HAKATERE TOWN BOARD.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1251, 31 May 1886, Page 2

HAKATERE TOWN BOARD.

Considerable interest was manifested on Saturday in the election of Commissioners for the Hakatere Town Board, and a large number of votes were recorded. About half-

past seven in the evening the Be urning Officer announced the polling to have been as

follows : F. T. Mayo 217 G. W, Andrews .. .. 204 P. Fawcett .. .. .. 192 W. W. White 131 B. Carter .. .. .. 118 B. Hughes .. .. .. 64

J. Caldicott .. .. .. 53 He declared Messrs Mayo, Andrews, Fawcett, White and Carer duly elected. Mr White, ia returning thanks for his election, referred to the circumstances which led

to the constitution of the town district. He had heard some objection to the course adopted on the ground of multiplying expenses; but he considered that objection was valueless, as the expenses would not be increased, and the benefits to be attained would be vastly greater. He referred at some length to the financial position of the old ward. The rate roll for last year on a f d rate produced £lB7 ; a subsidy was received from Government of£36, and rents and refunds of expenditure amounted to £2B 10s, making a otal of £251 10s. There would be a refund o Government of, he thought, 25 per cent, on 111 rates uncollected at the end of the finanlial year. The expenditure as shown by the >alance sheet for last year was;—Overdraft, £125 ; roads, £9O 16s; sundries, £74 5s 6d, ha total sum being £290 Is fid. There was hus a deficiency of £39, but to this had to 3e added a few outstanding items which would jring up the total to £6l. Against this, however, was an asset of equal amount, shown on the Board’s balance sheet, which would enable the new Board to start clear, practically, of all liability. Mr White went on to speak of bis actions while member for No. 1 Ward of the Wakanui Koad Board, and also referred to the question of name, pointing! out that it was impossible, in his select either of the names of the three exmP ing districts—Hampstead, Trevorton, and Netherby—with the consent of the ratepayers in the other parts. Mr Andrews thanked the ratepayers who had secured his return. He referred to the satisfactory position of affairs as disclosed by the figures quoted by Mr White, and announced his intention of doing his best to further the interests of the new town district. Mr Mayo returned thanks to the ratepayers for placing him at the head of the poll, for it showed him they had not lost confidence in him. He might have made mistakes in the past, but these he would endeavor to avoid in the future. Eeferring to the question of name, he thought it would be advisable to retain the name of Hakstere, for he felt that the matter would never be satisfactorily settled otherwise. Mr Fawcett, in a short speech, thanked the ratepayers who had elected him. Mr Carter briefly expressed his thanks for his leturn. A vote of thanks to the Eeturning Officer brought the proceedings to a close.