BACK RATES.

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 215, 2 May 1877, Page 2

BACK RATES.

[TO THE KtUTi'Hi OK THE PATEA .MAIL.] Sir,—Will you kindly Hud space for the following lines : To the Chairman and Commissioners of the Patea (Vest Road Board District — Gentlemen—ln the issue of the Patka Mail of lUth March, 1877, Mr William Cowern notifies to the ratepayers ol: your district, that all ratepayers are requested to pay the amount of rates set opposite their names at oxce —signing himself “ Government Agent.” Now, Gentlemen, will you be kind enough to inform the ratepayers who have paid their rates, the reason other vatopa.yors arc allowed to go without paying their rates. It is now upwards of seven weeks since that notice appeared, and, if I am not misinformed, the amount of rates in your district is ,17142 16s lid, of which there is £76 unpaid, thus leaving £66 16s lid paid, being less than one Imlf. I. think you arc working under the same Ordinance as last year, when Mr Ooworn informed the ratepayers in issue of the Patea Mail of the 16th Fei»®j ruaiy, 1876, that proceedings would beW taken in Court to recover all rates remaining unpaid on the 29th of the same month, thus giving about thirteen days’ notice. I should like to know why such a length of time is allowed this 3'ear. Mr Cowcru signed last year as “ Provincial Government Agent and Sub-Treasurer, Patea District.”

Although Mr Cowcrn lias this year signed himself “ Government Agent ” only, I fail to see what Government Agent he is, unless he is the same as last year, as I for one, am not aware of him being appointed by the General Government, nor by the County Council. So, if he is in the same position respecting the Board, ought he not to recover, as I hear your terra of office expires this month V 1 am also under the impression that seme rates were not collected last year,, although the balance sheet contained the amount of rates paid, but nothing about the amount unpaid. —I am, &c., O.vk that it as Paid ins Bates.. Patca, Ist May, 1877.