Meeting of Ratepayers at Apiti.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 238, 10 April 1897, Page 2

Meeting of Ratepayers at Apiti.

o Ffijom oub. own cuebesfondbnt. | A meeting of ratepayers was held in Guy's Hall on Thursday evening to take into consideration the action of the Pobangina County Council in erecting a public pound in Apiti. Mr Gascoigne was voted to the chair, wlio, after stating the object of the meeting called upon Mr Guy to address the meeting. The speaker said that at the request of a number ot ratepayers he had called this meeting to discuss this matter of the erection of a public pound in Apiti. He did not think the member of the riding, Mr Vicary, acted wisely in this matter. He (the speaker) considered tbat such an important matter oi spending £40 of the ratepayers' money should have been submitted to the ratepayers for their decision before any such proceedings were taken. Mr Vicary, in reply, considered that it was officious ou the part of tbe person who wrote the notice calling the meeting and not signing his name to the same. The speaker went on to detail what had been done in connection with the erection of a pound. It was mooted some years ago that a public pound be erected in Apiti, but at that time he was not in favour of such. Lately he had been appealed to by a number of ratepayers — he would not mention names — who requested him to bring the matter before the Council which he did with the result that it was decided to erect a public pound in Apiti. A number of disolutory remarks were then passed by some of the ratepayers present which were not very argumentative either for or against having a public pound. The chairman said that if he were permitted to speak be could advance arguments eitner for or against tbe erection of a pound. As no one wished to "air their eloquence " the ayes had it in favor of the chairman giving his views, which he did in favor of not baring a pound erected. A long pause then ensued with casual remarks about certain pounds which would be very acceptable just now either as a loan or to pay the " long time." Mr Guy then moved, " That in the opinion of this meeting it was premature to erect a public pound in Apiti." This was seconded by Mr Dick, and on the chairman putting it to the meeting he declared the same carried, without asking " against I ?'' Tbere was a considerable amount of discussion in respect to the chairman's ruling. Mr Vicary then proposed " Tbat this question be decided by ballot — ratepayers only voting " Slips of paper were then handed round— one blank and one on wbich was written " pound " and the two slips were given to each ratepayer with the explanation that those who vote for the erection of the pround were to place the " pound " slip iv the box and those who were against to place the blank, and the result was that sixteen voted for the erection of the pound and nine against. The result of the ballot being declared, tke meeting terminated with tbe usual vote of thanks to the chair mau.