ARAHURA ROAD BOARD.

Kumara Times, Issue 1046, 6 February 1880, Page 2

ARAHURA ROAD BOARD.

The adjourned meeting of the Board, which was to have taken place at the Court House at 6 o'clock last evening, was again adjourned until 8 p.m. in consequence of their not being a quorum present. At that hour there were "present Messrs Seddon, Lock/ and Rodgers. Mr Seddon having read the County of Westland Act in reference to the proceedings of the Board at the fiyst meeting after the annual election. M v Lock proposed and Mr Rodgera seconded, " That Mr Seddon be elected Chairman of the Board, which was put by the Secretary (Mr Byrne) and carried. , Mr Seddon having taken the chair the minutes of the last regular meeting were read and confirmed, as also the minutes of four meetings that had been

adjourned from-time to time in consequence of there being no quorum present. The Chairman said • that, in justice to himself and the other members of the Board, as also the ratepayers who •were present, he would read the minutes of all the meetings that had taken place during the time he held the office of Chairman the preceding year to show that the Board had acted in the interests of the ratepayers generally. [Mr Seddon then read the whole of the minutes of the proceedings of the Board for the past year.] He considered the action of the Board had been in !qo way derogatory and that the members had; worked conscientiously an efficiently.: 'When he took office the liabilities of the Board were nearly .£ISOO and the balance sheet shewed that their liabilities at the present weKS £963 3s 2d. A letter was read from the UnderSecretary appointing Mr J. P. Byrne Returning Officer for the Arahura Road Board district. The Chaiirtan informed the Board that the County Council had written to him notifying their intention of itferging the Board, and that they had forwarded a deed for that purpose, which; if the creditors of the Board would:&ign, he (the Chairman) had not the least doubt would have the effect of merging the Board into the Westland County Council. On the motion of Mr Lock, the Chairman and the mover were authorized to affix the seal and execute the deed of arrangement as between the j&oard'a Creditors, the Board, and the County Couucil of Westland. The Chairman- and Mr Look were authorized to sign all cheques on behalf of the Boarcl. The Chairman stated that when at Wellington he had interviewed the Attorney-General as to the number of members of which the Board should consist,, and that learned gentlemen had given it as his opinion that the Board should be composed of six members. .Ah,, election was subsequently held .at which three members were elected ► but, on referring to the Act, he'feund that Mr Rodgers, who was electedin 1879, was in no way incapaCipated from holding his seat, and his action- in . attending the . Board that evening, waS legal and 'in accordance with the law. It was very fortunate for the" district that such was the case, as 'though the action of one, of the merpbers of the Board in persistently refusing, to attend its meetings, it was palpable the deed betweeu the Board and the County Council could not have been carried out under these circumstances, and the merging of the Board would have been as far off as ever. He might say. there was nothing the Board wanted hid from the ratepayers, as all the blocks and' books in connection with the business of the Board has been forwarded by the secretary to the County Auditor, Mr Pattern, for investigation-. Accounts..to : the amount of £ii were passed for payment. It was resolved, that on the motion of the Chairman, that Mr Byrne, the present Secretary; be informed that his services will be tio longer required by the Board after the ISth day of March next. The Board then adjourned sine die.