G.—No. 22.

SCHEME FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF FIFTY THOUSAND POUNDS AMONG THE ROAD BOARDS OF THE VARIOUS PROVINCES AND THE COUNTY OF WESTLAND; ALSO, OF ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND POUNDS.

PRESENTED TO BOTH HOUSES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, BY COMMAND OP HIS EXCELLENCY.

. WELLINGTON.

1871.

G.—No. 22

No. 1. Scheme for the Distribution of £50,000 among the Road Boards of the various Provinces, and the County of Westland, as proposed by the Superintendents of the several Provinces, and the Chairman of the County Council. Auckland. £1,000 to be set aside for new Road Boards to be constituted within the year. The remaining portion of the fund to be divided rateably between the existing Road Boards in proportion to the amount of rates and voluntary subscriptions raised by them during the past year, subject to the following modifications : — 1. The Road Boards for the Districts of Dcdwood, Grafton Road, Karangahape, Newton, Newmarket, Onchunga, Parnell, and Remuera, to receive only one-fourth of the above apportionment. 2. The Road Boards for the Districts of East Tamaki, Tamaki West, Mangarei, Mount Albert, Mount Eden, Mount Roskcll, Mount Wellington, One Tree Hill, Otahuhu, Panmurc Township, Pakurangi, Papatoitoi, and Devonport, to receive only twothirds of the above apportionment. 3. The amounts saved by deductions from the above-named districts to be divided iu the proportions of seven to five —seven-twelfths to be equally divided between the whole of the Road Boards north of Auckland, excepting those named above; and the remaining five-twelfths equally between the whole of the Road Boards south of Auckland, those named above, and the Road Boards for the districts of Kauaeranga, Waiotahi, and Parawai, at the Thames. Taranaki. £ s. d. £ s. d. 1. Bell District .. .. 18 0 0 Brought forward .. 374 0 0 2. Henui 8 0 0 13. Tarurutangi .. .. 80 0 0 3. Lower Mangarei .. .. 26 0 0 14. Tikorangi 58 0 0 4. Carrington Road . . .. 26 0 0 15. Oakura .. .. .. 56 0 0 5. Frankley 26 0 0 16. Okato 50 0 0 6. Barrett 18 0 0 17. Elliott Road .. .. 8 0 0 7. Hurford 26 0 0 18. Clifton 20 0 0 8. Tataraimaka .. .. 36 0 0 19. Urinui 35 0 0 9. Omata 18 0 0 20. Hua 75 0 0 10. Upper Mangarei .. .. 46 0 0 21. Mataitawa .. .. 46 0 0 11. Hurangi 46 0 0 22. Waitara West .. .. 31 0 0 12. Waiwakaiho .. .. 80 0 0 Patca 50 0 0 ; Carried forward .. £374 0 0 | £875 0 0 Wellington. £ s. d. £ s. d. Masterton 119 0 0 Brought forward .. 3,172 0 0 Taratahi 514 0 0 Ohariu 178 0 0 Carterton 116 0 0 Pahautanui 115 0 0 Greytown 550 0 0 Horokiwi 163 0 0 Featherston 144 0 0 Hutt District No. 6 11 0 0 Lower Valley 85 0 0 Foxton 51 0 0 Mungaroa .. .. .. 314 0 0 Lower Rangitikei .. .. 95 0 0 Stokes Valley 73 0 0 Upper „ 364 0 0 Upper Waiwetu .. .. 9 0 0 Kahauraponga 79 0 0 Middle „ .. .. 14 0 0 North Makirikiri .. .. 40 0 0 Lower „ 34 0 0 South „ 38 0 0 Belmont 126 0 0 Turakina Valley *... .. 48 0 0 Western Hutt.. .. .. 156 0 0 Matarawa 266 0 0 Upper Wainuiomata .. .. 221 0 0 Kaitoke 12 0 0 Lower „ .. .. 92 0 0 Tunahaeri 88 0 0 East Harbour 42 0 0 Mataongaonga 27 0 0 Tukapu 49 0 0 Brunswick 43 0 0 Kaiwarra 45 0 0 Moroa 85 0 0 Rhodes' Highway District .. 176 0 0 Whareama .. .. .. 125 0 0 Karori and Makara .... 293 0 0 £5,000 0 0 Carried forward .. £3,172 0 0 N.B.—The correct amount should be £4,682, 10s.

