PATEA WEST ROAD BOARD.

Patea Mail, Volume X, Issue 91, 9 August 1897, Page 3

PATEA WEST ROAD BOARD.

The regular meeting of the above Board was held at the Kakaramea Hall ou Friday, when there were present — Messrs C. Symes (chairman), Jones, Morrison, McCarthy and Wilford. Minutes of former meeting read and confirmed. Con-espondeuce read outwards as authorised ; inwards dealt with. Mrs Ferguson wrote asking for expenditure in improving road to her pro* perty. On the proposition of Mr Wilford it was resolved that the letter lie on table till next meeting. Letter from County Council re licensing expenses still unpaid. Mr Wilford proposed “ That the licensing account, £32, be paid,” seconded by Mr Morrison and carried unanimously. The following transfers were authorised : —Amos to McKenna 4 Alton; W. Brown to S. Blake, run, Accounts amounting to £54 1 Is 8d were passed for payment. Statement of accounts shewed £94 deficiency in general account. Mr E. Blake here took his scat. Proposed by Mr Wilford, seconded by Mr McCarthy “ That the chairman sign the necessary request to the Bank for overdraft.

Mr Gibbs waited on the Board relative to the injustice of the present traffic by-law, as it seemed that there was now an opportunity to alter the by-law before gazetting (It was here explained that the by laws had been gazetted some considerable time). Everyone knew that it was not the animals drawing a dray that cut up the roads but the weight on the wheels, and all be asked was that bullocks might be used to pull the same loads as horses were allowed to draw. He did not think it necessary to have the oy-laws at all, but if they had to have them let the by- laws be fair and treat all alike. The Chairman said the by-laws were gazetted and he certainly thought it very ntessary to restrict heavy traffic during the winter mouths; but the statutory law was responsible not the by-laws for the absolute prohibition of bullocks. He himself had always held that the settlers themselves could have done all that was necessary by refusing to allow firewood or excessive loads to leave their farms during the wet men tbs; but as some lew of them would not act in concert it was found necessary to obtain legal protection. Mr Morrison said be quite agreed with the necessity for stopping heavy traffic, but could not see why bullocks should not be allowed to draw the same weight on wheels as horses, Anyone living iu the country could see the advantageous effect of the stoppage of heavy traffic. Mr Hudson (who also waited on the board) said he was now quite ready to admit that the stoppage of the heavy traffic had done good and he now found no fault with it, but he wanted to be allowed to use his bullocks for drawing ihe weight allowed to be drawn by horses such a concession would not lead to heavy firewood traffic —as it would not pay to go back with bullocks for the lightloads; but he wanted to be allowed to cart in and out such things as he required for himself. Mr Milford said the speakers could scarcely expect the Board to authorise them to break the law. The Board considered, as did the majority of the settlers, that they bad donerightiu stopping heavy traffic, the law said where ‘ heavy traffic ” was stopped bullocks couldnotbeusedand that was simply the position. It would take about three months to alter the bylaw and in half that time the roads would be open again for all sorts of traffic.

Mr Hudson said there was another matter he wished to see the Board about. There were two or three slips on the Otoia road which rendered it impossible to get round some of the corners which he wished the Board to have repaired so as to make the J road passable. Messrs Turner and Bairnforth had offered him the right to go into their bush for firewood if he made the road into it, this would cost £2O and | would than be no use unless the present j made portion of the road was passable. . He thought the cost would be about £0 or £7 and be would contribute£2 towards j it, 1 Mr Hudson then withdrew. | On the motion of Mr Jones it was re-- ; solved “ That Messrs Paterson and Blake be asked to report at next meeting as to the improvements asked for by Mr Hudson being necessary or advisable and also as to probable cost.’,” Messrs Jones and Blake were authorised to get the necessary improvements done in two water holes on the Hursthouse road between Bali road and Mi T. Allan s. The clerk reported a small sum of [ arrears of rates which were uucollectablo, and on the motion of Mr Jones it was resolved to write them off in accordance with audit requirements. Mr Blake asked under what authority Mr Gibbs was sued in the by-law cases. The Chairman said he could not say as he thought it was understood that the case against Gibbs should not be brought, but possibly the whole matter was placed in their solicitor’s bands and be thought that it ought to be brought. The clerk; That was practically the position. Mr Morrison asked the Board to have some sixteen chains of stumping done on the Hurley road which was very ueces- ( \ sary to keep the road open. For the iufor- | ination of the Board he had procured : 1 written offers to do the work, one of which was at 3s per chain and by a man on whom they could depend. Mr McCarthy thought the proposed work very necessary and would like to add about ten chains more before coming to the factory. It was ultimately resolved “ That Mr Morrison be authorised to expend. £2 Sd on the work pointed out by him as required. Mr Byrnes reported that Mr Blake and himself had seen the directors of Hurleyvillo Hairy Factory about tho storm water and arranged to put in a culvert to carry tho water away from its present outlet to one that the directors agreed to at the lower portion of their property,

and it was further agreed that if the Board put in the culvert and drain, the Dairy Company would make their own crossings. Mr Wilford said the arrangement was a very satisfactory one and would move “ That Messrs Blake, Jones and Symes he authorised to carry cut the works re Hurlsyvillejstorm water as recommended.’ Carried. Mr Symes reported that Mr O’Sullivan complained very much about the state of the Manutahi road cutting and he was authorised to put on a surfaceman if he considered it necessary. The Board then adjourned.