KAITI ROAD BOARD.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 409, 7 May 1902, Page 4

KAITI ROAD BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Kaiti Road Hoard took place yesterday morning. Present : Messrs J. A. Harding, R. Craiil, F. Harris, and F. Hull. On the motion of Mr. Hull, seconded by Mr Harris, Mr J. A. Harding was elected Chairman.

Mr Harding said he hoped at the end

of the Id months their working together would he found to have been the means of furthering the interests of the Hoard. He had sat for a considerable time with Mr Harris, sen., and afterwards with Mr Matthewson, and did not think they had the slightest difference. He lioped the same state of affairs would continue during his Chairmanship as had existed under the other Chairmen. He welcomed Mr Craiil, the new member, and was sure Mr Craiil, from, his previous experience, would he a good member. They would benefit by having such a member amongst them, as he would be able to attend regularly. The Chairman said the Hoard should place on record their appreciation of Mr Matthewson's services. The late Chairman had taken a good deal of trouble in connection with the Hoard, and had the welfare of the district at heart. They had lost a good practical man in Mr Matthewson.

Mr Hull seconded the motion. Mr Matthewson’s services had been invalu-j able. He had practically carried the Hoard along by himself for a time owing to the supineness of other members.

Mr Harris said Mr Matthewson had walked over the Kaiti roads more than any other member of the Board, and could be seen at all tunes inspecting the roads-

The clerk was instructed to convey the resolution to Mr Matthewson, and record it on the minutes. It was decided that the meetings lie held on the first Friday in each month at 7.30 pan.

The Overseer (Mr Colbert) sunmitled the following as necessary expenditure for metalling cm various roads, total cost £3O JOs DuLautour road, 70 yards ; Owen road, 115 yards ; Rulene road, 3(1 yards ; Hell’s Fill to culvert, 15 yards ; Harris street, 50 yards. A culvert on Dr-Lautour road was estimated to cost about £ll. It was decided to do the works recommended. It was resolved that the members olf the Hoard inspect the DeLautour road culvert and decide what was to he done.

It was decided to clean RuTene road drain north from Mrs Black’s property to the culvert.

The Hoard then went into the financial position, the Chairman stating they were about £(i3 Is to the bad. Nearly £7O had been collected in a lewdays. Their limit was £2OO. Mr Harris thought they would have a difficulty ip financing. The secretary said there was the year’s rates to be struck and collected. Mr Harris said they nad to get the rates in first,

The Chairman thought the Board should try and keep within the income. The £so' on works suggested by the Overseer was absolutely necessary.

During the meeting the letter complaining of the delay by Government in regard to amalgamation was read. Mr Harris said their representative had been written to, but no answer

had been received, It appeared that somebody was pulling Die strings, and it might tie the duty of the Board to find out who it was, and put him into Parliament, It was a direct insult to the Kaiti Hoard not to he given an answer, If there were law points to settle it should he found out! what they were, He and others thought? the' strings had been pulled by big influential ratepayers on the Kaiti' and Whautaupoko, The Kaiti ratepayers would have a show of asking Mr Carroll. when he was next on thi? platform —but lie thought the Hoard should' write straight away to the ActingPremier asking for an explanation. Mr Hull considered that the non-re-ceipt of a reply was an insult, but thought they should aio.u mixing up in the matter too much. The Chairman. said Hie Borough 1

Council had also written, hut- had received no reply. He prppospd that the matter he allowed to stand over until Tuesday night, when lie expected the Borough Council would receive an answer. Then Die Chairman of the Amalgamation Committee could write to the Premier asking what were the grounds for not replying. He failed to see how the strings could have been pulled. Mr l-lart'is said lie knew one or two cases where the strings had been pulled. Mr I-larding : Will you move that a telegram be sent to the Premier asking him to get a repiy sent to our memo, of a certain date ?

Mr Harris : If any member thinks it is complicating the Board I would rather express my feelings in private, ,but if the Board wish that a telegram ’lie sent, I will move to that effect. It was agreed to allow Die matter stand over until Tuesday night, in or-' der to see if the Borough Council received a reply to their communication.

Mr Harris said as a liberal supporter he was not going to take insults' 1 from the understrappers of the Government. Mr Matthewson, who was Chairman of the Amalgamation Committee, had felt highly insulted over the business.