UPPER WANGAEHU ROAD BOARD.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 5 July 1917, Page 5

UPPER WANGAEHU ROAD BOARD.

ORDINARY MEETING. • , P The ordinary meeting of the Upper Wangaehu Road Board was held yesterday, in the Clerk’s office, Taihape, at which a considerable amount or routine business was transacted. Mr. Pedersen was in the chair. Mr. Dixon raised the question of arranging for more convenient accommodation for travelling stock. He suggested that Mr. Collier might be willing to allow a piece of his land to be fenced off for the purpose. If so, it would provide a convenience and save stock being taken some distance out of their way. The chairman asked Mr. Collier,, who is a member of the Board, whether iie would give a lease of the piece of. land for the purpose. There was no accommodation now between Rangiwaea and Ruanui. Mr, Collier said it would benefit stock travelling north, that would be going out of their way in going up to his house. He was quite agreeable to allow the yards to be fenced. ~ ‘He would give no lease because that piece of land was the only building site on the property, but if ever he sold he would load with the value of the fence erected. It that Mr. Collier’s offer be aecepteffT'and that Mr; Dixon, the chairman, and the Foreman decide upon the size of the yards and on other matters in connection with their erection. It was resolved that tenders he cawed at once for quarrying 150 yards of shell rock metal on the Wairuhe Rd.

A SEPARATE COUNTY. A lengthy discussion took place on the Upper Wangaehu Road District’s relationship with the Wanganui County Council, Mr. Darbyshire, clerk ,of the Wanganui Council” Being present. Mr. Pedersen pointed out that the Board now levied a three-farthing rate for the whole of its works and a id rate to the County from which they got no benefit, or very little. He was of opinion that as the Hoard was jin this position and as it had to keep up roads in addition for which they got no rates, But which also went to the County, it would be distinctly profitable for them to form a new County Taihape as a'centre. * On being questioned, Mr. Darbyshire admitted that was the position, but he contended that the County did - not benefit, and he quoted figures in support of his views. Pressed for his personal opinion, he said he thought it would be distinctly to the advantage of property-owners in the Upper iWangaehu district and others surrounding it to establish a new county. It was a fact that the Board was contributing to a County plant from which it could get no benefit, the same applied to costs' of staff. Mr. Pedersen asked if it would not be more just to debit the costs of the Engineer and'similar outlay to those parts of the County that benefitted Mr. Darbyshire said that could not be done, so long as the Upper Wangaehu was a part of the County it would have to contribute its share whether it could benefit by the expenditure or not. If the Beard merged into the County “e County roadroller and other machinery could be used, provided it could be got in to'"the district, but that was very doubtful. It was an unfair position no doubt. The chairman' remarked that the

evidence went strongly to prove that would be most beneficial to form a new county, and he did not think a member of the Board could have any other opinion.—Chorus of assent. Mr. Darbyshire admitted that was the best proposal, both for the Board and the .County. Mr. Collier asked what proportion the Board had to pay towards office administration. Mr. Darbyshire said the Board would contribute about £SO to the clerk’s salary, "$"100 to the Engineer’s and about £IOO to other expenses. This was a hardship to the Board’s ratepayers, but in penalising them- ' selves they also penalised the County. It was resolved that immediate steps be taken towards forming a separate County, so that money paid by ratepayers would be spent in the make and upkeep' of their own roads. It was pointed out that the rates from Mount View Road, Ruanui Road, and other roads went to the County, while the Board had the expense of their upkeep. The £991 the Board paid to the with the £l7O "subsidy thereon was practically a total loss To the Bojird, excepting that the B’oard’s Hospital levy was paid out .of it. ’> ' 1 Mr. Darbyshire said the County was ,i4entitled to £2084 subsidy on the "Crates levied last year, buTlt only got £875. By the Board being in the County the County were losers by £523.