ROAD BOARD MEETINGS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 1, Issue 23, 14 August 1912, Page 2

ROAD BOARD MEETINGS.

PUKEKOHE WEST. Pukekolio West Road Board met on Thursday. Present—Messrs J. W. Johns (chair), Dunn, Finlay, West and Woods. The chairman reported that Mr Dunn and himself had conferred with the Franklin County Council with respect to striking a rate. As the county intended striking and collecting its own iate of a farthing there would now ho no neod for the Road Board to strike a penny rate, and the motion to do so waw piuended to mako the board rato three-farthings. This was struck accordingly. The deputation also discussed the question of merging and the County Council agrood, if the board merged, to spend the transferred money according to tho allocations of tho board. It was decided to hold a ratepayers' meeting in Mr J. Wright's barn (if availablo) on August 24th, to consider the question of mergiug. A quantity of formal business was also dealt with. PUKEKOHE EAST. The Pukekohe East Road Boaid mot at Buckland on Saturday. Prosent—Messrs E. Allan (chairman), Fulton, Ingram, Tooman, Hartley, Craig, Barnaby and Ballard. W. L. Campbell, R. R. Joughin and J. Fulton, of Wliangarata, asked tho board to improve the road leading from Whangarata school to the river from in frout of Mr Ewing's house past the stockyard.—Mr Hartley explained that the cattle seriously affected the road. It was resolved'to refer the matter to the Public Health Department. J. J. Droomgool claimed £ls in settlement of his contract on McGahan's road. Ho claimed that the work had beon dono according to specifications.—The Board held differently and payment was withheld until the work was so completed. A. H. Tapper, secretary of the Tuakau Progressive League, forwarded a plan with suggested names of streets for Tuakau and asked tho board to adopt such names.—" Ah," said the chairman, "they are getting on." —Mr Fulton moved, that the board accept the names of these roads and streets. He remarked that at the prosent time, for want of street names one never knew upon what road a man was working.—Mr Craig seconded the motion, and the " christening " was carried. Mr Fulton commented on the fact that three or four months ago the board had ordered a quantity of scoria and during that period only one truck had arrived.—The chairman : Eight or nine trucks havo been ordered for Buckland during the last two months and nono has come. —It was remarked that private individuals got it quickly enough, whereupon Mr Allan remarked upon the difference in price to private individuals and to local bodies. "We get it when trucks are available," he said. "If the Government get as much for one truck from a private individual as for two trucks from the board—they send the one truck."

Messrs Fulton and Craig reported having erected a lamp to let people see their way up the main street at Tuakau.—Mr Allan: There is no doubt the lamp was urgently needed. —The cost, £9 16s lOd, was passed for payment. Later on Mr Fulton said he wantod authority to erect anothor kerosene lamp at a bad place near the station, and Mr Barnaby said he wanted a lamp too. —Authority was given to erect the lamps at a cost not exceeding £7 each. It was decided to strike a rate of three-farthings, notice of same to be inserted in the " Pukekohe and Waluku Times." An amendment was moved, That the rate bo also advertised in an Auckland paper but this was not seconded. ' Memhors stated that there was now no need to go outside of the district and it was decided to advertise exclusively in the Times. Mr Lauer was reappointed rate collector, at 5 per cent commission. Mr Ingram said that since money was to bo again collected this year he i hopod that it would be more evenly spent than in the past. Ho had been paying rates for soventeen years (last year his cheque was for £3O), and nothing had been spent on his road at all.—Mr £ said there was no doubt the money should be spent where it was raised. —It was agreed that the road referred to should get its fair .share this year. Tenders are to be invited for 1000 yivrds of road metal, particulars of which are advertised. MAUKU. The monthly meeting of the Mauku Road Board was Held on Saturday. Present Messrs 8. E. Pilgrim (chairman), J. Henry, J. Adolph, J. Clark, W. Howard and the clerk (Mr A. E. Wright). Mr Henry stated 1 that he had seen Mr Higginson, of the Waiuku Eoad Board, who explained the matter regarding metalling i portion of the Tramway road so a$ to connect with thei main PukekoHe-Waiuku road. Th.e loan that woiild be needed for thiis would bo met py the ratepayers directly interested.-pAfter some disci ission it was agredd to write to the Waiuku Board informing them that if t'tiey would give a sufficient guarantee that the ratepayers; concerned would pay the interest on the loan incurred tJhe board would go into the matter. Waiau Telephone.:—Regarding this, a letter was received from the district engineer stating that tiiis was a matter for the postqj department and the local bodies tb deal with, tho hoard having the power to stipulate where the posts were to be pot, and height of wire so as not to interfere with traffic, etc. It was decided to send a copy of the letter to Mr McLarin, who had headed the deputation.

Overdue grants. —The clerk explained that he had written to the department regarding these grants, amounting to £2'J.5. Specifications Imd been prepared and approved for the work that this money was intended for. The contracts were now completed and yet the money was not available and the board were greatly

inconvenienced for want of it. They had paid out of tha general account as far as possible and now no money was in hand to pay several workmen who had done urgent work on the roads since last board day. Mr J. Brady kindly allowed his account which had been passed for payment to stand over so as to allow these small accounts to be met. A reply from the Minister for Public Works was received regretting the oversight and promising to attend to the matter as soon as the necessary particulars were available. Messrs S. E. Pilgrim, J. Henry and J. E. Wright were authorised to operate on the board's accounts in the Bank of New Zealand, Pukekohe.

A complaint was received from the Farmers' Union regarding driving aud riding on the footpaths, which is very prevalen: in the district. The board docided that they will strictly enforce the penalties. Twelve yards of metal are to be procured for Notts' road and twelve yards for Rowe's road.