Masterton Road Board.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2892, 7 May 1888, Page 2

Masterton Road Board.

The ordinary meeting of the Board took place on Saturday last, immediately after the annual meeting. [The report of the latter appeared in our Saturday's issue.] Present—Messrs R. E. Dagg (chairman), Buick, T. Brown, and Stuckey. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

CORRESPONDENCE, From Chief Surveyor, stating fiat the road from Te Ore Ore to Okurupeti was legalised. From Colonial Treasurer, returning debentures. From the Comity Clerk, enclosing account for engineering and other expenses incurred on bthalf of fclie Board. Prom Clerk Alfredton Road Board, offering £4O in full settlement of balance due from their district. From Colonial Treasurer, re gazetting of special orders. From County Clerk,. statin; that inasmuch as the replies from the Road Boards to the Council's circular, re taking over the maintenance of the main roads are not unanimous, the matter will be deferred for the present with a view to allowing ratepayers to take action in the matter, if they think lit, by giving expression to their opinion as a guide to the Council for future action. Prom Mr W. B. Matbeson intimating that Mr Donovan was quite correct iii not agreeing with his state-

ment that the deviatton was only fourchains. From Colonial Treasurer advising payment of Crown Lands rates; from same re auditing accounts and payment of £93 15s subsidy on rates.

RESOLUTIONS. It was resolved: That the Overseer, Mr M. McKenzie, be instructed to ascertain the absolute requirements of the district with a view to strike as low a rate as may be consistont with the proficient maintenance of our roads and to apportion all disbursements as fairly as possible to each district road. That MrDrummond be requested to make a survey of the line of road running through Mr Elkins' property at Opaki with a view of getting it legalised, That Mr A. Cave be informed that the road leading from Te Ore to Okuperitu was a legal road, and that Messrs Brodie and Livingstone be requested to remove their fences, otherwise the Board would do so at their expense, DEPUTATIONS. Mr Colway waited on the Board and stated he had got the Manaia drains cleared out, and asked the Board to pay their share of the cost which would amount to £2l2s Od.—Agreed i to. Mr Thomas Hnrly waited on the Board with reference to the bushfalling on the line of road leading through his property at Wangaehu. The Overseer was requested to inspect and report at the next meeting of tho Board.

Mr Mawley, accompanied by his solicitor, Mr Bunny, waited on tlie Board with reference to his property on the Wangaehu being unfairly rated. After some discussion the matter wa3 deferred till next special meeting of the Board, to be held on the 19th inst, Mr Donovan, accompanied by his solicitor, Mr C. A. Pownall, waited upon the Board, asking that some decisive and satisfactory action should be taken, regarding his road in the Opaki district, After some discussion, it was arranged that Mr Jas. Stuckey should go to the locality next Tuesday, look over the property and the road lines, and report to the special meeting of the Board in a fortnight.

INSTITUTION OP MORE WARDS. The advisability of forming more wards next came under notice, . Mr Stuckey and the Chairman each advocated the change, and pointed out the advantages which more general representation would bring, The other members present were also in favor of the proposition. Mr Stuckey suggested that the petition for increased sub-division should be again circulated, and that £o should be paid to anyone who should undertake to get and secure' the requisite number of signatures, Tbe Chairman doubted whether the proposed expenditure would be an authorised one, for action in the direction proposed should emanate from the ratepayers, and not from the Board, Messrs Johnston and Buick, although favoring the object, agreed with the Chairman's view of the question. .Muclseython pved «thefc tho

Board expend a sura not exceeding £5 . in getting a petition signed by twothirds of the ratepayers that the Road Board District be divided into a greater number of Wards" The motion was put and. lost, Stuckey remarkiuc: that he . was already , circulating a petition himself, and he ; would therefore continue private effort in that direction.