ROAD BOARD MEETINGS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 1, Issue 65, 4 February 1913, Page 2

ROAD BOARD MEETINGS.

Karaka. SPECIAL MEETING. A special me-ti"g of the Karaka Koa.l Ika'd wjs held in tne Doatd's od'ce on Thursday, when the following members were present-Messrs Hatty ( hairman). Glassur, and Sutton. A letter was read from Mr G. Swami, who apologised for his inability tj attend this meetin? owing to previous engagement. TAKING LOAD LEVELS.

Mr batty explained that Hip specia business was to arrange and discuss what levels the engineer was to take on the two main roads—the WaiukuDrury road and the RuncimanPaerata road-and also to discuss a letter that had been received from the Advances to Local Authorities Department. Regarding the levels Mr Hatty said it would be a great advantage to have the levels taken. MrL. Gannon, tbe Board's engineer, had nifered to take them on all roads tor £3OO, and he thrught this waa a fair, reasonable offer, and should i.e accepted. Mr Sutton proposed, and Mr Glasson seconded, lint Mr Gannon be instructed t:j take all levels on main reads (Kunciman-East lJukelv he road find Drury-Waiuku road) on conditiin t'i; t he accepted £SO from t'lia year's rates and the balance fiom next year's. This concession was ssked fat jn account ot the loan money rot being immediately available. LOAN APPLICATION DECLINED. Rega;ding the ioan of £6OOO, a 1 tter had received from the Department which stated that owing to the heavy drain which had taken place on the funis of the Advances It Local Pudies their applicatim had to be declined.

It was decided that the clerk be iru-trjet d to write to the Trime Minister and the vJfficer-in-Charge of the Advances Department, pouting out that a3 the Board had received a favourable reply to the application, they had proce?del with fori3 of the initial work, and trusted further co.nsiJeraiio i would be given to their application.

BRIDGES. Mr Batty reported that as several ot the Kai\aka bridges were in a very ba i way som: immediate repairs would he necessary, Mr Sutn asked where the money wai to come fruri.V He thought they sh uld pass surae by-laws to protect them-elves in matiers. It was decided tu have the bridges inspected.

| AGREEMEN l' WITH ENGINEER, j Iv'lr Baity said the Board should | have some agreement madG with j tii2ir engineer, Mr L. Ganncn, to j p-elect themselves and as a safej guird to Dot'i sjde3. i It was agreed to adopt this sugj gesti :n. | PERMANENT TEAM, j Mr suggested that as they | could not the loan money, it would be a good plan for the Board j to tjur i.'a.e a pair ti F horses, plough, I etc , aiid advertise for a competent ma'i io take a permanent job, He maintained that this was the cheapest way to have their work dane. There I <vere many small jobs that needtd j immediate attention, and it did cot I pay t') let these jobs out, Mr Sution enquired a'nout the cost j aiid where the cash was to come j fiorn. j Mr Butty said they hid about £BOO J to work on up to nrxt year, so they j Were in a sound position. 1 Mr Sutton proposed, and Mr Glas- | son seconded, that the chairman be : given power to purchase horses, i dray, plougn, etc., and that a compet--1 ent man to take charge of same be ! advertised for. —Carried TENDERS, i II was agreed to call tenders fur j earthwork and formation on the iRu -.ciman-Paerata road, the worst i place-! to have first attention. Mr Bitty reported having ordered jarrah timber for bridge repairing worn the Farmers' Union, he having found he co.:ld net it cheapsr there than even. the Govercment were getting it at. NEW ROAD 10 PAERATA STATION. Mr Baity reported having inter- | viewed Messrs Buttle and Bjtton | hik'C he tound the Board were not : securing the loan, and had been | tuld 'hat ihe Board must now take j over this road, ;"J the minutes had I bccii p saecl. He iiad received letters ! frnm Messrs A. Casey, D. Jamieson j and John Sehiaepfer, accepting and | agreeing to tne conditions proposed j by the Board on July 13th regarding ; the taking over of this road, i Mr Glisson proposed, and Mr j Sutton teconded, I hat as Messrs '■ Jamie.ion, hichlaeper r-nd Casey have \ accepted the terms as per I resolution or July 13th, the Chairj man ne authorised to give the I necessary instructions to the Board's j solicitors to prepare d=:eds and docu-m-nts and sign same. NEW ROAD AGAIN, i Mr i-'ution proposed, and Mr Batty i se.-iind.ci, Ths.t only money that was I a ; solutely necessaty he spent on this j road to secure and make it passable; | | r.ference to he given io old estabi lisl.ed roads for this liriancial year,— j Carried. Ivir Batty reported that Mr A. | Sutherland had complained of gorse i o.i a toad leuding to l is property. -- 1 It was agreed to clear this a:;d I cha'ge the cost to the adjoining j owner , as iln-v had brrn notified ■ to do this wo:.< previously.

