RANGITATA ROAD BOARD.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1535, 8 May 1885, Page 2

RANGITATA ROAD BOARD.

The annual meeiiu>> of ratepayers of the Rangitata Road District took place at the Road Hoard's Office, Lismore, yesterday. There was a larger attendance than usual, and Mr E. G. Wright (chairman of the Board) presided. The minutes of the last annual meeting having been read and confirmed, the Chairman submitted the annual balance-

8 2 7 In moving the adoption of the balancesheet,the Chairman stated that the Board, having determined to keep the expenditure as low as possible, struck a rate of £d in the pound only, the larger part of which had been expended in No 5 Ward, which ward had not in previous years received its full share of the Board’s expenditure, but that such expenditure had now heea substantially idjuated, and future rates would, as far as practicable, be expended pro rata in each ward. He

expressed satisfaction at the manner in which the rates had bean collected by Mr J. C Bell, the amount outstanding being 15s 5d only. A sum of L 3 Ids lOd was due from the Government, but was disputed on the ground that the land as a railway reserve was exempt from taxation.

The action of the Board in seeking to place the administration of affairs under one local body was fully explained and approved of by the meeting. The Chairman, in referring to the sub-

ject, said so general was the feeling that tlie present system of dual government and double rating powers was unnecessary and wasteful, that not a single ratepayer had objected to sjgn the petitions which were circulated with the object, in the first place, of severing portions of certain road districts and constituting new ones, and, in the second place, of combining to merge the whole into a new county. The wolka required within the limits of the proposed new county were few and inexpensive. The headworks of the water races south of the Ashburton had coat nothing for repairs, and were not likely to give them much trouble, and he was of opinion that the whole works within the proposed county, could be managed by an ordinary overseer, and the expendl- i ture greatly reduced. Mr Charles Harper said he quite agreed I with the proposal to merge certain road districts into a new county. It was nonsense to continue playing at Road Boards. Most of the boards were in an impecunious condition, and entrusted their works either to incompetent or underpaid officers, and the sooner they could change this system for one competent authority, one rating body' and efficient management the better. ‘

A vote of thanks to the Chairman, proposed by Mr Harper and seconded by Mr Sutherland having been duly acknow* lodged, the proceedings closed.

sheet as follows: — . Receipts. £ S. d. Rates ■ • 349 is I Bank overdraft . 88 4 6 £438 2 7 Expenditure. Bank overdraft • 77 3 6 Main roads—contracts and labor • 329 3 7 Advertising... . 8 19 O Postages . 1 O 0 Rite collecting ■ 15 O O Interest on overdraft . 3 14 6 Huehes (copying roll) . 2 2 O Horse feed 1 0 0