NEWCASTLE ROAD BOARD.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 246, 12 February 1898, Page 2

NEWCASTLE ROAD BOARD.

The ordinary meeting of the above Hoard was held at the Office, Ohote, on Wednesday. Present: Messrs Corboy (Chairman), Clow and Shepherd.

Infectious Disease.—A communication under the Public Health Act was received from Dr. Brewis notifying the existence of infectious diseise at Stone'g farm, Te Kowhai.—lt was decided that the chairman and some m mbers of the Board should visit the place during the coming week and report at the next meeting.

Condolence.—A resolution was pissed directing that a letter of condolence bo sent to Mrs Bycroft, senr., expressing the sympathy of the Board in her sad bereavement, the late Mr J. J. Bycroft, her son, having been a nember of the Board in former years, retiring from it to take up the more onerous duties of County Councillor for the district. McCredie's Road. The Chairman reported having, in company with other members, inspected the above road, for the improvement of which Mr McCrcdic has made repeated applications, and recommended that about £!2 be expended in culverts, pipes, small cuttings, etc.—lt tvas decided to do the work, tenders for this and other works to be in by next meeting of the Board. Shrswe's Road.—Owing to extra work having to be done, it was deeided to add 15s to Mr \V. Wilcox's payment.

Pukete Road.—This had been m« spected since the last meeting, and it was decided to have a few chains of forming done, also the three aud flix cleared along the side of the road. Hunt's Bridge.—Mr Clow was autho riscd to obtain a quantity of bridge planking for Hunt's bridge at To Kowhai.

Repairs. —Mr Shepherd called attention to the state of the road and outfall dia'ns at his end of the district.—lt was dicided to have them cleaned out, Mr • Shepherd to pay half the cost of the outfall drain through his land. Tenders.—The following tenders were received for works lately advertised by the Board (under the rcheme of thirds) : No. I—Draining near Mr Blaekett's farm: W. "Wilcox, os per chain; J. Charleston, 4s 3.1 (accepted). No. 2 Formation, etc., on Sanlsbrey's and McKeown's road : H. Booth—formation, 4s 3d per chain ; earthwork, 8:1 per yard ; drains, 5s pur chain ; culvert, £3 ss. Thos. Jones—formation, 2s lOd chain ; eaithwork, yard; dra ; ns, 2s 6d chain ; culvert, £1 10j (accepted). Accounts.—The following accounts were passed : Thos. Jones, £2 10s ; A. Cranston, 13s Cd ; W. Mawhinney, £1 4s; Jos. Frear, £1 Is; WaikatoArgus, £1 10s.

Rating on Unimproved Values.—At the conclusion of the meeting a discussion took place re adopting " Rating on Unimproved Values Act," letters having been recently sent by the Board to the Waipa County Council" and the Ngaruawahia Town Board requesting their cooperation in bringing the matter to a succ?ssful issue, but no answers ha,4 yet been received. In view of the recent failure to carry a poll in adjacent districts, mainly owing to the apathy of resident ratepayers, it was decided, if the answer fiom the Council was favourable, to personally canvass the ratepayers and ascertain in something Ike a definite manner whether . such a poll could be carried, as should any doubt exirt on the point it would be better to defer the movement for a time rather than have the proposal rejected, and be debarred from taking any steps for three years. Seldom has the apathy and indifference, with which settlers generally treat matters affecting their oaii welfare, been more s'rikingly illustrated than in this rejection of an alteration in the system of rating, which, if brought into force, would hive the immediate effect of spreading that amount of local taxation ; now levied on their own individual improvement, over the whole of the land in the district, which, no doubt, is the object aimed at in the Act.