FEATHERSTON HIGHWAY BOARD.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 302, 29 October 1879, Page 2

FEATHERSTON HIGHWAY BOARD.

The usual monthly meeting of the Board took place at the Institute, Greytown, on Saturday last.

Present: Messrs J, Tully (chairman), J. r. Russell ( f .reasurer),Jackson, Donald, Matthews, Walker, and Phillips. The minutes of the previous meetilF were road and confirmed. °

Mr Russell pointed out the desirability of reading over the minutes and getting them signed by tiie chairman at the close of each meeting instead of, as had been the practice, reading and signing them at the succeeding meeting.-The sumestion was adopted. . °°

, Ml ' Rus sell then presented the following report, which was adopted, viz. :- Greytora, Oct. 25.1879. io the Chairman and members of the Featherston Highway Board,

Gesmemex-I have the honor to report that the receipts since last meotin« have been £43 3s lid, made up as fol° lows :

£ 8, d Prom rent of Waihenga toll gate, two months 23 G General rates y. 15 Refund of overpayment on last year's accounts 0 2 Deposit on contract 5 0

The present overdraft at fclie Bank of New Zealand is £294 Is 4d, and cheques of the aggregate value of £2B 13s have not yet been presented, making the total debit balance of account £32214s 4d No subsidy has yet been paid by the Government on the rates collected during last year but it may fairly be assumed that the first inoiety of £785 133 will be paid over during the next few weeks I have also to draff your attention to the fact that the Wairarapa West County Council has suddenly ceased to pay those subsidies for the maintenance of the main road which the Board has been led to believe would be regularly forthcoming every quarter.

I am glad to be able to state that the negotiations with the Government for the vesting of the Waihenga Hotel property in tho Board have now been successfully completed, and that the benefits accruin* under the lease of the hotol have been transferred to the Board as from the Ist September last.

mnt] yet outstaildin S amoimt to i Reviewing the financial operations dur--1 nig the half year just expired, U, ended • oTO September last, I have tho honor to state that the expenditure from month to . month has been as follows : . , £ s. d. i ifA 287 0 8 , % 801 0 9 J» nc 535 13 0 J «'y 255 19 C f u g«Bt 271 15 1 September 411 12 \ T°M ... £2503 7 1 Classified under the various, departmental heads they appear as follows :~ ,„ , „ „ £ s, el. Works for No. 1 Ward (Greytown) 83 1 6 Works for No. 2 Ward (Featherston) 175 14 5 Works for No. 3 Ward (Western Lake) 14217 0 Works for No. 4 Ward (Kahautwa) 159 17 9 Works for No. 5 Ward (Wharekaka) ij2 12 0 Works for No. G Ward (Tauranganui) 121 19 6 Works for No. 7 Ward (East mi ) 551 5 2 District works GBO 15 0 Survey of roads through unmatured grants 20 7 0 Special works (Tauherenikau bridge protection) 152 5 Q General expenditure Rent, salaries, purchase of tools, printing and Total £2S6TTT The revenue of the Board during the same period has been— General rates for current 1 r l ',« m 2 0 Refund of rates short paid last year 18 0 Tolls, Waihenga gate ... 59 3 4 Wairarapa West County Council, for platform ... 9511 3 Ditto,, subsidy for road maintenance 277 18 0 Ditto., for survey of roads.., 30 0 0 Wairarapa East County Council, subsidy ~, 53 2 0 ' Paymaster - General, grant 1 for Tauherenikau' bridge 300 0 0 Ditto, share of County fund 69 11 8 Total £2418 16 3 '

The casli accounts for the same period appear as follows: ■ Dr. To cash received, as per ; statement of revenue ... 2418 1C 3 Overdraft at Bank, and unpveseuted cheques on 30tli September, to be carried 3G4 13 5 SSTB Ok. . £ Si d| Overdraft and unpresented cheques, existing on Ist . April, 1879, and made good during past half year 220 2 7 Expenditure as per statement 25G3 7 1 £2783 9 8 I have the honor, &c, ■'.'. ; ;J.,,P. Russeh,, Treasurer. Accounts amounting to £2G2 16s 3d we presented and passed for payment and the Engineer read his usual, monthly report, '

The following correspondence was lai on the table :

From the Minister of Crown Lands sending the leases of the Waihen«a hotel transferred to the Board,

From the Provincial Auditor, accepts explanation re accounts of last year. ° From Wairarapa West County Council stating that all subsidies to the Board are to cease, and agreeing to refund to the Board the cost of the license fee of the Waihenga Hotel. From the Colonial Treasurer statin* that toe subsidies would be paid as soon as possible.

From Messrs Joseph and Phillips complaining that the drainage from Morrison's Hush road flooded their land at Moroa and requesting the formation of a maiu tail race.

From Messrs Dunn and Cross asking that the road near Mr Jones' property at Moroa be formed, a distance of about 11 chains.

From the collector Waiohine Rivor District, forwarding accounts. Messrs Joseph and Phillips' letter was ordered to stand over. It was resolved that Messrs Dunn and Ohms be informed the Board has no funds available at present for the work asked for. It wis resolved that in the opinion of the Board it is desirable that the Wairarapa West County Council take some action m regard to the public drains of the district.

On the motion of Mr Phillips, seconded by Mr Russell, it was .unanimoush resolved that the practice of partner oui of the Board funds for Wardens' accommodation vhen meeting should be discontinued

Mr Phillips gave notice that the next meeting he would move-" That the Engineer confine his duties solely to the Board, and that Wardens, prior to employing him on any work, give official notice thereof to the Board." Mr Jackson wished to'introduce Mr Bedford, a road overseer recently discharged by the Engineer, for the purpose Ot allowing him to make a statement. The Board was of opinion that, as Mr Bedford had been discharged simply because there are no funds available for road maintenance, and not on the ground ot incompetency, no purpose could be served by his addressing the Board; but that he be permitted to petition the Board it he had a grievance to complain of The meeting then terminated.