Kawhia Town Board.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 286, 23 November 1906, Page 2

Kawhia Town Board.

FIRST MEETING.

MH. M'CAItDLE ELECTED CHAIRMAN.

The first meeting of tbe above body win hjld in the Council Cbsmbers on M Hiday evening last, when there were present—Messrs M'Cardle, Jonathan, Falwftsser and Turrell The returning officer (Mr J? K. N- wton) took the chair. THIS ELECTION. Mr Falwasaar remarked that be would like enlightenment upon tbo hgality of the election. Ho believed it was illegal, and if so their actions would bo illegal. Mr M'CarJle pointed out that they could no', discuss the matteD then as tl e-e was no chairman electjd. On the inoti >n of Mosers Turrell and Falwasser Mr M'Cardle was ap ' p inted chairman. In accepting the position Mr M‘Car -lie said he felt graceful for tbe honour. H-j knew there were important duties to discharge and questions to consider bat he would do bis best to forward tbo interests of the town. Their posiii y.i was that it any person felt aggrieved ib >y c ;ul 1 1 dge an appeal witbin 14 days of tbe oLc i n, and if it wa* upheld a fresh electi on would be neces sary. If they continued iu office all their ac?i ms woi -I bo l c gal. Mr Turrell: Djes tbo Act say so ? Tie Chairman : Yu*'. Mr Falwasser did not anticipate any tr ial le, but. if they were wrongfully elected it wmld be disagreeable. The Chairman : In the absence of a petition the only thing that debars a member is 1 inacy or bankruptcy. Mr J. K. Newton was appointed clerk pro. tern. DAY OF MEETING, The Chairman said that tbo meetings being held on Mondays did not suit Mr Scott, and suggested the first Tuesday in each month. This was agreed to, but later on in tbe meeting it was changed to Tiiur-day, to suit Mr Newton’s convenience. WAYS AND MEANS. The question of ways and means was rais d by the chairman, who remarked that the G ivernment paid the initial expenses of the County Council and he thought they should do the same for the Town Board.—Cr Jonathan concurred and it was decided to make application to the Government. —lt- having been pointed oat that tbe accounts, between the. two local bodies should be adjusted, Messrs Falwasser and Turrell were appointed to wait on the Council at the next meeting and ask that such be done.

BYE LAWS. The Chairman announced that the County Council bad put off framing their bye laws on account of the likelihood of the Town Board coming into existence, and suggested that two of tbe members should confer with the 'County Council on tbe matter. On tbe motion of Messrs Jonathan and M'Cardle, Messrs Falwasser and Turrell were appointed.

The. Chairman said that tbe last occasion he interviewed tbe Government he asked that the reserves in the township be handed over to the Council, but tbe reply was that they would be vested in the Town Boarl. Application should be made for them. Mr Turrell; Are there many ? The Chairman : Yes, quite a number. The Clerk was instructed to write about the matter, and to ascertain the Board’s powers re leasing. WANDERING CATTLE.

The Chairman said that something would have to be done relative to oattle grazing on the streets, though it was a difficult matter to deal witb. They could license persons to run cattle and hor-es in tbe town at so much per head. Some person could ba appointed to collect the fees or impound unlicensed stock. The pound was a quesUon between the Board and the Council. Mr Jonathan : If the fee is collectable proceedings could be taken in the court against owners of unlicensed stock, therefore tbe pound would lose its occupation. The Chairman ■. The Act provides that tbe oattle must be impounded. Mr Turrell thought that someone would have to be in charge of them.

The Chairman : No. A man could be appointed to simply see that there are no oattle grazing in the town ex cept those that aro being pud for. Mr Falwasser admitted that the matter should be dealt with. The Chairman slated that there were about GO bead of stock running round the town. lie bad seen 17 horses in one mob that morning. Mr Jonathan : If we can abate the nuisance and get revenue by proceed ing in tbo ordinary way it i* u?<loss putting up a pound. I wish to mini mhe expenditure. The mdl-er then dropped. THE KAWHIA LOANS.

In reply to Mr Turrell, tbo Chair man said that ho thought the T >w» Board ooubl take the loan i.ver.

Mr Jonathan thought that i* would lapse. Tee Chairman: N *. If wo get it we could ask tbe to all-in the roads to lay tbe road uff. Mr : I think it would h* B t to leave it under the adrainistra tioh of the Council. How about i h*> subsidy ? The Chairman ; That might comout of ufiauthorised expenditure. nosriTAL site. It was decided to apply for the five acres of Crown land at the back of Maketu for a hospital site. TMt BANK. After brief discussion, it was agreed to of en an account in the National

Bank, Auckland, and tc write to the manager relative to opening a branch in Kawhia, with a request that the letter be forwarded on to tbe General Manager. Mr Turrell: The opening of a bank I would be of great benefit to the whole district. The questions uf rating on unimproved value, applying for tbe swamp ;»t the back of the town, and tbe proper calibration of Arbour Day, were also briefly discussed. On the suggestion of the Chairman it was decided to ask tbe Premier to visit tbe district and open tbe telephone Hue between Kawhia and Oparau. Mr Jonathan urged that the Board advocate the establishment .of a native land cjurt iu Kawhia.—Agreed to. Tbe meeting then adj<>urned. THE LATE ELECTION.

Although there baa been a lot of talk as to the illegality of the eleotiou, no definite acti< n has been taken to test the question. It might ba well to mention that an appeal must be lodged within 1 i days of the election, in IbL case before Munday next. Tbe f-1 lowing are some of tbe grounds for objtcti-in which are advancol : That Mr M'Cardb was not eligible to c intent tbe seaf, it baing aikgr-'l that be duos n 4 own tbe section f>r which he was rated. That Mr Morgm wa- u ,t eligible ’.o contest tbe seat, bis name not appearing on the rate roll. That in two issues uf the Setileu tbe date wa ! advertis'd as Weduesdiy, 11‘b, but this being an error it- was aI Lere-.l to the 12 h in ~ twodsy? before that d ile ; in cous* q : ience, pe-nde who came to vote on the 11 h c mid nut d > so. That Ibe voting took place on the improved instead of the unimproved vdue. That the roll was not correct, e«pe- | cially iu connection witb tbe Te Purn i sections.