DRURY ROAD DISTRICT.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 193, 8 May 1914, Page 1

DRURY ROAD DISTRICT.

Meeting of Ratepayers. The annual meeting of ratepayers was held in the public hall on Saturday afternoon, about Line being present. Mr W. H. C. Glasson, who was voted to the chair, said he was sorry there waß not a better attendance, but eurely that was an evidence that the people were satisfied with the Koad Board trustees. The fact that there was uo election and that the leather was so bad was probably responsible fur the email attendance. * BALANCE SHEET. The clerk read the balance sheet which showed that of the £509 5s 4d rates struck only £9 2s was outstanding on March 31st. Assets totalled £526 and liabilities £SOO. The total receipts (including balance on April Ist) were £1022 78 7d and ths expenses £B3l Is 2d, leaving a credit balince of £l9l 6s sd.

CHAIRMAN'S REPORT. The chairman said this was the fourth time he had had the privilege of submitting the annual report of operations. From the balance sheet just read they would see that the Board's finances were in a.satisfaztory condition. In order to bring about this desirable end, and at he same time ,keep the roads in passably good order, the trustees had endeavoured to conduct the affairs of the Board in a thoroughly careful and businesslike manner. As they were aware the County Council had taken over the control of the South road and two other roads of importance, which had relieved the Board's funds considerably. Although relieved of these loads the Board again thought it desirable to strike a three-farthing rate as there was still need of considerable expenditure on maoy of the remaining roads. Enlarging on this subject Mr Glasson said the cost of living, wages, teams and everything had gone up. A rate that would have done before would not do now and in this matter he would have liked a lead from the ratepayers. Members had to put in a fair amount of time but they did not mind that so long as they had the money to 'spend on the necessary works. He would have liked ratepayers to say whether they would have |d or Id rate; as it was he toak it for granted that the ratepayers were

• prepared to leave the matter to the Board's discretion. Regarding the Beach road: Since the last annual meeting the £SOO lraa con'ract had been completed; a special Government grant of £l5O besides the ordinary allocation of rates had been fpent mostly in met>l on this road which should no» ba one of the best roads in the county. An allocation of £SO was made for Park road; part of this amount had b°en spent; metal would be provided with the balmce at an early date. A vtry fine culvert iu which seven 4ft fiin concrete pipeß were used had replaced an old wooden bridge on Fitzgerald's road. The cost of the new culvert Wbb about £29. The Board had. also fpent £l2 in formation on the road. He had pleasure in stating that a grant of £SO was placed on the Estimates last session by the government. It

was due to Messrs R. Flanagan and Joseph Fitzgerald to add tbat thiy voluntarily and without remuneration did between fifty acd sixty pounds worth of formation pieparatory to the metal. The woik done by those gentlemen had been a preat assistance to the Board, inasmuch as the work done by them had eo materially improved the grade that the metsl lately put on had gone on to the very best advantage. The Waihoehoe road and Appleby's were also receiving attention; several chains o( metal chips had also beni placed cn the road leeding to Mr Uirawood's road, Rama Kama. A £IUU £ for £ was voted by Parliament for this rcai last session. In view of the fact that only about £25 per year was collected in rates on thia road, and together with the fact that the Board only a couj,l* ot years since fina/.ced a similar vot£ of £SO, the Board was in some difficulty as to devising means of securing the grant, tut the difficulty was overcome by tha ratepayers interested putting their hands in their pockets to the extent of £4O. Tte Board then voted the remainirg £6O and straightway applied for the Government's £IOO. The new road through the late Mr Clark Smith's property, known as Argyle road, was officially taken over by the Board in June last. In respect to the amount of woik done by the late

own'.r he had reason to believe that the Board had been rath r severely ciiticised for not insisting on footpaths being constructed. In re ply, he h3d to say that the board had no power to enforce either metal or footpaths; when a road district was wi hin seven miles ot a fco - ough then it had the power, but not otherwise. During the year the Board applied to the County Council to so alter the district boundaries as to include in the Drury road district all that portion of the Drury and Kunci-

man townships east uf Bremner's

creek. Such alteraticn wa3 strenuously opposed hy the Karaka Koad Board with tha result that the

county thin had no power to act only on the petition of the ratepayers. This Board decided that it was not worth while taking any further steps in the matter in view of the fact that probably the Board would be merged into the Council in the near future. Both Drury and Runciman would then probably be included in a Town Board area. Finally this Buard had put in a water trough at the factory and there was reason to believe that it wa3 of great advantage to many. Mr Glasson concluded by asking for any suggestions. BAT.F-CUAIN KOAD.

Mr Glasson reminded them that at

the last annual meeting the Board was recommended to have the Opehtke station half-chain road gazetted. He went to the Lands Office and Deecji Office and ti ied to ascertain the -iboundary. He thought the Boafl could rot gazette the road until they had another half-chain dedieflttd by the owners which wouH b> roundabout and costly. Another way woutd be the simple one of spending money on the road and then it would become a legallyconstituted road. Mr Brooks, however. raised the question as to whether the auditor would pass the accounts. And if later on the local body wanlei to make the road a full chain wide then considerable compensation might have to be paid to get this extra halt-chain. As the people were paying rates and this was their only outlet the Road Board was-anxious to take the road over. He thought that the Board should arrange for a conference of the settlera along the road with a view to getting the required half-chain. Mr K. Flanagan thought the suggestion was gocd and moved to thia effect. Seconded by Mr Fitldrg and carried. GET WORK DONE EARLIER.

Mr R. Flanagan asked if the Boaul cculd devise any means whereby they could let the contracts earlier and try to get the works pushed through before the winter sets in. If it could b; done it would be a great advantage to set lets and a big saving to the roads.

Tte chairman eaid he was in sympathy wilh the suggestion. But it was one thing for members to make up their minds and acother thing to carry out their intentions. It teemed impossible tj get spawls out earlier in the jear es the iettlers were too busy ar.d this year there had bum a lot o( urfortunate delays with the stone-crusher. The Board in the past had accepted deposits with contracts but if tha contracts were not carried out to time the deposiis had teen returned. Jt seemed the only way was to attach a stiff per.al'y and to enforce it. Mr Bremner said it they tri d t get the work done eailier they would not have the same chance with the tenders. There bei g no further bu iness biought forward the meeting clos d with a vote of thai.ks to the Board on the motion of Mr Flatiaj»a\ Mr Glasson acknowledged the tribute od bthalf of the Board.