SCHEME FOll DISTRIBUTION OF £50,000 AMONG ROAD BOARDS.

Gs— No. 22.

4

SCHEME FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OP

Hawke's Bay. £ s. d. £ s. d. Redcliffe 53 6 8 Brought forward .. 560 0 0 Papakura 53 6 8 East Waipawa 53 6 8 Heretaunga 53 6 8 Patangata 53 6 8 Clive 26 13 4 Ocro 53 G 8 Te Mata 26 13 4 Waimarama 53 (5 8 Pukahu.. .. .. .. 53 6 8 Tanmmu and Pourerc.. .. 53 G 8 Puketapu 53 6 8 Waipukurau East .. .. 53 G 8 Tutaekuri and Okawa.. .. 53 6 8 Waipukurau West .. .. 53 G 8 Kcreru and Aorangi .. .. 26 13 4 Wainui and Porangahau South 26 13 4 "North lluataniwha .. .. 53 6 8 Seventy-Mile Bush .. .. 53 G 8 Central „ .. .. 53 6 8 Peka Peka and Patoka .. 53 6 8 Raukawa .. .. .. 26 13 4 Mohaka 26 13 4 West Kaikora 26 13 4 Turiroa 26 13 4 West Waipawa ., .. 53 6 8 Kauranaki .. .. .. 36 13 4 Carried forward .. £560 0 0 £1,200 0 0 N.B. —The correct amount should be £1,182. Nelson. £ s. d. £ s. d. Upper Motueka .. .. 2,200 0 0 Brought forward .. 2,950 0 0 Suburban North .. .. 400 0 0 Waimca 350 0 0 Pangatotara 350 0 0 Collingwood 1,000 0 0 Carried forward ..' £2,950 0 0 £4,300 0 0 N.B.—The correct amount should be £4,390. Marlborough. Amount to be equally divided among the Road Boards of the following districts :—Picton, Wairau, Pelorus, Awatere, Kaikoura. Canterbury. £ s. d. £ s. d. Waipara 200 0 0 Brought forward .. 4,450 0 0 Kowai .. .. .. .. 200 0 0 Akaroa and Wainui .. .. 600 0 0 Ashley.. .. .. .. 250 0 0 Okains Bay .. .. .. 250 0 0 Oxford.. .. ■ • .. .. 200 0 0 Pigeon Bay 200 0 0 Cust .. .. .. .. 200 0 0 Port Levy .. .. .. 50 0 0 West Eyreton 200 0 0 Courtenay 300 0 0 Mandeville and Rangiora .. 300 0 0 Ellesmere 600 0 0 Eyreton 350 0 0 Malvcrn 325 0 0 Avon 200 0 0 Upper Waimakariri .. .. 200 0 0 Riccarton 150 0 0 Rakaia.. ... 350 0 0 Templeton ... ... ... 200 0 0 Ashburton .. 150 0 0 Heathcotc .. 250 0 0 Mount Somers 75 0 0 Spreydon 100 0 0 Raukapuka .. 200 0 0 Halswcll 200 0 0 Mount Peel 100 0 0 Lincoln 300 0 0 Geraldine 250 0 0 Springs 350 0 0 Levels 300 0 0 Port Victoria 200 0 0 Waunatt .. .. .. 350 0 0 Little River GOO 0 0 Mount Cook 300 0 0 Carried forward .. £4,450 0 0 £9,050 0 0 N.B.—The correct amount should be £9,130, Westland. Paroa Road Board. Twelve-sixtieths of grant. Arahura „ Twelve-sixtieths of grant. Kanicri „ Eleven-sixtieths of grant. Totara „ Fifteen-sixtieths of grant. Okarito „ Ten-sixtieths of grant. Otago. Amount to be divided among the various Boards pro raid to the amount of rates raised in each district during the current year.

