ROAD WORKS IN NEWCASTLE. TO THE EDITOR.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2195, 3 August 1886, Page 3

ROAD WORKS IN NEWCASTLE. TO THE EDITOR.

Sin, — As a good deal of discussion and comment is taking place in reference to the action of the Newcastle Road Board at their meeting on the 24th, and as the proceedings have not been publi>hed, I crave space to explain the apparent anomaly of the board calling tenders for road works and not accepting any of them. The facts briefly are : At the board meeting on June 12th, an application was received from Mr T. Roth well for some road works. The applicant pointed out that certain draining, fascining, etc., whs necessary, in order to enable the public to reach a culvert which the board had erected. A resolution was passed that Messrs Crawford and Shepherd inspect the work, and report as to the cost, etc., at the next meeting. Neither of them did so, nor were they present at the next meeting, but the chairman succeeded, in the face of Mr Corbctt's opposition, in passing a resolution that tenders be called for the work, and that a special meeting of the biard, which hi triply means more expense to the ratepayer", be held to consider the tenders. Th p chairman drew out the specifications, and added, without any authority •from the board, an item of 120 chains of road formation. At a full meeting on the 24th, the board accepted the lowest tender for the swam!' works, declining to accept any tender for the other works, upon the grounds : 1. That it was not shown that thp ldtepayera were desirous of having it done. 2. That it w.ts brought forward in a most irregular manner. 3. That in view of the present liabilities of the board, in connection with road works in different parts of the district, no works of any magnitude be undertaken at present. It simply becomes a question whether the finances of the board shall be kept in a solvent condition, m> that some new works may be undertaken o very year, and assistance be promptly affoided when required for repair.-, or whether the board shall incur heavy liabilities for new roads which are not uigent, and then, as in the past, remain dormant for years, unable to open any new roads or to give any assistance, even in the most urgent cases. The following is a list, approximately, of the road works undertaken since the new board came into office : _Te Kowhai, road formation, £40 ; Pnkete, road formation to railway, £30; Ohote, road to Corboy's land, £30 ; Whatawhftta, diaining, formation, etc., £20; Tuhikaramoa, draining, forming to railway, £30 There are, of course, other liabilities, such as Sealy's road compensation, which swell Mie total considerably. Thanking you for allowing me space, and trusting that the information given above will be useful to viten.ivcrs as showing that the board are not die, and are doing the best with the means at their disposal,— l am, yours faithfully» K. C. Shepherd.

c; r William Fox will lecture at Te Awamutu to n-S K.b.k.lu on .Wednesday, and at AlcxSnclr.i on Thursday night. Air Giles Koelcy notiHes in our advertisinß ¥ . thit ; until Jurther notice he will only COlU h!l coach once weekly from Lichfield to r un bis coaci i o Lic hfield for Taupo on SSylaV 7 a*™ 'returning from Taupo on 'ihuradiiys at 7 a.m.