PAROA ROAD BOARD.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1183, 14 May 1872, Page 2

PAROA ROAD BOARD.

A' meeting of the Paroa Road Board took place on Friday evening, -when there were present — Messrs M. O'Connor (chairman), Colton, Dowling, Butler, and The minutes haying been read and confirmed, the following correspondence' was received— Letter from the .County Chairman informing the Boaid'tfiat' the amount placed to its credit tinder the "Payment to Provinces Act, 1871," was L597 16s 6d, of which 75 pcr v cent had already been paid into the County Treasury ; two letters from ratepayersf petitioning against rate; and an application from G. Williams to cut a tail-race across the Saltwater cbachroad. • >..-... The Treasurer now reported a balance to credit of Board of L 66 ia 6d. :; ■ It was moved by Mr O'Connor, and seconded by Mr Dowling, "That the petitions of Rochfort and ' Becker ■against the assessment on their properties cannot be entertained, as the proper time for appealing against them is past."— Carried; • Mr O'Connor moved; "That a Select Committee, consisting of Messrs Dowling, Butler, and ilie mover,. be, appointed to consider the application of : G. Williams relative to the raising of a certain -portion of the Saltwater-road, with power to act." Seconded by Mr : Dowling and carried. Mr Colton moved, and Mr GJOonnob seconded, " That the rate-collector be instructed to pay all rates collected into the Bank of New South Wales to the credit of the Board.','— Carried. : : The Rate Collector here handed in hu report, stating that he. had collected and paid into Bank the total amount of %M 2s 6£ He also asked for an advance of L 2 to defray the cost of summonses to be taken out against several ratepayers who had failed to make the necessary remittances, after haying been applied to for payment. •■":■'• : It was moved by ; Mr Colton, "That the Secretary be instructed to write-to the Board's solicitor for his opinion as to whether the Board has any claim for rates on the Greenstone Perry," -but not being seconded the motion lapsed. : ~ ; Mr Butler, now, moved, . and Mi O'Dowd seconded, "That a Committee be appointed to consist of Messrs O'Connor, Colton, and Butler, said committee to mark off the moat suitable course fox the continuation of the present road fron! Paroa to Greymouth; and to make a rough calculation of : the probable cost ; and also to inquire of the ratepayers and diggers located along the intended course of; the said road,' as to the willingness of the former to pay a special rate, and the willingness cf the last-mentioned to pay a voluntary .; contribution, to .augment "the funds of the Board: to construct the said road, or such portion thereof as ' the Board's funds may enable it to complete : and that. the said committee draw up a report to be submitted, to the Board fox its consideration at the next meeting."— Carried. ■■ -i Moved by Mr Colton, and seconded by Mr Butler, profomw— " That the Secretary be instructed to write tothe ßorough Council of Greymouth to ascertain if, in the event of the Board constructing a road from Paroa to the town boundary, ' the Council would be prepared to continue the same into town." — Carried. •;• Moved by Mr Butler, and seconded by Mr o'Connoe— " That this Board do consider it highly conducive to its well-being and prestige, and the satisfaction of the ratepayers and others of -the Road District generally, . that a full and correct copy of the, minutes of its proceeding! do be henceforth regularly forwarded foi publication to the Grey River Argus ; and that the Secretary be requested' to forward the said copy as above stated. "— Mr Butler stated that he was aware thai it was not part 'of the Secretary's dutiei to furnish the press with news, and proposed himself to contribute towards a special remuneration for such services/ as he thought the matter of great importance. — C»irried. Moved by Mr O'Dowd, arid seconded by Mr Colton—" That a committee, conl sisting of Messrs O'Connor, Dowling, Butler, arid' the mover, be : appointed to call for and accept tenders for, repairing the road from. Paroa to White's 1 store.— Carried, after some considerable discussion. Several accounts were" passed' for" pay. merit, ■ ;■ - ■■■■ < \Mv Butler now rose to move— "That whenever this Board may think proper to employ its Secretary to perform any work foreign to his duty as Secretary to the Board,; that the said Board shall, at the same time, pass by resolution the amount of remuneration, which' he (the said Secretary) shall be: awarded for the? performance of the said work, and that any expenses ,however' nominal, by the above Secretary, without the prior sanction, in the usual manner, 1 of the 'above Board, shall not be passed for payment at any subsequent meeting of the Board, except in case, the Chairman shall deem it unavoidably necessary to incur; such expenses without first applying to theßpard for same." Mr Butler thought all expenses should be voted by the Board before being incurred, and wished the restriction to apply not only to the present Secretary, but against any officer they? might in future employ.;, He did not suppose that MrWolters would retain his office any longer than suited hiraj and knew no reason why the Board should not discharge him, if it'thought proper/ and the direptions conveyed by his resolution were intended as a guard against extravagance in uriathorised expenditure. He would conclude by stating that the present Secretary gave every satisfaction, anddißi charged hisduties in an efficient manner. His remarks were not intended as in! any way .throwing.blame upon that officer. The resolution was put and carried, and the Board "adjourned;