The Opunake Times. FRIDAY, MAY 24, 1895. PARIHAKA ROAD BOARD ELECTION.

Opunake Times, Volume II, Issue 93, 24 May 1895, Page 2

The Opunake Times. FRIDAY, MAY 24, 1895. PARIHAKA ROAD BOARD ELECTION.

The question of the validity of the election of the above Board has been raised because the old valuation roll was used for the purpose of fixing the number of votes exercisable by ratepayers. Mr Samuels gave his opinion that the question was one of difficulty and doubt, but advised the Board to continue in the exercise of its functions as if the legality of the election was undoubted, and if anyone should seriously dispute the election it would be - time . enough for the Board to apply for an Order-in-Counoil validating the election. Section 89 of the Road Board's Act provides that every ratepayer shall be entitled to vote at every election of a member >f the Board. It then goes on to recite the qualification upon which a ratepayer can exercise one or more than one vote with the proviso, however, than no ratepayer shall be entitled to vote at any such election unless he shall have previously paid all rates then due by him in respect of his qualification. According to this, we take it that the roll would be the one on which a demand for rates had been made, as otherwise ihe condition that all rates should be paid would not apply, and in this case it would imply the last year's roll on which the rate was struck. As to testing the legality of •an election, steps must be taken within fourteen days to upset it, and if no such steps are taken, then the election holds good. If no action has been taken, it is now too late to object, ard the election stands good, so that we do not think any Order-in-Council or other steps by the Board are necessary.