OTAKI TOWN BOARD.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 25 August 1920, Page 2

OTAKI TOWN BOARD.

SI>ECIAL MEETING. A special meeting of the Otaki I own Board was b-!,1 on Monday night. Present: Commissioners J. P. Brandon (chairman). 11. H. Olliver. Puku Rikihana. J. Meads, \V. Noble, R. M. D’Atli, li. Nieolson. A detter was read from Mr W. 11. Held,-31.P., relative to the deputation to wait on the Minister rc the Paekakariki Hill road for a railway deviation. The Chairman explained that on account ot the Board’s meeting, at which a. lull attendance was desired, lie hud arranged with Alr Peun to represent the Board.—Action endorsed. A “Gazette" notice relative hi the proposed borough was also received.— It. was pointed out that the Commission would sit iu due course, and arrangements be made for the poll. Air Field also wrote, asking if the Board desired anything of urgency discussed in the Washing-up Bill.—Letter received. Outstanding Rates. The Chairman reported that of the £I3OO Is 2d of outstanding rates at. March 31st last £7,-11 4s led had been collected to the end of July, and £45 11s lOd received since, leaving £7lO 4s (id still outstanding. The position regarding the rates, he maintained, was most unsatisfactory, as there was approximately £lOl 15s of European rates and £l4s 9s lid of Native rates which wore over the period for which judgment could be obtained. Of fho amounts (European £95 ISs Sd and Native £432 Os lod) which came within the judgment period a considerable allowance would have to be made especially in the case of Natives who wort' not in a position to pay. The Chairman added that without wishing

to criticise the action of commissioners past, or present, he had no hesitation in stating that had the outstanding rates been looked into at the end ofi each financial year and ordinary business methods adopted for collecting the. major portion of the rates, which are now irrecoverable, these could have been collected. The whole thing, maintained the Chairman, was deplorable. Some of the defaulting ratepayer-, were dead, and others were hard to trace. In cases land had been subdivided. and not yet dealt with bv the Valuation Department, which also complicated matters. He then proposed that a lien be registered against lands where judgment had been oblamed in 1914 against certain Natives. -This was agreed to. members supporting the Chairman's remarks. The Clerk’s Resignation. The resignation of Air ,\yre, town clerk, was considered in committee, and after each commissioner bad expressed his views on the appointment ot a new clerk, it was decided “That in view of Mr Ay re having signified his intention to resign, and lit-; desire to be relieved of his duties not later than tin; end oi October, applications be at once invited for the position of iown Clerk and other positions under the Board at present held by Mr Ayre; applicants to possess the necessary engineering qualifications for the super - vision of road cons traction, maintenance. etc., salary £3OO per annum, engagement for one year, and this subject to three months, ’ notice on either side; applications to be advertised each Saturday, where possible, for four weeks in the “Otaki .Mail,” one Wairarapa paper, one Christchurch, and the three Wellington papers (“Times,” “Post,” and “Dominion”). the arranging of the advertisement to be left in the hands of Cotomissioner Nieolson and the Chairman.” Other business of a routine character was transacted.