Manchester Road Board

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 73, 10 December 1889, Page 2

Manchester Road Board

The ordinary monthly meeting of the above Board was held on Saturday afternoon last. Present — Messrs Macarthur (chairman), Lethbridge, Purkiss, Pearoo, Reeve, and -Wheeler.

The minntes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. - -

CORBKBPONDENCE. From the General Survey Office, re the Cheltenham Cross road Commission.

From the Kangitikei County Council, re tenders for repairs to the Onepuhi bridge. • - From H. W. Brabant, R.M., re the - Commission on Cheltenham Cross road.

From J. Purkiss, B. B. Curtis, J. T. Bray, L. Paske, and J. Collinson, re . change of name on rate roll. From J. H. Hankins, letter and three .telegrams, re adjournment of Cheltenham Cross Road Commission. ~ . ' From Bank of - Australasia, re vouchers relating to account. - - From Clerk JRangitikei County Council, re commission on Onepuhi bridge. From Treasury Office, re £678 placed - in the bank to the credit of the Board as balance of loan. '- - . • " From the Engineer, a report of inspection of works and recommending work to be done on Phillip's road. From EruTni Paranihi, re objections of natives to roads through. Te Ecu Beu and Tokorangi Native Beserves.

Proposed- by Mr Purkiss, seconded by Mr Lethbridge, That the name of Joseph' Colllnson be placed on* the rate book in place of C, and F.~ Lewer-for part 27, sub O ; that of James Pnrkiss in place of the estate, of "Wh.bley for section 111, 112 and 113 Halconabe, suburban; tbat of J.-G. Bray to Emily Bray for part section 18, sub G ; that of Augusta Paske for Ludwick Paske; that of James Purkiss to O. Hansenfor.ss,.Bo, 85, and.B9A; that of Mrs A. E. Aldridgeanstead of J. Aldridge for sections J, 8, and 4,0; thatofE.R. Curtis in place of D. H. Macarthur for sections 30 and~3l. — Carried.

Proposed by Mr Lethbridge, seconded, by Mr Pearce, That the Bangitikei Council be requested to hold over the calling for tenders for repairs to Onepuhi bridge until the^Government decided the amount the Kiwitea Boad -Board are to pay. for the maintenance of the bridge.— Carried "- Proposed by Mr Lethbridge,' seconded by Mr Pearce, That the Engineer prepare plans and specifications and call tor tenders for the work on Phillips' road asrecommended in his report. — Carried.

The chairman submitted for their information a rough statement" of the Board's financial position which, he said, assuming it to be correct, would leave the Board somewhere about clear by the 31st of March; next.

i Mr Wheeler remarked that this was a very" satisfactory position. The chairman said' the 21st instant had been fixed for taking a poll for the No. 5 ward loan. , A statutory meeting would i be held at one place in the ward and anI other meeting, for the satisfaction of the ratepayers, in the other -place. Proposed by Mr Reeve, seconded by Mr Lethbridge, That the next meeting of the Board be held on the 21st of December. — Carried. Eruini Paranihi waited on tbe Board r with Mr Ernest Wright as interpreter, r© .the proposed road through the Te Bed - Keu and Tokorangi Native reserves, for the purpose .of. giving an outlet from Mr McCray's property/ and stating the objections of the Natives to said road, unless ifc was carried through to Halcornbe, in which case they would be willing .to grant • the land free for the purpose. The chairman explained that it was a, question for the Laild Court to decide a* to the amount" the Board would have to> pay for compensation, and it was not at question as to whether the Natives approved of the road going- through theirs property or not. The -land would betaken under the Public Works Act,, which., , enabled public bodies to' take land for roads by going through' a certain,procedure, and paying whatever compensation was assessed by the Courts The- Board . had power to take the land for roads,. and the owners had no means of preventing it* their only remedy being compensation. s The Natives had no grievance against * Europeans in the matter of existing roads,, as they had the full benefit, of the road* without paying anything, tewards then*, and they had no status as ratepayers. If they thought they had,any grievance their* - proper course, was to- bring it to court,, with any claim they might have for compensation. The objections brought forward by the Naiivea were- not strong; enough to prevent the- Board going on with the work if 6h*y decided to- take a road through the- Reserve. The Board,, howeveiywodld probably bfr able to make Borne proposal which would obviate: I the matter coming, before the Court > for compensation. . <

Mr Wright intimated that he would bfc - happy .to" render any assistance to th» Board in the matter as between the Board ■ and Natives. It was understood that the chairman . and Engineer would, make an inspection - of the locality so as to be able to report, upon the matter. " Proposed by Mr Wheeler* seconded byMr PurMss^That the Engineer grade and widen the junction of Waituna road and , Wilson's road, the cost not to exceed !£l2> — Carried. ' » Accounts were passed for payment, 'viz.* - general £M1 6s 4d, and loan £342, total £583 6s 4d.

The Board then adjourned.