KAUAERANGA HIGHWAY BOARD.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 198, 28 May 1872, Page 3

KAUAERANGA HIGHWAY BOARD.

A meeting of this Board was held last night, at the office Sealy-street. Present —Messrs Burgess, chairman; Wallnutt, Scott, the Secretary, and Engineer to the Board. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. Mr Scott stated that he had no report to give as to the Recreation Ground, he had done his best to see Mr Mackay when he was here last, hut was not able to do so, nor was Mr Lipsey any more successful. With regard to the Bailie street bridge, the Chairman had seen Mr Vickery, and it had been arranged that the Board should pay £lO in kind, and £2 10s in labor if the Waiotahi Board would do the same. Mr Vickery to supply the rest. The bridge had been already made and was now passable for drays, although not quite finished. It was a good strong substantial bridge, and might be added to at any time and enlarged at a trifling expense. Mr Wallnutt stated that numerous complaints had been made regarding the bad state of the Pollen-street footpath, and he would propose that the Engineer be instructed to see to it as soon as possible. Mr Scott said that there were several other jobs about the town, and he would wish to know first how many men the Engineer was to have at work.

Mr Wallnutt added to his motion that the Engineer should keep on the number he had employed at the present time, until all these jobs be done, as by expending a few shillings now many pounds might be saved by-and-by. Mr Ailett waited on the Board, and wished to know at what Mr Pritchard’s premises in Pollep-street were assessed. vThe Chairman explained that the Freemasons liad been assessed for half the rates, and that Mr Ailett had been requested to pay the other half, but that he thought the Freemasons should pay the whole.

The Secretary stated that Mr Tyler had given it as his opinion that whoever was in possession in August when the assessment roll was made out was liable. Mr Ailett stated that the masons were using the premises in August, and that consequently the masons were liable. The Secretary explained that the Act said that the occupier was the man liable for rates, aud that both the masons and Air Ailett were occupying the building, so that both were liable for rates. . • Mr Wallnutt said that if the Board would wait until after a meeting of the Lodge of Masons he would bring the matter before them, and see if they were willing to pay the whole of the rates ; for half of the rates" lib knew they were liable. r -- P

The followihg financial statement was read :—Rates, for 1870, collected, £3 13s 4£d ; for 1871, £2O 16s lOd; £24 10s. Balance due l>y the Board, £355 6s 8d ; and accounts paid, £3B 18s 6d, leaving an overdraft of £269 14s ll£d. The assets of the Board amounted to £867 10s 3£d, of which, however, several items were considered very doubtful, in fact, might be put down as no good. The Chairman said that they had to pay £l3 18s for labour, which would leave a balance of £l6 '2s to pay something else with. It was resolved to pay off some of the small accounts due for some time past with this balauce.

The Chairman stated that Mr Grace had promised to see the natives immediately, and arrange with them as to the payment of their rates, if the Secretary would call on him. This the Secretary was instructed to do. * correspondence. A letter was read from Mr Millet, forwarding the account for £37 15s 4d, for work done by the Board in Rollestonstreet, which he had approved of. It was resolved to forward the voucher to the Superintendent, and ask him to forward the money as soon as possible. It was resolved to send it through the bank, together with the voucher already in their hands, which would make the amount up to £SOO, which the Board was to receive from the Provincial Govern ment. A letter was read from Mr Scherff in answer to a summons which he had received for rates levied on the allotment held by him in Willoughby-strect, but possession of which he had given up in October, 1869. He stated that he would defend the action if the summons case was not withdrawn, which wouldhe attended with great expense to the Board. It was stated that the allotment had lain idle for a long time past, and was not held now by any one. It was resolved to withdraw the case, Mr Sciicrff to be informed of the fact. Mr Scott would like the Board’s opinion as to whether they should appoint a Ranger for the district or not, but it was resolved to let the matter rest.

The Chairman thought that now that their term of office was nearly expired, they ought to proceed to put things in order for their successors. Owing to the action of the Superintendent in not paying the £SOO to the Board they would have tt» hand over several works to do which thej r would otherwise have commenced themselves. He would recommend that they fix the day of election for the next Board at as early a date as possible. Mr Scott proposed that, if possible, they should hold'the election on the Bth of July. The Chairman agreed with this, because he thought that the new Board might be able to commence work at once by getting an overdraft of £SOO, which they themselves could not do now, as it would be leaving their successors a debt. They themselves had done the same thing. Mr Scott proposed that Messrs Burgess and Wallnutt draw up the report to be presented to the annual meeting of ratepayers. This was agreed to. Some discussion took place as to the action of the Superintendent with regard to taking away a portion of this dis.rict and annexing it to the Parawai district. It was thought it would be best to leave the matter to the people resident on the ground in question as to whether thej r would agree to the proposed annexation, and it would be better to leave the matter over till after the adjourned meeting of Parawai ratepayers had been held, which was adjourned until Thursday next.

The Board then adjourned. The meetings of this Board will be held weekly, until the election of the new Board in July next, instead of fortnightly as heretofore.