RAWHITI RESERVE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4942, 22 February 1926, Page 4

RAWHITI RESERVE.

COLLECTION OF BATES.

DISCUSSION BY COUNCIL. At Thursday’s special meeting of the Paerp.a Borough Council the queation of whether the person who had occupied the portion of the Rawhitiroa Reserve, recently acquired by the Paeroa Borough Council for the purposes of a municipal reserve, wa£ liable to pay rates on the .area during the time he had occupied it for grazing purposes was introduced by the following letter from the Lands and . Survey Department:— “I have to acknowledge receipt of your letter, advising that the above property has for severaj years been used by the stock inspector at Paeroa, and with regard thereto I have to state that noi such tenancy has been, authorised by this department, and you are therefore entitled to take immediate possession of the land and to ta,ke such steps as may be. necess.ary for the removal of any stock at present thereon.” The following letter was also received from the stock inspector referred to (Mr J. P. Findlay) ; : —

“I take the liberty of writing you in regal’d to the Crown section, Rawhitiroa block, lately acquired by your council as a borough reserve. I hereby offer to lease same at the rate of £6 per acre per annum, three and a-half acres, £2l, rent 'tjo be paid quarterly, and to be adjusted as from the date the borough acquired possession of the section. I think this, price works out at over 8 s per cent on the purchase price, and is an indication of the good deal, from a business point of view, that, you have been instrumental in making for the benefit of the inhabitants of. Paeroa..”

The Mayor intimated that the occupier had been notified that the council wished to take possession. Continuing, he said that the council was justified in claiming rates for the past two years. The council could legally claim, because Mr Findlay had been an- occupier within the meaning of the Act. Further, it was the duty of the council, to collect rates where they were legally collectable. Cr. Brenan said, that the case under review was on all, fours with many other Crown properties, Mr' Findlay had-looked after the area very well. Cr. Edwards admitted that rates might be recoverable, but .thought a compromise might be made. 'He moved that the cduncil grant a lease for 12 months- provided two years’ rates were paid. ~

The Mayor said that he> did not favour leasing the reserve, ‘The council could .do well'~with. the.■'area for. its horses. If leased, the right to, lend the reserve for sports or other functions would bei nu.Uiii-ed. If the area, was to be leased at all ijhe only fair way was to call , tenders.

Cr. Brenan said that he had some sympathy for Air Findlay because of the way he had worked a,nd looked after the reserve. He thought the paddock was .too fa,r away to' be of an advantage for holding the borough horses-. ‘ ,

The resolution lapsed for want of a seconder. ■

Cr. Brenan then moved/that a, 'lease be granted to Mr Findlay for a term of six months'at a rental -of £lO- 10s 6d, provided he paid two years’ rates. The motion was lost, Crs. Edwards, Brenan, and Flatt voting fq-ir it. The Mayor then moved to >the effect that the question of recovering rates be referred to the borough solicitor. Seconded by Cr. Porritt and carried. The Mayor, recommended that the borough occupy the reserve for its own horses, and. that it take in outside grazing at . the rate of 2s a head a week, and that Mr Findlay be. given the first refusal'. 1 Cr. Brenan again opposed the suggestion .that the horses should be paddocked so Lar from the municipal stables; He thought .the council should appoint itself honorary custodian of Crown lands, and suggested that the acres in .the Opatito block was be a more suitable place to graze the horses. . ' The Ma,yor said he would rather the council approached the Crown and offered a peppqrcorn rental, for grazing rights than it should do anything irregular. ,On the motion of Cr. Fflatt, seconded by Cr. Brenan, i.t wast resolved to approach the department for the use of the area and also write to the. Education Department in re/gard to grazing on the technical school site.