MASTERTON ROAD BOARD.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1400, 9 June 1883, Page 3

MASTERTON ROAD BOARD.

''f THElßoard met this morning. Present ■'jj/-Messrs Meredith,. Daggj Chamber;' ,^ a ]§jn, and Macquarrie. ! returning officer reported the ; iJ ; result of the late polls for election of Widens, and for the polls under the ?a 'jftoads ftnd Bridges Construction Act, / Mr Chamberlain moved, and Mr seconded that Mr Meredith' lt i- be elected Chairraan of the lioard. The .seconder said that an efficient Chairman made an efficient Board, and lie was sure Mr Meredith would be an efficient Chairman, Mr Meredith in accepting the office said he would sooner have seen a member with a larger experience than himself appointed, or one who reprea larger sub-division. He would be happy to do his best for the Board, and should it at any'time desire to relieve him of the duties of the office lie would be very willing toietre. The, minutes of the previous.meeting, were' then read and confirmed.!' "'' The Chairman said the first tiling they bad to do wis. to strike a rate. Their district wi)B reduced in size, and the , County had. relieved them of, certain works; but' with the large amount of . road? .remaining on their hands. he .did ' ~-not consider that a less rate tban.V halfpenny in ' the|pound. would suffice, Thifl;Would give, tbem : il7.00, as against £I9OO foi'the whole district last year,' This in^prdportion, would giye ,! them ... more'thin they had Im|i year, - Mr Dagg said |ihreoy i&urthings

i would be an equivalent to thoirrate during the past year. In No 5 .Ward '(.there would be no disbursements this J year, and the Crown and Native lands , would increase the rata, bo that a half- [, penny rate, won LI be equal to the former i three farthings rate, ... ; ,: ' 1 Mr Macqiiario pointed; out that 1 most 1 of No 1 \Ynrd was likely to be' formed into a new Board, and he was • not sure that it would be safe to abandon a three-farthing rate. The Chairman pointed out that as the ratepayers would have to submit, to special and conuty rates, it would lie wise not to strike their rate too high. . ~!j MrDagg said they lost the toll gates this year, but on the other hand they were relieved of tho main roads. Men who were; undertaking special works would still require their ordinary works maintained. ; .. Mr Macquarie said the Board must face the upkeep of all the roads made la3t year. The Board must not cripple itself, Last year they started - with ; a large credit balance, this year they had but a nominal one. ( The Chairman said he knew that in his own ward .they,would be better off with a' halfpenny this year- than with three farthings last year.j,. ;. Mi'Pagg thought, that tmtionlmd reached, its'.olimax, and that a farther .fax/would-be,the last feather on the camel's bacs He proposed * rate of a halfpenny.' Mr Chamberlain; I seeond that. The motion was put and carried. The appointment,of officers was then considered. . . V.' The Chairman considered that. with the extra work thrown on Mr Bremner under the .Roads and Bridges Construction Act he was entitled to extra remuneration, The same argument would also apply to Mr Wilsone. ' Mr Macquarie said there was hot the slightest doubt that th»y were entitled to an increase. Whether the Board would always be in a position to maintain the increase was another thing. Mr Dagg proposed that the additional salary should be taken out of the additional wor]c. • ' The Chairman j TJjia is done already, The increase would npt cofflo out of the ordinary rates. Mr Macquarie had great pleasure in proposing the re-appointment of Mr Bremner as Engineer at a salary of £350 per annum, being an increase of .£SO. He was a vory willing and efficient officer, and a credit to the district. ' ' :'ii : Mr Daggsecondedthe motion, which was carried, Mr Dagg moved and Mr Ctamborlain seconded that-Mr-Wilsone be reappointed at £ 130 per annum in place of £lO5 as last -year.—Carried. Mr Dagg pointed out with reference to special works that when a proposal fell through the expense of it fell on the, Board, Ho thought parties makiflj} the application sljoulc) bo responsible for the preliminary gxpenses, The chairman concurred, but chought they must study the Act to see what their powers were before taking such a step. Mr Mficcjuofio', i doubtetfo whether they could do so without the Act being amended. The Chairman said in one instance they granted an application at tho roquest of one individual, and that person neglected to record his vote, Mr Dagg said that at Maurlcoville they abandoned their.application when they found out what the cost of carrying it through would amount to. Tho Chairman thought both their members would assist them in obtaining a rectification of any defect in the Act on this point. • The Engineer' and Clerk who had retired, were then called in and informed of the result of the appointments by the Chairman. The Clerk arid Engineer expressed their thanks to the Board for the recognition of their past service*. The Chairman said the next business would be to fix a regular hour for meeting, He suggested half-past ton, and hoped that when any member of the Board was unable to attend, ho would notify the Clerk, so that they might know whether they had a quorum. The Board resolved to meet at 10.30 a,m, for the future. - The chairman asked Mr Dagg if lie would again flppept the office of treasurer, 1 Mr Dagg; agreed to do so. Mr Chamberlain said it would be a convenience to the Engineer to appoint aPuWic Works Committee. Mr ..Macquarie moved that the berlain : be.;a Works and Finan:e Commiitee~ •Mr Dagg suggested postponing this appointment till"- next meeting,— 'Agreed to;: (Left. Sitting,)