FEILDING.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 18, 19 December 1877, Page 3

FEILDING.

[From: otje own Coebespondent], : Since, my last letter I have, learned that the proceeds of the bazaar m aid of the Church of England parsonage amount to £180 of which sura £110 was taken the first day* I hear it is proproposed to dispose of the balance of the wares by an Art Union, having all prizes and no blanks, by which the sum already realized: wilL, ; be considerably augmented. " On referring to notes taken at a meeting of church members during the Bishop's visit, I find .Mr Halcombe stated that £70 had been subscribed to the parsonage fund, and it was expected that £150 to £200 would be realised from the bazaar. It is satisfactory to, find that the highest sum anticipated -; will be raised, if not exceeded. ' In ad-" dition to 'the cash m hand, assistance will be given m labour by those erecting the building. ; rIt has been rumored here that an amendment to the Rating Act had been passed amongst measures last dealt with by the H ouse* and as the Manchester Highways Board had advertised for tended to value the district, such ten- ~ ders~4x> be sent m before the meeting of the Board on Saturday, j the 15th inst., the nature of the amendment m the Act was looked for with some interest. v lt was .'also rumdred that the power of appointing valuers would be vested m line County Council. I learn that the Manchester Highways; Board did not appoint a valuer at their meeting on last Saturday. The 'Manawatu Highways Board having appointed a valuer on^Monday, the 10th inst., it will be founil necessary -to get the County Council to confirm the appointment by adoption. .This seems to be the simplest way of dealing with the question considering the amount of work to be done ; the valuer could then enter'on his duties without unnecessary delay. ' The woi-k must be completed ■ m a short time* too short a, time to allow a man unused to the nature of the work to accomplish it. A public ' meeting, which was convened by the Manchester Highways Board,' was . held,, on Saturday evening, m the school-house,. Feilding. The principal ratepayers were m attendance, also five, of the wardens of the district. Mr Halcombe, Chairman of the Board, opened the meeting by saying he wished ' to engage their attention for a short time to explain the reason the meeting had been called : it was for the purpose of authorizing the Board to petition the Governor to bring into" operation "The [Regulation of Local Elections Act, 1876," the principle of which was that voting at elections should be by ballot:' After reading the clauses of the -Act bearing on the question, Mr Halcombe informed the meeting that as it became known to the Highways Board -that the question of the township becoming a municipality was engaging attention, it was thought tiesirajble to, submit the > matter to consideration. He then read portions of the Act, shewing the procedure necessary to bring a place under the operation of the Act. After fully explaining the objects for which the meeting had been called, Mr Halcombe requested the meeting to elect a chairman. . Someone having proposed .Mr Halcombe, that gentleman stated that he would rather someone else was elected, as .he wished to address the meeting. Mr Dowliug was then voted to «the chair, and made a rather lengthy address. He concluded by, calling upon Mr Halcombe to address the meeting; Mr Halcombe explained that he was m favor of voting by ballot, and especially m favor of bringing ** The Regulation of LocapElections Act, 1876," into operationdn the district on technical grounds as well- as on the principle of having the ballot, as it would place 'them m harmony with the recent legislation of Parliament. He said when Parliament, m passing that Act, thought" ballotvoting the best system, they should have said so and brought it into operation at once instead of Reaving it for local adoption. He thought that there being now no party feud m the district, the present was a good time to adopt the systemV He , moved, "That this meeting of ratepayers of the Manchester Highways District, convened by the Manchester Highways Board by advertisement m the local newspapers for the purpose of empowering the Board to request the Governor to proclaim the Manchester Highways District under 'The Regulation of Local Elections Act, 1876,' hereby resolves that it is desirable that this district should be brought under 'The Regulation of Local Elections Act, 1876,' m the manner prescribed m that Act." Mr Macarthur, m seconding the motion, said that, according to promise, he had brought thequestion before the Highway Board, , and moved that this meeting be convened* He. would be one oi the wardens that would request the Governor to bring the Act into operation m the,' district.: Mr James Whisker made a lengthy address m support of the motion, during which he made a vigorous attack on the mover arid seconder of the motion. Mr Sexton also supported the motion. 7 After considerable discussion it was put and .carried. Mr Halcombe .then addressed the meeting, on the question of erecting Feildinga municipality, stating the advah"tages and disadvantages of the measure. As soon as the place was fit for it he would decidedly favor the measure, and he stated several reasons for waiting till some time next year. He moved, *' That it is not expedient to move the

Governor to bring the Municipal Corporations Act into operation with respect to Feilding." Dr. Johnston seconded the motion, after which Mr Whisker spoke. 'Mr E. H,. Wright said that m order to place himself m order, he would move as an amendment, " That the Governor be petitioned to put the Municipal Corporations Act into operation with respect to Feilding." I must, for want of space, suppress the reasons which he advanced, and, also, the several other speeches that w^re made during the "-evening. : Mr Whisker seconded the amendment, but on learning that the voice of the meeting would be taken for and' against the motion, he withdrew his seconding. Mr T. Sexton seconded the amendment. Mr G. H. Lyne then spoke, also Messrs Corkery and Low. Mr Macarthur explained how theantroduction of the Act would prejudicially affect..Cjertain local works then m progress. Mr T. V. Brown opposed: the views of the last speaker.. Mr Halcombe then replied, after which the amendment was put and lost. The original motion was ' carried : ; . and after the usual vote to the Chairman, the meeting dispersed at a' quarter past 11.