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Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 381, 11 December 1878, Page 2

HAW ERA RAILWAY COMMITTEE. The following corresdonclence relative to railway line and site for station at Hawera, have been forwarded for publication by Messrs Middleinas and Roy, members of the'Hawera Railway Committee:—■ New Plymouth, November 26, 1878. Sir, —With reference to your letter covering a petition from the settlers resident in the Patea District to the Minister of Public Works, praying for the speedy completion of the Waitara and Wanganui railway, I have the honor to say, in reply, that I presented the petition to the Hon. the Minister of Public Works the day after its receipt by me, and in due course received the enclosed answer. I was further assured by the Hon. Mr Macandrew> personally, that ho hoped to see the railway in question finished in between two and three years from that time. Mr Carrington and Mr Kelly also urged upon the Government the necessity of completing the line, with as little delay as possible, and were assured that the Government were fully alive to ■ the importance of the work, and intended to push it forward with all reasonable speed. I delayed replying to your letter, in the hope (hat the Government would have submitted to- the House a definite financial proposal to enable the Public Works scheme to ho carried out, so that I might have had somefhing more tangible than a promise to report; but in this hope. I regret to say, I was disappointed, the Government having entirely failed to make any .financial provision whatever for carrying on public works after the end of this year. A fair amount has been voled for this line for the current year, but as the votes for public works exceed the whole available funds by about one-third, the expenditure made during the year upon any particular railway, is, practically, a question for the decision of the Government. It will, therefore, bo necessary that the matter should lie very carefully watched during the recess.—■ I am, &e., ■ “ H. A. ATKINSON. J. B. Hoy, Esq., Hawera.

(Enclosure.) Public Works Office. Wellington, August 29, 1878. Sir, —I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a memorial from the residents of the Huwera Biding, pointing out the desirability of completing the unfinished portion of the Waitara-Wanganui Railway at as early a date as possible; and in reply, to state that Government fully recogni-es the importance of the works indicated being pushed forward without delay, and for that purpose a full share of its efforts will be directed towards (his portion of the roilway works proposed to be undertaken.—l have, &c., J. Macandebw. Major Atkinson. Wellington, o New Plymouth, November 20, 1878. Sir, —With reference to your telegram, relating to the necessity of fixing the site for the railway station at Hawera, and pointing out that the site chosen should be in or as near to the town as possible I have the honor to say that Mr Carrington, Mr Kelly, and I, waited upon the Hon, the Minister for Public Works, and explained the subject fully to him.

In reply, we were assured by the Hon. Mr Macanclrcw that he would lose no time in having the question settled —the -©nginegr being then in the district, for the purpose of determining the best line, for the railway to take, and that the station would be placed in or as near to the town as circumstances would permit. The Hon. Mr Macandrew evinced every desire to meet the wishes of the inhabitants of Hawera in this matter, as far as it was possible to do so.—l have, &c., H. A. Atkinson.

T. Middlemas, Esq., Chairman of the Public Meeting, Hawera,

PATEA WEST ROAD BOARD

Thk ordinary meeting of the above Board was held at the Kakaramea Town Hall on •Monday last. Present—Messrs Mcßae (chairman), Napier, J. Paterson (Kakaramea), J. Paterson (Carlyle), and Marchant.

Minutes of last meeting read and con finned.

Correspondence included—Letter from the Colonial Treasury, in reply to letter from Board objecting that subsidy was paid only on the annual value of rateable property instead of upon the total collections of the Board for the year ending 31st March last, and stating that theie was no alternative but to pay subsidy as provided by Section 5 of the Financial Arrangements Act of 1877; from Walsh and Kearns, asking that contractors might be permitted to leave ratas standing on road opposite section 621, Otoia-Opaku block, as to fell and burn at present would endanger their property—the applicants undertaking to clear ratas from track by the 30th April, 1879.—Granted, subject to condition proposed ; from Drummond and Alexander, that piles would be forwarded; from Edward Hawkin, for advance of £2O on Hurley Road contract, —Granted. Mr Wallace attended the meeting to request the Board ta allow the settlers residing on the Whakamara Block to form a portion of the Ingahape Road, within the Road District. It was resolved on motion of Mr March ant, seconded by Mr Napier, That the request of applicants .be granted on condition that the work be done at their ■ own .expense. '* Tenders for works on Upper Ball Road —Hill and Walsh, No. 3 and 4 contracts, £l3B 10$; J. Wright, £l5O. Proposed by Mr Paterson (Carlyle),

