MANAWATU HIGHWAYS BOARD.

Manawatu Times, Volume VIII, Issue 170, 26 January 1883, Page 2

MANAWATU HIGHWAYS BOARD.

Continued from yesterday. Mossrs Williamson and Taylor attended as a deputation fioni the Kiwitea Highway Board, and asked tor an explanation in regard to certain items which appeared in the balance she i'unished to that body. After some considerable time had beon spent e deavoringto obtain the required information, Mr Williamsun said that if the Board would not give a balance she< t in proner form embodying all the information required, the Kiwitea Board would have to call in the services of the Provincial Anditor. The Chairman suggested that as the books were open for inspection a deputation might corns from the Kiwi tea Board at any reasonable time and extract the information for themselves. To this Mr Williamson demurred, on the ground that as the Kiwi tea Ward had been charged with its proportion of working expenses duringthe whole time of its connection with the Manawatu Board, that Board was bound to furnish the information and give the new Kiwitea Board a balance sheet which could be understood, together, with a valuation "list showing particulars as to all rates retnainimg uncollected. It was arranged that the Secretary, who had previously expressed his willingness to furnish every possible information, should compile the. particulars required by the deputation, i The following tenders were ac» cepted : — For metalling Karere Road, about 25 chains — E. F. Char.." es at 18,s lO.d. For road work on Te Matai line — Or. McCarthy at ' £1 19s 5d per chain. For work at Skcey's Bridge— E. F. Charles, £10. For work on No 1 Line, Kairanga, Block— A. MicEwe.n, at 9s 3.4 per chain (culverts included). i * The Chairman reported that the successful tenderer had not taken u : p his contract on Cooper's line, . a^nl he. had since offered it to Mr ' Nathan, who had tendered at 29a 6d per chain. He had declined to do it at that price, as labor was now dearei*, but would undertake it for £1 12s. ' Mr Engles thought fresh tenders should be called, bat the Chairman pointed out that valuable time would be lost by this means ; besides, the Board would be put to the. expense of advertising. On an examination of the tenders previously sent in it was discovered that Jsosenthal and Co had also tendered at £1 9s 6d, and the Clerk was instructed to offer the work to them at that figure, and failing their accoptance to adopt another course which would allow the woi-k to ba proceeded with withr out delay. The Chairman reported that he had received a tender from Par'r and Wiggins for certain works required in his ward, at a price which he was sure was lower than could be obtained, by inviting tenders publicly. They were prepared to do the following works at the prices named according to specification : — Bridge over Bunnythorpe drain, £8 . 10s ; bridge over creek, £12 10s ; clearing $rack, at 6s per chain, £7. In reply to a question from Mr Newcombe, the chairman said the work was all on one continuous line of road. Mr Newcombe objected to the tender being accepted, as it involved the expenditure of over £20, and Ihe Act distinctly provided that for anything exceeding this sum tenders must be called. After another animated discussion, during which the system of letting work privately was freely and forcibly denounced, Cr Engles said that out of deference to the Chairmau he would not oppose the present work, and lie suggested that *o be within the Act only a portion should be authorised at that meetIt was then resolved that tne tender of Parr & Co. be accepted for building a bridge over Bunnythorpe drain at £8 10s,and for clearing taick at £7. The vexed question of the roads in the Kairanga Block was then discussed, at first, somewhat hotty, but j on the representation of the Chairman, it was ultimately resolved that Mr Armstrong he instructed to pre■paro specifications for formation and drain in front of sections 15.63 and 15G4, commencing at Bunnythorpe road drain, as approved by the Waste Dands Board, and to call for tenders. Mr Engles said he had observed a paragraph in the ne.wspa.pers to the effvet that a letter sent from the Sandon - Carnarvon. Board had been taken, no, notice, of. He enquired if such a letter had been received,. The Secretary replied that no letter had been received from the Sandon- Carnarvon Board since the new Board was formed, but one had been received in the time of the old Board. The matter then dropped. It was propose! by Mr jSTewcombe seconded by Mr Engles, and carried, " That at next meeting a return be laid on the table, showing, the total liabilities of the Board uuder differ nt heading-," It was also resolved, on the motion of M> Newcombe, sec nded by iVIr Engres, " That the debits ana credits of the differ* n; wards be read at each meeting/' A letter was read from Mr Lintpn referring to the proceedings of the Committee appointed at the cbntereueo of local bodies recently held to consider the question of separa-

fciori from the County. In accordance with the suggestion contained therein, it was resolved to .call a public meeting of ratepayers iu the Ta on ui di strict, to be h eld i n th • Town Had,' Palm erston, at 6 p.m. on Monday, 12th February. Tho following accouuts were passed foe payment :— rT. S. Hoe, €5 lGs 8d 5 stamps, etc., £1 18s ; J. H. Audei*-on, £1 ss; Borough Council, rent, £3 Lss ; Bryant and C(>., £5; Kiwitea, Highway Board, £S8 10s 3d. The Board then adjourned till Wednesday, 21st February.