PARAWERA ROAD BOARD.

Waipa Post, Volume XVIII, Issue 1008, 19 October 1920, Page 5

PARAWERA ROAD BOARD.

REGULAR MEETING.

The regular meeting of the Parawera Road Board held at Mr Park’s residence, Pauhue, on Friday was presided over by Mr C. A. Crook. Also present were Messrs. W, G. Park, A. 0. Kay, and H. R. Bulmer. The resignation of Mr A. H. Brett from the Board was accepted with regret and appreciation was expressed of his services in the interest of the Board. In connection with the sections of the late Mr F. W. Ware, on Corella Road, the clerk was authorised to effect a sale in the best 'interests of the Board. It was decided to instruct the local police to endeavour to ascertain who had taken several rails which had been used as a protection on the bank of the Waikato River in the board’s district. Accounts totalling £56 14/2 were passed for payment. Soldier’s Deputation. A deputation of soldier settlers representing the Pauhue Settlement Block waited on the meeting with regard to a proposed loan of £2OOO for road improvements in the settlement. The deputation was introduced by Mr Park. A letter addressed to Mr Simpson, the soldiers’ representative in the matter, from Mr Hockly M.P., was read. It dealt with a grant of £2,000 as a subsidy on the proposed loan. The Hon. J. G. Coates regretted that it was too late for this year’s estimates but he would endeavour to have a small amount put on the supplementary estimates, so that the amount would be definitely earmarked.

The engineer and clerk explained the procedure of obtaining a. special loan over a special rating area. Eventually it was decided that this meeting of Puahue ratepayers approve of a loan of £2OOO being raised by the Parawera Road Board for the purpose of metalling the Puahue Road giving access to the soldier settlers block. The Board decided that the clerk be instructed to take the necessary steps to raise a spec Sal loan of £20,000 over the Puahue district; this loan to carry a £ for £ subsidy, as stated in Mr Hockly’s letter. Bridge at Puahue. A petition signed by five ratepayers in the Puahue soldiers settlement was read. Petitioners stated tyat. the old bridge was completely washed away four months ago and repeated applications to the Commissioner of Crown Lands had met with a final refusal of assistance and petitioners had been referred to the Parawera Road Board. The chairman explained that the general rate revenue for the current year had already been exceeded in the Puahue district. Mr Park offered to give a' number of stringers for the purpose. Finally the engineer was authorised to Inspect the site and make necessary temporary arrangements in place of a new bridge. Engineer’s Report. The engineer (Mr E. R. Gould) reported that: —The necessary improvements to the formation required by the Public Works Department before authority will be issued for metalling are now complete on .the KihikihiWaotu Road. I have written to the Minister asking for an intimation of the subsidy to be provided and the issue of an authority .to commence installing. On the Owairaka Valley Road the approaches to the bridge over the Owairaka stream have been temporarily made, but proper wing walls will require to be built as sodn as the necessary funds can be found. It was not anticipated when the cost of forming the worst parts of this road was estimated that these approaches would require to be made by the Board, and it will therefore be necessary in order to provide for this and other unforeseen work, to increase the loan of £7OO. The. legalisation of the portion across the river is not yet complete, but the Board’s solicitors have the matter in hand with instructions to expedite. Plans and specifications were prepared for forming the main road through the Puahue - Soldiers’ Settlement Block to its junction with the Cambridge road. The Lands Department now state that it is not intended at present to form this road and ask for proposals foi forming the blind road giving access to sections 13s, 9s, ss, and 10s, this Will be attended to very shortly.