KARAKA ROAD BOARD.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 32, 27 April 1915, Page 4

KARAKA ROAD BOARD.

Monthly Meeting. The monthly meeting of the Karaka Koad Board was held on Wednesday laat. Present: Messrs J. Batty (chairman), J. Schlaepfer, R. Ulasson, K. J. Johnston and the clerk, Mr H. E. ulaseon. CLOSING A ROAD. A communication was received from Mr H. M. Skeet, Lands and Survey Department, replying to an enquiry of the Board's in connection with the proponed closing of the road that runs through sections 126 and 139, mention was niflde that a mounted tracing and schedule, all duly approved, together with a covering memo, explaining the neceesary further action, h«d been torwardid to the Board. A lulv letter with reference to the same iratter was who received from the Lands Department. The contents stated thst as toon as the plan and application were to hand the matter would receive full consideration. Ihe chairman said that the letters applied to some eight or nine chains of road which the Board intended to close. He had obtained legal advice in connection with the matter of the Board being paid by the settlers who take portions of the road over. It would be for the Board to collect the money. The clerk was instructed to attend to the matter. BELGIAN FUND. A receipt for tbo sura of £l7 8s Gd, together with a letter containing tbo committee's thanks to all the donors of subscriptions, was received from the Auckland Provincial Belgian Relief Fund. LOAN FOR BRIDGES. Owing to a printer's error that had crept into the advt. respecting the proposed loan of £-'3850 for the construction of bridges over the Wkanganiaire and Hiugaia creeks, the confirmation of the order authorising the loan was postponed to a special meotiug to be held on May Uth.

MEASUREMENT OF METAL. A letter was received from Mr J. H. Ferguson, contractor, stating instead of hiui only having crushed 268 yards of metal in Jamieson's quarry, as alleged, he had crushed at the least 1300 yards. He asked the Board to re-measure the metal.

Mr W. Barraclougli, carter, forwarded a report, stating that lie measured the metal in question and that it only measured 268 yards. The chairman said }hat it had been carted on to the Waiuku road. It was decided that the Board should measure the metal. ROAD MATTERS. It was decided to metal the unmetulled portion of the DiuryWaiuku road.—The chairman wai of the opinion that if the Board could not tinish it that the Franklin County Council would. The clerk was instructed to order a scow load of shingle for laying down on Sutton's road. Mr Glaston was empowered to attend to a pool of water lying near Mr Urquhart's property on the Drury-YVaiuku road. It was decided to order a scow load of shingle from Auckland for laying down on the "Waiau Pa road, the road to be rolled lirst and a skin of the shingle laid down afterwards. As it was possible that there would nut be enough shingle for blinding purposes for the -DruryWaiuku road it was decided to roll the metal on the road and blind as much as possible of the road with shingle and the balance with soft sandstone or dry clay. It was left to Mr Schlaepfer to arrange with the Board's engineer for the metalling of Station road, Paerata, and to decide whether it would be advisable to use the scoria that was on the side of the road. The clerk was instructed to take the necessary steps to have a piece (of about an acre) of Hartland's road (recently deviated) legally transferred. SUPPLY OF METAL. The ' chairman and Mr Glasson were appointed to inspect the metal on the beach on Mr Kidd's property, with the idea of securing the right to keep people from taking it. It was decided that they should meet for the purpose at Mr Glasson's property at 9.30 a in. on the following Friday. The clerk was instructed to notify the settlers interested as to the date of inspection.

RAILWAY DEPARTMENT'S CLAIM.

An account was received from tho Railway Department for £ll, for a plan drawn up in connection with the work of deviating « road at the Karaka crossing, near the Paoiata railway station, for tho purpose of erecting a bridge. The chairman was of tho opinion that the Board was not responsible. Mr Schlaepfer pointed out that that the Board had received a letter some few weeks back from the Railway Department, stating that if the Board would arrange for the legal

work, which was necessary in connection with the crossing, they (the Railway Department) would pay for tho plan. Tho clork was instructed to attend to tho mutter. PROPOSED NEW ROAD. Tho clerk reported that Mr Lind-

say had made representations to him for a new road to be constructed through Mr Muir's property to the Whangamaire and Hingaia road bridge. Mr Muir would be prepared to give the land for the road. The chairman stated that before the matter could be dealt with it would first be necessary for a petition, signed by the settlers of the Karaka settlement, to be presented to tho Board asking for the road. THE BOARD'S HORSES. The chairman was empowered to attend to the matter of arranging for either the hiring out or the selling of the Board's horses. The reason for this decision was that the carting of metal was nearly finished and there would be no more work for the horses after a few weeks until the spring, the high price of horse-feed not warranting the Board retaining the horses. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT.

Tne chairman made the following reports :—He had dismissed two ot the Board's men, because the Board had no further work for them and had the Board's oldest servant in charge of the teame. He had replaced one of the horses with one of his own, which was a much quieter horse. The Board's teams of four drays and horses were working well and at their present rate the metal carting would soon he finished. The explosives had all been shifted from the quarry. In connection with the laying of pipes on sections 19 and 32 it was found necessary for the man doing the work to stop and go into the quarry to assist therein. He had engaged a surfaceman for the roads, but he was not certain whether he had started work. It was his (the chairman's) opinion that later the Franklin County Council might pay the surfaceman's wages. The Franklin County Council would be attending to the Black bridge, on the main road, which in its then present condition was dangerous. Two clerks, together with the Board's clerk, were compiling a return of the payments of loan monies and were workirg satisfactorily. The refencing of some 15 to 20 chains of road on the Papakura side ol Beach road to Papakura road, which had been taken down in connection with the works of the new bridges, had been finished satisfactorily. The Hingaia bridge would be completed within ft period of two or three months. FINANCES. ; The bank overdraft on the general account was reported to be £216 with £35 cash in hand and half the rates outstanding. The clerk was instructed to press for payment of rates in arrears. HOUSEHOLDERS' MEETING. The householders' meeting was fixed for May 6th and the Eoad Board election for the following day.