UPPER TAUERU ROAD BOARD.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VI, Issue 1854, 2 December 1884, Page 2

UPPER TAUERU ROAD BOARD.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the above Board to held : at sow)auds on -*' Monday, Ist December, at 12 npftn, Present—Messrs R..'B. 'Hawkins', • ■"••.;•" (Chairman,) I Wingate, 0. IJ. Hood, J. Rutherford, and B. P. Perry, COBBBSCOJTPENCB, ■.Prom East Gfounty Council' re opinion of Boaid as to' best route, via Castlebill or Tiraumea,

From Mr Levin giving Board permission to fall 35 chains of bush on Bideford-Tiraumea road' line, and expressing his willingness to contribute towards ■ opening up bridle track on same. • ,

The Chairman reported that the deputation had waited on the Council, but it had been resolved not to take any further action (re making Bide-ford-Tiraumea main road) as it was the last meeting of the old Council. Mr Wingate proposed, and Mr J. Rutherford seconded, that this Board consider the Castle-Hill route the most direct, and that it will open up a large area of unoccupied country,' also save the general community much distance }n communication with the East'and .Wesf Coasts,' and tjjat it sjiojild hj made a main road.

The Chairman and several members expressed regret that the Counoil had delegated their powers to the Road Boards, Mr Wingate contended- that the \ Castle-Hill route was Bomskfiye miles \ shorter and only required one bridge \ whereas the Tiraumea line would \ require four or five, he considered it.- ' tlieirduty to forward the most-direct and cheapest route, .He was a Ware '■• that the'Alfredton Board was in favor • of the Tiraumea line because it was of . personal benefit ; ; to them, and they seemed to ignore the fact of the large • - area of uno'coupied land through which the Castle-Hill .route ran, He did not thsk..the Council had any.power ' to delegate their powers to the Boards;: *'-'. Mr Perry thought the Council had >J * done well in getting the opinion pfahe Boards. They bein? on better able to say which was ¥ £%-B"eaV_ :i l route, and that, had they^dbne ! 'BfUrf they would not have.ma&rtjjSffl

blunders they Heard so much of. Couli '... the Chairman inform the Board wh 1 the long rouie (Tiraumea) had beei •chosen] '■' The Chairman • To suit the "settlers tod for political purposes.-. tie con ~- : aidered it never, should have, beer taken that way, but. now .that'-it wa they must make the best of it, Hi hoped ■Mr Wingate vrould withdrav hii resolution, as he felt sure it wouk do no good. Mr Wingate said he would withdraw his motion, although he fel.rii their duty to protest against making i main road of such a line, as had -beer flelected. ■ Mr Hood agreed with Mr Wingate, . but thought the following resolution fe would meet the case:—" That while a desiring to maintain the general principle; that the first object of main . roads should be to secure the shortest possiblecomraunicHtion between tlietwo points of population they are intended to connect, the Board do not think it desirable to express an opinion as to this particular road, under existing circumstances, ■• Mr Wingate reported having waited on several Upper Wharearaa settlers, .when he bad been promised the following subscriptions towards opening up the Bideford-Tiraumea bridle track : Messrs Beetliam L 10.;' 1 Holmes and Warren LlO. Leech L2 2s; J, tyinnate Ills. B - It was resolved—That as soon as the subscriptions promised to Mr Wingate be paid into the account of the'Bpard, tenders for falling the bush , be called, and thut' Messrs Food and Wingate be authorised to obtain and accept tenders and curry out the work. . That it be left to Messrs Hood and Rutherford to report on work done on Wairiri road and certify the payments to workmen employed, ■ That £2 in addition to former grants be allowed for repairing roads from the accommodation house to the saddle beyond Mr vVyllie's fence. The Chairman said he would like to hear the opinions of members upon the : .notice of motion handed in by him at the last- meeting, of the County Council, He might inform ■.them, that at present tho Council- ■ ■ charged the. ratepayers 50 per cent for .spending their rates, and he-.-believed the Boad Boards would manage things much better and ceitainly at a much less cost, He felt sure all the other •Boards would agree with him and he hoped this Board would do so also, • Mr Perry asked if Mr Hawkins' proposal was carried out, whether it | would not do away with the Council. " The Chairman: Great loss! ' Mr Hood thought they could not do bettor than follow the other Boards. Mr Wingate: I suppose we must, but I think it a great pity the central body (Council) should be done away with) however-1 shall be in favor of any scheme to save expense. The Chairman remarked.be did not wish a resolution on the subject, he only wished known what the feeling of the Board was on the matter. It was resolved.—'That the Chairman apply to the Lands office for tracings of Messrs Perry and McKay's land, with a view to marking , off a road for the use of those properties and having the same legalised. Mr H. Vile waited on the Board to ascertain whicn of the two road lines 'laid off through his property was to be used, as he did not want to have to remove gates and fences by erecting them on the wrong line. The meeting fcthen adjourned to the first Monday in "January.