WAIOTAHI HIGHWAY BOARD.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 165, 19 April 1872, Page 3

WAIOTAHI HIGHWAY BOARD.

A meeting of the above Board was held at tho Governor Bowen yesterday afternoon. Present—Messrs Davies (Chairman) Gudgeon, Dowden, MUtobcris, the Engineer, and Secretary. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. EMPLOYMENT OF PRISON LAO OCT.. According to notice of motion given at the previous meeting of the Board, Mr Gudgeon proposed, “ That this Board take steps to have put at its disposal the prison labour of the Thames.” The proposer said he thought the Board would derive a great benefit £rom the prisoners in repairing the roads, and cleaning the culverts. The motion was seconded by Mr Dowden. The Chairman said lie would like to hear Mr Gudgeon speak of the benefits derivable from the employment of prison labour. Mr Gunn eon, in speaking in support of bis motion, said that in nearly all the towns in New Zealand where lie had. been be invariably noticed prison labour employed on Mi s’reefs. I n Whanganui and Wellington piison labour was employed to a great extent, and to a great advantage. Perhaps not a cleaner or healthier town could be found in New Zealand than AV liunganui, where the prisoners worked repairing the streets live days in the week, and on Saturday were employed in sweeping the town. The. men were encouraged by the offering of a stick of tobacco if they worked well, which they did. ’t he Chairman' did not agree with Mr Gudgeon’s view. He thought prison labour would he just as expensive as ordinary free labour. The additional expense of employing-special constables (which he had no doubt the Board would have to do,) and the proportionately small amount ol work that could be got out of prisoners, together considering the larger number of prisoners to he under sentence for drunkenness, they might expect siill hss work from them.

Sub-Inspector Bru.EN attended the meeting oi the Board by the invitation of the Chairman to give his opinion on the matter.

Mr Bullion said it would depend entirely upon what method the Board intended to use the prison labour. If the Board wished theprisoneiS to break metal within the gaol yard, then the yard would have to be enlarged. In that ease one waidor would be su.'lieieut to guard the prisoners, hut if a gang of six was let outside, the gaol two warders would be required. The warders received £lO9 per annum. Mr Bidleu thought that any extra expense incurred wotdd be paid outof the local revenue, and not from the immediate funds of the Board. The number of prisoners continued at bhortland are invariably small, owing to the fact that all piisoners who are sentenced to three months’ imprisonment are sent to Auckland, as they can be kept at Mount Eden for nearly one-half of what it requires to keep a prisoner here, lie thought the average number of men available would be about six all tlic year around. Drunkards, who were sentenced, to 48 hours’ imprisonment, would be oi: little or no use to the Board, as the men. would be unable to do much work after 1 intoxication.

The Chairman said he quite agreed witln Mr Bullen. Even if the Board did get tho labourfor nothing, there would b'e the salary of: a warder, and then on the other hand, the. Board would be getting labour for which the province had to pay. But ii: such expense would be paid out of tho local revenue of the place, he thought the Board would then have a claim on prison labour. And then again the limited number of prisoners at their disposal was also a matter to take into consideration, as tli". oilier Highway Boards were sure to go in for prison labour. If they did the proportion to each Board would be very small indeed. Mr Gudgeon said as to the matter of the prisoners being distributed between the various Boards, the. best manner to settle that wotdd be to have the prisoners week about in rotation, and the whole of the Boards to support one warder. lie thought that the Auckland people would be. only too glad for us to keep our own prisoners clown here. Ihe Engineer said that all the work tout would be done by t> prisoners and the wages of a warder added wotdd amount to about H' ", me as the employment of 2 free liuioiir m< . He did not think it ivoulil be piofitable to the Board to engage prison labour in breaking stone i;i the prison as the cartage to Grahamstown would cost as much if not morethan it was worth.

Mr Bullen said he did not think the Board would derive any benefit from the employment of prison labour owing to the limited amount that could be placed at their disposal. Mr Cullen then withdrew, and was thanked by the Board for his attendance and information. On the suggestion of the Chairman, Mr Gudgeon withdrew his motion for the purpose of'further discussion at the next meeting of the Board. ratepayer’s grievance. Mr Chas. Saunders waited on the Board to state that he had an execution in his house for a sum of’ rates that had' been settled by Mr’Dowden as agent for the properly. The Secretary stated that Air Saunders had been sued for Gs Gd, and the balance was for costs in tin* ease against him in re Air Dowdcn’s settlement. The settlement of 15s 3d was made after the case had been beau], and the costs incurred. The Board authorised the execution to he staved, and the ratepayer to pay 5s per week. estimates. The estimates for repairs, &c„ to certain streets were referred to the next meeting. STANDPIPE. The Chairman said the Provincial Go-

vernment had been prompt in erecting a standpipe at the corner of Queen-street j and Coehrane-slrcet, which was a'sn to serve for the purpose of Hushing the newly formed cidveit in Coclirnue-street. DEVIATION OF THE WAIOTAIII CREEK. The Secretary stated that ho had consulted Mr Tyler, solicitor, on the deviation of the Waiotahi Creek, towards which the Caledonian Company had offered £I(JU, and Mr Tyler said they would have to negotiate with the Geneial Government. The matter was deferred. TENDERS. Tenders were opened for the forming of a culvert from Queen-street to Pollenstreet along the south side of Coehranestreet. The tender of Messrs AlcAndrew and Jiles, for £49 10s, was accepted. HOUR OF MEETING. Air Gudgeon intimated his intention at the next meeting of the Board to propose that the Board sit at 7 o’clock p.m. instead of 4 p.m. CORRESPONDENCE. The following letter was read : “ Superintendent’s Office, “Auckland, 15th Apiil, 1872. “To the Chairman of the Waiotahi Highway Board, “Sir, —I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated the 25th ult., covering copy of one received by yen from Dr Lethbridge, reporting cases of typhoid fever at Grahamstowu, and in replying have to inform you that the Governor has not yet signified his assent to the ‘ Alunieinal Police Act Amendment Act, 1871,’ nor does it appear likely that his assent will be given, tiie AttorneyGeneral having taken exception to the provisions enabling the Superintendent or the Highway Board to make bye-laws as ulirn rl.-cs. “The question raised by your Board ns to the bye-laws submitted by them can be taken as made under the Highways Boards Empowering Act ’ is under consideration, and the insult will he communicated to you without delay. “ I have. Ac., “John Sheehan, “ Goldfields Secretary.” The meeting then terminated.