WELLINGTON DISTRICTS HIGHWAY BOARD.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4924, 4 January 1877, Page 3

WELLINGTON DISTRICTS HIGHWAY BOARD.

The usual monthly meeting of the Wellington Districts Highway Board was hold at the offices of the Board, Lower Hutt, yesterday. Present—Messrs. T. Mnsou (chairmii*n) > Spcouy, Smith, Dick, and Bayliss. MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, with the exception of a resolution respecting the acceptance of a tender for the construction of a lino of road in Whiteman's valley, 'aid out by Mr. .Beere. The Chairman, in reference to this matter, said he was of opinion that the Board could not undertake to make the road, as, owing to the nature of the country through which it ran, —a soft mossy swamp,—the cost to the Board would be immense, and the road, when completed, unsatisfactory. The alternative line, which would branch off from the point to which the road had been made, and skirt the base of the adjacent hills, would be much cheaper—the difference between the two routes would bo represented by the difference between £SOO and £9O. He suggested that the question should be reconsidered, and that members of the Board should in the meantime visit the spot and judge for themselves as to the practicability of the line. Mr. Bayliss, Mr. Dick, and Mr. Smith took part in the discussion which followed. It appeared that certain of the settlers were in favor of the flat line, wishing to construct n tramway parallel to it, and a deputation to the Board urged the advisableness of construct-

ing it. . The CHAIRMAN said the action of the Board must be regulated by the amount of funds in hand. These were low, and he saw no chance of constructing the more expensive road. Eventually the Chairman, Messrs. Smith, Dick, and Bayliss agreed to visit the locality on Tuesday ‘ at 10 a.m., and meet such settlers as chose to attend. THE COLLECTION OF KATES, In consequence of the change in the termination of the new financial year provided by the' new Act, a difficulty had arisen as to whether the rate made for the year from July 1876 to June 1877, could be collected after March. The Chairman reported that he had been given to understand by the Government that the rate could be collected, the Board of course making such arrangements as would prevent people being called upon to pay tvvice. FINANCIAL. The following accounts were ordered to be paid:—No; 1 ward; John Morgan, construction, £3 18s. 9d.; Henry Dimaut, repairs, £8; John Wilmshurst, £8 6l Sd. No. 2 ward, Howell, repairs, £l2; James Pearce, repairs, £3 2s. 6d. ; George Champion, £1 Is. ; Jones and Woodman, timber, £2 2s. 9d. ; Iggulden, repairing tools, £2 16s. No. 5 ward—Geo. Scadden, repairs, £4 0. 6d. ; Geo. England, £1 Bs. No. 6 ward—G. England, £4 14s. 6d.; Clarkson, £4. Contingencies, £59 19s. 9d. A DISPUTE BETWEEN NEIGHBORS. Mr. H. Abbott, of Pahautanui, acknowledged the receipt of a notice to pull down a gate he had put up over the road near his property, and requested three or six months time -a which to erect fences before complying with the direction. He stated he had no wild cattle on his property, that there were many other such gates up, and expressed the opinion that he would not have been called upon to take down the gate had it not been for the spitefulness of the neighbor who had. complained The. Chairman pointed out that it was purely a matter for the parties themselves to settle. The Board could not give applicant power to keep the gate up, but they would offer no objection to its remaining if his neighbors were willing to allow it. Mr. Smith stated that there had been an objection to the gate from the very first, and residents could put up with it no longer. BATING ARRANGEMENT. A communication was received from the Secretary of the Karorf-Makara Board, stating that the valuation of Mr. Hawke’s property, which lay partly in the Karori and partly in the Wellington district, was fixed at £4OO ; £3OO worth lying in the Makara district, and £IOO in the Wellington district. The Board decided to accept the valuation. INFORMATION AS TO ROADS. The Provincial District Surveyor, Mr. Baird, wrote (enclosing a circular from the Government, requesting on behalf of the Home authorities a detailed account of the roads and features of the county), asking the Board to furnish full information in respect of the country within its boundaries. The Board considered itself not justified in going to the expense of collecting the information, and decided to write Mr. Baird to that effect. no. 4 WARD. Mr. Dick, the Wardenfor this ward, obtained authority to expend £9 lOs. in repairing _ a bridge at the Blue Gum culvert; also, permission to employ an engineer to lay out Mooreroad, Wainuiomata. DONATION. Mr. Dick handed over his cheque for travelling expenses, £2 10s, as a gift to the funds of the ward he represented. After a discussion on the question of sending out notice re new valuation the Board adjourned till noon on Wednesday, 17th inst.