Manchester Road Board—No. 6 Ward

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 36, 10 September 1892, Page 2

Manchester Road Board— No. 6 Ward

' f* A large meeting was ( held in the Dramatic Hall on Thursday evening, at Ashurst, to meet the candidates for the Fohangma Boad Board, and to discuss the question of separating fpom the Manchester Eoad Board^, with thjß view of joining the Pohangma. Messrs Arbon, and Dickin, attended the meeting. Messrs Burton, Bichards, and Lucas, sent word they were unable to He present. After discussing some of the bearings of the question privately the publio meeting was commenced at 8 o'clock by Mr G. S. Bumble, being voted to the chair. He stated the object cf the meeting was to secure for Ashurst the right she undoubtedly possessed of taking her place as the head ot the Pohangina Valley, that the trade of the district now being opened, should be drawn to this, the natural direction. He showed that separating from the old Board, and joinin» the new, would be a step m the right direction, and asked for a discussion on the questions at issue. In answer to a question by Mr Milverton as to distance, it was said that from Pohangina to Feild. ing was 25 miles, a long distance for contractors and others having business at the Board's meetings to travel, as. against the comparative nearness to Ashurst if the Board's office were here. Mr Gallachin informed the meeting that rooms suitable for board meetings would be offered for 12 months free of Mr Dickin (Pohangina) asked if in the near future Ashurat become a Borough, would that affect the ordinary revenue of the No 6 Ward. Mr Beeve in reply said that the receipts from the tolls could not be used for borough expenses, which would have to be met by borough rates Mr Beeves said that the revenue of No 6 Ward was £780. . Mr D. D. MacKenzie said that with the opening up the roads the Government should be asked to extend the mail seryice further up the river, by the employment of a mail carrier. Mr Dickin asked what guarantee could be given to Pohangina, that these financial proposals, re disposal of No 6 Ward revenue would be kept? Mr Beeve answered that the signatures of those desiring separation for the object of joining Pohangina would be a sufficient guarantee. . Mr Hunt stated that he had interviewed Mr Bruce on the matter who would confer with Mr Wilson and assist separation as much as laid in their power. In the present state of the law the signatures of ?, of the 800 ratepayers in the Manchester Road Board would have to be obtained. No 6 Ward has 270 ratepayers, »o that it is thought a sufficiency will be easily obtained if a personal canvass is, made by one acquainted with the financial state of

No 6 Ward, and who can put the justice of our claim before the people. Mr F. Arbon (Pohangina) agreed with the objects of the meeting and proposed that a resolution be drawn up expressing the wishes of the Ward, to be laid before I the Pohangina Board at its first meeting on September 27th, at Feilding, and also a clear statement of the financial state of the Ward. Seconded by Mr Dickin and carried. Mr F. W. Whibley proposed that No 6 Ward separate from the Manchester Road Board with the view of joining the Pohangina Eoad Board. Seconded by Mr C. Hunt and carried unanimously. Mr Searle asked if the Pohangina Road Board would not be the greater gainers by our joining. Mr Gallaohin replied that they would directly, but that we should also gain indirectly by the increase of our businesses and consequently of the value of property. Mr J. P. Whibley said that Mir Reeve had oftered his services as can.v4sser for signatures to the separation, petition, and thought that, he should b> retained for that work. Mr Gallaohin moved that a committee be appointed to arrange this and other matters of detail, and to obtain promises of support towards the fund for defraying the cost of obtaining signatures for separation. . ■ A voteof thanks to the chairman con*, eluded the meeting. .