Manawatu Road Board.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XII, Issue 1724, 3 June 1886, Page 2

Manawatu Road Board.

YESTERDAY. (Continuation of report.) A deputation, consisting of Messrs Rodgrers, Monk, and Bassett, waited on the Board m reference to a bridge over tho Mangaone stream on pieaveley's line, communication with tbe main road having been completely cut off for three weeks past. Thoy considered that it a small bridge was erected off the road where the 1 straam was narrow it could be done for £40 or £50. VVarden Pratt thought it better tp wait until they could ascertain what money was coming from Government. Warden Edwards thought that it might be arranged m this way, that if the construction would net .cost more than the deputation stated, the settlers might perhaps find the i money m the meantime as th»y evidently were m great want of the accommodation. Resolved, That the engineer examine the spot and make an estimate of the cost of erecting a bridge w required, and report at next meeting. Resolved, That the" Chairman and Warden Snelson and the clerk sign cheques for the Board. Resolvod, That Warden Snelaon and the Chairman sign the rate book. Warden Snelson oonsidered that they would certainly require to Btrike a county rate, aud that if no extra work was brought forward other than the general, id m the £ would be sufficient. This would bring m about £235. Warden Sty remarked he would op. pose on behalf ot his ward, any rate higher than that proposed, viz.,. one farthing. Resolved, on the motion of Warden Snelson, Tbat notice be giveu that the Board is about to strike a general rate of oue farthing m the £, payable on the 14th July, 1886. Warden Snelson informed the meeting that an irregular meeting of members had been held n fortnight ago to open tenders for work on Tiritea Bridge and Hamilton's Line. They had decided to recommend the Board to accept the tender of J. C. Nathan for the work on Tiritea bridge, amouut £65 10s; the tender was the smallest. Resolved on motion of Warden Snelson, seconded by Warden Bell, That the tender be accepted. Re Hamilton's Line, the meeting had decided to recommend tho Board hot to accept the only tender received, viz,, that of Mr Hamilton. The amount was larger than agreed by the Board to spend, and the time of the year was considered inadvisable to proceed with the work. £22 had been originally granted for work on this line, £12 of which had been expended. It was subsequently agreed that an additional sum of .£2O should be spent. Warden Sly retnarked that tbe meetins bad decided to advise the Board 'to hold tbe matter over on account of the bad weather and also of the excess of expenditure. Resolved to agree to the recommenda* tiou. Warden Sly said that he had been requested to bring before the Board a mistake evidently made m applying to a ratepayer for certain rates. He would move that Mr J. Ryman, lessee of section 160S, Kairanga, be credited with the sum of 14/1, being amount ef rates paid m error, also that he be not .called upon to pay the special rate on same section for the year 1885-86, amounting to £1 8s 2d. Seconded by Warden Snelson and carried. Warden Snelson informed the Board that their general account was now overdrawn £999, and the Bank before advancing anything further would require a guarantee from members of the Board for the sum of say £'400. Ie would only be for a time,say six or eight weeks, and by that fime the Board would ' be better off, and the security would hot be required. Warden Pratt wished to know if complying with the request of the Board would be acting illegally, and cause the auditor to report on such a proceeding. He remembered once having signed a bill with other members of the Board, which the auditor, oi< examining the account had taken exception to. Warden Snelson remarked that m this case the matter was altogether different. The guarantee required was a mere matter of form. Warden Sly stated that he did not think the Wardens of the Board were called on to put their names to anything of the sort, and by so acting they would be placing themselves m a false position to the ratepayers. The sooner, m his opinion, the ratepayers were brought face to face with the financial position of the Board the better. Very probably if the bank refused to grant further ad- ' vances the ratepayers would pay up batter. s Warden Mathieson remarked that he f\igned one of the documents now required before, but did not intend to again commit himself. Warden Bell remarked he would not sign unless it were unanimously agreed to by the Board. Warden Edwards was disposed to sign the paper, but had since considered that if they had to meet the difficulty the sooner the better. The clerk informed the Board that Anderson, contractor, had given him a - verbal message that mornin? to the effect that if his account for .£B2 was ' not paid immediately he would sue the - Board. Warden Snelson remarked that he had no doubt the bank would still honor their cheques to a reasonable amount, but what he wished to do was to save the- ' local officials any consequences if their superior othcers were to visit them and find the account so much overdrawn. If the bank would not pay further without a guarantee then they would doubtless be sued and have to pay law costs as well as their liability, the same as they had to do since their last meeting. It was resolved, on the motion of Warden Snelson, that the mover and the chairman wait on the bank and inform ' the manager that they should require accommodation for a period of six or eight weeks, by which time they would be m - a position to reduce the overdraft. The Impounding report was submitted as follows :— By ranger, 30 ; amount, £2 11s 6J; less poundage fees to Borough pound, 8s 9d ; driving fees to ranger, £1 14s ; balance, 8s 9d. The slaughter house returns for the , month of April were received. Resolved — That all special rates not paid by 30th June be sued for, and be paid into a special account at the bank. Resolved — That Mr Berquest be requested to complete the lease of the* gravel reserve. lie Millerick's Line, special, it was resolved that the necessary seeps be taken to increase the amount of rates m order to provide for the yearly payments as under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act. Resolved — That the necessary steps be taken to lessen the special rates on the Tiritea and No. 4 Lines m accordance with • the increased valuation. Resolved— That the day of meeting of the Board be altered to'the second Wed- ' riesday m the month, and that the next meeting be held m accordance with such ' s resolution. . About £267 m accounts Were passed fot payment.