ROAD BOARD MEETINGS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 2, Issue 129, 19 September 1913, Page 1

ROAD BOARD MEETINGS.

Pukekohe West. The monthly meeting cf the We:t Ktad BoarJ was hold on Thursday; present--Messrs West (h the chair), Bcate, Finlay and Woods. J. K. Hamilton applied lor permission to move patt cf his icnce on to the road to enabla s me weeds to be ploughed cut; also to plant some trees on the toad which it would be dangerous.—Both requests were granted. Tenders were to be invited for 300 yards metal for Cameiontown road, to sper.d the balance of the Hill loan.

C. Hhipherd waitad o:i the Board and mentioned that he would oppose the closing ol any pait of the road in connection with the deviation near his place. He alsu asked the Board for payment of the royalty on the spawls supplied to Messrs Strongman and Fausett, coritractfi'3. 4 It was stated that the contractors had been paid by the Board, inc lu-.1-i i g the loyalty, ai d it was suggested that Mr Sbiphesd bhouli make application for payment to the ccntrac'ors. *

The Franklin County Council, as successors to the Msuku Road Beard, sent an account for Puke-kohe West's contribution toward the upkeep cf •he Patumaiioa road.

Members thought the application "pretty hot," as there was a county rate struck by She Council for the county road, it was decided to write to the County Council calling attention to (he state of the Pukekohe-Vvaiuku road and the Buckland-Tuakau road. OPPOSING COUNTY HATE.

A representation of abr,ut 10 ratepayers chiefly concerned in L'eloe's road waited en the Board to cliscus3 the question of the county rate. It was pointed out that the only county road in the area affecting the deputation ran from Hart's corner (borough boundary) to Kane's corner, some 40 chains. The chairman: I suppose you gentlemen are all in favour of merging? Mr Schofield: We would like to know if there is to be any benefit from merging or not. Mr Dale: We hava come here to get at the bottom of things. Mr West said they had a Road Board rate of Jd and the Council struck £d, which meant and Jd special, which makes the rates very stiff. Of coune, the people represented at this deputation practically got no benefit from the county rate. He did not see how the Beard could do with less than Jd.

Mr Woods: They f.ct r.o benefit the county rale &L a>ll.

Mr Finlay: Dcn't \ou uic U:c county roads'.' Mr Wcods: No, they never tcuch the coin'.y rosds. Mr West thought, it wculi be better for them to merge, as then they would inly have |d to pay; whether the Council would give ratisfaitio:i was very hard to say. At the same time it was difficult to blame the County Council as it was difficult to aliunde lor every pait of the county. Mr Woods: You will get no benefit at all f r om the Jd county rate you rre to pay.

Mr West: If you merge you would save the £d rate and the County Council vtould Lave to do something for the road.

Mr Woods: They would not "have to," Mr Chairman. Mr Weit added that S3 long as there were two bodies ttey would find the rates would be high. Mr Finlay: Ye?, I think so, too. Mr ScLotield: If ti.e County Council would give a fair deal to the by-roads it would be all right. Then wo coold merge, Still, the Council were getting all the r.ece:sary gear as far ai he rould make out—a road giader, crusher ar.d that sort of thicg. The clerk mentioned that the county engineer would be pretty fully occupied ar.d would r.ot be available for the Road District roads.

Mr tichofield said that most of them did not mind paying the rates to lons a 3 'key got the benefit from them. The dark said the district was exceptionally situated in having to many by-roads with the borough tapping so far into the district, Mr Caitni spoke of the gcod work done.by the Board during the past 13 years of which he could speak. He would like the Boatd to continue, but if they bad to co out—well they muu! Mr West: It's no good having Uo local bodies; I can't see the benefit of it.

Finally, the matter wai held over to next meeting, and if the merging petition i 3 not then fully signed, tha Road Board will strike ita halfpenny rate.