MEETING OF RATEPAYERS AT AWAMOKO.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 740, 23 August 1878, Page 2

MEETING OF RATEPAYERS AT AWAMOKO.

Last evening- a rather lively meeting was held at Awamoko, pursuant to advertisement, at which about twenty ratepayers were present. Mr. Aitchison was the convener, and, as such, was requested to fully explain why he had called the ratepayers together. Of course, the idea was preposterous. If the ratepayers didn't know why, they should have known, and he was not going to complete their education by going into detail. Like the lackey in " Handy Andy," who, when applying for correspondence at the post office for his master, refused to give his master's name, because he thought the official wanted to take a mean advantage of him, Mr. Aitchison thought that he had done his share in calling the meeting and opening it by addressing them upon a subject which they should have known all about. In the straightforward and forcible language peculiar to that gentleman, he treated them to a portion of his reason for convening the meeting, and like Paddy at the post office, who thought that he had said quite enough when he said that he wanted the letters for his master, and would not give up his name—he left tin ratepayers to elaborate his oration, and till in what they j>i,'gufc think that he ought to have said. By this means each ratepayer could please himsslf. Like the little boy who wanted to know which was the Duke of Wellington and which was Napoleon Buo.uaparte, they could take their choice. It was absurd to exptct him to give his reasons when they were not quite certain that he knew them himself. However, we will proceed to an account of the proceedings of the meeting : Mr. Borrie suggested that the person that called the meeting should take the chair, and explain to those present his reasons for bringing them together. Mr. Aitchison proposed and Mr. S. Wilson seconded that Mr. act as Chairman, but Mr. Sitiillie said he was in total ignorance of the object of calling the meeting. He, however, eventually took the chair, am! called upon Mr. Aitchison to explain to the meeting the obji ct in calling it. Mr. Aitchison said that he had called the meeting to take steps to prevent the Waitaki Road Board distributing the funds As it proposed to do in accordance with a resolution of Mr. Borrie passed at last meeting, stating that it was illegal, and that they had no power to do so. That all the money to the credit of the district fund had to be spent on main district roads. Mr. Borrie challenged his statements, and asked him to name the clauses of the Act on which he based tliem. Mr. Aitchison refused to do so, saying he did not come there to act the schoolmaster to Mr. Borrie or anyone else. Mr. Borrie then addressed the meeting, and said that he had come there merely as a ratepayer, and if Mr. Aitchison had kept, within half a mile of the straight he would not have troubled the meeting, but he felt bound to challenge such outrageous statements as had been made. He would remind Mr. Aitchison that assertions were not arguments unless supported by some proof. He challenged all the principal points touched upon by Mr. Aitchison as heinsr grossly incorrect, and would have no objection to act the part of schoolmaster, as he believed that the ratepayers had been purposely mislead in regard to Road Board matters. There seemed to be a good deal of fog existing among them, which he thought that he could clear away, as every statement he made he was prepared to substantiate by an Act of Parliament, and would challenge Mr. Aitchison or any other person to contradict it. At the close of his speech Mr. Borrie answered several questions to the satisfaction of the meeting, after which Mr. Borrie proposed the following motion to test the feeling of the meeting : " That this meeting endorses the action of the Waitaki Road-Board in the action it lias taken to distribute the funds at its credit, in the Bank." Mr H. Ross seconded the motion. Mr. Aitchison proposed as an amendment, " T'uit the meeting does not endorse the action of the Waitaki Road Board." The amendment was seconded by Mr. S. Wilson. The motion was carried by. a larL'e majority, only the proposer and seconder voting for the amendment. Mr. Borrie then said, as he did noi think that any good would be done by prolonging the discussion, he would move a vote of thanks to the chair, which was done, and the meeting broke up.