Huntly Road Board.

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 3, Issue 6, 31 July 1914, Page 3

Huntly Road Board.

The usual monthly meering of the Huntly Road Board was held on Saturday last, when there were present, Messrs J. P. Bailey (chairtna), L. B. Harris, jun., W. F. Parker, W. D. Thompson, and the clerk (Mr F. Harris). The minutes of the preceding meeting and the outward correspondence were approved as read. 'I he following letter re the Mangatea Road from Mr BiggWitlier, district engineer, evoked some discussion :—• “Authority No. C. 9908 for £7l for work on the above named road was issued to yon* Board on the 31st March last “You were advised on the 15th December 1913, that this road was for the benefit of Mr W. J. Walsh, and that arrangements might be made with lnm to carry out the work required in ac - cordance with the specifications prepared. 1 notice the work has been pit. in hand by another settler who is not so much concerned with its early completion as the before mentioned Mr Walsh is. My notice has also been drawn to the fact that the drains in connection with the work have been open for some considerable time, and that no culverts have been put in. ”1 shall be gladif you will take tliis matter lip immediately, and advise me what is causing the delay. If the person who is carrying out the work is unable to complete it without interruption, then it would be as well to cancel his contract and arrange a fresh one with someone who is prepared to carry it out without interruption. “The authority was granted on the understanding that the work was to be craned out to the satisfaciion of this Department. In view of this fact, please let me have a reply as soon as possible as to what other arrangements are being made to carry it to a speedy completion.” The Board decided that it could not see its way to let contracts for public works without offering them for competition. Mr Bailey gave notice that at the next meeting he would move that a general rate of one-half-penny in the ‘pound be struck on all ratable property within the Road Board District. The Chairman was asked .vhen in Wellington to wait on the Minister for Public Works, and urge him to make £a straight out grant for the work necessary on the Taupiri Gorge road rather than a grant on a subsidy basis. The chairman agreed to do ail he could in this connection. Accounts totalling £l5B 10s 8d were passed for payment.