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Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1459, 20 May 1905, Page 4

Native Lands Trust. Board, with tlie Uawa bridge and the mnin coach road, thereby giving a morn direct and easily maintained road, avoiding tbo present I track over the sandhills and giving better access to settlers on the Paronmta block. On the motion of Cr Gray it was decided to recommend tbo ratepayers to form a special district, as it would involve on expenditure of IH2GO. Or Msttbows moved that the Chairman be empowered to call at on curly dato o public meeting to consider the construction of a light railway from To Karaka in tho direction of Wniapo, and t) at the oo operation of the Waiapu County Council Council, the Borough Council, and the Farmers’ Union be askod. The question, be said, had been shelved through a Blight misunderstanding between the Railway League and the Waiapu County Council, but suck an imporlaut matter ehuuld not be lost sight of. They were now on the eve of tho session, and if they wanted ParMomentary aid now waß the timo to get it. He referred at some length to the large tracts of fine pastoral and timbered country that would be opened up upon tho advent of a light railway. Cr Clayton and the Chairman also spoke on tho motion, and it was decided to call a public meetiug upon the co operation •of the bodies mentioned being assurod. Cr Clayton referred to tho agitation in regard to tho removal of Mr Johnstone from the office of registrar of electors, and moved tbo following resolution ;—That tbis Council, as representing a large section of tho electors of Waiapu, strongly prolost against the removal of Mr Johnstrone from the position of registrar of doctors, und that if rolief from his duties be necessary it shall bo given him in another direction ; the resolution to bo telegraphed to tbo Premier, the Colonial Secretary, and tho member for the district.”

Cr Gray strongly opposed the motion. Be considered that (ho Council should not mix themselves up in the matter - . It was very hard to say what the people desired in the matter, and he strougly protested against the Council interfering in the mat ter. They had as muoh right to interfere iu the appointment of Government officials as the Government might have in objecting to their appointment of engineer or clerk. The Chairman said he did not sec the matter in the same light as Or Gray. He thought that when the minds of the people they represented were agita'ed in a matter they should not hesitate in making their representations to the Government. They might bo doing the Government a service by showing how Btrong public feeling was in the matter. Cr Matthews also eupporfod the motion. Upon being put to the meeting the motion was carried, the Chairman, Crs ClaytoD, Matthews and Richardson voting f jrit, and Cr Gray against. Mr Wellwood Reeves waited on the Council re the proposed reduction in the rate of tolls for the Tolago Ray bridge. A public meeting had been held, and the majority of the ratepayers in the drst.ict were opposed to any alteraiionH until next year when the tenders were reiet. The proposal, was an unfair one, as concessions had already been made to those who did not pay rates. The Chairman said the matter would receive consideration. Mr Raovos also drew attention to the gates on the Tauwhaveparao road. There were nine gates on this road, which was very hard on tbo back settlers. The Chairman said tho Council was always willing to do its best for the people. The gates had been granted temporarily, and if tno settlers wanted them removed they could prosent a petition to the Council for their removal. The Chairman's motion to consider the striking of a supplementary rate was dia cussed. The mover card it was not now nccra'Bi-y for tho Council to strike a supplementary rote, but as the time had arrived for them to strike the ordinary rate, he would propose, considering the state of their finances, that a ruto qf 13-16 of a penny be struok- This would be 1-16 of a penny greater than the rate struck last , year, and would give them about 11700, which would provide against any poseible contingency. The extra rate (1-16 j of a penny) need not be collected unless | required. Cr Clayton said that at tho meeting of the Finance Committee their position was shown to bo no worse than last year. If tho rate was onoe struok it would never be' taken off. The increased values would give them a greater borrowing power, and he thought they should leave the extra rate to the now Council. Cr Richardson said the extra rate would augment their funds considerably, and enable some attention to be paid to roads in tbo baokbiocke. He considered that, were the rate to bo struck at all, it should be. now; when the place vyas prosperous. Cr Clayton said that while on tho question of finance ho would like to get an expression of opinion from the Council in rc-gnrd to licenses paid by County hotels. He considered the amount paid wps totally inadequate, and the local bodies doriving the revenue should fix tho amount of the licenses,

Cr Matthews contended that should the icorise fcos be increased it would mean greater claim for compensation. Upon further disousgion on the subject a motion was passed to the effect that the member for the district be approached on the matter and aßkod to introduce au amendment to the Licensing Act. Cr G-ray proposed that the ordinary rata for the year bo jd, which was carried. Messrs DeLautour, Barber and Stook, County solicitors, supplied an option in regard to the Council’s position in contributing towards the alterations made by the Borough Council to the iaruheru bridge. The Borough Council was responsible fer the reparation, maintenance, improvement and reconstruction of the bridge, and if the work as done could be classed bb such it would hot be necessary for tbc Borough Council to consult the contributing local authorities before doing such work. The question than narrows itself to this : JHd the work constitute an improvement? The biidge was about twenty years old, and was inconveniently narrow,and required strengthening. They were inclined to think a jury would hold that the work was not unreasonably. The case was also affected by the f»ot that the Goupity Counpil, upon extension of the borough boundaries, voluntarily revised the mutual liabilities of the borough and county, and agreed to a reduction of its contribution. This fact alone would, we think, make the County Council liable for any fair proportion of actual cost for reparations and improvements undertaken until notice was given that the County Council intended to take steps to have the proportion of liability resting upon it reviewed, or asked to be rt leased altogether. The Clerk stated that the money had faeeu paid during the recess. Cr Matthews urged that steps be taken to set up a new commission. It was decided to write to the Borough Council statiog that the CouDoil wished to vary the agreement iu regard to the bridges, . . , I §