THE PATEA EAST ROAD BOARD.

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

THE PATEA EAST ROAD BOARD.

The Annual General Meeting of the Patea East ratepayers was held on Monday last. It was chiefly distinguished for the remarkable exjredition with which it got through its business, the election of a new Board. Mr J. Gibson was called to the chair, and very briefly stated the business of the meeting. On the suggestion being made by Mr Nicholson that the district should be divided into wards, in order that all parts of it should be fairly represented, but it was urged in opposition, that in order to do so it would be necessary to bo prepared with a map of the proposed divisions, which had not been done. Mr Nicholson said that at another Board that he had belonged to, they divided the district into wards in half-an-hour, and the same could be done then. The Chairman pointed out that the Board in question was constituted under the Wellington Ordinance, and ruled that any proposal of the kind was at that time out of order, though there could be no objection to the proposal. it was not, therefore entertained, and the matter dropped. Mr Coutts said that the first business to bo done was to levy a rate. He would propose that they should levy a rate of the same amount, and in the same manner, as the ratepayers of Patea West had done. He moved “ that a rate of 2d per acre per annum be levied for the nine months from July Ist, 1876, to March 31st, 1877.” Mr Symes seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously. The nominations for the new Board were then taken, and nine candidates appeared, after which a poll was taken with the following result:— Proposer. Seconder. Candidate. < S' at Mr Walker... Mr Coutts ... Mr Gower ... 56 „ Nicholson „ Symes ... „ J, Gibson 40 „ Coutts ... „ Walker ... „ J, Riddle 39 „ Southby. „ Gower ... „ C. Symes 37 ,■, Gower... „ Derrett ... „ Nicholson37 „ Symes... „ Davidson. „ J.Southey36 „ Southey. „ Honcyfiekl „ A. Dasent 32 „ Symes .. „ Honeyficld „ Horner... 28 „ Southby. „ Honeyficld „ Hutchinson26 The first seven of these gentlemen were therefore elected. The only remaining business was the election of auditors. Messrs Honey field and E. Symes were proposed and elected without opposition. Proceedings commenced at about halfpast three o’clock, and concluded exaetty at half-past four, an excellent example to public bodies iu getting through their work.