Drury. J he monthly meeting was held on Saturday; present Messrs W. tilas.sun (chairman). VV. J. Parker, A. MeNaughton, Bremner and the clerk, Mr S. Fielding. Blv\C!i k()AI) CON 111 A Ul". Mr H. Fiazer wrote statinj* that he Win? unaole to complete his contra, t for metalling, etc., on the L'apakuh-. Beach road, and whilst reguttini: the position he was placed it:, ii;iiit'.l the Board Would be able to someone else to complete the v.i i r k. Mr (liar-son stated he had writtr.n to Mr I razer stating (nat the Board inul l not relieve him of his contrait, and misted he would endeavour to immediately proceed with it.

He had also written to ihe Board's engineer pointing out the awkward position the Bnari was being placed in if Mr Frazer threw up this job. Mr Wilson (engineer) said he could arranga for the carting it the Board would get tho spawling done. Mr McNaughton said he considered I hey should notify Frazer and get someor.e else to do the work at his expense.

Mr Bremner said they should have it done through the sulicitor, so as nnt to make any mistake and have the contract hroken. Afte» scm« discussion it *as proposed by Mr McNaughton, and seconded by Mr Parker, That the Board instruct their solicitor to notify Mr Frazer through the Board's engineer, to procead with his contract within three days.

A deputation af Beach road ratepayers, headed by Mr Clements, attended and asked the Board to proceed with this work before the winter. He painted out that their road was in a very bad way, and as the Board had the money he hoped they would have the work pushed on at once.

Mr Keals also spoke, stating that one inducement offered him to ta«e up land in this part was the assurance of a good road being made. He was anjazed at the easy way the contractor hal been allowed to proceed, and he understood he had been permitted 10 draw a large amount t;f the progress payments

Mr Glasson, in reply, stated that the Buard had been straining every effort to get the work done, and the contractor had been all round the country tiying to get someone to take the work over. As far as money was concerned, the Board still held the deposit of £2O and only progress payments had been made on the Engineer's certificates. The Board were just as anxicu3 as those interested to have the work completed, they hoped to get a traction eneine and crusher at work at once, and lib was assured another £l5O would be available for this road.

Mr Clemonts, in thanking the Board, said they did not blame the Board, who were doing thsir best over the matt<r, and the ratepayers intere ted, would assist all in their power to get the wo-k completed. Proposed by Mr Parker, seconded by Mr Bremn r, That it be left to thp. Chairman and Mr McNaughton to have the spawls already out (about 200 yards) crushed and put on at ones.

PAPAKURA TOWN BOARD A letter was received from Papakura Town Board, asking the Drurv Board to contribute to the cost of road wcrk done on Boundary road from Walktr's to the concrete bridge. Mr McNaughton suggested that if the Board completed the wozk right through they should agree to the proposal. ARGYLE STREET. J. W. Harrison wrote and submitted plar.s, asking if the Board would be prepared to take ovet the dedication of this road. The specifications stated the wai 1801 feet in length and a d provided, for a 40 feet wide formation.

