PAROA ROAD BOARD.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1217, 22 June 1872, Page 2

PAROA ROAD BOARD.

♦ A meeting of the Board was held on Thursday, the 20th inst., when all the members were present. . . The minutes having been confirmed, the following correspondence was received :•— 1. Circulars, County Chairman's Office, enclosing copies of despatches of the Right Honorable the Secretary of State for the Colonies on the subjects of vaccination and public nuisances. 2. Letter from D. T. Faulkner, asking for amendment of assessments No. 54, 55, and 50. 3. Letter from same, offering to sell his metalled track, from Clifton to Maori Creek, price to be fixed by arbitration. 4. Letter from County Chairman, which, as it has excited a good deal of interest, we give in full. " County Chairman's Office, •• Hokitika, 10th June, 1872. " Sir— Having observed, from the newspaper reports of the proceedings of the Paroa Road Board, that it is intended to construct a road from Paroa to Greymoufch, I have the honor to inform you that t do not feel inclined to sanction payment for this work being made from the Road Board grants, in the "Payment to Provinces Act, 1871.' My reason for this determination is that the course of the proposed road is in close proximity and parallel to the tramway line already constructed between the places it is intended to connect by road._ The proprietors of the tramway have obtained protection for their work, which protection is unexpired, and, in the event of the proposed road being constructed, they will be very prejudicially effected by it, and serious complications are likely to occur. "I would remind you that the General Government for exactly similar reasons declined to construct the proposed road from Marsden to Grey mouth, i have, therefore, acting in the lnterests'of the public, the less hesitation in in stating my disapproval of the work you propose to undertake. " I have the honor to be, Sir, " Your »bedienfc servant, "H. H Lahman, "County Chairman." Tha Treasurer reported a credit balance of J7sld. It was resolved to ppst the papers on vaccination and public nuisances at the office. MrBARNmiL moved* and Mr O'Connor seconded—'" That the Board recognise the desirability of purchasing Mr Faulkner's track, as it forms the connecting link between public roads,- but that their ftnan* cial position does not at present permit them to do so," ' Several accounts were then passed for payment, and rate and toll collectors' reports were received, after which a number of amendments to the rate»roll were carried. Mr J. Dowling now gave notice to move — "That whereas the General Government intend to cause a change for the better in /the management of the West Coast Fields, and Mr Harrison, the member of the House of Representatives for the Grey Valleyi has prepared a scheme for such improvements, as published in the columns of the Grey River Argus, this Board is of opinion that the changes proposed are highly desirable, but regret that Mr Harrison omits the formation of Mining Boards to act in conjunction with Road Boards. The Board now went into committee of i tne wnoie to consider trorTetter ' from tne County Chairman in reference to Pay- 1 ment to Provinces Grant, and Mr D. T. Faulkner's letter re rates. In committee, - Mr M. O'Connor wished to make a few remarks on the letter which formed the subject for their consideration. It appeared that the County Chairman undertook to atop the Board's subsidy if they made any road of which he did not approve, but it might be very difficult to know what particular road might meet Mr Lahman's views. As to the question of compensation, he considered it simply absurd to suppose that the Board could be made to pay the penalty fqr agreements in which they had no hand, no? ever approved of. He denied that the County Chairman had the power to put his veto on a road which was of such urgent importance, and wished to draw the attention of the Board to the Payment to Provinces Act, which, as far as he could see, contained not even an allusion to such authority. There couli be no doubt that the County Chairman had arrogated to himself a privilege which he did not constitutionally possess, and he was sure that neither the Board nor the inhabitants would now let the matter drop. In the event of the County Chairman, however, applying to General Go-vernment-for support, he would suggest that a public meeting be held, and a memorial on the subject entrusted to the member for the Grey Valley, who had always been found ready to advance the best interests, of his constituents. He would now move— '(That the Board, as soon as the survey of the Greymouth road is completed and approved of by the Board, forthwith apply to the Waste Lands Board to have the . same reserved, and on learning that their request has been complied with, tenders be called for immediately on whatever terms the Board deem advisable." Mr O'Dowd seconded the motion, as he was sure no work in the district could be of more importance and benefit to the i public— Motion carried. ( . N ■ Mr Barnhill rose to move— "That ] the Secretary be instructed to write to < the County Chairman, stating that the < Board regrets his throwing any obstacles < in the way of such important works a3 the 1 Greymouth road, and that they do not I recognise auy claims of the tramway pro- \ prietora against them for compensation ; j also, that they failed to see in "The ■• Payment to Provinces Act, 1871," any \ clause giving him power to withhold the s money allotted to them under that Act." i Mr Dowling seconded the resolution. i Mr Comon thought no notice Bhould s be taken ' of Mr Lahman's letter at all, \ because 'ft appeared, io him that he had t exceeded his power. It was, besides, not b the first time that he had gone beyond his t authority in matters relating to this I Board. It would be in the recollection n of members that some time ago, y\ hen the o present rate roll had been prepared, the f< County Chairman refiised his sanction, p distinctly on condition that mining property must be rated ;• and after putting t< the Board to considerable annoyance he o: had eventually been compelled to withdraw that condition. He also thought n that Board ought to be the best j udge as to ai what particular direction roads should be made in; at any rate, he disputed Mr si Lahman's supreme knowledge of the oi wants of the public, as far as their Road hi District was concerned. He would there- gi I >re oppose the motion, preferring to push »]

the work through, as he felt sure of the support of the public if they had not that of the County Chairman. /: The resolution was put and carried. Mr Colton then moved— "That • the Secretary be instructed to write to Mr W. H. Harrison, M.H.R., in' reference to the action taken by the County Chairman, inasmuch as he threatens to stop the Board's subsidy under v The Payment to Provinces Act, 1871,' • in the event of the Board continuing the road from Paroa to Greymouth, which, in the opinion of this Board and the inhabitants of the district generally, is absolutely necessary, and to request him to watch the Case on behalf of tho Board if the County Chairman should apply to the General Government to have the said portion stopped. 1 ' In reference to Mr Faiilkner's letter, Assessment No. 54 was ordered to be struck off the rate roll, and the Board adjourned. ..,...'