Featherston Road Board.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1792, 8 February 1886, Page 2

Featherston Road Board.

This Board met on Saturday. Present Messrs J. Donald (chairman), A. Matthews, McDougal, Bidwill, Tully and Cameron Mr Nix, of Taohetenikan, interviewed the Board before the regular business commenced, complaining of the state of the creek through his land, and asking the Board what proportijn of assistance it would render toward clearing out the drain. It was resolved that tlje Chairman, the Warden, and the Engineer meet Mr Nix on the ground on Wednesday next at noon, to inspect the work required to be done. The Clerk read the minutes of last meeting which were confirmed. ! COBBESrOKDENCE OCTWABDS. Was read by the Clerk from the letter book, including letter to Crown Lands Commissioner re Section hi. To Clerk Wairarapa East County Council, re rates on Native Lands (reply). To Minister Public Works, re footpath Cross Creek road. To Coleman Phillips, Esq., re Ward’s Line. To H, H. Jackson, Esq , advising remittance of five pounds, Board’s contribution (or work done on Underhill Road. CoEBSBroNDKNCB IbWABDS. From Mr Hawkins, Wairarapa Bast County Council, re Local Government Finance. From District Survey Office re road at Cross’ Creek. From Schoolmaster Kaiwaiwal School, re drain there, and suggesting that now is a good time for the work. From Messrs Beard and Gray, solicitors, asking tor tracings of certain scions on Underbill Road. From Minister Public Works, inclosing tracings of proposed uew road at Cross’ Creak. From Clerk B.M. Court, re award in Harris's case. A letter was read from Mr Wood, Momsou's Bush, complaining about the straggling

trees on road bordering Section 6a, injuring his fences, Ac. It was r* tolved that the portion of the line, (about 18 chains) be cleared the full width, and the trees corn* plained of removed. A letter was read from settlers in the Kaitara (Morrison’s Bush) district, asking that the services of ranger be suspended. The application was not entertained. Treasurer's Report. The Treasurer’s report was read as follows : I have to report the amount to credit of general account at L 1214 9s 3d, and imprest account, L 326 2s lOd. Since last meeting the sum of LSOO has been received from Government as subsidy, and L 365 from the Wairarapa West County Council on account of loan. It will be neoesaary to decide how this latter sum shall be allocated as between the several subdistriets, and it is therefore not taken into consideration iu showing their respective positions to-day. After dividing the subsidy in proportion to rates, the subdistrict accounts stand as follows, against which payments to date have to be placed : No 1 sub district, credit, L3l Is ; No 3 sub district, credit, L 240 16s 9d ; No 3 sub district, credit, LlO3 6s 2d; No 4 sub district, credit L 56 5s 3d ; No 5 sub district, credit, L 33 13s 9d; No 6 sub district, credit, Ll£7 I3s 7d ; Ne 7 sub district, credit, L 146 18a 6d ; No 8 sub district, credit, L3BB 2s Bd.

ACCOUNTS PASSED. Accounts (ordinary) to the amount of L3Ol 5s 7d were passed for payment, and imprest accounts, L 53 10s, were also passed. The ranger reported fees received LI 9e 3d, and poundkeeper LI le. MISCELLANEOUS. Be Eaiwaiwai school drain. It was resolved that the overseer get the work done at once. Resolved that Messrs Beard and Gray’s application for tracings be aooeded to. cnoes’s creek road. The much vexed question of the Cross's Creek Road was again discussed at some length, and the plana submitted by the Government fully examined. Mr Matthews suggested that it would be welt to aak the Government to adopt a line marked in red on the plan, avoiding if poasible (Crosa’a section. He also would ask the Government to bear the expense of making the same or give say L2OO towards the same. Mr Bidwill thought it would be better for Mr Matthews, or some other member of the Board to attend the Head Offioe, and endeavour to arrange the matter. Mr Matthews said he would be in Wellington on Wednesday, and if it was the wish of the Board, he would go to the offioe. It wae ultimately arranged that the matter be left iu the hands of the Chairman and Mr Matthews; the engineer to go over the ground daring the week and report on Saturday. THE RANGES. Mr Bidwill said that since the ranger bad been taken off the Martinborongh Boad Mr Martin's sheep were continually on the road. He (Mr Bidwill) believed that Ur Martin bad written a letter to the Board, advocating la the interests of the small settlers, the removal of the ranger. Mr Tully said those who wished the ranger to be removed from the road, desarred to meet with an accident. murphy's lime. It was resolved that tenders (or gravelling to be done on the continuation of Murphy’s Line be advertised in the newspaper. TENDERS.

Tenders were received for the following works Kahsatsre Boed, (30 chains) £ll3a per chain, A. Knight and J. Heaton declined, £1 7s 6d per chain, fl. B. Bargees and Bros., accepted. Formation Lower Eahantara Boad (42 chains). For this work there were two tenders, King and Heaton, 33s per chain, with £5 for bridge and culvert, Board to find timber, accepted. Briokell £ll6s per chain with £2 for culvert and £4 for bridge, declined, ALLOCATION OF LOAN BETDENED FBOK COUNTY COUNCIL. It was resolved that the £350 returned to the Board from the County Council be placed in the general fund to be apportioned pro rata to the venous wards. Hr Matthews said that the Board at present was in a better financial position than it bad been for some years. Mr Tally said he thought they might now reduce the rates one halfpenny io the £. Mr Cameron (hear hear). WIDENING OF KAIWAIWAI BOAD. Ur W. 0. Williams waited on the Board in reference to the widening of the Eaiwaiwai Boad; he said the road at the side was gradually subsiding. He thought an 8 feet wide drain would be sufficient for the purpose of drainage. It was resolved that Mr Sheet be instructed to prepare plans and specifications for the widening of the road, drain to be 6 feet wide, caoss’s BOAD. Mr Lot Cross interviewed the Board in reference to the road to his property. Messrs Donald and Matthews agreed to visit the spot on Wednesday next, and ezamiue the proposed track, also to enquire into the cost of taking the road under the Public Works Act, Ac., and the Board could decide at next meeting what further steps could be taken. WOBKB BEQDIBPD. Mr Cameron asked to be allowed to keep Svenson on tile roads in bis ward .lining the current mouth. Agreed to, the * Uiiirman informing Mr Cain cron that u Warden could only employ extra labour to the amount of LlO per mouth, in addition to the regular roadman, who might bu employed in his ward.

i Mr Matthews naked for permissim to get , some metalling done in his ward by day work, i Granted Mr McDongall asked for a n.' x culveit and soma metalling in his ward. Granted. Mr Bidwill said the bridge on the Kab*u> tara Road required strengthening with two additional stringers. Resolved tost the overseer get the work doue. THE OVKHBKKR. Mr McDongall cave notice that he would move at the next meeting of the Board that the services of the overster under th" present arrangement be dispensed with. VIBICLS LAMPS. Mr Matthews said he believed that the question of compulsory lights on vehicles travelling by night would he brought before the CouLty Council on Monday (today.) The County Council had power to deal with the matter, hot the Road Boards had no bye laws to tbe same effect, although Borough Councils had. He would be pleased to see the matter successfully dealt with, ae he considered it exccedinclv dangerous to travel in the dark without lights. The Board then adjourned.