WHATAUPOKO ROAD BOARD.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 499, 12 August 1902, Page 2

WHATAUPOKO ROAD BOARD.

THE EXPENDITURE OF SPECIAL

RATES.

MR LYSNAR PROTESTS.

The meeting of tho Whatnupoko Road Board, held on Thursday afternoon last, uas of special interest to ratepavers, several matters of importance being discussed. Mr A. I", Matthews presided, and the other members present were Messrs Lysuar, Sievwright, Hamon, and Ferris. DRAINAGE. Mr W. B. Kingston wrote drawing attention to tho state of tho drains in the vicinity of his property. Tho drain had not been touched for over five years, p.nd at the present time the flat was submerged with water. Ho asked that immediate attention should De given to tho matter.

Tho Chairman said that about a mile of drains required cleaning. Mr Sievwright wanted to know how the finances stood before any fresh expenditure was ontertained. The Clerk said that the credit balance amounted to £B6 Bs. The Chairman : But there are a number of charges against that amount.

SPECIAL RATES,

Mr Lysnar was greatly concerned about tho finances of the Board, and also about the balauco-sheet, which had not been adopted. He pointed out that the statement of receipts and expenditure had been audited, and tho auditor had allowed the special rates to be devoted to tho purposes of general expenditure. Tho Board had for a long time been collecting more than was necessary in tho way of special rates, and a good deal of tho money so obtained had boon spent on ordinary works. This he objected to, and demanded that an enquiry should bo made into tho matter. He contended that tho sum of £423 4s 6d had been raised during tho last threo years in tho ,vay of special ratos in excess of what was required. Tho Chairman : A committoo should bo set up to inquiro into tho matter. I objoet to those misstatements in regard to special rates. For many years, wo did not collect a special rate, and tho Auditor allowed that fact to bo taken into account.

Mr Lysnar : I only ask you to tako tho figures from the balance-sheet now beforo us. It has been audited, aud wo are supposed to go by it. lam not going to sit on this Board and Bee it balanco-sheot so calculated to mislead tho ratepayers brought up and adopted. The Auditor shows that we have the sum of £382 to the credit of the Spocial Rate Account; and, that being so, what is tho use of striking anothor special rate ? We have all the time been raising more monoy in tho way of special rates than was required, and it has been going into tho gcuoral account.

Tho Chairman : Yes ; to rnako up for the years when we did not strike a spocial rate.

Mr Lysnar : Tho yoar’s interest amounts to £ll7 11s 4d, and tho Auditor shows that we have in hand tho sum of £297 7s 2d.

Mr Sievwright: Why does ho not put a tag on tho balanco-shoot ?

Mr Lysnar thought that the balancesheet should be referred back to tho Auditor.

Mr Sievwright: In ordor to clear tho atmosphere, I shall movo that a committee be appointed to look into this matter of special rates. Wo shall bo ablo to determine whether we havo oxceodod our powers. I would suggest that tho report furnished by tho committoo should also include all rnonoys paid in tho way of spocial rates out of general ratos. Mr Matthews: For yoars aud years, all tho special rates have been paid out of tho general rates. Mr Lysnar: To tho extent of £9O. Mr Matthews : No; a groat doal moro than that. They did not colloct spocial rates until I came on tho Board.

Mr Sievwright: It is hotter that tho committee should cloar it up. Mr Lysnar: On tho faco of this balancesheet, we cannot strike a special rate unless we make ourselves personally liable. Mr Sievwright: Query.

After furthor discussion, a committee of tho whole Board was appointed to consider tho matter, and draw up a report. RIVERSIDE ROAD.

Mr G. Grant complained of the state of tho Riverside road, which was dangerous to truffle. Ho asked that certain ropairs should be mado on the road to his property. The Board decided to put in fascines to protect the road. ESPLANADE ROAD. Tho Borough Council wrote asking tho Board to contribute tho sum of ,£25 towards repairing tho Esplanade Road, which was much used in carting shinglo to Whataupoko and elsewhere. Tho Chairman : It seems to mo very funny that tho Borough Council should ' ask us to keep their roads in order. For years and years they have been drawing rates from tho river road, and tho only thing we have had from them was a small contribution towards the cost of gravelling. Mr Sievwright: Tho only reason why wo should contribute is that our contractors use the roads to bring metal to us.

The Chairman: £25 takes one-twelfth of our rates. Mr Lysnar was prepared to consider the matter after the Board had gone into the quostion of finance. A motion to that effect was carried. NO FUNDS. A lettor was received from Mr lan Simson drawing attention to tho bad stato of the road leading to his houso, betweon Willoughby’s and his gate. The Chairman said that the work would cost £2O. Ho did not think that Mr Simson had any reason to complain, for a far greater amount had been spent on tho road than the Board received in rates.

After a lengthy discussion it was resolved that the Board had no funds in hand to enable them to at present undertake the work. ; SHEEHAN STREET.

It was decided to expend a small amount in effecting repairs to Sheehan street, damage having resulted through a defective Bhoot which conveyed water to the river.