seconded by Mr Napier, and carried, “Tha Messrs Hill and Walsh’s tender beacceptedy the amount in excess of sum placed on estimates to be charged to deferred payment money.” Mr W. Dale’s tender for valuing (£2o} was accepted. Resolved, That this Board give Messrs Fraser and Tregear notice that their services as Engineer’s to the Board are dispensed with. On motion of Mr Paterson (Kakaramea), seconded by Mr Marchant, The Chairman, and Messrs Paterson (Carlyle), and Napier, were appointed a committee to carry out improvements on Weeks. and Golding’s contract, Upper Kakaramca Road. On motion of Mr Mcßae, seconded by Mr Paterson (Carlyle), Messrs Marchant and J. Paterson (Kakaramea) were appointed a committee to carry out works on Clifford’s contract, on Upper Ball Road, The Secretary was instructed to write to Mr E. R. Morgan, asking him to remove rata from the dray track on Manutahi Road, between his gate and Mr Foreman’s, within seven days, or the Board would get it done and charge cost to him. Mr Marchant was empowered to act on behalf of the Board in case Mr Morgan failed to comply with the request of the Board. Account passed— Patea Mail, £1 19s. The meeting adjourned.

PATEA HARBOR BOARD. Thu ordinary monthly meeting of the above Board, was held at the Secretary’s Office on Monday last. Present—Messrs Sherwood (Chairman), Milroy, Taplin, Winchcomb, Williamson and Gibson.

Minutes of previous meeting read and confirmed.

Proposed by Mr Sherwood, seconded by Mr Williamson, and carried :—“That Mr. >P. Searling be appointed to value the wharves and stores on behalf of the Board.”

Proposed by Mr Williamson, seconded by Mr Winchcomb, and lost:—“ That the tyvo wharves be let by tender, for a p aiod of twelve months from January iud, 1879.” An amendment proposed by Mr Milroy, and seconded byMrTaplin, was carried as follows ;—“ That until the Board have the new wharf charges properly drawn up, the Board employ some one to collect the present rate of charge, and afterwards they be let by tender.” Proposed by Mr Taplin, seconded by Mr Milroy, and carried ;—“ That the Board’s Secretary be appointed to collect wharf dues, and have the control of their working, under the superintendence of the Board, at a salary of 50s per week.” Proposed by Mr Williamson, seconded by Mr Sherwood, and carried :—“ That a Sub-Committee consisting of Messrs Gibson, Taplin and Milroy, be appointed to draw up rules and regulations for the conduct of wharves belonging to the Harbour Board.”

A division was taken on the question of acceding to Mr Dickson’s application for an advance on Ids plant, which resulted in the request being held over for consideration at next meeting. The Engineer reported that the work on the breakwater had been going on steadily since the last meeting. All the reports and plans asked for had been forwarded through Mr Blackett to Sir John Goode by the November out-going mail. Much of the plant not having been used through site of breakwater having been changed, Mr Dickson had asked for an advance on same. On account of the great scour, a much larger quantity of stone had been used than was expected. The difficulty in procuring timber bad delayed the construction of the hopper barge, but arrangements bad been made to get timber from Wanganui. During the first week in November there were no freshes, and heavy seas prevailed, which led to the sand spit encroaching very much on the point of the Breakwater, contracting it to a width of GO or 70 feet at low water. Late freshes had scoured out a channel, and it was now about 100 feet wider.

Accounts were passed for payment, and the meeting adjourned.