ROAD BOARD MEETINGS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2515, 23 August 1888, Page 2

ROAD BOARD MEETINGS.

o Taotaoroa Road Board. Tub usual monthly meeting of the Taotaoroa Koad Board was held at the Criterion Hotel, Cambridge, on Saturday, at 11 a.m. Present: Messrs C. M. lliunakill, (chairman), S. Seddon, and H. N. Brunskill. The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed. Suiisidy.—A letter was received from the Property-tax Commissioner, saying he had authorised the payment of the balance of the subsidy, £6 Is 7d, due to ihe Board.—The Clerk said it had not yet been received. Public Deist. —The Clerk reported that he had during the month, paid to the Treasury £4 103 9d, it being half a year's interest on the inscribed public debt. The account was passed. Retrenchment. — A letter was read from Colonel Dawson, Chairman of the Otara Road Board, asking the co-opera-tion of the Waikato Boards in an endeavour to make the Government carry out the retrenchment policy so urgently demanded by the country. —The Chairman had replied, saying, that retrenchment meetings had been held in most of the Waikato townships, and that he did not think it would be of use taking any further steps, as the members of the House seemed totally indifferent, aud were as extravagant as ever. Accounts. —The following accounts were passed : —W. Vickers, £1 7s 6d; R. Wattam, £7 9s ; G. Wattam, £2 13s ; \V. Souter, £1 16s 2d ; W. Parker, £1 7a Od. Balance.—The credit balance at the bank to date was £323 lis 9d. Oxford Road.—The Chairman reported that the whole of the culverts on the Oxford road had been repaired, and that the surfaceman had nearly finished the work he had been instructed to do. Mr Seddon -was deputed to inspect the road. The Gorge.—The Chairman said the twitch grass growing on the side of the Gorge Road had thickened to such an extent that it forced the water on to the road.—lt was decided to take a spit of it out down the centre of the channel. School-house Road. —It was resolved to form about half a mile of road leading from the Tauranga Road to the schoolhouse at Taotaoroa.—G. Wattam's tender of 5s per chain was accepted, the Chairman to make out the specifications. This was all the business. Cambridge Road BoardThe above Board met at Bach's Hotel, Cambridge, at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Present : Messrs E. Pickering, (in the chair), J. J. Smith, J. P. Thomson and J. Forrest. The minutes of the previous meeting having been confirmed. Mr Forrest reported that the Narrows' Road was now in good repair. Balance.—The credit balance at the bank to date was £285 Is 7d. Arnold's Corner. —The Clerk reported that Mr Dyer had been instructed to take the necessary steps to get the laud at Arnold's corner conveyed to the Hoard. The Rates.—Mr Sperry, Property-tax Commissioner, wrote, asking for an explanation of an apparent discrepency in the statement of rates collectable and collected for the year 1887-6 : the collectable amount bebg given as £3/ fi \l2s Bd, while £320 ISs 2d appeared to hwe been collected.—The Clerk said the collector had clearly made an error, and had included arrears, on which subsidies were not paid.—The Collector had been instructed to rectify the mistake. The Valuation Roll.—Mr Forrest suggested that the Board should petition the Government to let them maka the valuation roll for the propsrty-tax. Ho had no coufidence in the Government valuers.—The Clerk said the Government did not appear to have confidence in the Board doing it; bat he thought it would be all right this year, as the only person that had applied for the office, as far as he could learn—was the Board's collector. More Imputations.—Mr Thomson said that Mr Arnold stated if some steps were not taken by the Board to meet his views ro the place on tho Hamilton Road, at which water had been turned on to hia land, he should be compelled to set the/

law in motion to got it remedied. Mr Thomson further stated that he could not learn that permission had been granted, either by the present or former owners for the water to be tinned there, although, on the other hand, they had not objected. If, as Mr Arnold stated, it was not the natural course, and the water was now doing damage, he thought the Board would do well to meet Mr Arnold in the matter, and by a small outlay now avoid what would be an expensive litication. He spoke as a member of the Hoard, who was anxious to save the ratepayer' money.—Mr Forrest: No one knows anything about the matter hut myself, I shall give no details, as MiThomson is present, and he has business sometimes with Mr Arnold. Arnold knows he has not a leg to stand upon, but he thinks no one knows it but himself. I will ittget the chairman on the spot and explain the matter to him, and then he can give an explanation to the Board.—Mr Thomson : I take no side. I am not here as Mr Arnold's representative, but on behalf of the ratepayers. I must, however, take the liberty of doubting Mr Forrest's statements, for I believe that Mr Arnold thinks he has a good case. —Mr Forrest : You have no reason to do so! —Mr Smith : McCleans were the original owner. Did they grant permission ?—Mr Thomson : I again repeat that I take no side. lam only anxious to see the matter settled without money being wasted in law.—Mr Forrest :Mr Thomson can only see one side of the question, and that is Arnold's. He says he believes Arnold has a good case.— On it being pointed out that Mr ThornBon had not made such a statement, Mr Forrest withdrew the latter remark,— Mr Smith proposed that Mr Forrest meet the Board on the ground, and explain the ease.—Mr Forrest: I will not meet all the Board ! Mr Thomson has taken one side.—Mr Thomson: If I had done so, which I have not, it would only be one against fiv3. —Mr Forrest : Arnold is only bouncing us.—Mr Thomson : All right, Mr Forrest, I will remember those words, and shall hold myself blameless if the ratepayers are put to any unnecessary expense.—Mr Forrest : Well, I will consent to meet all the members.—Mr Thomson, I shall be careful to absent myself.—Mr Forrest: I think I can satisfy you, Mr Thomson.—lt was carried on the motion of Mr Smith, seconded by Mr Forrest, that the Board meet the seconder at Mr Arnold's corner at 2 p.m. on Saturday next.—Mr Forrest: I hope Mr Thomson will be there! MiThomson: I shall not put myself out to attend.—Mr Forrest: Then that shows you take the other side.—Mr Thomson : Not after the statements you have made. —Mr Forrest: I have withdrawn them. —Mr Thomson : But the feeling remains. —Mr Forrest : No one can accuse me of tint. — The matter then dropped. Accounts—The following accounts were passed for payment:—C. Crouch, £5 13s Gd; T. Pennell, £4 13s 4d ; T. Wattam, £."> Gs 3d, the chairman (MiTaylor) was to certify to the last account being correct before it was paid. Traction Engines.—A discussion of a desultory character ensued as to the damage done to the roads by traction eimines, but the matter was eventually dtforred, many members thinking the harm they did was counter-balanced by the good. This was all the business.