EAST TAMAKI.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 272, 4 May 1917, Page 4

EAST TAMAKI.

RATEPAYERS' ANNUAL MEETING. \rf;r;<;ix<i motion hj-;jectkd. The annual meeting of ratepayers of ihf East Tamaki Road District was held in flu* East Tamaki Hall on Tuesday Inst, when about 40 ratepayers were present. Mr. A. Harris (chairman of the Road Board) occupied the chair. The Board's balance-sheet for the year ending March 31st showed receipts amounting to £IOSB 9s (including balance brought forward £304 9s Bd, rates £54.1 19s Id. Government subsidy £3l ss. heavy traffic permits £64 2s. grazing fees £4O 10s, dog tax £49 7s fid) and expenditure £1046 8s (the chief item beinp £B3O Is 10s spent an repairs and maintenance of roads and bridges), leaving a credit balance of £l2 Is. The Board's assets were set down at £155 14s Id, irrespective of £l2O value of reserves, etc , less liabilities £l3 Is 2d, whilst £2752 2s 'id represents the net figure owing <>n loans. Mr. Leigliton asked for a definition of the item £4 4s for " ofiiee," and the clerk (Mr. Alec Bell) explained that it was for stationery. Mr. E. Blake remarked on the large amount—£2o—charged up tor furniture, and Mr. Bell, in reply, stated :hat the Board's office, together with chairs, etc., were included in the'sum. Mr. D. Jarvey asked what amount had been spent on the roads on Winter's estate, as the work would ail have to be dune over again, the water trouble being as bad as ever.—The chairman stated that about £.30 had been spent there, but that in the near future a proper system of drainage would have to be put in on Winter's estate.

Mr. Blake asked for an account of expenditure on the roads in each separate division for the year, and Mr. Bell explained that all divisions worked together, no separate boundaries being laid out —The chairman remarked that since the advent of the County Council it had been impossible to lay out any satisfactory boundaries. Mr. Blake next enquired as to what amount had been spent on Spring Hill, near Ellison's property. He considered that the job was very unsatisfactory, as the water 'overflowed the

road on the last heavy rains.—The : clerk announced that £G(i 10s had been j -spent on this road.

Mr. Eccles: I have been informed j that the cost was £IOO. i The chairman: That is not so. The , amount as stated is correct. • , There was some hot " cross-fire " at I this stage, and the chairman explained ■ that on account of the heavy growth • of water-cress in the creeks at Elli-, son's property it was impossible to ;

drain the road properly, and that if pipes were put in they would be continually getting blocked. Mr. Blake: What will be the finished cost? The chairman: 1 am unable to say. All I know is that the ratepayers m that part are well pleased with the job, and were very glad to get it, done. Mr. R. Eccles asked if Mr. Harris had carried out his promises this year,

as Mr. Brown's road had been left undone and was in a shocking state. Mr. Harris replied that Mr. Brown had approached him and had stated

that he could not get anything done when Mr. Eccles was chairman cf the Board. * ' Mr. Eccles: What has become of the farthing rate? Mr. Harris: When 1 went into the Board as chairman 1 did not take into consideration the increased cost of labour and the hard matter of getting the work done on account of the shortage of men. 1 have made mistakes, 1 admit, and I consider he is a good man who acknowledges his mistakes. Mr. Eccles: Your end has reaped all

the benefit. Mr. Sutcliffe complained about the bad state of his road, and said that with the exception of a few loads of metal nothing had been done to the road for years. Mr. White replied that the metal was on the road waiting for spreading, and that when completed the road would be in fair order. On a question being asked bv Mr. Eccles as to what was the cost of spreading scoria from the Hoard office to Findlay's corner, Mr. !•'. Water-, in reply, stated that the job had cost far too much, and that the ratepayers had lost about CP> in consequence. However, as soon as the Board saw what was going on they decided to discharge the man who was doing the work. Labour was very scarce, and they had trouble to get good men. Mr. Scott enquired if licenses w< re still issued for cows to graze on roads in tin l district. He and many other residents on Winter's estate, lie said, were pestered with one particular c< w that was allowed to stray at night on the roads. At this stage there was much amusing discussion, several of the residents of Winter's estate relating narrow es-

capes from broken limbs, etc.. through falling over the cow, who would persist in lying on the footpaths. The chairman replied that licen-es were still issued, and that if cows were allowed to stray at night the residents had their own remedy. Mr. Scott proposed, and Air. Gnrnliaiu seconded. thai the meeting should recommend the incoming Board that 110 licenses be granted for grazing in the thickly populated areas.- This motion was carried, and the balance sled was 1 lion adopted. The meeting endorsed the action of I lie Board in taking over the hall and

fennis courts, there being no dissentients. Mr. Eccles moved, and Mr. T. Chapman seconded, that the incoming Board should be recommended to take steps to have the Road Board merged in the County Council, but ..11 being put to the meeting this motion was lost by a large majority.