£50,000, ETC., AMONG THE ROAD BOARDS.

5

G-.—No. 22

No. 2. Amendments required to be made in proposed Schemes. 1. Corrections.—The Province of Wellington has assumed that its share (of £50,000) would be .£5,000, while the correct amount is only .€1,682 10s. In [the same manner the Province of Hawke's Bay has assumed the sum of £1,200 as its share, instead of £1,182. The respective " schemes " of these Provinces will therefore require to be proportionately reduced. The Province of Nelson has assumed the sum of £4,300 as its share instead of £4,390; and the Province of Canterbury, £9,050 instead of £9,130. The " schemes " of these Provinces will therefore require to be proportionately increased. 2. Alterations to suit the proposals in "The Payments to Provinces Act, 1871." Auckland. The amount reserved for new Boards to be increased from £1,000 to £2,000.

Taranaki. The respective amounts to be doubled, and made as under : — £ s. d. £ s. d. 1. Bell District .. .. 36 0 0 Brought forward .. 748 0 0 2. Henui 16 0 0 13. Tarurutangi .. .. 160 0 0 3. Lower Mangarei .. .. 52 0 0 14. Tikarangi 100 0 0 4. Carrington Road.. .. 52 0 0 15. Oakura 112 0 0 5. Fraukley 52 0 0 16. Okato 100 0 0 6. Barrett" 36 0 0 17. Elliott Road .. .. 16 0 0 7. Hurford 52 0 0 18. Clifton 40 0 0 8. Tataraimaka .. .. 72 0 0 19. Urunui 70 0 0 9. Omata 36 0 0 20. Hua 150 0 0 10. Upper Mangarei .. .. 92 0 0 21. Mataitawa .. .. 92 0 0 11. Huirangi 92 0 0 22. Waitara West .. .. 62 0 0 12. Waiwakaiho .. .. 160 0 0 Patea 100 0 0 Carried forward .. £748 0 0 £1,650 0 0 Wellington, Hawke's Bay, Nelson, and Canterbury.—The amounts for these Provinces to be doubled after making necessary corrections. The respective amounts to be as under : — Wellington. £ s. a. £ s. d. Masterton 224 0 0 Brought forward .. 5,947 0 0 Taratahi 964 0 0 Ohariu 332 0 0 Cartcrton 217 0 0 Pahautanui 214 0 0 Greytown 1,031 0 0 Horokiwi 304 0 0 Featherston 270 0 0 Hutt District (No. 6) .. 20 0 0 Lower Valley 158 0 0 Foxton 96 0 0 Mungaroa 593 0 0 Lower Rangitikei .. .. 178 0 0 Stokes Valley .. .. 137 0 0 Upper Rangitikei .. .. 680 0 O Upper Waiwctu .. .. 17 0 0 Kahauraponga .. .. 148 0 0 Middle Waiwetu .. .. 26 0 0 North Makirikiri .. .. 75 0 0 Lower Waiwetu .. .. 64 0 0 South Makirikiri .. .. 71 0 0 Belmont ; 236 0 0 Turakin a Valley .. .. 90 0 0 Western Hutt 292 0 0 Matarawa 498 0 0 Upper Wainuiomata .. '.. 414 0 0 Kaitoki .. .. .. 22 10 0 Lower Wainuiomata .. .. 172 0 0 Tunahaere 164 0 0 East Harbour 78 0 0 Mataongaonga .. .. 50 10 0 Tukapu 92 0 0 Brunswick 81 0 0 Kaiwarra 84 0 0 Moroa 160 0 0 Rhodes'Highway District .. 330 0 0 Whareama .. .. .. 234 0 0 Karori and Makara .. .. 548 0 0 • ■ £9,365 0 0 Carried forward .. £5,947 0 0 2

G.—No. 22.

