MANAWATU HIGHWAYS BOARDS.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 9, 23 November 1878, Page 2

MANAWATU HIGHWAYS BOARDS.

Tbhtesday, Novbmbeb. 21,1 1878. The members- of the new Board; met at noon on Thursday, at the Bpard Chambers, Palmerston,. for the purposeof holding their first meeting m, conformity with the gazetted notice.. There- were present the following Wardens : Dalrymple, Bruce, Farmer, McPhersou, McKenzie, and. MeEwen. The late chairman, Mr Henry McNeil,, was also, present, and took the chair- until the election of his successor. In doing so. he said tliat that was the day appointed by the Government for the meeting of the new Board, and that hia duty, was not one which would occupy ihttch time. He was therefore open to receive nominations, of cajudi- , dates for- the o_6.ce of chairman. Mr Bbuob; said that if it might not be thought unbecoming m, such a young member taking the initiative, he begged to. nominate Mr Dalrymple for the offree of Chairman. He (Mr Dabymnple), had been a long time connected with the Highway Board, aad was perfectly conversant with the machinery of its working, beside which he lived within : easy distance of the Board offices, and consequently would always be- within reach Q_ the Secretary for instruction and advice. Mr Duncan McKenzie had much pleasure m seconding the nomination of Mr Dalrymple. Mr Daibvm;plb said' he wished fit to, be understood that he was not a candidate for the position of Chairman, nevertheless if he were chosen to. fill the office, he would not refuse* The C^AiBtAtAN inquired if there were any further names to be submitted, wheij, Mr Father responded that he wished to propose that Mr MeEwen be elected as Chairman. That gentleman had had Tast experience m. presiding over such bodies,, having been Chairman of the Hutt Highways Board for upwards of ten years, and . m his opinion was a most fitting person to. be appointed Chairman. Mr MeEwen, like everyone else, had hia faults, but his merits , far outweighed these, and he possessed] ' many qualifications for the office. I Mr MoEwen said he had. no wish what- : ever to. hold such an oj&crous position, and would be quite satisfied to remain a simple Warden. He thought the Board could do ; na better than, to elect Mr Dalrymple. The Chairman said that of course- as Mr McEwen*-. nomination had not been se- ■ corvded, it must necessarily lapse. He : thought,, however, it would be well to take ' a sho.w of hands m the matter. Upon, the- question being put as to. th* appointment of Mr Dalrymple as chairman, it : was carried m the affirmative unanimously. Mr- McNeil yacated the chau\ which wa& taken possession of by Mr Dalhymp-lb-, who thanked the meeting for-.heh.on.or which had been done him, assuring it that it would be his, earnest endeavor to discharge the- duties faithfully and impartially, and would now ask that , Wardens would lend their co-operation, and ; assist him m doing so. It had beet, said i that he possessed experience m the Highway Board. Well, all he could say, was, that if he had not, he should have had, : seeing that he had been a member of it from the very commencement, except for a , yery short time — two or three meetings — he beheved. The late CQAIBBfAK before retiring wished to say a few words. Mr Keeling, thb .Town Clerk, was m attendance, and was prepared to give the Board some information with regard to a letter received from the Treasury with reference to subsidies. He would therefore ask them to deal with ' that matter first. The CaiAift-UK was about reading the : communication m question, when Mr McEwen- objected upon a point of order, holding that so business should be undertaken until the minutes of last meeting had been read and confirmed. '■ The C^AiBAfAK drew attention to the reason for the irregularity, and said! that permission had: been asked and granted from the Board. Mr McEwen still maintained that the proceedings nevertheless were informal, and ! could not be borne out. Eventually the difficulty was obviated by Mr Keeling promising to attend the meeting latter on m the day, and the reading of the minutes wa» then proceeded with. The Tbkasubkk reported the sum oi £103 Ifa, lOd as being the credit balance of the Board's account at the Bank. COB;BKSPOXDEtfCB, From the Colonial Treasurer, intimating that the aum of £725. 4altad been forwarded -ta the Bank, being first portion of subsidy on last year's rates. From the Government* asking the Board to appoint time and place for first meeting of new Board. From the Colonial Treasurer, m reference to subsidy. From Mr A. Stewart, of Fitzherbert, asking the Board's permission to erect a gate on the road to> Fitzherbert.-— Application to stand over till next meeting. From Mr T. W, Stace, m reference to the road leading to his property. — Application to stand over till next meeting. From the Manawatu County Council, enclosing cheque for £237 3s, being Kiwitea Riding share of twenty per cent, land revenue, for expenditure on Mackay^s line, Kiwitea. From the Colonial Secretory, notifying place and time of first meeting of new Board. From Messrs Gore and Parr, and others, asking the Board to form about twenty chain* of road. —Resolved, That the Engineer visit the same and report eponitat next meeting. From the Manchester Highway Board, m reference to the settlers on Henderson'* line. — The Secretary was instructed to write to the Chairman of the Board, aud inform him that as the settlers pnid their rates tq the Manchester Highway Board, this Board cannot.see their way clear to undertake the l work at present, I

From Mr C. VV. Roberts, asking tlie Board to continue falling the line of bush leading to Bunnythorpe. — Stand over till next meeting. Petitions from settlers on Perry's line, ; iv the Kawa Kawa Riding, asking the Board ta form and metal, the road.— Stand ovsr f till next meeting. •• Mr Jenssen waited upon the meeting on behalf ol the Borough Council, asking the Board to. form, and metal that portion of , the road known Jas the Borough Belt. — Resolved, That the Engineer visit the same and report upon it at next meeting. Mr Bbucb tabled a motion that £109 & , lOd be placed to the credit o| No. & Ward out of No. 3 old Ward. After a lengthy discussion,, Mr McEwen- agreed to hand over £100>. The. Engineer's report \jras then read and adopted. The Secretary was instructed! ta write, to Mr Hewson^ of Sandony informing him of of th* state of hia gute x and to see- that it waa securely fastened! Proposed by Mr McEwek, and seconded by Mr MjdPhebson— Tha,t the Chairman be appointed Treasurer. Mr> MoEwbn tabled a motion thalf the Bye-Laws be. revised at next meeting Mr BaifOE; tabled a mot ion, that the Secre- j tory prepare- a return, of the money likely to j be available from rates m all the Wards, j : and where available, for- next meeting. ACCOUNTS, BASSEIJ.. Several accounts were passed f or-payment. TENDEBS CALLED. Tenders w^re ordered, tp, bq colled for. thp following, woaks : : — : No. 1 Ward. — MetalKng- forty chain*, Lee's line of road 1 forming and. metaling, Wilson*- line, of road . forming and metal- ' Ung, Bailey's, line of road ; bush -felling and [Stumping- about fifty chain.B, Speedy'B line of road. No. 3 Ward. — Repairs tp. Cemetery line of Road, Foxton ; ; felling bush and -tump- ' ing,, fifteen feet wide, on Motoa Road. No. 4 Word.— Bridge at Randolph & Walker's line. of road ; forming forty chains, Waldegrave's. line of road ; feßjng and, clearing forty chains, bush on Gascoigne's line- of. roadNo. 5 Ward.— Bridge and tppioacbe* near Neweombe's property ; scrubbing swamp on Manawatu Bridge, Gorge road ; forming bridle-track from Manawatu Bridge 40 Fitzherberton. No, & Ward. — * Forming fc£<xle-twk t JamQs'B line. The Board adjourned till Friday, the 13th December, at 11 o'clock.