Meeting of Ratepayerss at Pemberton.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 91, 14 October 1895, Page 2

Meeting of Ratepayerss at Pemberton.

A meeting of ratepayers was held in I the Rangiwahia School-house on Saturj day afternoon, for tbe purpose of conI sidering the best means of getting the Kimbolton road from Beef Creek northwards put in a better state of repair before next winter. About thirty rateratepayers were present. On the motion of Mr F. Pemberton, seconded by Mr Stent, Mr J. McGregor was voted to the chair. Mr McGregor, in his introductory remarks, said the meeting had been called to see what could be done to repair the roads. Last year the Government had done something towards repairing the main road, but it was too late in the year and did very little good. As at present the roads were a standing disgrace to the Council and Government. It was about eight years since the road was first made, the rates had nearly doubled, the income from this source being between £900 and £1000, and something should be done. He then called on Mr P. Homer, councillor for the riding, to address the meeting on the matter. Mr Homer said he only received notice of the meeting the day previous, or he would have been enabled to have procured figures showing the actual position of the county ; as it was he had to speak from memory. The income from the riding from rates would be £972 10s for this year, last year the total amount was £540, and the previous year £240, so that their position was improving. With the increased revenue, he thought if a deputation waited on the Council, he might be able to assist them in getting something done to the road. It was no use writing letters, and he suggested the appointment of a deputation. The riding included the Birmingham, Apiti, and Pemberton Blocks, and from the £240 previously collected in rates it could not be expected much could be spent in making roads. Some of the rates this year should be spent in metalling, especially on the Pemberton flat. Some of the settlers down at the southern end of the riding pay about £9 a year in rates, where settlers at the northern end only pay ±1, and the former only use a small portion of the road compared with the latter. For instance, Mr Beard has a section of 912 acres, the thirds from which go to pay interest on the Kimbolton road loan, and he only uses about a mile of the road. His (Mr Homer's) place was rated at about £600 and he hadn't a road he could take a sledge down. It would thus be seen the settlers at Pemberton were better off than he as they could get a dray in during summer. If a deputation waited on the Council he would render what assistance he. could to get some of the rates spent on the road. If the Council did not deal satisfactorily he would make one of a deputation to go to Wellington and wait on the Government. Mr McKinnon asked how much they were likely to get from the Council. Mr Hornet could not say. In addition to the £970 rates, there was a subsidy of, say, £200. Mr McGregor said the thirds on sections fronting Kimbolton road went to pay interest on loan, but there should be about £1200 available for work this year. Mr McKinnon asked if they could get £500 out of that. Mr Homer did not think they would get that. The overdraft of the riding was about £900, and the maintenance of the roads would cost about £400. Mr McGregor said that, roughly, four or five miles wanted metalling and would cost about £1000 to put in repair. Mr Homer thought that Captain Turner's estimate to make the road good from Birmginham was £1500. Mr Moffatt suggested that if the Council would grant £250 for metalling the Government might subsidise it & for £. As to maintenance work, Mr Homer said he tried to get the Council to " knock off " all surface men in the riding and call for tenders for the work in sections, but the Council would not agree to the proposal. Mr McKinnon asked if it would not be better to ask the Government to put in a Receiver and spend the rates in the proper way. Mr McGregor replied that it would not at this stage, as the Council had not really refused yet, as they had not been | asked in a proper way. He asked Mr ! Homer if the Government could put in a Receiver. Mr Homer did not think so in this case, but there was a clause in the Counties Act, which said the Governor, by Order in Council, could take over a road and put it in repair and stop the cost out of subsidies to the Council within whose jurisdiction the road was .Mr Rule : Yon can smell your way to Waireki by dead horses in tbe road. Proposed by Mr Moffatt, seconded by Mr Stent, That Messrs F. Pemberton and Morgan be appointed a deputation to wait on the Council for the purpose of representing the state of the road from Beef Creek northwards and endeavour to get the Council to put it in order during the summer months as far as lies within their means. — Carried. Mr F. Pemberton suggested that a petition should be circulated for signature to strengthen the hands of the deputation. Mr McGregor suggested that it would be advisable to authorise this deputation to go to Wellington if necessary ; also, That the chairman should be asked to go with them. Proposed by Mr McKinnon, seconded by Mr Pemberton, That the deputation be empowered to proceed to Wellington if necessary to interview the Government re the road. — Carried. Mr F. Pemberton proposed and Me Moffatt seconded, that a petition be drawn up for signature to support the deputation in the foregoing resolutions. — Carried. The discussion dealing with Kimbolton road having dropped, Mr Carey raised the question of having the bush on the Cemetery Ueserve and on the road thereto felled. Mr Homer said if an application were made to the Council he would undertake that the work was done. Mr Stent wanted to know what was going to be done about separation. Mr Bryce said a good many signatures ivere yet required to the petition. After discussion it was decided to continue the movement for separation. The meeting adjourned with a vote of hanks to the chairman.