Ratepayers' Meeting at Kiwitea.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 126, 23 November 1894, Page 2

Ratepayers' Meeting at Kiwitea.

A statutory meeting of ratepayers iv the Oroua Riding of the Kiwitea County was held in the schoolhouse, Kiwitea, last evening, to consider a proposal to form a special rating district, over which a loan will be raised to construct deviation of road through Mayueld property and Haynes' road. Thero was only a small attendance, those present being — Messrs W. F. Jacob (representative in Council of riding) iv the chair, C. A. J. Levett, Kilgour, W. Mitchell, W. D. Live, Vile, T. R. Taylor, and W. F. Mcßeth. Mr Jacob read tho uotice convening the meeting and the loau proposals. Tho whole of the Oroua Riding was included iv the special rating district, excopt towu sections in Beaconsfield aud Kiwitea, and these wore omitted, as the rates derived from them wore so small that they would cost moro to collect than they would obtaiu from them, besides the owners wore all absentees, aud in some cases unknown, aud if included iv the rating district the poll would not be carried. Ho thought tho ratepayers generally wero in favor of opening up these roads. He would like ratepayers to distinctly understand that he could not promise not to collect the special rates, nor could he bind his successors not to ; but ho did not think it would bo collected, although tho liability would exist. It it were collected, ratepayers would see that the general rato was reduced. He thought ho could work the riding ou a ljd rate, and he would do all he could to keep the rates down. If the loan is not carried, they would have to pay for construction of theso roads out of rates. It Avas a disgrace that Haynes' road was not made, and he would work to get these roads metalled. It was better to pay £50 a year for a loau than go on spending £70 or £80 a year out of rates for patching roads. They wero pushing ou the poll so as to get the money as soon as possible. Mr Jacob said the poll would probably be taken on Mouda}', December 3rd. Proposed by Mr Levett, seconded by Mr Mitchell, That the ratepayers at this meeting approve of the loau. — Carried. Tho meeting then adjourned.