PATEA WEST ROAD BOARD.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 171, 29 November 1876, Page 2

PATEA WEST ROAD BOARD.

The Annual General meeting; of ratepayers of the Patea West Road Board, was held on Monday last. A very large number of ratepayers attended, and the proceedings, which were of the most animated character, occupied more than three hours, being commenced at noon and not terminating till past B o’clock. Mr Dale was appointed chairman, and after reading the announcement calling for the election of a new Board, he explained that the usual election would have taken place some months ago, but for pending legislation. The new Rating Act would come into force on the 31st of March, after which date they could not make an acreage rate, but must in the interval have a valuation made and le -r y rates accordingly. They could however, make an acreage rate for nine months, from July Ist to March 31. After that time a roll must be prepared. Mr B. R. Morgan, late Chairman, read a report of the income and expenditure

duce it, as it was published in this paper on the Bth of July last). The Chairman said that then was the proper time to ask any questions of the Chairman of the late Board, or to bring any other subjects forward that were desirable for the ratepayera to discuss. Mr Morgan was then subjected to a volley of questions to winch bis replies were in substance as follows :—There were some outstanding rates, but not large amounts, and not more than £lO or £ll in all. He could not tell the exact amount as Mr Cowern, the collector, was not at home that morning, and therefore he could not ascertain the exact amount owing. At the expiration of the year there was a balance of £OB to the credit of the Board, but this bad been expended on salaries and works, and there was nothing in hand unless the collector had some funds. No steps during the year had been taken for the deviation of roads. Air Ilawkcn said they were taking roads over hills which might have been avoided. It was bis opinion that the views of the ratepayers should be taken on this subject. Mr Morgan said that it was proposed on one occasion to make a deviation, but on investigation it was found that it would cost more to do so, when fencing, compensation &c., were taken into consideration, than to make the more difficult road. Mr Hawken instanced Garsed Road as an example where this might have been done with advantage. Sir Morgan said that the Public Works Act, recently passed, gave them greater powers, and they could in future exorcise them. He added, that in all the works they had had the advice of Mr Williams, engineer. Mr Gane thought it was desirable to affirm the principle that, when deviations were necessary, they should be carried out, and that Boards should not be bound by old surveys. Mr Hunter, in justice to Mr Williams, said that he, in company with himself (the speaker) had spent some hours in examining the road referred to by Mr Hawken, and bad come to the conclusion that the road taken was the best. Otherwise it would have been necessary to make a heavy cutting 12 chains through. After some more discussion, the matter dropped. In reply to a question relative to some timber sold, Mr Morgan said that it was sold at cost price, neither more nor less/; He then read the following letter, which he said had been sent for publication to the 'Taranaki Herald, and forwarded to him by the writer relative to changes : Sir, —Since my return to New Plymouth several Commissioners of Road Boards have asked me in what way the legislation of the last session has affected the Road Boards, more especially as respects the impending change from an acreage rate to a rate based on the value of property. Having verbally explained the change made, I promised to write a letter to the “ Herald” on the subject, so that chairmen of the coming meetings and commissioners will know the exact position, and the mode of procedure to suit the alterations which the legislature has thought lit to make.

1. When the general meetings of the ratepayers are held during this month, the usual proceedings will take place under the Roads and Bridges Ordinance, which are necessary to constitute a meeting for the election of commissioners and the levying of a rate. 2. The minumum rate is not to be less than twopence per acre. 3. The rate must only be levied for nine months—that is, fi’om the Ist July last to the 31st March next. -1. The result of the meeting will as usual have to be forwarded to the late Superindcndent, Mr Carrington ; also the proposed mode of expending the rates. 5. There will be no capitation grant from the General Government for the six months ending December 31st, but there will be for the six mouths ending June 30th, 1877, at the rate of £i per annum on each £ of rates levied. 6. There will be a sum of £SOO distributable among the Road Boards for the three months ending December 31st, from Provinical funds,

in propoition to the rates levied. 7. The commissioners elected at the coming meetings will have to appoint, under the “ Hating Act, 1876,” one or more fit persons called “ valuers” for the purpose of ascertaining the annual value of all rateable property in each road district, and such valuers arc to send in to the Boards, on or before the loth January, 1877, a valuation list in the form in the schedule to the Act. 8. After the 31st March next no acreage rate can be levied, but the rates will be levied on the annual value of land and buildings ; but no higher rate than one shilling in the & on the annual value can be levied except as a special rate. The above briefly cnumei’ates the more important changes which immediately affect the ratepayers and Road Boards, and which arc necessary to be known at the coming meetings.—l am, &c., T. Kelly.

This concluded the questioning, and business was proceeded with. Mr Peacock pioved—“That the rural rate, from the Ist July to the 31st March, be fixed at the rate of 2d per acre per annum,” which would be IJd per acre for the nine months. Mr J. Southby seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr Peacock moved—“ That the town lands of Kakaramea should be rated at half per cent, in accordance with the Ordinance. Mr Gaue seconded the motion. Mr Gibson urged very strongly that these could only be regarded as ordinary rural lands, and that they should only be rated as such. ‘ A very warm discussion ensued, some arguing that Kakaramea was not a township within the meaning of the Ordinance, and that it only applied where Town Boards were in existence; some denying Kakaramea had ever been proclaimed a township, and others stating that it had been gazetted in 18GG. After an animated debate, in which each speaker spoke several times, sometimes two or three at once, an amendment - was moved by Mr Williamson, “ That the townships of Kakaramea and Woodville be not rated till the 31st March.” Sir Gibson seconded the amendment. Before either resolution or amendment were put, further discussion took place, but eventually a show of hands was taken. The result was — For the resolution 23 For the amendment ... ... 17 The resolution was therefore carried, and ( a further one to rate the now township of j Woodville in the same way was also I agreed to. I

The nomination of candidates for the nesv Board then took place, after which a poll was held with the following result: — Proposer. Seconder. Candidate S’ Mr C, Symes... Mr Honeyficld Mr G. Gane... 106 „ Honeyficld „ Symes ... „ Morgan9B „ Ganc ... „ Hamilton „ Morgans? „ Symes ... „ Ginger ... ~ Peacock 63 „ Ganc ... „ Southby... „ Honeyfield ...62 „ Williamson „ Peacock... „ Hamilton ... 51 „ Hamilton . „ Peacock... „ Corrigan ...51 „ Henderson „ Gibson ... „ Tulloch 4-1 „ Marchant. „ Coutts ... „ Williamson ... 42 „ Williamson „ Bull ... „ Wilson 39 „ Wright ... „ Ginger ... „ Foreman ... 36 ~ Peacock ... „ Symes ... „ M’Rae 34 „ Coutts ... „ Gane ... „ Hawkenßl ~ Williamson „ Delamorc. „ Robinson ... 28 „ McCarthy. „ Williamson ~ Fetch.;. 23 The first seven were therefore elected ; Messrs F. J. Gane and C. Symes acted as scrutineers. This concluded the business and the meeting separated.