KAITI ROAD BOARD.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 947, 21 July 1903, Page 4

KAITI ROAD BOARD.

ANNUAL MEETING OF RATEPAYERS.

The annual meeting of ratepayers in the Kaiti road district was held yesterday morning. There were present: Messrs J. A. Harding (in the chair), F. Harris, Keefer, Cox, Adams, Dickson, McDowell, Bendall, .Evans, Joslyn, and Captain Tucker. The balance-sheet showed :— Receipts : General rates £332 19s 9d, special and separate rates £lßl Os 3d, other sources £2l 8s Id, subsidies under the Local Bodies’ Finance and Powers Act £59 9s lid, deposits on contracts £2, bank overdraft at end of year £17114s 2d. Expenditure : Bank overdraft at beginning of year £122 15s, public works £314 5s 4d, Joans interest £l7l 4s, salaries, ofQce expenses, etc., £4l 16s 3d, other expenditure £ll6 11s 7d. Included in the last item was £6O 11s for legal costs in connection with the appeal case Tucker v. Kaiti Boad Board, £ll for ranging, and £l4 17s for sanitation. Mr Dickson said the ratepayers could congratulate themselves ou - having reduoed their liability. He referred to Capt. Tucker’s intention of getting a special rate to form roads, and he objected to his property: being included in the rating portion. He suggested that the members of the Board and Capt. Tucker should inspect the roads before being token over, Capt. Tucker ; There was no thought of including you. Mr Dickson said Mr Bridges had spoken to him on the subject, and members should inspect the proposed roads that £3OO was to be borrowed for. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, referred to the. amount of-, expenditure on legal affairs that the Board had been forced into, and was glad to say that it was wiped out. The Board was altogether in a good position. The roads and footpaths were all in good order, all for very little expenditure. They would have £3O extra in the rates for the ensuing year, and the Board was in a satisfactory position, :.A • Mr Bendall seconded the motion, which was carried.

Mr McDowell raised the question as to what wages their overseer was getting, and thought he would like an enquiry into the matter. The Chairman said the overseer was getting 9s as from the last meeting. Mr McDowell also complained that the overseer was running his own stock on the road, and impounding other settlers’ stock. Mr Evans confirmed Mr McDowell’s statement. ' Mr Harris pointed out that they had resolved at a former meeting that if information was laid against the overseer the Board would prosecute him, or anybody else who grazed stock on the roads. Mr Joslyn asked if the work on the Wheatstone road could be re-valued, as he and other settlers had contributed, end he considered the money had not been properly expended.' / Mr Harris said be understood the work was passed subject to the supervision of the other subscribers. The Clerk stated that other settlers had paid their subscriptions, and considered Mr Joslyn had ample time to object prior to the meeting. The Chairman stated that anyone who had complaints to make about the overseer oould do so before next meeting, Captain Tucker said with reference to

he proposed road in the vicinity of Mr Dickson’s there had been no thought of deluding him in the special rating disrict. He proposed to out up 10 or 12 ores in the vicinity of Mr Dickson’s. The ront sections had frontages to Crawford treet, and in order to give access to the ack ones, he proposed to carry roads to fr Dickson's boundary. He wanted the ioard to proclaim them as roads, so that e would be able to borrow money to form nd metal them. If necessary, the Minisr of Lands could proclaim them, with le Board’s consent. The outting up of 10 sections would increase the population, id add to the rates. He considered it a ity of the Board to facilitate the settleent of vacant land. Should the Board fuse, there was a third alternative. Mr Harris pointed out that others in e Haiti had been treated similarly, and ild that they should not make fish of ie and fowl of another. The Chairman stated that they had a jal opinion on the matter, and he ought the majority of members were gog to stand by it. After further discussion it was decided at Captain Tucker forward all informa* the Board for next meeting,