NEWMARKET.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 476, 20 July 1871, Page 2

NEWMARKET.

Thk annual meeting of tho ratepayers of this district was held last evening, at the Caplaiu Cook Hotel, Kyber Pass' Road, H. 11. Lusk, Esq., Chairman of the Board, presiding. Tho minutes of tho last meeting were road and confirmed. Mr. Jamea Wrigfor read tho statement of receipts and expenditure, from which it appeaved that tho assessment amounted to £129 13s 7d,.0f which £107 17s 6£d had been collected: tho sum received from the Provincial Treasurer, £05 10s, being part of tho amount receivable fro-n the Q-oneral Government. Beceivod from dog collars, £8. This money had been expended under three general heads :—Forming roads, £G6 16s 6d; metalling and channelling, £50 2s •'7d; bridges nnd culverts, £12 0s Id; commission for collocting rates, £5 15a s id; salaries and ront, £14 18s ; printing and advertising, £2 9s lid ; commission for collecting dog tax, JGll2s. The accounts wore referrod to the auditors—Messrs. Clayton anclßarr, who declared them duly audited, Mr. Osborne said ho refused to pay the rate, because he folt that, ho was grossly overcharged. He had lived in tho neighbourhood for thirty years, and paid his just ddbts. | Ue ; proposed, " That tho rato be altered, and placed upon tho basis of general income from tho'property." His rate amounted to 3s 6 1 in tho pound, from the: property taxed. '.It was grazing land, and for £100 he was raieu to the extent of £17. He thought the inodo ho suggested, a simpler one than that adopted. The Chairman said that Mr. Osborne would be at liberty to suggest an alteration at the proper time ; and it would be for tho meeting to say upori what basis the rate should be struck. The meeting, however, had no power to reduce the last rate. The accounts were audited, and tho report of the trustees adopted unanimously. The meeting next proceeded to strike the rate for the ensuing year. Mr. Firth Wrigley prop sod, seconded by Mr. Hunter, " That tho rate be based upon the Talue to fell." This proposition was discussed at considerable length, and with much animation. Mr. George May considered the rating by value to sell wns most unjust. He proposed a half-penny in the pound. Mr. Witheford thought this mode of rating objectionable. Ho thought a better way would be to base the rate upon the value to let. Mr. James Wrigley was 'not aware that the rental had beon adopted. It had been found that the estimated value to sell was the most acceptable. Mr. Dennison thought the value to sell the best mode. Mr. Mullolly disagreed with Mr. Dennison. He thought it hard that people who improved their propoi ty should have to pay ifor a lot of slovenly fellows who allowed their lands toliowastc. Mr. Hunter, said that Mr. Mullnlly's was an exceedingly pretty place. Mr. O, J. Stone supported the original motion. The amendment, that the rato be upon the miuuhl value to let, was put and lost. Mr. Firth Wrigley's motion was put and carried. The meeting next proceeded to consider what the rate should be. Mr. Dennison proposed, and it was seconded, that the rato be a halfpenny in the pound. Mr. Hunter moved that it be a penny in the pound. The motion was duly seconded.' Mr. Firth ( Wrigley proposed three-halfpence in the pound. The last motion was not seconded. The Chairman, in reply to a question how the property had been valued last year; said the valuation was by the trustees, but that was no rule for what might be done this year. If the meeting chose to goto the expense of paying a valuer, they were at liberty to do so. The matter was entirely in the hands of the meeting. Mr. B. B. Turner found fault with the roods mntl#. He had a road "up to his knees." Mr. James Wrigley spoke in favor of the higher rate proposed. Ho thought that a less sum than a penny would produce insufficient for any good. The Chairman said that a halfpenny rate would not leave more than £30 for road purposes after the .expense of collecting, &c. He believed that the sum of money available : from tho G-overuniont grant next year would be less. But the more liberally they rated themselves, the more of it they would get. If: they didtoot .rate them-* selves, they would get nothing, bu£ other di3f tricts who rated themselves and improvod their properties would get the greater proportion of it. Mr. B. E. Turner would agree to a penny rate if the trustees would .ibe trustees "no more." Mr. James Wrigley said, there was at present about £20 in hand. The contract had been*nccepted for making the road referred to by Mr. Turner 5 Mr. Whisker was the contractor. The amendment in favor of a penny rate' waV carried by a large majority na., 47 for a penny as compared with 27 for a halfpenny rate. The following geutlemen were proposed as trustees for tho ensuing year : Messrs. Buokland, Lisle, Osborne, Hancock, Dennison, Burr, Turner, Wrielev (James), Saad.ll, Beooombe (senior), Clayton; Lusk (H H.), Stono, Hunter, of whom the following five wore elected : Messrs. A. Buckland, 42 ; 0. J. Stone, 40"; H. H Lusk ■39 • J. ■ ©-borne,39 ,J. Wrigley, 35. Mess*,! Clayton and, Birr were elected auditors for the enaing year. This coaoluded the bW