OTAHUHU DISTRICT HIGHWAY BOARD.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1694, 23 July 1875, Page 2

OTAHUHU DISTRICT HIGHWAY BOARD.

A large number of the ratepayers of the above district met last night in the Public Hall at 730 o'clock. The annual performance be^an by the late Chairman of the Board reading the advertisement convening the meeting. He then pronounced the meeting open for the election of a Chairman.Mr Markham was voted to the chair ; he, also read the advertisement.-The minutes of the last annual meeting wero clone with-out.-The balance-sheet was then read, shewing : balance in band last year £6 3s 10.1; r!t.s collected, £70 9.. 8R: inscription, in aid by ratepayers, £2 ; Ge.eral Government gran', £26 4-; Dog Nuisance Act, f 1". 4s 6d • Impounding Act, ±61 los Og;aCr • Forming roads, £29 4s 7d J metalling ond"chanellin>, £62 12s 8d ; bridges and culvert- £7 9_ ; other works and expenses made up a total of £133 5s Id ; the present balance in hand, £16 15_ BJd- making the total of £150 03 9^d. — The report gave general satisfaction, with the exception of the balance in band. That there should be any balance in hand while such a work as the road to the station remaiued untouched, l seemed greatly to puzzls tbe heads of a number of ratepayers present; besides, each had a special piece of work near their respective dwelling, on which the balance of £16 15s B£d could have been spent to great adventage. After this bone of contention had been picked for a time, the Chairman proposed, and Mr Bush seconded, that the report be adopted.—Agreed to_ — Mr Plumley proposed that ihe rate be levied on the value to sell, and at the rate of id in the £ —A ratepayer requested Mr Plnmley to speak plain. The latter, to oblige the former, repeated the proposition in unmistakeable tones. This was seconded, and afterwards a Id and %<\ rate were respectively proposed a . amendments.—Mr Gordon stated that their Mangare neighbours were building unto themselves a pound, and that this would deprive the Otahuhu Board of a considerable revenue, in view of which the low rate of a£d was an absurdity.—Mr Luke thought as the Jd rate would realise but £35 on the entir. assessment, it would barely be remunerative enough to the party who collected. Mr Gordon pointed to the Gt-kuhii road as tbe best in the province and worth keeping up. He advocated a penny rate, and continued to speak amid a variety of interruption., in which the " balances in hand " formed the leading cry.—Tha Chairman thought: ife would make things clear if those"; present would speak one at a time.— A ratepayer said he was a poor, hard working man ; be could pay the halfpenny lata, but not a penny more.— As the ni£hfc was far advancing, it was proposed to go on with the business and elect the trustees. The old Board were proposed and about twenty other gentlemen.— After a series of interruptions, ia which questions from all pait. of the hall seemed directed at Mr Plumley, the Chairman declared be must enforce order ; and Mr Plumley once for all proceeded to drum into the heads of the anxious enquirers the object of holding fast to the balance in hand (gr.at laughter).—Jb was a gratifying sight to see Mr Plumley, with his good-humoured facp, meeting theattack- of tbe puzzled ones, as they madetheiro v-servationson the inexplicable balance of £1615 i S^d— returning their retorts, and winding up each of tbem with a laughable remark which put all in good humour. —Mr Gordon would like to see trustees go in pledged to make the Stationroad —Mr Plumley wculd explain how the road should be made. He had been to the General Government and other Governments which seemed somehow all mixed up togethei (laughter). He had not persevered much with the present Superintendent; but the last bad promised to see it made (cheers) He Mr Plumley was of opinion that Government were making station roads atPukekohe and would do it for Otahuhu.—Mr Btriagei wanted tbe pledge of candidates to office that they would go in fo~ making tbe roa-. to th' station. —Mr Plumley said that the Otahuhu ra'es for tbe year would not pay m.n foi more than a wr-ek in such a work. Ml Go:doti thought the late Board had not sinned in commission but in omission Several gentlemen here rose and spoke together.— Mr Luk. thought Mr Gordon might include himself in the omission list respecting the steps taken on behalf of the road -Mi Plumley believed Mr Gordon had called t jolly good m.etina: some two months ago, bul what had resulted from it ? Mr Luke though! the public should move ia the matter of th; road. —Mr Stringer thought the Board skouk lead.—-Mr Deßose thought the Board hac done quite right in spending the money it different parts of the settlement. He shoule be sorry to see ratepaj'ers money snnl in any one particular road (hear bear. Mr. Stone: Look here! Mr. Plumley, yoi have a balance of over £16 in hand, and nea my place is left an open drain where cow. get bogged.—Mr. Plumley : Look here, Sir The contractor has not done his work anc we kept the money for him till he had.— Mr. Luke said the great grievance appearei to be the balance in hand ; if elected again and if it would better satisfy them, he wouh promise a deficit next year (laughter). —Mi Hall wished to correct a statement tbat ha< been made to the effect he had had £40spen in front of his property.—Mr. Plumley sail Mr. Hall was as bad as Jimmy Brady, wh had got a new road, and then said nothin was done for him ! (laughter).—Mr. Hall sail improvements had been effected opposite hi premises, to which he had contributed ha] the cost. After a miscellaneous debate c about an hour and a half, candidates fo offices were condensed to the number of . It was proposed that the candidates shoul not exercise their votes ; this was seconded put to the meeting, and carried. It wa proposed to have six scrutineers, but as fou gentlemen of ability were found willing to d the work, the other two were dispense« with. The table was hoisted up on to th stage and the votes were taken with th following result: Messrs. Calvert, 45 ; Luke 45 ; Bowden, 44 ; Plumley, 3S ; Foley, 35 Gordon, 22 ; Stringer, 10 ; Stone, 5. Messrs John Hall and Deßose were appointed audi tors, Messrs. Gordon and Bush fence viewers A vote of thanks to the chairman closed th meeting, which, for difference of opinio; united with good temper, has not bee equalled. The old Board have again th honor of bearing office, which, speaks wel for their past year's transactions.