Fohangina County Election Contest. Correspondence.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 106, 2 November 1896, Page 2

Fohangina County Election Contest.

Correspondence.

Mr H. Fraser, the retiring Councillor and a candidate for the Tamaki riding of tbe Pobangina County at the coming general election, addressed the ratepayers of the riding at Messrs Bartholomew Bros' sawmill, Komako, on Saturday last. Mr F. Richards was voted to the chair. In his address Mr Fraser reviewed the work which had been done in the Tamaki riding since his election. Soon after his election a loan of some £4000 was carried, but owing to some clerical informality it fell through. Another poll was taken for a slightly altered schedule and carried, This, too, would have been thrown out but for his watching its progress carefully, and bis action, also, saved other loans in tbe County from a similar fate. He promised that no special rate would be collected on that loan until the road through Lyne's property was made, and no special rates have been collected, Referring to the cost of managing the Council, he said it was a little under 6 per cent on tbe total amount of money spent. In fche old road board days the cost was 12^ per cent on tbe money spent, and Mr Arbon was one of those who voted the clerk and engineer 10 per cent on the expenditure. There was generally an overdraft of from £1300 to £1500 and sometimes more, but against this was set off the varioun accounts which were in credit and the amounts on fixed deposit, so that their overdraft last year only cost them £2 3s. Referring to the Tamaki loan, be said that prior to last March only £5 Is had been spent on account of it. Last year £1300 of this loan was obtained and another £959 was paid on account of it up to October 16 last. They had (on Friday) let contracts amounting to £187 10s, £295 10s, and £31 ss. They had to pay out of the loan money £53 l'2s 2d on Lyon's contract, £15 was due to Burke and it would take nearly £100 to complete the metalling. The total cost of works in hand to be paid out of the loan was £682 17s 2d, leaving £622 2s 3d available for expenditure on new works. Dealing with the timber traffic on the roads, he thought the waggons should pay something towards keeping the roads in repair and he was willing to support a tax if it could legally be charged. Various local bodies were holding a conference to consider the matter and draw up byelaws and the chairman had been appointed to represent this county. If re-elected he would give the Opawe people as good a track as be could with the money available. He had arranged with Mr Eglinton about a road through his property. Mr Eglinton was giving the land and the Council were to pay 15s a chain for fencing both sides. Tenders had been accepted for forming 31 chains of Opawe road and he hoped at next meeting to let a contract for clearing the balance and to continue the Makeikei road through Wearne's and Oliver's towards Apiti. He defended the position he had taken up with reference to the re organisation of the staff as being necessary in the interests of tbe county. Mr Scott had done during his term of office, according to scale rates, £55 worth of ! surveying in tbe Tamaki riding, which would more than pay their share of his salary. This work would haye had to be done at an extra cost if they had not an authorised man. The pro portion (one-seventh) this riding paid for their sbare of the Onepnhi bridge was excessive and he would try to get this rectified. They were, also, paying more than they ought with respect to charitable aid and he had tried to alter this some time ago, but without success. In reply to questions Mr Fraser said they did not pay one-seventh the cost of everything, but only the clerk and a few other small things- The engineer was paid out of the loan for which he worked More money had been spent in this riding last year than in any other and they, consequently, had to pay about as much as other ridings. There would be some thirds to come from Mr Eglinton's section which he (Mr Eglinton) would agree to being spent anywhere on the Opawe road. There were about £40 of the £100 loan available for expenditure on improving Patterson's spur. He was going to ask the settlers further up to allow about £\& to be spent on the road as the survey of this road had been paid for by the riding and the settlers had agreed to pay the cost of survey, which they were now relieved of. Two of the principal works he intended having done were to give Wearne and Oliver an outlet. Plans had been prepared and submitted. •?, the Government for making a road around the bluff on the main road. As soon as tbe plans were returned tenders would be called for the work. The Government had granted £200 for this work. After March 31 they would be entitled to another draw on account of the loan. He did not think the riding had an overdraft at the present moment as the rates were coming in. The overdraft was debited to each riding which had it. „. A On the motion of Mr T. Hirot and seconded by Mr $• Browne, a vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Fraser for past services.