ROAD BOARD.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume 1, Issue 12, 21 December 1872, Page 2 (Supplement)

ROAD BOARD.

November 23, 1872. The Board met at 11 o’clock. Present : —All the members. The minutes of last meeting were read. Letters received —From Captain Read relative to fixing a culvert over road leading to his property. Secretary to write informing that the Board cannot undertake works on private property. From the Provincial Secretary covering a Government Gazette containing proclamation putting the ferries in the district under the control of Board after the 31st October last, and also schedule of fees leviable thereat, on and after Ist January, 1873. Accounts —-The following sums were passed on the certificate of the Engineer, V. M. Effie £25 on account of contract E, R. M. Skeet £2O on account of 1) 1, J Hume £3 3s. labour. The Board entered upon the subject of Mr. Goldsmith’s offer to sell the punt, and after giving the matter great consideration, Mr. Johnson moved, “ That this Board accepts Mr. Goldsmith’s offer to sell the punt for £BO, and that tenders be at once advertised for from persons desirious of renting it, for one year from Ist January 1878. Tenders to be sent in by Friday, the 20th December.” Carried. Mr. King and Major Westrup arranged to meet at the ferry house on Saturday next to take over charge of the punt on behalf of the Board.

Sanction was given to the Engineer to incur an expense of £lO extra in making an addition to contract G, Gladstone road. The Board decided that having received an offer from Captain Read to advance money to the Board, for purposes of immediate requirement, until the assessments for current year are collected, at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum, that the same be accepted, and instructions were given to the Secretary to notify such acceptance to Captain Read. The subject of Archdeacon William’s lettei’ of the 3rd September last having been deferred in part for further information, instructions were given to the Secretary to write to the Archdeacon apologising for delay, and inform him, first, that steps are being taken with a view to making a roadway from main road to the cemetery; and,'second, that the Board has no funds available for repairs in Derby-street. The Epginefer was instructed to cause an information to be laid against one Mikaere Turange, an aboriginal Native claiming 7s. damages for obstructing roadway by erecting a fence on main road.

The question of the Dog Nuisance Act being brought into operation was disposed of by the majority of the Board voting in favor of it, and the following motion of Mr. Johnson being carried : “ That tickets be procured at once in accordance with the Dog Nuisance Act, and that the Sergeant of Police through the Major Commanding be desired to enforce the said Act, when the tickets are procured, and to do all that is required by that Act: And that he receive as remuneration all the fines and 10 pep cent, on all fees collected under the said Act, and that the Secretary do write to Major Pitt forwarding a copy of this resolution asking him to be good enough to procure the tickets from Auckland.” Mr. Johnson proposed : “ That Captain Read be requested to open a roadway in the fence dividing Matawhero crossing from Poporae on the line of road now being laid out by the Board Engineer.” Carried. The Board adjourned to Saturday next. November 30, 1872. The Board met at 11 o’clock. Present —-All the members except Mr. Parsons. The minutes of last sitting were read. Letters received :—• 1. From Mr. O. Goldsmith declining to accept the terms of sale of punt as understood by the Board from his letter of the 16th inst. Messrs. King and Westrup informed the Board that the result of their inspection of the punt was anything but satisfactory, and advised that Mr. Goldsmith be allowed to continue possession of it. The Secretary was ultimately instructed to write to Mr. Goldsmith to that effect, and to inform him that he would have to conform to the published scale of fees in the Provincial Gazette, to take effect from the Ist January next.

2. From Major Pitt enclosing one from Sergeant Shirley, suggesting that the Rural Police Act be published in Maori, in accordance with the opinion of the R.M., expressed to that effect on the Bench. The Chairman suggested an interview between Dr. Nesbitt, the R.M., and the Board on the subject, which was agreed to. 3. From the Provincial Secretary relative to proclamation of wharf at Gisborne. 4. Also relative to Pound proclamation and appointment of Pound-keeper, it was urged that, instead of proclamation being rescinded with a view to enlargement .of its provisions, the village of Makaraka should be contained in a separate proclamation. The Board expressed some dissatisfaction at the course understood by them at their interview with Mr. Lusk not being carried into effect, and instructed the Secretary to write to the Government enclosing a copy of the boundaries of the Highway district, and requesting that the area between them be proclaimed as the district within which the Impounding Act is to come into operation. The Secretary was also instructed to advertise the Pound Act as in operation within the township of Gisborne on and after Monday the 9th inst.

The Chairman announced the receipt of a cheque for £334 3s. 6d. being a refund from the General Government of the amounts expended by the Board on the Waerenga-a-hika contracts.

The following is a memorandum of information required by the Board at an interview with the Hon. Mr. M'Lean

1. When will proclamation be made of roads laid off and adopted in this district by the General Government ?

2. A provision being contained in each Crown Grant enabling the Governor at any time within 10 years from date of Grant to take 5 per cent of the land for roads. How may this prerogative be exercised by the Governor so as to enable the Highway Board to take lands for new roads without compensation? There being so few reads laid off in each district and so many required, great difficulties would arise if in every case the Governor had to be referred to.