Progress at Normanby.

Patea Mail, 17 April 1882, Page 3

Progress at Normanby.

(from OUR CORRESPONDENT.) Normanby, Monday. The first meeting of the new Town Board ..was held on Saturday, at noon, in the Town Hall. Present: Messrs Gibson, Quin, Millar, Treweek, and Rowe. ELECTION OP CHAIRMAN. Some conversation arose as to the ap pointment of a chairman. Mr Millar proposed Mr C. E. Gibson. Mr Treweek thought Mr Quin would he the better chairman, he having more time. Mr Gibson explained that, if elected, notwithstanding his business, he would find time to attend to that of the Board, and would use his best exertions to give satisfaction. Mr Quin made a similar profession. Mr Rowe announced that he should vote for Mr Gibson, who was therefore duly elected chairman. GETTING TO BUSINESS. The business transacted was necessarily of a preliminary character. It was agreed to advertise by tender for the combined offices of clerk, treasurer, valuator, and collector ; the chairman and Mr Quin being told off to prepare a strict definition of the duties required. They were also appointed a committee to wait on the Hawera Road Board with a view to ascertaining and adjusting the assests and liabilities between them. The chairman thought it would be very advisable that rules should be drawn up for the orderly conduct of the business of the Board. In the meantime it was pointed put that unless the valuation roll were made up that day, it would be necessary to apply to the Governor for an extension of time, which would entail a delay of four or five weeks. The meeting was therefore adjourned till 8 p.tn., to enable Mr Quin and the chairman to proceed to Hawera and draw cut a copy from the County valuation list. EVENING SITTING. The Board resumed at 8 p.m., all (he members present. The Chairman, Messrs Quin and Millar were appointed a Works Committee. The two former were further authorised to wait on the Hawera County Council and endeavor to rectify the.financial, relations between them and the Board. The Valuation Roll having been completed, and the Chairman deputed to advertise for an Overseer of Works, the meeting separated after a silting of four hours.

FUNDS AND PROSPECTS. From the foregoing, it will be seen that the new Board is now fairly under weigh. The funds at its command are at present father restricted, .but these will increase as years roll on. From the inadvertency of the County valuation, not more than two-thirds of the residents here have.been rated, and the Roll, unfortunately, cannot be altered. Next year it will be altogether remodelled, and none will .evade their legal contributions for the future;

The members of the new Board give promise of cominedable assiduity, and are accredited with sagacity and sound business habits. The two Commissioners who were candidates for liie Chairmanship are both men of exceptional ability, and either would have ; satisfied the, ratepayers generally. To Mr 0. E. Gibson, as the oldest resident, the ; honor was gracefully and appropriately conceded, Mr Bowe will -make an industrious and observant Commissioner, gauging him by his action in public office, before. Mr Millar is a cautious Scotchman, well educated and thoughtful.: Should an attempt be made ✓ to rush measures through the Board without due consideration, lie will promptly lay liis ; detaining hand upon them. Mr John Treeweek also is straightforward, intelligent, unpretending, and active ; and a great favorite with, all classes of the people. Upon the whole, the town is to be congratulated on its Board and the members who compose it. Unlike Hawera, Normanby hitherto has suffered severely from a lack of unity amongst; its public men. From this cause more, than any other its progress lias not been such as could, reasonably have been expected. The crosspurposes of conflicting parties have been a melancholy check ; but from the commissioners at present in office a more agreeable combination has happily been evolved from disjointed materials.