MEETING AT KAKAIA

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1898, 21 July 1888, Page 3

MEETING AT KAKAIA

A ratepayers' meetiDg was held In the Town 8011, South Rak»ia, on Friday evening to, Qonaider the question of the division of the Oounty and the abolition of Road Boards,

The attendance was not large, and Mr Cosier, the Chairman of the Road Board, presided. The meeting was' 'oalled for seven o'olook, but there was a great want of punctuality, and eight o'olook came before the business oommenoed.

The Chairman oalled on Mr John Ho'mes to explain the objpets of hiß motion passed at the County Council meeting. ;

Mr Holmes spoke at length on the euVj c'. The resolution mentioned was " That in the opinion of this Council, the Aehburton Oounty shou'd be divided into two counties, and that by dividing the Oounty into two counties' with nine ridings in each, and dispensing with the BervIo«B of the Road Boards; a large saving would be tfftc'ed In the interest of the ratepayer?. 1 ' IHjr Holmes explained that tho County as it ie at present was not fairly represented. South of the Aahburton tho area was roughly 1,500,000 acres, and north of the Ashburton 1,000,000 aores, yet the land y&lnatlons were £1,000,00.0 for the Bouth portion, "and £2,000,000 for the north. Therefore, this potUon p&id twe-thirda of the rates, but there was really no m cey epent on this side the Ashburton unless It was near the Aahburton town. Again, the south side was represented by five members and the north by only four. He thought it most unfair. With .regmrd to the abolition of Road Boards, he would not be in favor of this unless the county was divided, for there would be no saving. At the present time there was a governing body with taxing powers for every 200 adults In the oounty — surely this was wrong. Mr Holmes expressed.bis views at considerable length. At 'present the county rate was f of a penny, and the Road Board rate £ of a penny ; If his views were adopted the whole rates would not be more than § of a penny, and eaoh riding would have more to spend. He conoluded by hoping the meeting would pass the resolution ho had moved In the Council. ,; "

In veply to questions, Mr Holma,a sajd In the event cf a division of 0 nmty wards the road districts would be abolished, and eaoh road district form a riding to be represented by one member. The Chairman explained about the large oonnty overdraft — Some £1500 hod been used for the UW bjridUje at'Aßhburton, , and one year Ijhe 1 rite was not struck, and .this Increased It very .much. Mtr iposter moved V The ad^pttqg oj $he resolution passed at the Council." He j thought c-00.-Katlag body quite enough. Mr D. G, Holmes Besonded. . Mr Stringfellow moved as an amendment — "That the Road Boards be not abolbhed, and that the Council remain as at present." Seconded by B(?r Shannon, , 'i'he an^endmont w«s declared loot by 16 to 11, and the original motion carried. A. vote of thanks to _dj holmes for expressing bis, vlpwa. vas passed and one to the Chairman, Although tho Chairman declared the original motion oarrled, it was really not exproaslon of opinion ns th* majority hth ?l V^ lb 8. and othera voted QOID in* tUfl qjqjlqq an( j t UQ trr^endment, clearly showing that they were a little mixed, *

"The' proceedings then terminated. A meeting of ratepayers to consider the same proposal Is to be held at Eondarvea School on Wednesday ne^K