PARNELL HIGHWAY MEETING.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1681, 8 July 1875, Page 3

PARNELL HIGHWAY MEETING.

The anhual meeting of the ratepayers of this district; was held la&t Dight at the Parnell Hall.

There was a numerous attendance of ratepayers. Mr William Colemsn was voted to the chair.

Mr Brett, the Chairman of the late Baard of Trustees, read the repoit of receipts and expenditure for last year. By this it appeared that the amount of rates collected had ■ been £685 13s 3d. ; sundry receipts, £10S Os 6d • grant from Government, £126; total, £919 13s 9d. Expenditure : Forming roads, &c, £652 10s Sd; bridges and culverts £67 6s Sd. • sundries, siich as commission, salaries &c. £143 10s sd. Total £863 7s 9d. Cash in Bank of New Zealand Ist July, 1874, £2 14s sd. Balance in Bank SOfch June, 1874, £59 sd.

The repoit was adopted, A rate of one penny in the pound was then struck for the ensuing year. Mr Eaynes then proposed, the following gentlemen as trustees for the new year : Colonel Nation, Messrs B. Ireland, H. Brett, Captain McKenzie and Mr T. Winks.

In opposition to this the following gentlemen were nominated: MessrsJDyer, : Churton, Mitford, Probert and Ailender.

On a show of bands beirg taken the following were the votes received for each candidate: Nation. 55; Dyer, 55; McKenzie, 53; Ireland, 4G; Mitford.4s;Brett, 38; Winks, 3(i; Churton, 21; Probert, 7; Allen.der 3. Messrs Brett, Churton, and Winks demanded a poll.

Messrs C. Wood and Waters being appointed scrutineers, the voting was proceeded with. The result was announced as follows : Captain McKenzie, 2.50; Barton Ireland, 240 ; Colonel Nation, 235 ; H. Brett, 195 ; T Winks, 173 ; Hi Dyer, 123; G. 3VL Mitford, 63 ; W. J. Churton, 49; Allender, S ; Probert, 4.

Mr Allender objected to thejjproxies which had been used, as they were illegally signed. The Chairman said it would be necessary to have a specific objection, not a general one, made. A_ cry being raised in ore corner for Colonel Nation to say whether he had improperly attested the prexies, that gentleman objected to allowing the meeting to call hisacts as a Justice of the Peace into question. I Mr G. M. Reed thought Color,el!Nation's refusal a very proper one. They* had no power to compel that gentleman lo justify his actions ?s a magistrate. A scene of general confusion eteued, in which many and various resolutions were put to the meetiDg Mr W. U. Kissiing proposed thai the matter be submitted to the Supreme Ciurt, arid the expenses made a first charge onthe rates. Tnis, it was rejoined by a gentlemin, was a very natural resolution for a lawy»r to suggest. I Mr R,. Dyer, after denouncing 'ihe system of proxy voting altogether, moTed as an amendment —" That this meetiig do adjourn to this day week, to test tte validity of the proxies. Mr Kissliug withdrew his motioi in favor of Mr Dyer's. Mr G. M. Reed intimated to thechairman that any question of adjournment mould have to be decided by using proxies, sothat they would not gain anything by pitting the question of adjournment. Ther chairman admitted the force of Mr. Reed'i remark, but stated that at the same he wisied to see fair play. This assertion Mr Cojernan reiterated several times, after wlich that gentleman said he could see no out of the difficulty except by declaring the five at the ■ head of the polf duly elected,and then leaving it to any individual to take up the legal point. This decision was received withpheering, • after which Captain McKenzie, CdSanel Nation, and Messrs. Barton Ireland,H. Brett, and T. Winks were declared trustees for the ensuing year. Messrs. Mitford and Dyer were tppointed auditors. GAS. Mr B. Ireland moved, and it wasiarried — " That the Board be empowered t«contract with a company or person for lighting any public road in the district which they may think requires it." The motion met with very general support, and its passing was hailed with acclamation.