MOTUEKA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 184, 3 August 1872, Page 4

MOTUEKA.

Meeting at Motueka.— ln accordance ■with an advertisement which appeared in the Evening Mail, a meeting of ratepayers was' held at the Motueka Institute, on Tuesday, '! for the'purpose of considering the illegal conduct of the members of the late Road Board, inpayiog themselves out of the rates for their services." The chair having been taken by Mr W. Grant, Mr S. Biichhoiz said that he felt'it his duty! to call the attention of the ratepayers toi the remark attached by the Provincial! Auditor toUhe .balance-sheet as published, : and be was! prepared to "show that, not ! satisfied! with;_^n;: shillings^;, sOme^of the | members bad actually charged 15a and 20s _ a day for t __th!eir7se.ryiceß.7 , He ;believed the • only other Board in'^hich members had' ; : receijro : ;anyy : jpayment) !wasj^atj. ; oty the ; j

had to ride several miles to the plice of meeting. Mr Worthingt^n, who was leaving the d : sricf, bad, he was I appy to say, refunded his share, and he hoped the others would follow his example. The following resolution was then agreed to: — "Tbat the chairman of this meeting be requested to see the members of the late Board, and desire them to apologise v and refund the money.'' In tbe event of their refusing lo do so, it was resolved that another meeting should be called to consider what further steps were to be taken. — Communicated. Ploughing Match. —A. ploughing match took place at Motueka, in a field belonging to Mr Henry Staples, on Tuesday, 30ih July, under the auspices of the Farmers' Club. Mr. James Drummond, Upper Moutere, Messrs W. Fuhnell atd R. Tannanr, Lower Moutere, were the judges. There were Lhree prizes to be competed for : Ist £2, 2od, £1 10s, 3rd, £1. The first was awarded to Thomas Pattie. of Riwaka, who had his father's (Mr Robert Patties) team, nnd one of Ransome's Newcastle RNE double wheel ploughs ; the second to Thomas Heath, jun , who had his own team, and a plough exactly the same as Mr Puttie's, but only used one wheel; the third waa awarded to George Green, who had Lis father's team, aud one of Ransome's old YFL ploughs. There were only six competitors, but the ploughing on the whole was very creditable; and it is to be hoped that this the first match in Motueka will stimulate the youug men in the place to take greater pains id* ploughing, and that on a future occasion there may be a greater number of competitors. The arrangements were not so satisfactorily made as tiny mijjht b%ve been, owing partly to the match having been twice postponed — first because 'a suitable piece of ground could not be obtained, aDd tben again on account of continued bad weather — and partly to the small siza of the field in which the match was herd. There was a large number of spectators on the field from the lime the first plough started until the finish, who all took great interest in the proceedings, and it is to be hoped that a lew more farmers may he induced to join the Club, so that it may effect greater good than its limited funds have as yet enabled it to do. Escb. competitor was required to plough half an acre in four hours, and the last plough finished a quarter of au hour under the time. — Communicated.