WAIHI PLAINS ROADING.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4503, 13 December 1922, Page 2

WAIHI PLAINS ROADING.

FORMATION OF SPECIAL BATING. AREA. MEETING OF RATEPAYERS. A jneeting of ratepayers of the Ohinemuri County resident on a portion of the Waihi Plains was held in the Borough. Chambers, Waihi, on Saturday last, to consider the matter of forming a special rating area to raise a, loan for the construction and metalling of certain /roads to the south-east of the borough. The meeting had been callled by the county chairpnan, Mr A. R. Robinson, at the request of the members for -Wait,ekauri riding, Cr. Corbett, and these gentlemen, together, with Cr. Morga.ni, the member for Waikino riding, the county engineer, Mr E. Shaw, and the clerk, Mr R. W. Evans, attended the meeting. The proposal affected a,bout 50 ratepayers, and as only some ten or. twelve were present the attendance could hardly be considered very representative. The county chairman presided, and in opening the proceedings stressed, the great benefits which had accrued to his own riding xpf the County through the forming of the special, rating area and the making of their roads. He urged the ratepayers to agree to the-proposal!. Cr. Corbett gave details of the scheme and the road work intended to be done. The proposal was to borrow a sum of £2OOO, and this, with Government subsidies . already promised, would complete the scheme. It would be necessary to take authority to strike a rate of l%d in the pound, but if, as was' most probable, permission should be given to apply the “thirds” which are payable over the area to the reduction of interest oh the loan, the rate .'collected would be reduced approximately to l%d Full information with regard to the proposal was given by the engineer and clerk, and considerable discussion took place. Some of those present were keen for the adoption of the proposals, while others were doubtful. One ratepayer strohgly opposed t;he scheme and expressed the opinion that, it wais not the duty of settlers to help themselves in the matter of roading, as, being pioneers, it was distinctly the Government’s duty to provide good roads, and settlers should only have to pay a general rate. Eventually a resolution was carried, “That this meeting of. settlers agrees to form a special rating area, and raise ,a loap of £2OOO for the carrying out pF the proposed roading works.” It was stated that a meeting of suppliers was to be held that evening, when most 'of thofee concerned in the roading scheme wcfuld be present, and some of the ratepayers undertook to bring the matter before them. The Ratepayers’ cOneeht, which had been prepared by the cleh’k, was also taken by Mr Hoye for the purpose qf obtaining bhe necessary signatures.