SCHEME FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OE

6

Hawke's Bay. £ s. d. £ s. d. Rcdclyffc 105 6 8 Brought forward .. 1,208 0 0 Papakura 105 6 8 East Waipawa .. .. 105 6 8 Heretaunga 105 6 8 Patangata 105 6 8 Clive 52 0 0 Ocro 105 6 8 Te Mata 52 0 0 Waimarama 105 6 8 Pukahu 105 6 8 Tamunu and Pourcre.. .. 105 6 8 Pukctapu 105 6 8 Waipukurau East .. .. 105 6 8 Tutaekuri and Akawa .. 105 6 8 Waipukurau West .. .. 105 6 8 Kereru and Aorangi .. .. 52 0 0 Wainui and Poratigahau South 52 0 0 North Ilua Taniwha .. .. 105 6 8 Seventy-Mile Bush .. .. 105 6 8 Central Rua Taniwha.. .. 105 6 8 Peka Pcka and Patoka .. 105 G 8 Raukawa 52 0 0 Mohaka 52 0 0 West Kaikora 52 0 0 Turiroa 52 0 0 West Waipawa .. .. 105 6 8 Kaurauki 52 0 0 Carried forward .. £1,208 0 0 .£2,304 0 0 Nelson. £ s. d. £ s. d. Upper Motueka .. .. 4,492 0 0 Brought forward .. 6,023 0 0 Suburban North .. .. 816 0 0 Waimea 715 0 0 Pangatotara 715 0 0 Colliugwood 2,042 0 0 Carried forward .. £6,023 0 0 £8,780 0 0 Canterbury. £ s. d. £ s. d. Waipara 400 0 0 Brought forward .. 8,960 0 0 Kowai 400 0 0 Akaroa and Wainui .. .. 1,220 0 0 Ashley 500 0 0 : Okains Bay 500 0 0 Oxford 400 0 0 | Pigeon Bay 400 0 0 Cust 400 0 0 | Port Levy 100 0 0 West Eyreton 400 0 0 : Courtenay .. . . .. 610 0 0 Mandeville and Raugiora .. 610 0 0 ' Ellesmcre .. .. .. 1,220 0 0 Eyreton 710 0 0 Malvern 660 0 0 Avon 400 0 0 Upper Waimakariri .. .. 400 0 0 Riccarton 300 0 0 Rakaia 710 0 0 Tcmpleton 400 0 0 Ashburton 300 0 0 Heathcotc 500 0 0 Mount Somers .. .. 150 0 0 Spreydon 200 0 0 Raukapuka 400 0 0 Halswell .. .. '.. «O 0 O Mount Peel 200 0 0 Lincoln 610 0 0 ; Geraldine 500 0 0 Springs 710 0 0 i Levels 610 0 0 Port Victoria . .. .. 400 0 0 Waimate 710 0 0 Little River 12 20 0 0 Mount Cook 610 0 0 Carried forward .. £8,960 0 0 I £18,260 0 0

No. 3. His Honor T. B. Gillies to the Hon. W. Gisborne. Sir, — Superintendent's Office, Auckland, 19th July, 1871. In reply to your circular No. 34, of date the 21st June ultimo, I have the honor to submit the following scheme for the division among Road Boards of the Province of Auckland, of the proportion of the £50,000 per annum available for that Province during the year 1871-72. 1. A sum of £1,000 to be set aside for division in equal proportions among the new Road Boards which may be formed during the current year. 2. The remainder of the fund to be divided amongst the existing Highway Districts, in proportion to the amount of rates and voluntary subscriptions raised by them during the past year; subject, however, 3. To the following suburban districts receiving only one-fourth of the before-mentioned apportionment, namely, Dedwood, Grafton Road, Karangahape, Newton, Newmarket, Town of Onehunga, Parnell, and Remuera; and the following old-settled districts receiving only twothirds of the before-mentioned apportionment, namely. East Tamaki, Tamaki West, Mangarei,

£50,000, ETC., AMONG THE ROAD BOARDS.

