ROAD BOARD MEETINGS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 1, Issue 29, 18 September 1912, Page 1

ROAD BOARD MEETINGS.

Pukekohe West. The monthly meeting was held on Thursday; present.—Messrs J. W. Johns (chairman), West, Woods, Dunn and Finlay. With reference to special loans (Northern and Hill No. 2) being raised it was decided to insert in the minutes a record definitely establishing the roads upon which the money is to be spent. The chairman reported the result of the meeting in Wright's Puni Hall in connection with merging, but the ratepayers were unanimously in favour (f the board carrying on for the year. Mr Johns explained the arguments which had been advanced. There was a strong feeling because of the fact that Pukekohe West had no direct representative on the county.

Mr West said he did not see how the board could go along. Take the main roads to Puni and Waiuku : they would be under the county. The chairman said the county was going to do nothing apd yet they were collecting the rate. Mr Dunn : The farthing collected by the county reduces our revenue by 25 per cent.

Mr Woods: Can the county collect these rates aD(I do nothing for it ? Is that the law ? Mr Dunn: They can do it, no doubt. Mr Woods : Then it's a rotten law. Mr Dunn said ho was sure it would be best if all tho boards merged and then controlled the county. Mr West asked how it would be if they got a petition up to seo if the Pukekohe West people would merge now ? The chairman said they should bo guided by tho public meeting ; he did not see that tbe Board could take further action now.

Mr Johns reported that at the Puni mooting Mr M. Koutley brought up tho question of tho pipes in Rogers' gully. Mr West said Mr Eoutley did not object to there not being sufficient fall at the time the pipes wero put in. Mr Johns reported that Mr Eoutloy "said it would only take a couple of days to remedy tho trouble and he had offered to supply half the labour. It was decided to accept Mr Routley's offer, on the principle that tho Board should help those who would do something themselves.

Another matt or at the Puni meeting was a claim for metalling Woller's road, south from the tramway.—Mr West said there were about SO or 00 yards of metal required, and some understanding was arrived at whereby the Board would supply the metal if the ratepayers affected would cart and spread the metal.—On Mr Dunn's motion it was decided to repeat the offer, the arrangements to be left with Mr West. The Commissioner of Crown Lauds wrote re lot 74, section 3, parish Pukekoho, which had been applied for by Mr Mason on behalf of a client. Tho area was marked "water reserve." An adjoining owner complained that the laud was often camped upon by undesirable persons aud he wished to have a stop put to tho practice. The Commissioner asked if it was desirable to part with the section by way of sale or lease.—lt was decided to reply in tho negative: Mr Dausey, railway engineer, asked the board if it would lease a drag scoop. —Decided to charge 5s per week for the implemont. John Elliugs wrote that being under the impression that the board was merging into tho county ho had applied for the position of foreman to tho Now Lynn Town Board. That position he had obtaiuod and he now asked to be released from las road board foremanship. The resignation was accepted with regret, the chairman remarking that Mr Ellings had given eight years' faithful service to the board and they were sorry to lose him. Mi Dunn added that Mr Ellings had given conscientious service and no man could have worked harder. Mr Pinky : Hear, hear. A legal claim on behalf of Mr Fausett, contractor, for £101! ;»s ltd, was received and it was left to the clerk (Mr Mason) to reply to.

Messrs Dunn and West, 'who have sold their district properties) tendered their resignation as members of the board.—The chairman said the wish was unanimously expressed at Puni that both retiring members should continue in otheO fur the year.--The chairman spoke in glowing terms of Mr Dunn's work, and said his retirement would he a loss to the road district—Mr Dunn, in reply, said the board had worked very well together, which was shown in the fait that that afternoon they had had practically the first division on a motion for three years Mr Woods pressed the retiring members to withhold their resignations and at the solicitation of the board both of thorn agreed that tin; resignations should stand over meanwhile