SPECIAL RATING AREA.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5090, 18 February 1927, Page 2

SPECIAL RATING AREA.

OPINION OF SOLICITOR OBTAINED ROLL TO BE VALIDATED. A special meeting o>f the Paeroa Borough Council was held on Wednesday night, His Worship the Mayor (Mr W. Marshall) presiding over the following : Ci’s. P. E. Brenan, E. Edwards, J. W. Silcock, H. J. Hare, E. A. Porritt, G. P. de Castro, J. Pinder, F. E. Flatt, and the town clerk (W. C. Alexander). In connection with the proposal to create a special rating area for the purpose of bituminising Normanby Road the following report was read by the Mayor—“l wish to report that the number <-f ratepayers in the special area is 24, and a list is attached hereto showing the names of 18 who had consented to the proposal, prior to December 28 last. The first, step was taken by the town clerk with the publication of an advertisement on December 31. That these consents were actually in hand on December 28 is vouched for by Cr. Porritt, who checked the numbers with the town clerk before the advertisement was inserted. The actual consents showing the dates are on the file. Fourteen are on one sheet and four are separate advices, and were not observed by Cr. de Castro. With Cr. de Castro’s consent I would like to add that when perusing the file he saw only the 14 signatures attached to the petition, and thought .that these were the only ones which fiad been obtained.”

The Mayor then formally moved the adoption of the report. Cr. de Castro said he was quite prepared to second it, and was quite satisfied with the position as outlined. A legal opinion was forwarded by the borough solicitor as to the validating of the special rating area roll as prepared by the town clerk. A lengthy discussion followed which was terminated by Cr. Brenan moving that the council follow the solicitor’s opinion, and that the town clerk take the necessary steps to validate the special roll. Seconded by the Mayor and carried. The result o'f this decision is tlhat the matter will be proceeded with wiithout delay. The council usually agrees to facilitate arrangements in order that the work piay be gone on with. ,A start is to be made .almost immediately, taking the full width of the street .from the junction of the bitumen in Belmont, Road.