WHAREAMA ROAD BOARD.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 3039, 27 October 1888, Page 3

WHAREAMA ROAD BOARD.

The Timber Bill Dispute

Amongst the correspondence received at the meeting of the above Board on Friday was an account of f 1510s from Mr Robert Donald, saw- . 'miller, Tauero, for timbersupplied, ... The Chairman in calling; uttonlion • to this account stated that he wroto to Mr Donald with reference totlio .Board's liability. Mr Moore: By whose authority ' did you writo to Mr Donald 1 The Chairman: Not by the authority "/jEf theßoard but merely in the interest the Bourd,

Mr Moore considered the letter was uncalled for and that Mr Meredith his duty in writing it. A ' resolution had been passed by this Board authorising him to order timber for. work at Uriti and that resolution had not sinco betn rescinded. The Chairman said in writing he did not intend to commit the Board in any way, Mr Moore: At the time you wrote that letter the timber was on the ground. The spirit of the letter was ' in direct contravention of the Board, The Chairman said it was usual to get an engineer to pass the timber before taking it over, 'Mr Moore thought that would be aaaoming more power than they bad Any right to. >..■ The Chairman said by writing to Mr Donald he simply asked for infor- .' mation before the Board. Mr Snore: No engineer wbb called to pass a previoiißorder of timber. He £'il not understand why the Chairshould interest himself so.niuch on the present occasion. The Chairman Buid Mr Mace was authorised to examine one lot. The clerk here intimated that he had sent , a post-card to Mr Donald containing a resolution to the effect M that tho Board had no record of hav< • 1 >»ing ordered the whole of the timber mentioned in bis account. Mr' Moore was positive theßoard passed a resolution authorising him to procure tho timber, but unfortunately Mr Meredith had confiscated the minute book. " _ The Chairman; Mr Moore hai no right to say I have confiscated the minute book. That's a very improper remark to make. .The minute book .had been sent to 'Wellington, accompanied with other, documents, as! ovidenco in the action brought by Mr Moore against the Board." ~■ ■'.( Mr Mooro' thought tho,. matter of Mr Donald's account had been: ctire-; fully treated to.bring:'about disson- ' sion. '. ..■ .v.\ j ■ Tha Chairman replied'that h« , jlrcply 1 wrote the letters to Mr Donald ".' he ; was willing. to.take the timber backhand if he refused injti.- . mated that ira engineer Would be sent : ; inspect aiid pass it This was dono to protect the Board and he considered bo wss.porfectly justified inhia aotjoD. *#•'. '-'i Wi'J'H'4:

this. Board accepted Mr Gifdwood's tender.

Mr it. Meredith rose and called the Board to ovdor,

Mr Mooro. Then you should not make mistakes, There;is an evident do.siro here to squander the Board's funds upon two linos of road where there should be only o'uq. Mr Elilnr: We cat) go further back than Girdwood's tender. The Board decided upon one line, but an attempt. lihh beim Hindu to forco tlio Board's hand. Air Mooro considered it was mo»t unjust that Mr Donald should be kept out of his money when the limber had been ordered. It was grossly unfair that Ihi'Ktt quibbles should be raised to prevent lii.s account being jmid, Tlik Chairman : Let us net a correct .mount first,

Mt Moore: It seems very evident tlwt your ilcisirn is to put all the. obstacles you can in the way to ohstruct its paymont, Tho letter you sunt as chairman is very misleading

The Chairman: I do not wish to mislead anyoue, but the Board is perfectly ignorant -as to tho timber delivered owing to some of it belonging to your private account.

Mr Mooro said that had already been .explained to liiiri, From the tone of tbo. Chairman's remarks it conveyed the impression to his mind that tlio works done on tho deviation would be fought out to the bitter end. In any case ho thought a cheque should be passed for 2000 feet of. the timber supplied by Mr Donald, The Chairman: What the Board has done in the past is perfectly in order.

. Mr Moore (ironically), Hear I hoar I accept a tender with only two members of the Board present. The following resolution-was then moved—" That Mr Donald be requested to furnish tiio Board with an account of tho correct quantity of tiuibor supplied for the use of tho j Board ordered by Mr Moore." Mr Moore thought some .settlors should be congratulated ou the splendid carriage drives they bad now made past their doors, whoro a short time ago they had noroad at all.

Mr R, Meredith: I am glad to hear the roads so well spoken of. The resolution was then put and ca-ried unanimously, and the discussion on this all absorbing topic was adjourned to another period,