Mr Clark-Smith attended and explained what was being done end the progress of tho rtork. Mr Glasson proposed, ard Mr McNaughton secondsd, Provided the swarrp is drained to the satisfacton of the Board and fillings in on Great South road be 66 ."eet wide, in lieu of 40 feet, and the Board reserves the right to request one or more culverts be put in, the dedicaton be accepted. This in addition to the present specifications. Permission wes given to remove earth fiom side of road for filling, providing footpaths were left 18 inches above water table. * i he Board agreed to order 55 9inch pipes for Mr Clark-Smith for the culverts. HORSE TROUGH. A letter was received from the Society for the Protection of Women and Children asking, on behalf of the horse, for a trough to be erected at the junction of the road going to Bombay a::d Karaka. -The Board decided that though tnis was very desirable, no funds were at present available. GATES ON RAODS. A letter from the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency, asking for permission to erect three gates on Cook street, Nelson street and South street, .m the nearest points to tha Manaksu harbour, was supported by Mr G. Smith, who explained that no one else used the roadß. Mr McNaughton said this was a ridiculous request if the roads were nut dedicated, but he would move that provided the roads were dedicated tha request be granted. Mr Glasson moved as an amendment, That permission be given in compliance with the regulations of the Public Works Act.—Amendment carried. Mr McNaughton explained that he was not opposing the erection of the gates, but ha just wished to hurry dedication of the roads. Mr G. Smith, in thanking the Board, said the roads would be dedicated, there was no doubt of that. TENDERS. Tenders for 50 yards of spa wis delivered at the Hunua Station road at 6s per yard was accepted. HEACH ROAD GRANT. A letter lroin the Acting-District Engineer, asking for more particulars re the £1 for £1 grant of £750 for Beach road, the locality and number of sections heing wanted, also particulars regarding the mistake over the allocation of the giant for Waihoehoe road. —Resolved that the clerk be instructed to go to Auckland and explain the matter. A ROUGH ROAD. The Chairman reported that he had received several complaints of a bad portion of the road in front of Mr A. Cossey's place, one man having had his milk upset twice through the rough state the track was left in. This, he explained, was in Mr Parker's division, and he referred the matter to him. Mr Parktr said he would have it attet.ded to. The Chairman: Well, 1 will refer all objectors to you, Mr Parker. DRURY BRIDGE. lhe Chairman reported that almost every plank was crocked in the Drury bridge on the Great South road, and he moved that the Board

write and ask the Council to take over this bri ge, and als:i the Great South road in their district It was also decided to inforrr the Karaka Road Board what was proposed, as they had a part interest in the work. COUNTY COUNCIL.

Mr Glasson proposed, ar.d Mr Bremner seconded, That, in accordance with a resclution passed at the last annual meeting, ihe Board allows the matter of County Council merging to stand over until next annual meeting. NOTICE OF MuTION. Mr Parker gave notice of motion to move: The desirability of raising a loan of £SOOO for roadt) and bridges Jn the Drury Road District. ACCOUNTS. Accounts totalling £29 4s 8d were passed for payment. ♦ Mercer. At the la-t meeting of the Mercer Road Board there were presentMr E. C. Martin (chair), Messrs Hunter and Valentine. TOWN HALL. Resolved, That the foundations for the Hall be prepared immediately, and that the architect be instructed to proceed with the woik. The hall will be a splendid building, to seat about 400 people, with every convenience. It is to be called King Edward VII. Memorial Hall. CEMEIEKY. A long discussion ensued over the disgraceful state of the cemetery, fences, gates and noxious weeds growing in ever; direction. It was decided that all fences and gates be pu: in repair and noxious .weeds be destroyed, and that Mr Morgon be asKed to get up a concert foi the benefit of the cemetery fund. THE PUNT. The punt crossing at the river at « Mercer is in a ve.y dilapidated condition and the Boaid recognises that something must be done immediately. The sum nf £IOO was granted by the Government, but that amount is only just sufficient to repair the yards. OVERCROWDING AT THE SCHOOL. The holidays are ntaily over and nothing has been done to the Mercer School. The membeis of the Education Board seem to treat us with contempt. Nothing has been spent at this school for years, and it is a disgrace to New Zealand or any other country to pack 100 children in the small space they have at Mercer School. The Health Department cugl t to take the matter up and pay a visit to the school when there is & full attendance.