Masterton Road Board.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2963, 30 July 1888, Page 2

Masterton Road Board.

The ordinary meeting of the.above Board \yas held on Saturday. PreV eut—Messrs W.H,Beetham, chair-, man, K. D. Dagg, T. Brown, % Buick, and J. Stuckey! '.. The minutes of the previous meeting were read'and confirmed. CORBISSrONDENCB, From Commissioner of Property Tax Department, asking the Board to show the valuation-roll to intending assessors; also forwarding a voucher for the payment of £Bl4s, balance of subsidy due to the Board. From the Secretary of the Treasury re the payment of j!220 8s 7d, being the half year's interest duo on £OOO7 Cs Bd,-Tho Clerk intimated that he had only collected about £lOl 2s (id towards that amount and the application would havo to stand over till next meeting, by which lime he hoped the balance would be made up. _ From Mr E. Hall, solicitor, Wellington, forwarding a cheque for £ll 17s Id, amount of rates duo on section 13, Waipoua Block, also intimating that the Eegistrar had granted a lease of the section to Mr Alex. Burnett, of Fernndge,sa\ymiller, for U years from 28rd June, 1888.

MLSB ECONOMY, A reply was read from the Commissioner ro furnishing the Board with the particulars of sales of lauds within their districts, and intimating that tho Property Tax Department is not in a position to supply the required information.

A letter was read from Mr Beothanij AI.H.R., with reference to the latter, in which he stated that Mr Marchant had received' instructions from tho Government that in future ho was not to supply the information, but that the expense of, acquiring such information will have to be borne by the Local Bodies. Mr Beetham expressed his regret that the Government had come to such a deoision, and considered it false economy.

THUEATEXED ROAD OBSTIIOCIION,. Mr S. Mawley waited on the Board and stated that on further investigation ho finds there is no right of way whatever through his property, section 4, Block 10, Kopuarangi, and that lip would therefore resist any attempt to take a road through it, Tho followiug was also read from the Under Secretary of Public Works with reference to tho same matter ; "In reply-to the Board as (o whether vhp rpad had been legalised, I m directed to state that it was ■Crow granted on July 2nd, 1888, aud the right to take a road through tho sootion, which was rosorvad in tho grant, lapsed in 1878, the "right not having been exercised under warrant, although the Provincial Engineer laid off and formed the road, which it is understood the public have not been prevented from using until lataly, rile (juestion as to whether tho road isa legal highway is a matter in whioh the Minister does not see his way to offer, an opinion, and suggests that your Board should,consult its solicitor on tho Bulvjebt."; V' r' i'Mw. Board; : :yegil;^)v^^^Bj^yitoiai

money : hail - ; been .dxperided i ifj aiijf<• obstruction' erectca across tbb right-of-way sliould be out down. ■;' ■ The Cbairinan reniarited; that if any obstruotioii of this land was allowed on the road .through" Mr Mawiey'a property, the same might apply to the Taratahi, and other district roads, in the country, which were opened up on the same principle If this road was not.legal, thoy had no legal roads in the .district, ."'■ ' • :

These remarks were endorsed by the other members, and tho. matter dropped. ;

NO TIIOBOUGHFAHU.'-. MrPetersoirwaitedouJhe Board; with reference to the position he"'.wis placed in through being: the owner and occupier of a seotion of-land on the Opaki, which was enclosed by ■private properties,- through., which .thero was.no road laid off. : The Chairman considered the complainant's case was an exceptionally; hard bnel: ■ The .Government had sold the section, and should be held responsible. They put these lines on to the Board,!who were not in a':position to carry them out,; He had ■ mentioned this case to the Minister, "who 'had only shrugged his shoulders.in; reply; 'Wheii.the Government sold the land, no road'was laidoff.andhe-felt cofc vincetVtbat-tbeylwero bound, to provide one,.' Hoi to go about it, or what it.Would cost to force ; tho; Gov. eminent to lay off a road, he could'not say!v;Mr"Petorson.'would bave'to struggle, through' the /best way/he could, and in themeantimethe Board would make enquiries, arid see if they! could help him out'of his difficulty. : : ; " Messrs B, Cameron and' W. -Welch, also waitedpnthe Board with 'referenceto laying off a road leading through Messrs Cade and McKeuzio's property Matapihi, to the Wangaehu. . The Engineer was requested to bring up a report at the next meeting of the Board. OVERSEER'S REPORT.

Opaki to Bangitumau Bluff Boad: This now lino has engaged the attention of a man constantly during the last four weeks, slip 3 having come down to a considerable extent. Akura Cross Boad: The contractor for hauling the metal'for this road is not making good headway, and if the present dilatory mannerof progressing is not abandoned, I am of opinion that the work will not be completed within the contract time.

Upper Plain Eoad; Mr Stevens is making passable progress with his contract. The weather has not been favorable for metalling during the past fortnight. Lower Manaia Eoad: I arranged with Mr Colway to forui and metal 5 chains which were almost impaasable on the line, tho work also includes the construction of a culvert and sundry repairs on other portions of the road at a cost of £lB. -

Upper Opaki and MikiMiki: I have made.arrangeineiits with Mr Dnckett to execute the necessary repairs re-, quired on these lines aud have let the work, by contract at 2s per chain, the cost Aiill be about £12.road :..oue of. tho.: dams' constructed on this road beginning to break Iweut out aud effected repairs and at the same time I-arranged with Mr-Humphreys to repair about 200. chains ou thei same line which required immediate attention, the centre being considerably; ciit .up,-' arid the 'side drains also damaged. ." Upper Fernridge Eoad.—A man has been employed during the month raking in metal, and also attending to the general improvements of the road : where required.'- : ■'' In accordance with instructions, I interviewed Mr Ellrins' with roferenco to the line of road leading to Mr Donovans, and he declines to comply with tho proposals suggested at the last meeting of the Board, I am Ac. M. McKeszie. SPECIAL 11ATK, Tho Board decided that sections 1, 128, 126, 121, 122, 123,125, 127, 129,120,121,113, aud part of section 9, Wangiehu Block bo specially rated to pay interest of sums of £BOO and and £2OO to ho borrowed iroin Government for construction of roads in that district. DIVISION OK WAKDS. . It was resolved that the Board's solicitor be asked to give his opinion as to what steps it will bo noocssary to take as regards the petition. from ratepayers in No. 2' and 3 Wards re sub-division of same, ACCOUNTS. Acoounts amounting to £125 were passed for paymout aud the meeting terminated.