TE AWAMUTU.

Waikato Times, Volume xxx, Issue 2424, 24 January 1888, Page 2

TE AWAMUTU.

Lecture. — Rev. Mr Robjohns, of the British and Foreign Bible Society, lectures here to-night. Changes in Business.—Mr R. Brown, late of Mr W. S. Jones's saddlery establishment, Auckland, has purchased Mr W. McNaught's business here, where ho intends carrying on business ill future. Mr Brown has been eight years in Mr Jones's employ, so that it is fair to assume he is a thoroughly practical tradesman. Police Court.—Thomas Kennedy was charged, before Mr H. W. Northcroft, R.M., on Saturday, on the information of Henry Briggs, with having assaulted him at Kihikihi on Ist November last. Informant stated that accused knocked him down and otherwise abused him. The Court sentenced him to two months' imprisonment with hard labour in Mount Eden. The same acoused was also charged on the information of Joseph Fratus with having used threatening ana abusive language to him at Kihikihi. The Court said that at the expiration of the two months' imprisonment accused was to find two sureties of £25 each and his own recognisance of £50 to keep tho peace for 12 months. In default, 12 months' imprisonment with hard labour. Accused was also ordered to pay the costs of the latter oase. Ranqiaohia Road Board.—Ajmeetingof this board was held on the 17th inst. Present : Mr W. Taylor (chairman), Messrs W. 11. Mandeno, R. Burke, J. B. Teasdale, and G. Mandeno. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Clerk was instructed to write to Sir William Wasteney and remind him of liis promise to remove briars, gorse, &c., from the road adjoining his property.— Storey's Road : Proposed by Mr Burke and seconded by Mr Maunder, that ill!) bo expended upon improvements on this road.' Carried.—Weal's Road : Qu the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr Burke, it was resolved to spend £9 on this road.—Picket hill (Hunt's hill): It was resolved that £22 be expended on this road in gravelling, pipes, and cleaning watertables.—Matthew's Hill : It was decided that the Chairman and engineer visit this hill on the 20th inst. for the purpose of seeing what improvements can be carried out at the least cost and to the best advantage. The members expressed tlieiy,opinions that it is not advisable to make cuttings when possible to avoid doiner so, but it is preferable to gravelling, and so save forming every year or so, and to keep the water-tables open to keep the gravel from being swept away by heavy rains. The Chairman received a circular from the Treasury, notifying that after the 31st March next no payments will bo made by the Government under "The Crown and Native Lands Rating Act, 1882." The following accounts were passed for payment :—W. Beaslcy, £1 ss; J. Quinn, £1 15s ; C. T. Racket, £3. Tho Clerk read a statement of tho Board's financial position, which showed tho funds_ available for further works to be £105 lis 4d, The Engineer's report was read, in which ho reported on the destruction of the "Log Bridge" by tire at Te Rahu. He stopped tho road on each side, and as soon as the efforts to prevent the fire catching the logs and stumps, over which the road is formed, were successful, a now bridge was built by TNfr Ricket, at a cost of about £13. The remainder of tlje report dealt with works in' the various parts of the district. ' Ho' strongly recommended not to do anything to the roads unless the Board had funds to do tho work in a thorough manner. He deprecated the of " gemi improvements," which, in the end, resulted in much lqss. When bad places could not'bc df ( ne thoroughly it would be better to kepp them passable ipitii the money coi}ld be spaved to do tijo work properly. When new works were undertaken he recommended doing only a little at a time if funds were not available, but that little should be thoroughly well done.