7

G.—No. 22

Mount Albert, Mount Eden, Mount Roskill, Mount Wellington, One Tree Hill, Otahuhu, Panmure Township, Pahuranga, Papatoitoi, and Devonport. 4. The amounts saved by the deductions from the before-mentioned districts to be divided in the proportion of seven to five—the seven-twelfths to be divided equally between the whole Road Boards north of Auckland, excepting those already named; and the remaining five-twelfths equally between the whole Road Boards south of Auckland, excepting also those already named, and the Kauacranga, Waiotahi, and Parawai Boards, at the Thames. You will observe that this scheme is a slight modification of last year's scheme, which was found too give to large an amount to the wealthy suburban districts, whilst some of the poor outdistricts got very little. By the above modification it is hoped that the poorer out-districts will receive a share of the fund more in proportion to their necessities. I have, &c., Thomas B. Gillies, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent.

No. 4. His Honor P. A. Carrington to the Hon. W. Gisborne. (No. 53.) Sir, — Superintendent's Office, New Plymouth, 14th July, 1871. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Circular No. 34, dated 21st June, 1871, in which you request that I will forward " a scheme for the division among the Road Boards of this Province of the proportion of the £50,000 a year available for Taranaki during the financial year 1871-72." In reply, I beg leave to enclose the scheme asked for, which I trust will be approved. I have, &c, Fred. A. Carrington, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent.

No. 5. His Honor W. Fitzherbert to the Hon. W. Gisborne. Sir, — Superintendent's Office, Wellington, 25th August, 1871. In terms of the "Payments to Provinces Act, 1870," I have the honor to forward statement showing the proposed division among the Road Boards of this Province of the sum of £5,000, allocated by the General Government for the year ending 30th June, 1872. I have &c., William Fitzherbert, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent.

No. 6. His Honor J. D. Ormond to the Hon. W. Gisborne. Sir, — Superintendents Office, Napier, 30th June, 1871. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your circular letter of the 21st, requiring that a scheme should be furnished in terms of " The Payments to Provinces Act 1870," for the division among the Road Boards of the Province of Hawkc's Bay of the sum of £1,200 available for that purpose for the year 1871-72. Enclosed herewith is a scheme for the purpose, which is in accordance with the recommendation of the Provincial Council, and which I submit for favourable consideration. In the preparation of the scheme, all parts of the Province have received consideration, and provision is proposed for a number of Boards not yet in existence. When, last year, a scheme was proposed by me for the division of the £1,200 available for that yeai'j no Road Boards were in existence in the Province: but since then most of the districts for which I recommended provision should be made, have availed of the grant, and Road Boards arc now working in those districts. Some of the districts named in last year's scheme have not, however, formed Road Boards, and consequently the moneys appropriated to such districts have not been expended. On reference to you, I have been informed, that such unexpended sums must remain until Road Boards are formed in the districts to which they are appropriated; and as that is the case, the present scheme does not include any provision for districts in which last year's vote is still available. I fear a strict adherence to the rule laid down in your telegram- before referred to will, in the present year, prevent a considerable part of the Road Board grant being availed of, as I feel satisfied that many of the districts for which grants are proposed in the scheme will not avail of the same, or form Road Boards, although it is very desirable they should do so.

G—No. 22.

8

SCHEME FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OE

What I would recommend is, that the scheme should be approved as it stands; that a condition on which the Government aid should be granted should be the raising by rates within the district a sum at least equal to half the amount granted; and that such districts as have not on the first day of January, 1872, complied with the regulation, and availed of the grant, should forfeit the same; and that the sums thus forfeited should be distributed among the working Road Boards of the Province, in accordance with a scheme to be submitted by me, for the approval of the Government, immediately after the first day of January next. By this means, those portions of the Province which are willing to tax themselves for the improvement of their roads would obtain the full benefit of the aid afforded by the General Government grant to Road Boards. I have, &c, J. D. Ormond, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Superintendent.

