Pohangina Notes.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 32, 7 August 1894, Page 2

Pohangina Notes.

In consequence of the swollen state of the river there were not so many at the meeting of Salisbury settlers, convened by Mr Wagstaff , as there might have been. The Road Board Office was kindly allowed for the purpose. Mr Wagstaff, on being voted to the chair, said that the meeting was called to consider the question as to whether the high value put upon the Small Farm sections was right and just. The valuation at that distance up the river was on the same scale as the Harbor Board Block. Warden Brown would have attended the meeting but was prevented by the river, and would have helped the meeting with the figures necessary to show the different values of the land. Mr Wagstaff read a letter from the Commissioner of Lands, saying "the land is weighted with 5s per acre for roadmaking purposes, on which interest is to be paid." This should go to prove that the Government intend the roads should be made with this money. Each section will thus contribute .£SO for road making, without its paying the j local rates levied by the Pobangina Road Board. He also read a letter from the Commissioner of Lands to Mr Currie, of the Pohangina Small Farm Associ- j ation, saying that " the roads in that Block had not yet been handed over to the Road Board." The Chairman also read a communication from the Commissioner of Lands to a Salisbury settler, in answer to his enquiry as to the valuation of his section : 200 acres at 245, £240 ; 200 acres at 5s for road making, £50; Total, £290. He (the Chairman) thought the settlers should make tho facts of the Government proposals for payment of road making known to the Pohangina Road Board in the form of a petition, showing that it is considered rather early for demanding rates, as the settlers have as yet no titles to their holdings. Mr Shadbolt proposed, That as the Government have not yet handed over the roads to the local body, that body has no legal right to collect rates. Seconded by Mr Ensight and carried unanimously. The petition to be presented to the Pohangiua Road Board at it its next meeting was then drawn np and signed by those present : — "As the various associations have not yet been asked for rent by the Government, it is considered premature to pay rates, and as the Pohangina Road Board District will be formed into a county, it is inadvisable to strike auy rate at present. It was decided to ask Warden Browne to present the petition to the Board. A vote of thanks to the Chairman torruiuatcd the meeting.