ALFEEDTON ROAD BOARD.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2282, 29 April 1886, Page 2

ALFEEDTON ROAD BOARD.

The ordinary meeting of tho Board was hold laab Tuesday. Present-Messrs I) 0. Macquaiie (Chairman). Kibbell, flapier, Yon Reden, Saunders, and Smith. V': , ' "

The minutes of the previous moeting were read, and confirmed, and inward correspondence was read as follows; From Treasury, re debenture due on District Roads. From Castlepoint 'Road Board with agreement between tho Boards for sifna*. ture. : • •

It was resolved-that the Chairman be authorised to sign and affix the seal of the Board to said agreement. Frcm iVhiblcy Bros., objecting to valuationof their : property.. • From W. 0. Cuff, re rates'due, From Mr Von Redon stating that he had duly passed Stovens' contract.

'From Commissioner of Crown Lands,'' re'doferred payment thirds " From Registrar Genoral requesting particulars of statistics, ■ Mr Smith reported that' he had employed a man to clear some trees from from the Tawataia road

Mr Smith's action was approved of. Mr Saunders reported that slips had taken place on tho Tiraumea road Resolved ; that the .work be left in the hands of Mr Saunders, Resolved That ■ Messrs Reden and Smith be appointed a committee to submit recommendation for expenditure of deferred payinont thirds and leasehold fourths. ,

That ' the election of .membovs of the Board take place on the Ist of May, A copy of the balance sheet was laid on the table. ■

- That accounts as per paymont theet amounting to £195 2s 7d bo passed Jor payment;

' That Messrs Reden and Napier sign chequeß. ' ■ The Chairman, at the conclusion of the ordinary nieeting, said This probably being the last occasion on which the present members meet, you will allow me a fe>v words to refer to our work during last yoar. Our income; including a balance from last year, amouuted to £864 18b lid, expenditure to £84819s sd, and the cost of collecting and expending—ineluding salaries-amounted to the modest sum of £SO 5s 7d, or something like 6 pet cent on our income. I think tho Board can lay claim to having studied economy while not neglecting efficiency, and to my mind this is the only way by which small KoadDistricts can be made useful-the only way by which they can be made preferable to large ones—by doing as you have done, by not merely attending rapnthly meetings, buC'by supervising' the work of the Board, as well as by each member, making himself personally • acquainted, with the road requirement! of his district. _ Perhaps I am not quite in order in giving' fchesa refurne or making such remarks. It ought, perhaps, to be done at the ratepayers' meeting, but really, the gentleman who ■ framed the Road Boards Act must have been a much more active man than ordinary persons, for hesaw his way to have an election, a rate 1 payers meeting, and an annual general meeting all in the first week in May, and if you remember that seven days' notice' of meetings must be piveu to members, as well as that members are to be gazetted before tak ing their seats, you will recognise the difficulty of complying with the Road Boards Act. That great improvements have taken place in tho roads of this district lately no one will deny. I have a vivid recollection of our first visit to Alfredton, now some five years ago, We followed what we considered the public road, and only discovered our mistake when we arrived at ths top of'a sheep camp. Ido not think that even * "new chum" could commit that mistake * now, As Ido .not intend'to seek reelection to the new Boird, I take this opportunity of thanking you for tho honor confided in me in twice electing me your Chairman, and for the kindly way in which you have at all times treated me. 1 wish the two Road Boards—Alfredton and Elfetahuna—every success, The Members' of the Alfredton Road Board will have pleasant duties to perfonn-if public duties are ever made pleasant—for the ratepayers will' appreciate their services.

Messrs Kebbell and Saunders oxpressed their regret at the Chairman's decision to givo,up liis connection>ith the Board,