COUNTRY BOARD ANNUAL MEETING.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume I, Issue 95, 30 July 1873, Page 3

COUNTRY BOARD ANNUAL MEETING.

On Friday evening, at 7 p.m., the ratepayers of trict X ao! ran PT? ,ghWay I)ißfcrict met in the DisTrusteeship S’ 0 " *° th ° rate 9 *” d elei J. rustees for the ensuing year. Mr S. L C^rkn TL ha nr aa ° f bh6 ° ld Board < Presided. ’ on t>?» „ sft6r congratulating the settler. n the generally satisfaetox * stats of aSTai-a m hadduHr? ith r he B ° ard ’ said thab the Trustees ° Perform over and above the simple expenditure of the rates. On the requisition of a ratepayer on the Otumoetai side, he (Mr OlarkD !:7. t 0 , Mr , the I„ s pect OT Vf surveys, relative to the old Judea Road, and the w^ld l6 ' d £ , |r t V ih f . f ° rd fr ° m the town * Re ?. d r _ ead Healo s answer. (Letter read, in which Mr Hej.!a said he bad written to the Attorney-Genera l , who stated that any roads which had been used and were still necessary to the public would be kept open whetber'they went through public or private land.) Mr Clarke also stated he had written to the Minister of Public Works concerning that portion of the Judea itoad lying between the Judea cutting, enclosing a leading article from the Bat of Plenty Times on the subject, and he was pleased to say that in an answer from that gentleman (letter read) it would be seen that instructions had been given to the itesiden Engineer to get that portion of the completed at General Government expense. Mr tdarke then alluded to the r xids formed by the B -d of Trustees, particularly the Otumoetai Koad, which was a credit to the district, and, being made with a plough, only cost 4>: per chain.

Captain Skeet, the secretary, read the following balance sheet explaining the items seriatum RECEIPTS, _ . £ s, d. Balance from 1872 ... ... ... 217 9 Grant from 1873 ... ... ... 15 17 a Grant for 1873 ... ... 27 19 2 Bates collected ... ... ... 43 12 0 Paid by Town Board on pound account 5 0 0 £IOO 6 2 EXPENDITURE. £ s. d. Advertising, stationery, &o. ... ... 414 0 Salary ... 3 0 0

• £93 3 2 £ s. d. Balance in Treasurer’s hands... ... 7 3 0 Due from the Town Beard 14 7 6

Total credit b'dance ... ... £2l 10 6 Mr Clarke her© retired from the chair, and Captain Tqvey reigned in his stead. The balance sheet was passed in due course. The chairman stated that the next business before the meeting was to fix the rate for the ensuing year.

After some discussion, it was proposed and seconded that the rate be an acreage one. The clause of the Empowering Act was here read by the Chairman, limiting the rate to 5 per cent, on annual value, or Id in the pound on the value to sell. It was ultimately decided by the meeting that an acreage rate, provided it did not exceed the limit laid down, could be levied. Several propositions were made, but it was at length carried that the rating should be injtwo classei, one at 3d per acre, and the other at 2d. Some difficulty and much talk then ensued ns to the boundary of the first-class land, but eventually a proposition by Mr Morrison was carried, that the first-class land should include all lying within the following boundary:—A line following the Oropi Road from the Wairaapn River to the swamp, thence across the swamp to the boundary line of a 2C3acre section belonging to Captain Tanks, following that line till it reached the Omanawa Boid, thence along the road to the section line, including 200 acres belonging to Colonel Harington, and following that line again to the W airos River. All lands outside that boundary to be 2nd class lands at 2d per acre. The Chairman before proceeding to the election of Trustees would read a letter from Mr' Edgecumbe, in which that gentleman stated sickness alone prevented bis attendance, and that he had not paid the last year’s rate, the collector having never called upon him for it. The Chairman read clauses 7 and 8 of the Highways Act, wherein it was laid down that no one not having paid the rates due on or before the 30th June was qualified to vote or be elected.

Mr F. George hereupon rose and said that according to the Act he was not qualified to voee, he not having paid his rates in time. Mr George called upon those who were in the same position to retire with him and take no part in the election.

Messrs Clarka, Skeet, J, A. Chadwick, .Kirk, Campney, Lundon, Edgecumbe, Haringtou, and Earle were then proposed as trustees. Mr Hill having proposed Mr Edgecumbe, Captain Skeet suggested that as Mr Edgecumbe had not paid the rate perhaps Mr Hill would withdraw his proposal, which was accordingly done.

Captain Chadwick, who the late secretary alleged had not paid the rate till Julj 17, was also challenged. Captain and Mr John Chadwick both defended themselves on the ground that they had tendered cheques to the authorised collector previous to the 30th J one last, but he had declined to receive the same.

A long and warm discussion then arose, when the Chairman said the law was very explicit. He decided on the question that those who had not paid before June 30 were by the strict letter of that law disqualified to take part in the proceedings. The election of Trustees was then proceeded with. U pon the poll being taken, Messrs Clarke, Skeet. Kirk, Campny, and .London were declared to be duly elected. Messrs Hill and Gardiner were elected auditors.

Before the rabep yers separa ed, Mr Hill said he wished to call their attention to one matter. It was seen by the bah nee sh et that the whole cost of working the Board for the last year was £3. This was owing to the fact of Captain Skeet having gratuitously given his professional services

to ratepayers. Had these services boon paid v*.:,. wouid have made a considerable hole in the fimtl and he thought the ratepayers could not do less than rote a gift to Captain Skeot. It was not in the power of the Board, but the ratepayers as a body might do so. He would therefore propose that captain Bkeet bo presented with £lO out of the rates as a shgbt recognition of the se* rices he had rol ™ ?rec * district for the last two yea-s. dne motion was seconded by Mr S. L. Clarke, woo passed a high compliment on Captain Skt .t for the'troubie be had token, and the assistance ho had been to the district. proposition was carried unanimously, t ap! in Norris protested against not’haying b en allowed to use Captain Fraser's proxy. • ai5(J Mr Chadwick signified their indention of appealing against the election as illegal. They would enforce their claims to the upermtendont of the province, and endeavour to o .an fair play. The whole proceedings were nformal and would be rendered null and vo ; d. Attar the usual rote of thanks to the chairman hour CrUtmeerB * the meetin 8 separated at a late