MASTERTON ROAD BOARD.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4250, 22 October 1892, Page 2

MASTERTON ROAD BOARD.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Masterton Bond Board was held this morning. Present-Messrs W. H, Beetham (Chairman), Wardell, McKenzie and Harris. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. COKRE6PONDENOE inwards was received from Mr Donovan, asking the Board to clear the scrub five or six feet back for about ten ohains on the road leading to his properiy, The estimated cost would be about 80a. Mr Donovan, who was in attendance, said the cotton-wood was now a great nuisance, as it had grown ten or twelve feet high, There were also two or three water holes requiring attention. He also wished to draw the Board's attention to the bad state of the approaches to the gates leading to his property. • It was decided to allow Mr Donovan £2 for the work, subject to((*s approval of the Engineer. *; Mr Carlson wroto drawing the Board's attention to the faot that the con* tractor in making the road to the Black Creek, Upper Fernridge, had rolled several logs up against the fence, aud asking that they be re< moved. Decided that the matter be loft with the engineer to deal with, A letter, asking subscription towards a testimonial to Mr Vaile, of Auckland, was laid on the table. It was resolved that the necessary < steps be taken to raise certain loans applied for. Mr Wardell moyed, and Mr Harris seconded, that the necessary steps be taken to expend the money iet apart for repairs to the Masterton-Gladstoue road, Carried, Te Weraite Boad. The Chairman said he had a few remarks to make in reference to the Weraile road. He said:— Gentlemen, I consider the time has arrived when we should take other steps to secure tho Weraiti Roa& Our efforts to get the Governinenlm do so have so far not been sucoesslul, and though I am told that the Minister for Lands has promised to lay the matter before the Cabinet, I foar we cannot afford to wait any longer, The right to take the road will lapse on the 20th of June next. I consider it would be the height of folly to jeopardise the losing of bo important a road by further delay. The Board have always boon unanimous in tho opinion that the road is important and necessary in the interest of the district, and I would now ask the Board to take the necessary steps toseouro it, under the Public Worka Act. The greater part of the expense of doing this has already been incurred in the cost of surveying it, and it only remains now to advertise as directed by the Aot,

The 73rd clause of the Public Works Act provides that "nooompensatioa can be demanded for land taken by a local body that the Gownmenfi had the right to toke." I regufc that we did not take this cou|& long ago, It would havo prevented much unseemly biokering and abuse, that has played into the hands of the member for the District, Dr Hosking fails to see that he is made a tool of by Mr Hogg—whose object since his first arrival in the District has been to " set enmity between frionds"—to vilify and misrepresent those who were his political opponents. He knows as well as I do that the WeraitiEoad would bean advantage to the District, that it opens up a large area of fortile land that could be cut up and settled; And that every business man in Masterton is interested in the settlement of the country, It is no argument to say that a large portion of this country is in the hands of the firm of Williams and Beetham. They are hero to-day they may be gone to-morrow, With" out roads the country cannot bo settled, It is our bounden duty to take roads through the country," Mr -Warded seconded the motm,i He thought it time the road w% taken, Mr McKenzie asked what they would do as regards compensation. Mr Beetham said that by clause 73 of the Act, the Board had the right to take the road without paying compensation, as it was reserved to the Crown. There was no intention On the part of the Board of using the rates, The road was necessary, and the Board would bo ouloable if the proper steps were not taken to seoure it. _ ■ ••* Mr Wardell said that If it was decided that they had to pay compensation, the road would simply be abandoned. The Chairman said be should be very sorry to see the Board have to pay a sixpence. And but for senseless would not have oosfc that already'expended in law and survey costs, [The Chairman's resolution was then put and carried. • -. . '.A