THE BURGESS ROLL.

Kumara Times, Issue 1385, 10 March 1881, Page 2

THE BURGESS ROLL.

[to the editor.] Sir —Struck off the Roll ! And for what I —Simply for paying all demands in connection with their properties. Such was the verdict pronounced yesterday against a large number of ratepayers at the instigation of the Town Clerk. “ Have you a lease 1” was the first question hy this prince of assessors* «fec., &c. “No ; but the property is mine, as I have built it, or bought it, and paid for it,” was the majority of the answers. “ Not sustained 1” says the Bench. “ Struck off!" remarks the Valuator. “ Darned shame !” swears the public. “ Silence 1” roars the constable. It is a great pity for the Borough Council, if it is true, as haS been reported, that they told the assessor not to oppose the objectors, as he now shows who is master of Kumara, by going direct against their orders. Many objectors, trusting to that report being correct, did not attend; so that he has succeeded by deliberate pointing in getting off the valuation list the names of many who have been of great assistance in making Kumara what it now is. In this dirty work he has been ably (though Unconsciously) seconded by the pusillanimous conduct of the occupant of the judicial seat, who’made a pitiful exhibition of his ignorance of the cases brought b©> fore him ; f»r instance, he gave verdicts against two or three before he found ‘ out (what appeared of great oonse-= quence to him) that Kumara was not divided into wards; then two or thre6 ; more verdicts beforehe found that lie was adjudicating onTSducation Reserve title cases, In no part of the colonies would a magistrate allow men who have been good citizens for years, pay-> mg all demands to Corporation, &c., to be struck off the Roll simply because,, although yearly tenants, they cant show' a lease. There are many on the valua-* tion list now who have not a lease, and never had. If they were struck off too, I would not grumble, nor consider myself a selected victim of the possessor of many titles.—l am, &c., Wm. FinlaVsOV. Kumara, March 10, 1881.