ALFREDTON ROAD BOARD.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4363, 9 March 1893, Page 3

ALFREDTON ROAD BOARD.

Ordinary Ming. Tho ordinary meeting of the above Board, was held on March •Ith, Present: Messrs 11. Dunn F. P, Nelson, H. Warren, H. Groves, C. Kebbell, and S. M. George. The minutos of tbe previous meeting wero road and confirmed, CORRESPONDENCE, Inward correspondence was read as follows From the County Engineer giving estimates of various works, Also from same, stating that lie had heard on good authority that certain Government officials in tbo Survey Department had cast the blame on his shoulders for tho delay of tho Tiraumea bridge plans; and that he dosired to emphatically deny the charge, and to state that so far as ho was concerned, not an hours delay had been caused by him, and that any delay in tha matter had taken place in tbe Government office. It was resolved that Mr Bremner be written to, stating that the Board exonerated him from all blame so far as tho delay of the Tiraumea bridge plans was concerned. From tbe Assistant-Surveyor General, re Baker Road, requesting dofinite action to be taken at once ro raising loan. I'rom Bank of New Zealand acknowledging £G3l4s 7d for general account, and £7B -Is 7d interest on loans (i year) for public account and F.D.R. LIM2 10a for six months. From Treasury LSOO passed Audit, part of?£ah and Mangaone Valley Roads Loan, From Bank of New Zealand acknowledging LSOO, also cheques for LSG 9s 7d and L2B 8s 2d for general account and returning Board's pass books. Fromsamo agreeing to LI 000 loan for Mount Baker Road if all steps wero taken. Messrs Wilton and Dagg waited on the Board with apetition from Messrs John Dagg, James Wilton, Robert Brown and John Gleeson praying that all tlieir sections may bo transferred to Mauriceville Road District and asking the Board to give their consent as per S. 252, Counties Act, 1886. It was decided tbat tbe petition of tbe Mauriceville settlera be granted and that Sections 4G and 200 B, XV Mangaone, and sections 7 and 8, B, ill, Kopuaraoga, be added. From tha Eketahuna Road Board, requesting to be informed whether the Alfredton Roadßoard wouldjoin with the Eketahuna Road Board to form a new County. It was decided (bat consideration of tlio proposal of amalgamating with the Eketahuna Road Board he adjourned until the end of tho Wairarapa North County Council's financial year, and that the-Clerk write to the Eketahuna Boad Board advising them to that effect.—An amendment as follows was lost: " Tbat the Chairman, Messrs 0, Kebbell and S, M. George wait on tho Eketahuna Road Board to discuss and gain information re merging into a County, and report thereon to next meiting. fitefom tho County Engineer, re Tirau'"TßPßridge plans, stating that Cr Eli Smith had directed him to call tenders for same at onco through the County. The Chairman stated tbat lie did not know by whoseauihority (his had been ("one, and that neither the Council nor Mr Smith lwd any authority from the Board. So far as ho kDew the Board had not even been consulted on the matter. 110 considered it a gross piece of impertinence onjthe part of a councillor to take such a step without oither consulting or gotting leave from the Road Board. The money bad been granted by the Government to tbe Board and not to the Council. Mr Holmes Warren stated ho bad as a member of the Tiraumea Ward authorised Mr Eli Smith to call tenders through tbo County, and tbat any blamM&matterwas attached to himself 1 ™ 11^ The Chairman said that ho considered that the Board had beer, slighted in the matter, and that it was the duty of tho Wardens of the Tiraumea Ward to liayo got the sanction of the Board to the proposal, either in person or by writing to the Board, Mr Warren stated that be bad been pable to be present at the last meeting of the Board, and that he had expected that Mr Eli Smith would have been present to bavo represented tlio Tiraumea Ward and that until this last week he bad not been aware that Mr Eli Smith had resigned his seat. He apologised to the Board for having taken action without consulting the Board, Ho had asked Mr Eli Smith to get tenders called for the bridge, and there had been no meeting of the Board at which ho could explain matters.

A copy of the minutes of proceed- \ inga at a meeting of ratepayers of the \ " TaMaia Ward held on March Brd \ wajjfraanded in, and the following passed by them were submitted (1) "That this meoting of ratepayers consider that the Wairarapa North County Council is the proper local body to erect the Tiraumea .bridge and that the Alfredtou Koad Board be requested not to accept tendera for ' tho aforesaid bridge." (2nd), "That the Alfredton Road Board be requested to find half the deficit it the County' require tho same, provided that the aforesaid Board's share does not exceed £50," ' It was reaolyed that the Board ask tho Wairarapa'North County Council tQtako over to wofltiuctiw pf tbe

Tiraumea bridjo; tho Board to band over tho £I,OOO wlum received ironi Government, Resolved that Mr Warren's apology bo accopted, ro instructing Mr Eli Smith to insert an advertisement ro tenders for Tiraumea bridge, through the Wairarapa North County Council, A letter was received from tbo County Clerk, forwarding plans and specifications for the balance of Fab Valley road work. It was decided that no further tenders be called for Pab Valley road work until September, It was decided that the Chairman and Mr T, H. Groves sign contracts for Pah bridge, and for Pali and Mangaone Valley Roads Contracts, A Petition was rncoived from settlors on Saunders' Road, ro raising a loan fov forming same und requesting an estimato of cost to ho obtained, It was decided to write to tlio Member for the Wairarapa Electorate oil the matter, Accounts amounting to LC 8s 4d were passed for payment, Messrs Ncilson and T. H, Groves being appointed to sign cheques. The noxt meeting will bo held on April Ist.