Pohangina County Election Contest.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 112, 10 November 1896, Page 2

Pohangina County Election Contest.

o MR DICKEN AT POHANGINA. Mr Dicken, the retiring councillor and chairman, and a candidate for reelection, addressed the ratepayers in tbe Awahou riding in Sangster's woolshed on Saturday afternoon last. There were about forty ratepayers present and Mr J. Palmer was voted to tbe chair. Mr Dicken, in his address said that when he was elected to the old Road Board four years ago they had no roads in tbe district, and he described the difficulty be met in getting loan proposals carried to make tbeir roads. The first loan raised was for £5492, but this was not sufficient and they had to raise another loan of £2044 to complete the roads. Road making operations commenced in February 1893, when the first contract was let, and now, in November 1896, they had seventeen miles of roads in the riding. They started road making witb the Ferry Road and worked North and South. Commencing from the Ferry Road they had constructed 390 chains northwards at a cost of £2482 18s lOd, and 222 chains southwards at a cost of £1362 15s 3d. The amount of loan money spent on other roads was 208 chains No. 1 line £707 6s 6d, No. 2 line 171£ chains £509 ls. No. 3 line 212 chains £491 2s 4d, No. 4 line 128 1 chains £315 Bs. The total amount spent being £5868 12s exclusive of clerical work, leaving a balance of loan money in hand of £855. They bad to erect bridges on Main road north and south, No. 1 line, No. 4 line, make track along No. 3 line, and complete metalling, the engineer's estimate being £948 8s for these works. The valuation of the riding last year was £43,180, tbe previous valuation being L 23.685. They had L 1024 8s to the credit of the laud fund, which would be devoted to paying interest on loans, amounting to L 376 16s each year, as long as it lasted. They bad an overdraft of L 454 3s 6d on which they paid interest at the rate of 6 per cent. Their revenue was L 269 17s 6d from the l£d rate struck and L 67 10s Government subsidy. The Government subsidy for the county was L 419 Is. The county paid L7O 8s 6d in charitable aid, the Awahou riding's share being LlO 8s Bd. The outstanding rates amounted to LBS 17s 9d. Referring to the LlO bonus paid to him (in reply to the complaints of some ratepayers) he read a statement showing that be bad devoted the whole or portion of 100 days to connty work from February last to October, both inclusive, and stated that two Acts gave authority for the payment of an amount up to LIOO a year and 1 per cent on the revenue, to cover travelling expenses. He admitted a mistake had been made in accepting a certain contract, and he explained the circumstances surround* ing the case. He justified the appointment of a Ranger in the riding as the cattle did a lot of damage to the roads and, consequently, the cost of maintenance was made heavy. It was arranged between himself and Mr Brown tbat tbe Ranger would be taken off for three months at the next meeting of Council. He would propose, in connection with the suspension, that cattle only be allowed to graze on the roads during the day time. In reply to con* demnatory remarks made at a meeting by Mr J. G- Browne with reference to himself, he read a motion moved by Mr Browne in the Road Board, thanking himself (Mr Dicken) for services rendered and general courtesy : also, the complimentary remarks made by Mr Browne on another occasion with reference to tbe speaker. He defended the administration of county affiairs as being economical, and contended the cost was as low as that of any other county in proportion to its revenue. In reply to questions Mr Dicken said he had been around the roads when* ever necessary, and was frequently called on by contractors on Sundays about road matters. If settlers required anything they should always ' write to the Council when their requests would receive attention. Tbe special rate was struck on the old valuation, bnt he was of opinion that it should be collected on the latest valuation and he would approve of representation being made to tne authorities to permit this being done. A vote of thanks to and confidence in Mr Dicken was carried on the motion of Mr Akers. Mr Dicken returned thanks for the vote and the usual compliment to tiie chairman terminated the meeting. MR BOLTON AT POHANGINA. Mr W. Bolton, a candidate for the Pohangina riding, addressed a meeting of ratepayers in the hall on Saturday evening. There was a good attendance. He contested the seat because he thought the town should be represented, and that the present councillors were extravagant in claiming 15s for each meeting they attended. The £225 of loan money available should be spent in making the road from the township to connect two other roads in the riding ; improving the drainage and making roads in the township. He was in favor of first forming all and then metalling their roads as the money came to hand. They should have a pound in the township, but no ranger, the duty of pound* keeper to be undertaken by the present clerk without increased salary ; that all imponndage fees should be paid into the County fund. Mr Bolton criticised Mr Wagstaff 's position as a Councillor in the past. Mr A. A. Wagstaff, another candidate for the same riding, replied to Mr Bolton's remarks, saying the township was not a distinct district and could not progress unless the country districts were opened up and prospered. He hoped that whoever was elected would represent tbe whole, and not a portion of tfaet riding. He condemned Mr Boltoa'& scheme for getting the work done, as tampering did not pay and it was better to get tbe work done well in the first instance. Mr Bolton did all he could against the loan, and he (Mr Wagstaff) ridiculed tbe former's idea of doing all the work out of tbe £225. Some of tbe work could be completed out of overdraft and repaid from loan money when it came to hand. The ranger and poundkeeper had not proved a success, and he would not have one in this riding if he could avoid it. Mr J. G. Browne thought the ratepayers should consider their position and ihat some arrangement should be come to between Messrs Bolton and Wagstaff, so that one might withdraw, otherwise Mr Cornfoot, who resided on the other side of the riding and had no interest in the township, would be returned. If the ratepayers considered the best interests of the place one of thei two former should retire in favor of tha other. He suggested these twa candidates meeting together and seeing which was likely to have the most votes, and then the other to withdraw.