KARAKA.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 110, 19 November 1915, Page 4

KARAKA.

A meeting of ratepayers was called by Mr Batty, chairman of tne Road Board, for the night of Monday, October 25tb, to consider the question of a special rate tor the benefit nf wounded soldiers, but owing to the excessively wet weather the meeting lapsed.

A special meeting of the Road Board was held un October 28th, for the same object, the members present being Messrs Batty, Kidd, Macpberson and Sutton. The chairman proposed that a special rate of a farthing in the £ be collected for the purpose, and be offered to give 10a for every pound collected by the Board. It was explained that the proposed rate, not being authorised by any Act, would not be compulsory. It was agreed, on the motion of the chairman, seconded by Mr Sutton, that the Board should levy the rate at its next meeting, viz., on November 13 th.

At the special meeting certain formalities were also gone tbtough in connection with a (him for damagv to land through a road being taken through it to give access to the Hingaia bridge, which it was agreed to contest. It was fuithsr decided to gt Mr Lockie Gannon, onsihing engineer, to draw up specifications for a bridge un HearJ's road, over the Whargamaire creek, and then to eall for tenders. KARAKA ROAD BOAD.

Ihe ordinaiy monthly meetine was held on Novc it *r 13 th. Present—Messrs Batty, s rman, Kidd, Macpherson and Schi«.'pfer.

Rate for Wounded Sol tiers.

With regard to the special rate of one farthing for wounded soldier?, which was formally passed, the chairman said it seemed tub? the most expeditious way of raising the money. The rate was rot compulsory, but in hoped all the same it would bring in close on £2OO. In the case of ratepayers having sons at the front it was agreed to send a receipted account for the rate.

Span ling Contract,

Only one tender was received for the spawling contract as adveitieed. The chairman was empowered to accept the tender or make other arrangements'. This referred to the supply of 500 or 1000 yards of spawls from the Beard's quarry near Paerata.

Chairman's Report.

The chairman reported that owing to the bad weather nothing bad been don2 about Heard's road. He bad engaged a roadman at £'6 a week and was ttying to get another, but men were harJ to piocutc. He had instructed the road man to start work on the road from Olassons' to iatea and Co.'s Corner, near Lindesay's, which would be the rosd from Waiau to Papabuta when the bridges were open. Hingaia Bridge Road.

Mr Yates wrote asking the B arc] to straighten the icad on the Papakura side of the Hingaia bridge. Members agreed that tnere were no funds to spare for the purpose, bat that the question might be considered if tht parties desirous of the change would pay the expenses themselves. Karaka Quota to the County.

Daring a discussion on the relations between this district and the FranKlin County Council, Mr Batty said that the Council, when this year's ratea were collected, woul.d have, with the previous Uo years' rates, close on £2OOO collected from Karaka. . He would like to see that £2OOO back on the roads in the district before merging. The Board geoerally seemed to be of the same opinio?.

Ostrich Farm Development. Mr Scblarpfer sobmi t d a plin of tosds to be opened through the Ostrich Company's property, which he asked the Board to take over. Mr Scblaepfer havhg lelt the matter in the hands of the other members, it was unanimously agreed to take over the roads provided they were formed, graded and bridged 10 the satisfaction of the Board. Closing of a Road. The clerk submitted a plan showing a portion ol road to be closed between sections 20 and 33, Mr K. Ulasson's property, and a portion to be opened through section 20, thus deviating the road tr:m the Waiau direction to give access to the Lew Whangamaire bridge, now being built.

It wa* agreed to give effect under the Land Act to the alterations shown on the plan.

Miscellaneous.

. Mr W. Bremner attended about the dispute regarding the quantity of metal supplied by bim on the Waiuku road, between the railway crossing by Macpheraon's and the Karaka-Opabeke boundary.

The chairman undertook to write to Mr Gannon asking bim to give Mr Bremner every information in the matter.

A letter was received from the Public Works Department stating that grants woulJ not be available until the new loan was obtained. In reply to an enquiry by the chairman, another letter was received stating that that did nt apply to the subsidy on the Hingaia and Wbargamaue bridges, the monev having been voted last year. A letter was received from the Right Hon. W. F. Massey, M.F., relative io the Runciman station.