No. 7. His Honor O. Curtis to the Hon. W. Gisborne. Sir, — Superintendent's Office, Nelson, 21st July, 1871. In compliance with the request contained in your circular letter of the 21st June, I have the honor to submit, for the consideration of the General Assembly, a scheme for the division among the Road Boards of the Province of Nelson of the proportion of the £50,000 a year available for that Province during the financial year 1871-72, under the provisions of " The Payments to Provinces Act, 1870." I apprehend that the sum accruing to this Province will be about £4,300, and I recommend its distribution as follows :— £ 1. Upper Motueka, or Motueka Valley Road Board .. .. 2,200 2. Suburban North .. .. .. .. .. 400 3. Pangatotara .. .. .. .. .. 350 4. Waimea .. .. .. .. .. 350 5. Collingwood .. .. .. .. .. 1,000 £4,300 The sums proposed for the two first-named districts are to enable the respective Road Boards to complete or continue the construction of the roads referred to in my letter of the 7th January last, recommending a scheme of apportionment of the same funds for the past financial year. The proposed contributions to the Pangatotara and Waimea Districts, with a small portion of that to^the Upper Motueka, are intended to be expended in effecting communication between Motueka and Wangapeka by a route which will open up a fair, although not a large amount of agricultural land fit for settlement. The grant recommended for the Collingwood Board is for expenditure in the construction of a road up the Aorere Valley, connecting the Port of Collingwood with the Quartz Ranges, a district reported by miners to be capable of maintaining a considerable population, and at the same time passing through country containing a considerable quantity of bush land fit for agricultural purposes. I forward herewith the returns required by the Act from the following Road Boards, which are all that have hitherto been furnished to me : —Suburban North, Wairnea, Moutere, Motueka, Pangatotara, Riwaka, Takaka. While writing I am in receipt of your telegram of this date, calling my attention to the necessity of these returns being sent in without delay; and in accordance with your suggestion I have written to the Chairman of the three Road Boards—Collingwood, Amuri, and Upper Motueka—in arrear, to urge upon them the propriety of sending in the returns without further delay. I have, &c, Oswald Curtis, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent.

No. 8. Mr. J. B. Wemyss to the Hon. W. Gisborne. Sir,— Superintendent's Office, Blenheim, 18th July, 1871. In reply to your circular letter No. 34, of the 21st ultimo, relative to the division among the Road Boards of this Province of the proportion of the £50,000 available during the

£50,000, ETC., AMONG THE ROAD BOARDS

G.—No. 22.

9

financial year 1871-72, and to recommend that the amount be divided equally among the five existing Road Boards. I have, &c, James B. W temyss (for the Superintendent), The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Provincial Secretary.

