ROAD BOARD MATTERS.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 163, 8 February 1878, Page 2

ROAD BOARD MATTERS.

To the Editor of the Akaroa Mail

Sir, —Quite an outbreak of indignation appears to have taken place at the Road Board meeting on Saturday last, after the retirement of two of its members, myself being one of the number. As the fact? may appear a, little different when divested of colouring, I proceed to give them. The truth is, the meetings have been very irregularly conducted of late, 3 p.m. being frequently the hour before members could be mustered, instead of 1 p.m., the time appointed, and on Saturday last, the Chairman did not put in an appearance until after three, stating as a reason, that Mr Williams had told him that he should not be present, and therefore he was in no hurry. I have frequently requested that the time of meeting might be altered to an earlier hour, so that the business might be got through by 5 p.m., to enable dairymen to get home for milking. This very reasonable request has always been met with by a blank refusal by Messrs Piper and Williams; Mr Shadbolt alone seeming willing to compromise the matter. Last season, up' to the time of the Annual election, the meetings were held at 12 noon, for the reason previously stated, and also for the convenience of the Wainui member and very rarely did any meeting extend beyond four or half past, and I think it is very much to be regretted that these gentlemen are so much wanting in respect and courtesy towards the other members that they will not bend in this very small matter.

As to the members doing their duty, I quite agree this is certainly a matter for the ratepayers to consider, and as to members being prevented from doing their duty is also a ratepayers' matter, and I have every confidence that they do not expect any member to use time which he cannot afford, while other time will do equally as well. With regard to the statement that Messrs Piper, William's, and Shadbolt had been " the whole Board," and had done all the work, I atn certain the Wainui ratepayers ought to feel ever grateful for the extraordinary abnegation of self contained in that statement, and not only as a member of the Board, but also as an individual ratepayer, I am sure I ought to be very much obliged to those gentlemen for their forbearance under such trying circumstances. Yours, &c, J. DUXBUEY.