CAMBRIDGE ROAD BOARD.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 316, 19 July 1898, Page 4

CAMBRIDGE ROAD BOARD.

The above Board met on Saturday. Present: Messrs C. Day (in tho chair)H. Ferguson, W. 11. Thomas, and J. Taylor. The Valoatio:: Roll.—The secretary reported that a copy of the new valuation roll had been received from the Government and 'had been handed to the Collector. , Finance.—At date the ovordraft stood at £53 7s 4d, and the clerk reported subsidy amounting to £l4 due. He also reported that the County Council would pay over £7O from the Riding account, which amount would be very acceptable, as the income of the Board would be small for the next month or two. Gravelling.—The Chairman stated he had stopped the travelling on the main road when Gillett's corner was arrived at, as he considered it was useless gravelling the portion between there and Mr Forrest's corner until it had been formed, the road now being hollow in tho centre. From that corner to Mr Chapman Ewcn's, where the road was formed some little time since, slight repairs were needed, but nothing more than the surfacemau could do. If tho gravel tl.at had washed into the watertables was thrown back into the holes he thought that would suffice. —Mr Thomas was afraid the material washed off the road would be rather too sandy to make a good job of it; however, they could try, and if it was not pood enough they could then use gravel. He reported that more gravel had been used on the main road than was authorised.— This was duly sanctioned by the Board. ~ „ A Personal Matter.—Mr lerguson asked who gave the secretary authority to write to Wellington stating he (the speaker) had not been legally elected a member of the Board. It had gone through the papers that it was became he had not paid his rates. It appeared that at the time the secretary wrote to Wellington ha could not have known the rates were not paid, so that was not the cauße of the letter being sent. It was purely an accident that they were not paid ; he was told to leave them at a certain place, and he did so, and was not aware that they did not reach the collector within the specified time. Why was he not told at the first meeting he attended that ho was not a member of the Board? There were only three of them present at that meeting, Messrs Main, Thomas and himself, which was a bare quorum, and yet they elected a chairman and transacted other business, which w"as certainly illegal if he was not a member. It appeared to him that the secretary had a spite against him or he would not have written the letter.—The Clerk said he did not require authority from anyone to write the letter. He did so as Returning Officer, and he merely said there was an informality in the election, and did not mention anything about rates. They all knew it arose through the Chairman saying he had not nominated Mr Ferguson, and it was his duty to write when he knew that. He assured Mr Ferguson he had no spite against him, and he had only fulfilled his duty by communicating with the authorities in Wellington,—The Chairman bore out the contention of the Clerk, and said the unfortunate business arose through a misunderstanding, which bad now been rectified, and Mr Ferguson was now legally elected.—Mr Thomas said he did not know even theu that Mr Fercuson was duly elected.—The Clerk then reported Mr Ferguson to have been elected, and said it would be duly gazette!. Notice of Motion.—Mr Thomas gave notice that at next meeting he should move : That applications be invited for the office of Clerk, Treasurer and Collector to the Board, at an annual salary of £25. Accounts.—The following accounts were passed for payment, afterwhich the Board rose : Tebbs Brothers', £3O 15s 3d ; public debt, £2l 4s 3d ; The Waikato Akous, £3 4s ; T. Pennell, £ll 14s. Total, £66 77s Gd.