WAIROA HIGHWAY DISTRICT.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 1048, 18 June 1883, Page 3

WAIROA HIGHWAY DISTRICT.

Jr; Annual Meeting of Ratepayers. The annual: meeting of ratepayers in the above district was held in the Town Hall, Waverley, on Saturday, 16th, about forty ratepayers being present. > • Mr J. lon, chairman of the Wairoa Highway Board, having taken the chair, opened the proceedings by calling on the; treasurer, Mr Fookes, to read the balance sheet. The following statement of receipts and expenditure for the past year was then made by the treasurer : Balance in hand on Ist April 1882, £6lB Os 5d ; received from; general rates for year, £470 4s 7d ; arrears of rates paid, £4 16s 2d ; .subscriptions by ratepayers' for special works, £B4 ; receipts of deferred payment, moneys, £llß 4s 4d..; -lawrcosts recovered, £3 9s ; total, £1298 14s6d. Expenditure —New i roads,!. £371 3s 9d ; repairs and improvements on existing.roads, £494 12s 2d ; expenses as follows : collection of rates, £lO 19s ; salaries and rent, £7O 6s 8d ; list of valuation of district, £lO 16s lOd ; printing and advertising, £4 8s 6d ; miscellaneous expenses, £69 16s 6d ; leaving a balance in Bank of £266 11s Id ; at end of financial year. A letter for the Provincial District Auditor ,w;as< ; dl,so read informing the Bbnrd that the balancesheet was duly passed. Mr Bridge then asked the Chairman certain questions in regard to the Okotuhu Road deviation, condemning the Board’s action in taking the land for road purposes without written guarantees from the owners as. to the amount required for corapensatiofii and objecting to the ratepayers’ money being used for such a purpose. Mr Johnston upheld the action of the Board in the matter, stating that it was the intention of the Board to pay all expenses out of loan to be obtained nnder Roads and Bridges Construction Act. ; - The following resolution was proposed by Mr J. Nicholson, and seconded by Mr Donald McDonald, “ That the Okutuku Road deviation be made a first charge on the parties interested, and that they give the Board ah undertaking iti writing that they will indemnify the Board from all expense, and until that be done no further steps shall be taken to legalise the said road.” An amendment was proposed by Mr W. Lind, and seconded by Mr W, McDonald, “ That the matter of the Okutuku Road deviation be left to the discretion of the new Board.” .. . The amendment was put and lost,-and the resolution being put and also lost. After considerable discussion the following resolution was proposed by Mr W. Wilson, seconded by Mr Fleming, and carried, “ That the Board require a written guarantee from the promoters of the Okutuku Road before any further steps be taken to acquire the freehold under proclamation in Gazette. “After discussing several matters of minor importance, the meeting adjourned.