HEATHCOTE ROAD BOARD DISTRICT.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 890, 2 May 1877, Page 3

HEATHCOTE ROAD BOARD DISTRICT.

The adjourned annual meeting of ratepayers in the above district was held last evening at, the Phillipstown schoolroom, Mr S. Manning, Chairman of the Board, in the chair. There was an exceedingly large attendance.

The Chairman explained that the meeting had been called for the purpose of further considering the accounts of the Board ; and after the resolution passed at the previous meeting had been read, the minutes of that meeting were confirmed.

The Chairman said that, before going into the business of the meeting, lie would like to make a few remarks in reply to a letter that had appeared in the Lyttelton 'Times. signed T. P., Woolston, which stilted tliat lie (the chairman) had attended at the Supreme Court merely for the purpose of giving Wadman, their late clerk, a good character. This was not the case by any means, as he had merely answered a direct question that previous to this offence he had known nothing against his (Madman’s) character. There was another matter, viz., that, ho (the chairman) had said at the last meeting that the letter from (he Provincial Auditor as to the slide of the accounts had not been laid before the Hoard at the time it wits written (January 26th, 1876.) This he found was a mistake, as it had been read and considered at a meeting of the Board. The chairman then read an explanation from Mr J. T. Fisher, the late chairman of the Board, saying the auditor’s letter had been submitted to a meeting and considered at the time. There had been no attempt at the concealment of the fact that Mr Wadman had received money for which he had not accounted, and no notice had been given to his bondsmen, as no one had given him credit for dishonesty. He (Mr Fisher) regretted that illness had prevented him being present at the meeting that evening, and trusted his excuses would be tendered to the ratepayers. A second letter from the auditor was also read by the chairman. Mr J. Ollivier, as the seconder of the motion for adjournment at the last meeting, would—in the silence of the mover —desire to explain that his object in acting as he did was under the belief that two o’clock in the day was not as suitable an hour for the attendance of the ratepayers as the present hour, but he only saw as many present so far at that meeting as there were at the last. He was glad his two letters to the Board had been read, as though showing in Ids letter of January, 1876, that the accounts for 1875 exhibited a deficiency, yet as the illness of the clerk at the time was considered it was thought that this circumstance had led to the incompleteness of the accounts, as though he (Mr Ollivier) declined to certify to their correctness, the idea of intention of fraud was not attributed to Wadman. After explaining how systematically the embezzlements had been carried out, and the impossibility of the Borfrd discovering the defalcations under the present check of Road Board accounts, lie expressed bis opinion that though the latest member on (he Board was equally to blame with (lie older members —as a Board meant the whole of that body, individually as well as collectively—yet he must express his opinion that no wilful blame could be attributed to the present Board. Mr Ollivier also paid a very high compliment to the chairman (Mr S. Manning) and to Mr F. Jones, whose energetic application, extending through days and nights, had unearthed the defalcations discovered. The speaker eoneluded by impressing upon ratepayers present the necessity of accepting the loss as a fact, and as no remedy existed, making the best of a bad job.

11l reply to Mr Ilopldns, the Chuinnim said that up to Tuesday last £265 16s lid rates had been collected for the present year, and lie was now informed that ,£2O since collected would have to be added to that amount. A number of accounts were still outstanding, and returns had been asked for by the Government, under which the Board hoped to receive the £ for £ subsidy.

Mr Hopkins in lengthened remarks gave it as his opinion that had instructions been given to receive only crossed cheques for large amounts, the late defalcations could not have occurred. Wadman had since told him that he could get. cheques passed for any amount, and that his bank and cash books were not inspected for months together. The grievance of ratepayers being prevented keeping pigs was then referred to, and also to posters relating to the Board being permitted t o be wrapped around posts in the district. Mr Hopkins concluded bis remarks by referring to a personal matter about a verandah, which bad been twice heard in the Resident Magistrate’s Court.

A ratepayer suggested that some of these defalcations might have t aken place during the time Mr Hopkins was a member of the Board.

Mr Ollivici*, after remarks, desired to bring the question of the accounts to some tangible issue, and with a desire to that cud would move—“ That this meeting regrets to receive so unsatisfactory a report of the proceedings of the Board during the past year, and while passing the accounts now submitted, desires to express a hope that great care will be exercised in order to prevent the possibility of default in the future on the part of its officers. ”

Mr Whitelaw seconded the motion, pointing out, in the course of bis observations, that the present Board bad erred mostly in placing too much reliance on that confidence shown

by their predecessors in the integrity of their late cleric.

Mr Papperill moved, as an amendment—- “ That the members of the Ile .tbcote Horn Board having been informed b letter from the auditor, Mr Ollivier, that Wadman had appropriated £55 to his own use in 1875, and not taking any precautions to prevent his taking hundreds of pounds in 1879, have forfeited the confidence of the ratepayers, and that they resign.”

Mr J. Martin seconded the amendment

In reply to Mr March, the chairman said the bank-book was laid before each meeting, and also the rate cash-book, and compared at the time. The general cash-book was not always placed before the ordinary meetings of the Board, but lie had been in the habit of looking through (hat book during the week, and at times pointing out certain matters to Wadman. There was no truth in Ins (Wadman's) statement to Mr Hopkins that he could gel. a cheque signed for any amount, as a certificate had to be produced for every account before a cheque was signed. It had been found since that ten of these certificates were false and had afterwards been destroyed by Wad - man. Ho (the chairman) would like to mention that out of the defalcations £ll7 17s. 2d. had occurred during Ids predecessor’s time in 1875, and the balance during 1870. Several ratepayers spoke of the mistake that woidd bo made in passing a vote of censure on the Board which might cause them to resign, and be replaced by persons less cognizant of the present position of affairs. Mr P. Tones, as the latest member elected on the Board, paid the chairman an exceedingly high compliment for (he manner in which he had worked for and attended to the interests of the ratepayers so far as his (Mr ■Tones’s) observations had gone. He thought that instead of censure, a vote of thanks should be passed to members (and especially to the Chairman) for the close application taken when the necessity lately arose, in the ini crests of the dist rich

After further and very lengthened remarks, Mr PeppcrilTs amendment was put and lost by a large majority, only six hands being held up for it. The resolution was then put and carried by a large majority amid applause.

Mr Staples moved —“ That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable that an office should be provided in town for the convenience of ratepayers in the district.” The resolution was seconded. The Chairman remarked that this course had been adopted last year but was not found t o answer the expectations, as very little money had been received at the town office.

Mr Ollivier, by permission, withdrew the resolution of which he had given notice at the previous meeting. Mr E. J. T. Ford moved the following resolution :—“ That it be an instruction to the Road Board that an alphabetical list of ratepayers in default, verified by at least one member, be laid before the first Board meeting after the expiration of three months from the date of striking the annual rate ; that a summons be immediately issued against every tenth ratepayer whose name shall appear on such list,; and that, every ratepayer in default at the end of four months from striking the rate shall be summoned.”

Mr Hopkins seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to the chairman, moved by Mr Ollivier, and carried unanimously with applause, brought the proceedings to a close.