Whareama Road Board.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2914, 2 June 1888, Page 2

Whareama Road Board.

The Board met on Friday, June 1, at 11 a.m. Present, Messrs E. Meredith (chairman), G. Moore, H. Elder, J. Morrison, T. Carswell, and R. R, Meredith.

Proposed that the minutes be confirmed.

Mr Moore said "before the question is put, I have to say with regard to the resolution accepting Mr Girdwoou's contract, in the first place sucli a resolution should never have been put, Section 5 of the Act clearly lays down tlmt no resolution which has the efl'cct of re-altering it resolution previously passed can be put without seven days' notice. Then the resolution was not lawfully put. The chairman had said a few words very hurriedly, winding up with the word "carried," but the question was never lawfully carried. Moreover, as appears from a letter from the chairman of the Masterton Road Board, the line upon which Mr Meredith by the resolution seeks unlawfully to squander the money of the ratepayers, whom I represent here, and' to which he is not a contributor, is not a legal one: " Masterton, May 17,1888. G. Moore, Esq,—The road marked red on tracing through sections 788, 783, 784, was surveyed by Mr King while acting as engineer for the Masterton Highway Board, The right to take roads is not vested in Highway Boards and the road in question was not legalised by the Government. At the time it was surveyed it was supposed to be the best road; later on it was found to be necessary to make a deviation, and a new road was surveyed by Mrßawson, which was duly legalised "by Mr Marchant.—Faithfully yours, W. Beetiiam." 1 will also read an opinion as to the liability of wardens for money unlawfully expended. I will move that a letter, dated 7th May, from the ratepayers relating to the expenditure of the loan ot be now read, Mr Elder seconded.

Mr R, E. Meredith said such a proceeding was most irregular and ultra vires.

The Chairman: Ido not think tbo letter can be read now ; the question is that the minutes be confirmed.

Mr Elder: I think tlio ratepayers should be heard.

The Chairman : Clearly not. The first tiling to do is to confirm the minutes.

_ Mr Moore: As Mr Elder lias made distinct reference to a resolution unlawfully declared to have been carried by the OhairuiQu at the last meeting, I claim

on behalf of those ratepayers whom I represent here that they be heard, The Chairman: We must first con; firm the minutes.

Mr Moore: I move thayhe letter be now read. 'jf Mr Elder seconded the motion. The Chairman: I decline to put the question,

Mr Moore: You cannot lawfully refuse. prefer you to seotion 06 of the " Road Board Act," which Bays every question coming before the Board shall be decided by open voting and by the majority of those present.

The Chairman: Well, I will put it. The motion was carried, and the letter read as follows" To the Chairman and members of the Wh&eama Koad Board," —" We the undersigned special ratepayers for a sum of £2OO borrowed under "The Local Bodies Loans Act, 1886," desire express our cordial approval oftheflltion of the Board, in adopting the line of road laid off by Mr A, J. Rawson as the district road, and also of the expenditure thereon of the said sum by the Board. Signed—Donald Donald,-' F. E. Tatham, H. Nitz, and G. Moore, and we further most strongly protest against any portion of the said £2OO loanor our annual rates being expended on the old line of road thrfljtti Eparaima,"

Mr Moore: The loan referred to is raised by seven ratepayers who are rated as follows: The four who have signed this letter are rated upon £19,771, the three who have not signed it are rated upon £5,928, so that there is an actual majority in number to a large majority in value. Mr Carswell: I think I shall not vote upon this question. I was not present when the resolution accepting Girdwood's tender was accepted, MrR, Meredith: I object to.that unless Mr Morrison also leaw&the room, nf.

The Chairman: I think Mr Morrison should retire if Mr Carswell does, Mr Morrison: What for ? Mr Elder: I cannot see any reason why Mr Morrison should go out. Mr R, Meredith: I think Mr Carswell should stay and vote unless Mr Morrison will retire to.

Mr Morrison: Certainly not. Mr R, Meredith moved that the minutes be confirmed, Mr Moore moved an amendment That before the minutes of the last meeting of the Board held on the sih May be confirmed they be amended by the excision of the resolution accepting Mr Girdwood's tender for work upon the old line of road at Eparaima. Ayes—Elder, Morrison Moore. Noes —E. Meredith, E, Meredith, Carswell, Carried, by the Chairman's casting vote.

The Chairman: The question is That the minutes of the Board, be confirmed, as read. Ayes-E, Meredith, R, Meredith, Carswell. Nora— H. Elder, J. Morrison, G, Moore, Chairman, aye. Carried. Mr Moore; As you pay no respect to the provisions of the Road Board Act, I serve you, Edwin Meredith, with a writ of the Supreme Court of New Zealand, restraining you from expending the ratepayers' monies upon this line of road, You lmyaftne outrageous things in fighting apnst this road through your land, but this will stop you. You cannot step through, this with impunity. On the 20th January, 1888, it was resolved That this Board, having considered Mr A. J. Rawson's report oil the two lines of road at Maungapiu, is of opinion that the one mentioned in the report as the deviation be adopted as the better line of the two, and that Mr Eawson be requested to draw out plans and specifications for formation and metalling oil that line, At the next meeting of the Board it was resolved that Mr Moore be authorised to expend order timber for culverts for foraffng the said road adopted by the Board, and the Messrs Meredith were duly informed of the Board's intention to enter upon their land to form the road, and you cannot lawfully declare upon the voices of the Chairman and his son, a resolution, carried, which rescinds these two.

Mr K, 11, Meredith That the resolution office of the Board at the residence of Isaac Cripps be rescinded, and that the office of the Board be at Mr Carswell's and its meetings for the future be held there-Ayes, E. Meredith, R. R. Meredith, Oarswcll. Noes, J, Morrison, H. Elder, G. Moore. Carried by Chairman's casting vote. Sundry accounts were passed for payment, and the Board adjourned until Saturday, 7th July.