Kiwitea Road Board

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 142, 20 May 1893, Page 2

Kiwitea Road Board

BOARD TO BE FORMED INTO A COUNTY. Mr Bruce, M.lf.R., waited on the Kiwitea Road Board to d:iy with reference to a letter which ho hnd received from Mr Keid re forming the Board into a county. Mr Bruce said he understood their reasons for taking this step were in order that their borrowing powers tniplu be increased. Ho would do all in his power to further the wishes of the settlers. Mr Reid said that the Board's overdratt at the present time was A'looo, and there was n great diflicu^' in meeting their expenditure, and the cry was constantly for more roads. Tlio borrowing powers of two wards had been fully utilized to the extent of £9000. Fresh calls were continually being made upon the Board, and by forming into a county they would be able to borrow .£6OOO in any one year. Mr Williamson remarked that some years ago his idea was that there should have been five Boards, and they would then have been able to borrow as nnvsh as £1 5,000 m any one year. Mr Taylor observed tbut with the constant extension of settlement there should bo no difficulty iu making a fresh dis» trict. Mr Morton said they were not doing what they ought in the way of opening up the buck country. Mr Bruce, in reply, said : If it was the opinion of tho Board and the settlers in their districts that the matter of forming a county was absolutely necessary, he would consult the Government and the Opposition, pointing out that it would be judicious to move in the required direction. The Board, by passing an unanimous resolution, vrould considerably strengthen his lumxl.-j, nnd lie woulJ l\\oi\ draft a Bill, which should be brought before the House in due course. In conclusion, Mr Uruce assured the Board thut he would assist them in iho utmost of his power.