KARAKA.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 186, 27 June 1916, Page 1

KARAKA.

KARAKA ROAD BOARD. The ordinary meeting of the Karaka Road Board, fixed for June 10th, was postponed till June 17th, when Messrs Batty (chairman;, Kidd, Jamieson and Schlaepfer were present. Mr Kidd reported very favourably on the proposed diversion of road through Messrs Urquhart Bros.' land, stating that he considered the new road would be decidedly less costly and better than the old one, besides being shorter.—The chairman and Mr Kidd were empowered to treat with Messrs Urquhart Bros, and to do anything else required to give effect to the alteration. Mr Jamieson was appointed to make arrangements for accommodating the Board's horses. Mr Kidd reported that the road through Glasson's was nearly blocked by fallen pine trees and stumps. As both sides of the road were being formed something would have to be done. The trees had spread on to the road by seed dropped from the adjoining plantation.—lt was agreed to remove the trees and stumps, also to find out if Mr Glasson was liable for the cost.

Mr Kidd reported a bad place on the same road between Mahaffy's and Lupton's, near the big swamp. —He was authorised to have the necessary work done. It was agreed to send a claim to the Franklin County Council for its share of the cost of the Hingaia and Whangamaire bridges.—Mr K. F. Moore, engineer, wrote "passing" the bridges, and stating that they should last many years without repairs. Letters were received from the District Fngineor relative to the railway crossing at the Karaka siding and the crossing a mile south of Paerata.

The Assistant-Engineer wrote with reference to the new road diversion through section 60 (Ostrich Company's property), stating that the Railway Department proposed to form about o chains at the Paerata end, but not to do any metalling and asking if the Board would agree to take the road over in that condi-

tion.—lt was agreod to reply that the road should be formed the whole length to the satisfaction of the Board. The chairman stated that the Audit Department objected to horses and plant being bought out of the .Road Improvement Loan. —Some discussion took phce with regard to selling the horses and devoting the proceeds to road improvements according to the allocations. Finally it was agreed to tranfer the cost of horses and plant, together with the cost of the engine and tramline at the quarry, to the General Account. It was agreed on the motion Of tlie v chairman to strike a general rate of 1] d at next meeting. This was considered necessary in order to pay off the existing overdraft (about £500), and to adjust the accounts relative to horses and plant, besides leaving sufficient for working expenses and interest on the Eoad Loan. It was agreed to charge 10 per cent on all overdue rates. It was resolved that any member or the clerk should be empowered to spend up to £5 on any urgent work. Various accounts were passed for payment, including a hnal amount of £o6o for the bridges.