, N. Simpson, E. F. Walford and E* J. Allen, was read, asking the Board to take the necessary steps to raise a loan of £2OOO, under the “Loans to Local Bodies Act, 1886," and the “ Amendment Act, 1898,” for the purpose of forming, metalling, draining; oulverting and bridging the Kina Road East, from the Main South Road to the Wirimu Road. The Chairman moved, That the necessary steps be taken, provided settlers are agreeable to half-rate sections 19 and 20, blocks 3 and 7, and sections 8 and 9, block 3, all in the Opnnake SB. Seconded by Mr Phillips, and carried. Messrs A. Pole and J. Phillips wrote to request that something be done to improve a bad spot on this road, near Mr Pentelow’s. They were willing to assist with a horse and dray and labor. —Mr Malcolm said the place certainly needed attention. The overseer was authorised to employ a man for a week, to assist as required. PUNGABKHU ROAD. Messrs W. Harvey, G. Blaes and W. Symons wrote asking that some work be done on the worst parts of this road before winter sets in.- The request will be acceded to, and amount available, some £l2, spent in metalling worst places. DOAN MONIES. The Treasury forwarded information that special loan monies, Rewall Road, £ISOO, and Ngariki Road, £250, were available. ACCOUNTS. The following were passed for payment: Loan account—Hopkins and Ward £33 14s Id, Corbett and Simpson £Bl 6s, W. Vincent £7O, J. Duggan £3 8s lOd, J, Ward £losßd, B. Loftus £4 9s 6d, total £193 19s Id. General account—J. Carter £l, T. Avery 14s, Opunake Times £3 4s 6d, F. Hickey £7 17s 4d, R. J. Blinkhorn 3s, £. R. Morgan £5 16s sd, total £lB 15s sd. DOMAIN BOARD. Same members present. Tenders were received for a five-years’ lease of a portion of the Rahotu Recreation Reserve, about eight acres—R. J. Blinkhorn, 6s 3d per acre ; J. Phillips, 40s per annum. Resolved, That Mr Blinkhorn’s tender be accepted.