Danevirke Road Board.

Waipawa Mail, Volume X, Issue 1019, 7 December 1886, Page 4

Danevirke Road Board.

Prksrnt : Messrs Wratt (cliair), Karl, A. McKay, T. Miller and Shanly. Minutes of previous meeting read and confirmed. The chairman informed the Hoard, that he had considered it advisable to expend an additional amount of £1 on Ilamletstrect for tiio purpose of improving the approach to the church.—The Hoard endorsed his action. Correspondence : From MrG. D. Hamilton drawing the Hoard’s attention to the unsatisfactory state of the road on the Mangatero run between the homestead and the boundary, lie had been paying rates 2(> years and during all that time thcro had not been any public money spent on the road till last year. He therefore asked, that the Hoard would take this year’s Mangatera rates to improve the piece of road in question and urged necessity of this not only for his own sake but also on behalf of the Wainui-Tautane settlors. The clerk informed the Board, that the annual rates on the Mangatero Station amounted to £l2B and that £230 had been spent there last year.. The chairman corroborated the statement about the unsatisfactory state of the road and lie thought they could safely vote £IOO towards the improvements asked for. Proposed hy Mr Miller, seconded by Mr Shanly, “ That £IOO be voted for the purpose.” From Mr Gilmour with an enclosure of plans and specifications for three contracts. It was resolved to have tenders called for the work immediately and to advertise same in the NVaipawa Mail. The tenders to be opened at a special meeting on Saturday the 18th instant. It was also decided to include in the bridge contract, Umutoroa leading down to the bridge. From Mr W. Hallotf, licensed surveyor, offering his services to the Hoard for any work they may have in hand. From Mr 11. Jensen, pointing out that there was a strip of luish 17 chains x i a chain wide on the Umotoroa Road, and along the front of his fence, lie asked the Board to have it felled, os it was a continuous source of danger to his cattle and the fence. Ho also offered to do it himself for £7. The Hoard considered £7 a great deal too high, but appointed Messrs Wratt and Miller either to arrange with Mr Jensen about the felling, for a more reasonable

price, or call tenders, as they thought fit. In reply to a question, the Clerk stated that about .£IGO of rates lmd been paid in up to date. A progress-payment to Mr Mngnusson on his formation and metalling contract, Umotoron Block, was agreed to. Moles’ contract was nlso authorised to bo paid ns soon ns a member of the Itoad Board, together with a member of the Town Board had visited and passed the work. WAINUI ROAD DEVIATION. The question of choosing one of the proposed lines camo again up before the Board as a matter deferred from tho last meeting. Mr Wratt proposed his motion of last meeting, “That No. 1 line (Miller’s), bo adopted.” A seemingly ominous silenco reigned in tho room for some time, when at last Mr Karl proposed to start the ball going by staling that he had been round that day himself, partly to ascertain the real advantages of the alternative lines and partly to obtain some information as to the settlors’ wish in this mutter. He had come to the conclusion, that it wa6 only right ami just that No. 1 line should be adopted and would therefore support Mr Wratt’s motion. Mr McKay had an amendment to make and would state reasons for bringing it forward if a member of tho Board would second his proposition so as to give him an opportunity of discussing the matter, lie then proposed and Mr Shanty seconded, “ That a poll of the ratepayers be taken.” His reasons for proposing this amendment was that this question was a delicate one to decide on, it had been shouldered on to tho Road Board by tho County Council, because it was such a delicate question it still remained so,and for the reason that j the members of tho Board were so much interested. A road was like an artery in a body of flesh and blood ; it diffused life everywhere and therefore was of great importance, especially to the parts it traversed. He had a section in tho Umutoroa Block, which perhaps some day might become of great value, if tho central route, leading straight towards it was adopted. He mentioned all this to point out that the members of the Board were individvally too much interested and on those grounds lie advocated the matter being left in the hands of tho ratepayers ; especially ns therojwns in addition a liitle “ bugbear” in the Act of Parliament making any member liable to a penalty to £SO if ho voted in cases where ho was personally interested. Tho Chairman, with the remaining members of the Board supporting him, pointed out that the Act referred to cases only where tho individual member was interested in the funds of the Board being expended on contracts, work, &c. The bugbear was therefore no bugbear at all. Me would therefore put the amendment, which was lost, Messrs McKay and Shanty voting for it, Messrs Wratt, Karl, and T. Miller against it. The resolution was then carried by tho votes of the three last-named members, Messrs McKay and Sliuuly voting emphatically against it. It was further proposed by Mr J. Karl, and seconded by Mr T. Miller, “That the Chief Surveyor he requested to gazette No. I (or Miller’s) line as the one adopted.— Carried. Tho Board then adjourned. W. EATHBONE