LOCAL REVENUES BOARD.

Inangahua Times, Volume III, Issue 82, 26 February 1877, Page 2

LOCAL REVENUES BOARD.

A special meeting of the members of tbe Ikad Board was held at the office, B oadway, on Fiidpy afte.nooa last. Present— The Cb-u.mpn, aod Messrs Aiken, Kelly, and Davies. The Secretary bid on the table the tenders sent in for thn short track lo Boj'i man's. Tho tenders wete as follows : — Thorburn— Horse track, £900} fooL track. £552. Molldy— Horse track, £665 ; foot track £397 10s. M' Sherry— Horse track, £625 ; foot track. 531 55. Conrt «•— Horse track, 551 ss ; foot ir*»ck, £214 7s 6d. J. Smith -Horse i ack, 536 15s; foot track, £3tf4 17^ 6d. Blennerhassett —Horse t-ack, £450; foot track, £360. Divine— Horse track, £349 2s 6d ; foot t'-rck, £318 10s. Tho whole o r the 'vnycrs having been opened a*" pbove some discussion ensued. Mr Davies said t'»ut he did uot see liis way to enter- upoa tTio work. Mr Kelly rem'i*_et.. t'uii ••« the wo: ■; wps to be carried on* upon he deemed payment; system it wouM ode he r- i immediate bu'-den ei'lior >o t^e B '•■rJ or <he County. There con'd be oo Jouhl as to the urgency of the work. Boatjj-*n'« wfs likely to become, if. it wa< cot already, t'^e moat prodneiire pare of .he district, and it w<"s de^'vable that it shou-*! possess every facility in the way of communication. Mr Aikin said that he cou'd not under* sftnf> Mr Davies, opposition to Ihe wo*!r. It wrs osteusibly -objected toon the s- »;e o" expense, but i<; «as not so lons "SO thi»t Mr Davies Advocated tlie Board incurring a liability of £1300 for protective works. Mr Davies sad he opposed the wo k becitise he did not cc-ns ? der it a necessary oie. There w? - already a good dray rom'l <-o Bor* '■awn's, find the shori: tivck if nw'e •,>aes;'' , >lc for foov traffic w.*s ihe uimost: 'V- 1 wi*'? required. He b-d been in;br»ned that £200 spent upon the trnok io clea.ing ii to a widc'i of seven iW, aid gravelling ir. to a depth of sis f.ichr>s, would ans,we;* every purpose. He would be prepared fo go to the extent of £200 for waat he still urged was a luxury, but he should most decidedly oppose tbe Board running the County into a debt of £350 for this wo"k. Mr Kelly agafo pointed out that the money would not be required iuinaedM#,*ind that fey* the time fcbnfc the .demand would fall upon the County, the extra revenue from that district would more than repay the outlay. Mr Davies pointed out that the liabi'itiei nf .the Board were already -fery heavy, and if tbey sanctioned this new work they would be doing a highly improper act. He wonld ask ihe Secretary to explain the financial position of the Board. The Secretary said tbat the pvese&t excess of liabilities over assets wea£7Bf>. Mr Davies said thac if they entered into this new work, tho Couuy would have to take over a debt equal to a sixth part of the entire County revenue. The Chairman pointed out that such was not really the case, as a large portion j of the deficit oa the protec/ive works would fall directly upon the residents whose propeny was seemed, io the form of a special rate. Mr Davies said that it nevertheless seemed that when the Board ceased to exist its liabilities would be about £MXXA He would move that the matter should lie over for further Consideration at a full meeting. Mr Kelly said the work had long enough been under consideration, and it was quite time the Board took action. The road was- a necessary one, and i

would have to be done some time or other, and might just as well be undertaken at once when the opportunity offered. He therefore moved that the tender of Mr Divine be accepted, Mr Aiken seconded the motion. Mr Davies urged that the matter shoold be allowed to stand over lor seven dajs. jHe said that it was provided by the Standing Orders of tbe Board that notice of tbe meeting should be given by circular to each member. For himself he had received no notice of the meeting. He Wonld ask Ihe Secretary if he had notified all the members by circular. The Secretary said that he had informed the members personally, but he had not given them circulars. Mr Aikin said that he had informed both Mr M'Lean and Mr _ raaklyn of tbe meeting, and that the latter had said that he would never attend another meeting of the Board. The Chairman, before putting the resolution, said thnt when it wa9 first resolved to construct the track in question he wus not inclined to support the proposal, fo<* the reason that £600, the Overseer's estimate for the work, was more than the Board could afford to expend. As, howeve 1 , the cost was little mote than half that sum, and the work was to be performed upon the deferred payment system, be felt more disposed to support the proposal. Boatman's was a rising district, and h.\d not received any large expenditure in the past, and it was. due to the residents there that communication should be made as easy as possible. The road would haye to be made some fioie or other, and the Connly Council when takiug over the cost of the work would also rake over the road, which at any rate would fully set off ihe liability com-ected with it. Tbe resolution was then put and carried. Tbe Secretary reported that ve-y great damage had been done to tbo BuPer road below Courtney's house, which would necessitate the expenditure of about £200. The matter was deferred nntil the next regular meeting of the Board, which will take place on Fnday next. Accounts to tbe amonut of £274 18s 5d were laid on the tabic, but ordered to stand over until next meeting. The meeting then adjourned.