A vote of thanks to the chairman c iicluded the meeting. EAST TAMAKT ROAD BOARD. The monthly meeting of East. Tam-

nlci Road Board was held in the Public Hall on Monday last. I'ro.-ont: Messrs. A. Harris (in the chair), ('. \Yalhuv, A. Sharpe, ■). While. and K. Wafer-, The chairman reported that up to date no communication had been received from Mr. (.». (I; 11> 1 > in rclerence tn \v«•rkincr on the roads in tho district. A letter was received from Mr. E. Murray in reference I" improving the load between Messrs. E. Blake's and .1. White's properties. The chairman pp poserl. and Mr. Sharp second'd. and it was agreed that, a reply lie sent to Mr. E. Murray statinir that no tiiouev was available for the road at presenl. Mi. ('. Dixon, foreman of works of tin- Manukau County Council. wrote ;i -kill'-! for the use of 1 he Board's up ■( a I drays for two weeks, and the l'e< 11K'sl was acceded to. Mr. Sharp reported on the had state of the hridcre on Murphy's lane, and it was ri'.-olved th;i' the Board's engineer should draw out plans and specifications for a new hrid'je to he erected shortly. A letter was received from Mr. 11. fireen .'H to the price tendered l»v him for hiiildinir of the roadman' : cotl.'c.'e. and asking that an additional IM m- should l.e allowed him as the ! price of material had advanced -ince his 'jiviiv/ a i|iiotation. This would !»i i>the <-oiHi-ii<-t price up to t;H<i, 10-. which Mr. II Criei-on, archileet. ( ci.i' '■'••red wc- a very ••easonahle i pr'ee ft wa' retired on the motion 1 , I Mr I Wc. L. cede,! 1,-. Mi

Walla..', thai the building rt tin: . 'jtUtL'ft lie left- in abeyance, but that if !„■ lab n iiii" ''"'li id.'rati.>n al nn .-,llly date. .'i r.ply to be foiwaided 1,, \|f. < Jr. . II In th.lt -ff.'Ct. 11l 111.' mali-er <>i an appeal man the Y.M.C.A. Citizens' Committee I'ur support to the ~p.ci.al fund being raised for war work. Mr. Waters proposed. Mr. Shai|M' seconded. and it was a'-reed. that, a subscription list rdiuuld br ..peiied beaded by a subscription from the Board 'f £lO. On accoiini of the da mace done to roads bv heavy cartinc: it was decided, on tiie motion <.f Mr. Sharpe, seconded by Mr. Harris, that the wheel tax of i ne shillimr for four-inch tyres and two shillings for narrow tyres should be strictly enforced. Mr. R. Bjown. farmer, attended and asked that twenty load- rf metal should lie put on Rattray's Hill, as the road there was in a very had state. The' request was "ranted. Mr. Brown volunteering t" do the spreadIt was decided to prosecute all persons who had received notice and had not removed the noxious weeds off the roads near their properties. A resolution was passed autliorisinc the clerk to insert in the "Times" all of the Board's advertisement^. On the ion of Mr Waters, seconded by Mr. Wallace, a vote of thank- wiis passed to the chairman (Mr. A. Harris) for the able manner in which he had carried out his duties duriir-f the pa-t year.-Mr. Harris, in reply, stated that be had done his best in the interest of the district, and although they had had a few differences, he hoped that thev would be forgotten and that the same good I feel in? would continue in the future as had existed in the past. ! The following accounts were parsed ! for pavment. viz.: State Advances, I £24 7s fid; Manukau County Council. ; £fi2 10s 7d: John Eindlay. C 3 2s: W. • Baverstock. CI 13s; Frank Eindlay.

e.'ir, ; A. Rutledsre. cn ins. Th<* annual meeting of householders wan held in the schoolroom on Monday, Mr G. Ward presiding. The report and balance-sheet was read and adopted. Messrs D. Archibald (chairman', W. Brown, J. T. Hemming, W. Page, J. McKenzie, and McCowen (secretary and treasurer) were elected as the comm'ttee.