KAUAERANGA HIGHWAY DISTRICT BOARD.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 186, 14 May 1872, Page 3

KAUAERANGA HIGHWAY DISTRICT BOARD.

A MEETING of the Kanaeranga Highway District Board was held yesterday evening, at the Secretary’s office, Sealey-street. Present: Mr Burgess, in the chair, and Messrs Mill, Lipsey, Wallnutt, Scott, Cameron (Engineer), and Perston (Secretary). The minutes of the previous meeting w r ere read and confirmed. RATES. Mr T. Boyle objected to being rated for 1870 for an allotment in Bailey-street, which he said did not belong to him, nor w r as it in his possession. The Chairman said there had been evidently a mistake made by the Valuator, and that the summons would be withdrawn, pending inquiries w ith a view' to saddle the right owners. Mr T. B. Cameron complained that he had been served with a summons for a rate on an allotment in Pollen-street, which was not in his ownership or occupation. He had paid all that he was entitled to pay, and he thought it was Mr Perston’s fault that he had been summonsed, as it had been understood that the matter was to be settled. The allotment belonged to a gentleman at Cambridge. Mr Scott said it was understood that this was to be struck off. The Chairman said if Mr Cameron’s name was on the roll he must pay, according to the magistrate’s ruling.

In reference to natives’ rates, the Chairman suggested that Mr Grace should be employed to collect them. - There was about £SO due from the natives, which should be got in. With reference to the footpath in Hape Road, it was stated that the promised £lO from Mr West had not been paid in, but that it would, no doubt, be forthcoming shortly, on Mr West’s return from Auckland, when the work would be proceeded with. The Chairman said he had made arrangements with Mr Bull relative to a crossing in Bull’s Lane, so as to give access to Karaka Road, the Board to put down crossing and drain, and to pay 37s towards expenses. POUNDKEEPER. Mr Lipsey said he did not think Mr G. Wilson was a fit and proper person for poundkeeper. Ho had been, frequently complained of on former occasions by Mr Bullen, and could not read or write ; and there were other objections. Mr Scott said Mr Wilson’s tender had been accepted, as his was the highest tender. He had formerly been poundkeeper, appointed by the Superintendent, and put the pound up himself, and he had got £35 compensation for loss of office. Mr Lipsey said Mr Wilson’s appointment was a public injustice, and ought to be rescinded. The Secretary said Mr Wilson had taken charge of the pound, and was in possession of the keys. The Chairman said the Board had power to rescind the resolution passed at last meeting. Mr LirsEY then moved that the resolu-

tion appointing Mr Wilson poundkeeper be rescinded. Mr Mill seconded the resolution on the ground that he thought Mr Bryant’s would be a better appointment. On Mr Lipsey’s motion being put to the vote it was lost by the casting vote of the Chairman, and Mr Wilson’s appointment therefore stands. Mr LirsEY said it was personally a matter of indifference to him, but he had acted as he thought was his duty. RATES. Mr Siierson waited upon the Board, asking how he might get his name struck off the assessment roll, and also when anything was going to be done to the roadway in Murphy’s Lane. The Chairman informed Mr Sherson that he could appeal against the next rate at the proper time, and that £1 10s of rates, supplemented by another £1 10s, should be laid out in Murphy’s Lane. Mr Cantell, of Rolleston-street, objected to his rating, and was informed that he ought to have appealed at the proper time. He was recommended to pay, and then make arrangements with the freeholdex - .

Mr Cantell paid the amount, £1 2s. Mr Morgan said he had to complain of the Secretary having summoned him for rales for 1870, for property in Willoughby - street. The Chairman said Mr Morgan’s name being on the roll, he must pay. Mr Thackeray objected to being rated for 8s 4d for property in Sealey-street, a portion of which he had paid, .and considered he had been rated too high, and was not in possession when the rate was struck. The Chairman said the property was assessed at the same rate as adjoining properties, hut next year he could appeal. Mr C. F. Mitchell said he had acted for Mr Morgan in appealing against that gentleman’s rate. Mr Morgan was a tenant of his. In a similar case the Waiotahi Board had withdrawn the rate. The Secretary said he remembered the circumstance, but by some oversight the matter had not been brought before the Board. The Chairman said the ruling of the Magistrate’s Court was that if the name was on the roll the rate must be paid. parawai main road. Office of the Parawai District Board, May 13, 1872. Sir,—On behalf of the Parawai District Board, I have the honour to draw your attention to the state of the main road in your district, leading from the Courthouse at Shortland to the Parawai boundary. This Board has recently been in communication with the Superintendent with a view to enforce the provisions of the “ Highway Boards Empowering Act, 1871,” in regard to this road, but at the last moment they hesitated to take further steps, in consequence of certain works having been commenced by your Board which this Board believed would be satisfactory. But this Board now finds that the works recently executed _ by your Board are incomplete and unsatisfactory ; that the road is still not a sufficient road within the meaning of the said Act, inasmuch as it is barely practicable for the increased traffic of the two districts, and will, in the opinion of this Board, as the winter progresses, become impassable. I therefore beg to urge that your Board will, without delay, take such measures as will insure the connection of the two districts by a practical metalled road, that is to say, a “ sufficient road ” within the meaning of the Act. —I am, &c., Joseph Banks, Chairman Waiotahi District Board. To the Chairman Kauaeranga District Board.

The Chairman said it was a hard case that they should be thus troubled with the Parawai Board. The Secretary said the Act gave the Superintendent power to have the Government grant expended on main roads, and they could reply that the money so obtained had been expended already on a main road to Parawai, viz., Pollen-street. The Secretary was instructed to reply to this effect. TRAMWAY. Mr D. Grove asked for permission to construct a tramway from Grove’s Battery along Mill-street, to Richmoud-street and Augustus-street. The Chairman said he doubted whether the Board had the power to grant the permission, at the same time he quite approved of these tramways and would make no objection. Mr Lipsey moved that the Engineer be instructed to visit the proposed line of tramway and report upon it. Mu Scott seconded the motion which was carried.

THE GRANT IN AID. Mr Wallnutt said the time was getting near when the term of office of the Board would expire and that it was necessary if possible to obtain without delay the subsidy from the Superintendent. Mr Scott said he thought a deputation should be appointed to wait upon his Honor on the subject. The Chairman said he understood that the Superintendent was absent from Auekland, but it was very necessary to get an answer from him as soon as possible. „ The chairman and Mr. "Wallnutt were appointed a deputation to go up to Auck- , laud to see his Honor the Superintendent.

recreation ground. Mr Lipsey said if something was not done in reference to theiproposod recreation ground the land would be all bought up by private parties. He thought it a shame that the matter had been so long neglected. It was resolved that} the deputation appointed to wait upon the Superintendent should wait upon the Executive in reference to this question. in re workman. It was stated that no answer had been received from Mr McCormick, barrister, in reference to Mr Workman’s case. The Secretary was requested to write to Mr McCormick. BELLA STREET. The Chairman said if the Waiotahi Board would repair Bella street it would assist the Board very much. He believed the batteries in the neighbourhood would assist. The Secretary was requested to write to the Waiotahi Board on the subject. finance. It was stated that there was £356 13s in the bank, and they could draw for £43 6s 4d. A labor account of £2B 15s 6d was ordered to be paid. The Boanj then adjourned until Monday next.