No. 9. His Honor W, Rolleston, to the Hon. W. Gisborne. Sir, — Superintendent's Office, Christchurch, Canterbury, Ist July, 1871. In reply to your circular letter of the 21st June, relative to the apportionment of the funds payable under " The Payments to Provinces Act, 1870," to the Province of Canterbury, I have the honor to forward to you, a statement showing the apportionment which, with the advice of my Executivc_ Council, I recommend for the financial year 1871-72. For this purpose, I have estimated the proportion of the £50,000 a year available for this Province, on the basis of population, as shown in the returns of the late census; and in the recommendations I have made, I have been guided by the considerations suggested by you, in your circular letter of Ist October, 1870. The special conditions which I would recommend should attach to the payment in respect of several of the districts arc as follows :— Of the amount appropriated to the Hcathcote Road Board, .£5O to be devoted to the Dyer's Pass Road, communicating with Banks Peninsula. Of the amount appropriated to the Halswell District, not less than ;€l5O to be devoted to the main line of road to Akaroa. The amount appropriated to the Little River Road Board, to be devoted to the main line of road to Akaroa. This amount to be expended primarily in opening the communication along Lake Forsyth, through the bush, with the portion of the road now being constructed by the Akaroa and Wainui Road Board. The amount appropriated to the Akaroa and Wainui Road Board to be devoted to the additional works on the main line of road, between Barry's Bay and Little River. The road for which this appropriation is suggested is the line of road partially formed, which, as previously stated, will open up a district, which has hitherto had very imperfect overland communication with the plains. The amount appropriated to the Pigeon Bay Road Board, to be devoted to further works on the road from Pigeon Bay to Akaroa. It is probable that some of the Road Board districts will, under the provisions of the Road Ordinance of this Province, be subdivided, and to meet this contingency, it should be a condition of the vote in each case, that in the event of separation the vote will be divided as may be determined by the Superintendent, with the approval of the Minister for Public Works. I have, &c, Wm. Rolleston, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Superintendent.

No. 10. Mr. H. H. Lahman, to the Hon. W. Gisborne. Sir, — County Chairman's Office, Hokitika, 22nd August, 1.871. Referring to your circular No. 34, 21st June, 1871, requesting me to propose a scheme for the division among the Road Boards of the sum payable to them for the current year under " The Payments to Provinces Act 1870," I have the honor to submit the following plan of distribution for your consideration, which I consider to be based upon the equitable requirements of the districts namely : — Paroa Road Board, twelve-sixtieths. Arahura Road Board, twelve-sixtieths. Kanieri Road Board, eleven-sixtieths. Totara Road Board, fifteen-sixtieths. Okarito Road Board, ten-sixtieths. I have, &c., H. H. Lahman, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Chairman of County Council.

No. 11. Mr. H. H. Lahman to the Hon. W. Gisborne. Sin, — County Chairman's Office, Hokitika, 22nd August, 1871. Referring to ray letter (No. 728, 22nd August, 1870) proposing a scheme for the division among the various Road Boards of the County of the sums accruing to them for the 3

€k—No. 22

SCHEME FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OP £50,000, ETC.

10

current year under " The Payments to Provinces Act, 1870/' I have the honor to transmit for your information the following remarks thereon : — 1. The liability of the Paroa Road Board is at present £654 11s. sd. and this is owing in a great measure to the gross irregularities and defalcations of their Secretary, and also to the want of strict supervision on the part of the Board. 2. The Arahura Road Board have, as a rule, expended their income in making roads judiciously. Their liability amounts to £120 19s. 3. The Kanieri Road Board, although they have never as yet levied a rate, have still carried out many w rorks which have been most useful to the district. Their liability amounts to £49. 4. The Totara Road Board, whose liability amounts to £290 18s. Bd., besides the construction and maintenance of tracks, are compelled to maintain a channel for carrying the stormwater off Jones' Hat. This entails upon them considerable expense, and an immediate outlay of at least £300. 5. The Okarito Road Board have no liabilities; and they have not only enjoyed a much larger proportion of the grant for the past year, but the County Government has also during the same period spent more than £2,000 in the construction of tracks in the district. In conclusion, I beg to suggest that some restrictions should be placed on the manner in which such grants should be expended, and also that the Road Boards should be compelled not to employ any officers who have not given sufficient guarantees for their fidelity. I have, &c, H. H. Lahman, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Chairman of County Council.

No. 12. His Honor J. Macandrew to the Hon. W. Gisborne. Sir,— Superintendent's Office, Dunedin, 15th July, 1871. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your circular letter No. 34, of the 21st ultimo, requesting me to forward a scheme for the division among the Road Boards in this Province of the proportion of the £50,000 available under the provisions of " The Payments to Provinces Act, 1870," and in reply I beg to acquaint you that I propose that it shall be divided among the various Boards pro ratd to the amount of rates raised in each district. I have, &c., J. Macandrew, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent.