Manchester Road Board

Feilding Star, Volume X, Issue 37, 4 September 1888, Page 3

Manchester Road Board

The ordinary monthly meeting was held on Saturday. Present — Messrs D. H. Macarthur, G. Wheeler, F.Y. Lethbridge, and.T. F. Reeve. In the absence of Mr. Bull, Mr Lethbridge was elected to the chair. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. From Public Works Department, re control of boundary road between Manawatu and Manchester Road Districts stating Mr Ward, R.M., had been appointed to enquire into the matter, and to advise the Governor which local body should have the control of the road, or any part thereof, and the proportion of the cost each Board should bear. From Audit office, returning balance sheet as correct, except £7 travelling expenses for Chairman, for which there is no authority in law, and therefore disallowed. From A. Cockburn, re bushfelling in Waituna road line. From G. Fannin, offering to give certain information re surveys and roads. From John Manson, offering to pay one-third cost, of clearing Waituna road to section 32, sub. F. From Rangitikei County Clerk, re Onepuhi bridge, and enclosing Engineer's report on same; and claiming £234 3s 7d being half cost of repairs. From Property Tax Department, advising payment of £66, 8s 8d, balance of subsidy, due to the Board. From Treasury, stating £328 had been remitted. From Colonial Secretary, re special order for No. 6 ward. From Kiwitea Road Board, asking Manchester Road Board to pay half cost of clearing the boundary road between the Wanganui Harbor Board Block and Manchester Road Board. From Receiver-General, acknowledging receipt of £405 19s 1d, half year's interest. From W: Harvey and T. Harrison, Ashurst, asking permission to put a fence across the road between sections 37 and 38. From Thomas Bamber, enclosing receipt Hospital and Charitable Aid. From J. A. McCrea, calling attention to the impassable state of the road running from the Makino road to his property. From S. Goodbehere, solicitor, re his account. From R. Caldwell, Wellington Surveyor. From R. Ward, R.M., stating that he would hold an enquiry re boundary road, at Palmerston, on September 11, at 11 a.m. Notice of motion by Mr Bull — That the resolution passed by the Board on November 15, 1886, allocating the toll of the Gorge bridge to No. 6 ward, be rescinded, and that the following resolution replace it:—That, as the amount borrowed by this Board for building the bridge is included in the general debt, and is being repaid by the special rate over the whole district, the special rate, voted by No. 6 ward for this purpose, will not be levied. Petition from ratepayers No. 5 ward. From John Farrell, asking for payment for falling road line fronting section 39 and 40, Ashurst. Re control of the boundary road, Mr Macarthur said the Board would be doing a very dangerous thing to take over this road, as they would thus make themselves liable for onehalf of any damages, or other contingencies, which might arise. The Manawatu Board was not in a positiono to pay their share. He regretted that Mr Bull was not present. The Manawatu Board was not at present, in a position to pay any costs for road-making. As the Board had now submitted the case to be decided by Government, they had put themselves in a peculiar position. The best plan would have been to have agreed to pay a certain sum to make the road, and allowed its management and control to remain with the Manawatu Road Board, they retaining all responsiblities: When there were so many actions against public bodies flying about, they could not be too careful as to what risks they accepted. Proposed by Mr Macarthur, seconded by Mr Wheeler, That, owing to the financial position of the Manawatu Road Board, the Manchester Road Board does not consider it advisable to proceed further with the mattered adjusting the control and propotion of expenditure, which the two Boards would be respectively liable for were the road in question made a boundary road; further that the Manchester Road Board is already liable for the construction and maintenance of the road on the north side of the railway line : that the Clerk forward a copy of this resolution to Mr. Ward, R.M., and the Minister of Public Works. —Carried. Proposed by Mr Macarthur, seconded by Mr Reeve, That the Engineer be instructed to call for tenders for painting the Gorge bridge.— Carried. Proposed by Mr Macarthur, seconded by Mr Reeve, That Mr White be allowed to erect a fence on the banks of the creek on section 19, B on the public road, so long as traffic is not inconvenienced, and the Board's Engineer is satisfied ; the fence to b removed at once on demand of the Board at any time.—Carried. Proposed by Mr Reeve, seconded by Mr Wheeler, That permission b given to Mr Harvey to erect a fence across Harrison's road, but not sli rails ; fence to be removed at the order of the Board.— Carried. Proposed by Mr Macarthur, sec onded by Mr Reeve, That as the rate payers of the Manchester Road Dis trict, whose land adjoins the roa referred to by the Kiwitea Road have already a road frontage, thi Board does not see its way to mak any outlay to provide a road alon their back boundary.—Carried. Proposed by Mr Wheeler, seconde by Mr Reeve, That permission b

granted Mr Cockburn to fell the roa line referred to in his letter of Augus 23, at the rate of 25s per acre on th Board's usual terms. — Carried. Proposed by Mr Wheeler, seconde by Mr Reeve, That Mr b requested to have the survey throug the Native Reserve to the Strathendri boundary completed to provide M McCrea with a road; the Board t pay the cost of survey from Reid' line to Makino road. —Carried. Some discussion took place on th claim of the Rangitikei County Coun cil for £234 3s 7d, being half share o cost of work done on the Onepuh bridge. Several of the charges ap peared, to be excessive, and the Cler was instructed to apply for copies o all vouchers. In looking over th names on the pay sheets, it was re marked that no ratepayer in th Manchester Road District had bee employed to do any of the work (al day labor) ; nor yet had any tender been invited in this Road District. The usual monthly accounts— £23 3s 7d — were passed for payment, and the meeting adjourned.