POVERTY BAY DISTRICT HIGHWAY BOARD.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 187, 15 July 1874, Page 2

POVERTY BAY DISTRICT HIGHWAY BOARD.

ANNUAL MEETING. ] The Ratepayers assembled in the Courthouse, Gisborne, yesterday morning at 11 o’clock to receive the Annual Statement of affairs, to elect members for the ensuing year, and other business. Mr. Brooke Taylor, duly proposed, and seconded, took the Chair, and briefly stated the object of the meeting. In accordance with clause • 38, the Chairman read the “ Annual account and balance sheet,” Accounts and “ Receipt and Expenditure, and of ‘‘Assets and Liabilities.” Mr. Bbeingan enquired “If the law expenses incurred by the Board in undertaking an illegal road is included in the statement of accounts, or if they are to remain as a legacy to the coming Board. Mr. Poynter explained that the case alluded to stands thus .—A road was laid out through Wi and Ecu Paraone’s property. A case in the Resident Magistrate’s Court to enforce the road was decided adversely to the Board. The matter is still in the course of the law, and could not therefore be settled by the present Board. The Engineer’s report was then read; commenting on which Mr. Poynter said that the metal put on the Gladstone-road was of an inferior quality, aud was rather an experiment. He (Mr. Poynter) called i attention to the wishes of many that the

interest of town and country should be divided, as they are distinct, and urged on the meeting to elect the coming Board so as to represent as far as possible both interests; the present district was too large, but should remain in its entirety for this year. The public could not be aware of the provisions of the Act 1874 as only one copy' to the district, and much injustice may eccur through change in the clause relating to proxy; and the speaker would ask an adjournment of the meeting if necessary for a short time to allow a rectification of any error which might exist, with regard to voters present. He suggested, in order to simplify matters, that the rate should be on the rental value as in point of fact it was that basis on which the rate was last year calculated though ostensibly levied on the value to : -’sell. The rate this year should be commensurate with the increase of value of land in the district, and it should be as high as the Act wouldallow ; the necessity for roads is very great; and as the sum received from the, Provincial Government depends on the amount contributed as rates, an increase in taxation was desirable.

Mr. Caulton enquired when the Act of 1874 was received by. the Board. The Chairman considered that it was received about a fortnight since, but no meeting of the Board had taken place since. $ ■ . Mr. Caulton then moved an adjournment of the meeting for a fortnight, to allow those who had arranged their proxies .under the . old Act, to set themselves right according to the new one. Mr. Webb would support the adjournment, provided (hat some business of im-

portance were got through to-day. The meeting adjourned till 2 o’clock. After the adjournment:— Mr. Bbeingan asked if the roads laid out by the Engineer of the Board are in accordance with those laid out by theGeneral Government. Mr. Sheet, Engineer, said that he laid out no line whatever, except under the Board; that any error which may exist did not lie with him. Mr. Poynteb said that the road alluded to was laid out by Mr. Drummond, by direction of the Board. Mr. Johnson thought that the business of the meeting did not allow discussion of such matters.

The Chairman agreed with Mr. Johnson and said that the ratepayers had had meeting after meeting, therefore,, ample opportunity for acquiring information and redress, if necessary ; and thought the meeting should confine itself to "business. Mr. Walsh said that such questions as were asked were pertinent to the objects of the meeting ; and asked further why the Engineer had changed the direction of a certain line of road. The late Chairman agreed as to the propriety of the questions, but objected to their vagueness. He and the other , members of the Board were ready to reply to questions put in such a mode as they

could answer. Mr. Bbeingan characterized Mr. Poynter’s answer as a quioble. Mr. Webb said he considered this a legitimate opportunity for the ratepayers to ask questions on matters they did not understand. Mr. Hawes said that his offer relative to supply of road metal was bona fide, and not as the late Chairman had asserted, to , by Mr. Bbeingan that the items headed “Miscellaneous” be read, considerable discussion, badinage, and interruptions, occurred several questions, all tending to evince dissatisfaction with late arrangements being put forward at the same time. Mr. Poynter alluded to the printed forms as supplied by the Provincial Government as sufficient for

the information of Ratepayers. Mr. Wbbb said that that the document might suffice for the Provincial Government, but not for the Ratepayers. Captain Porter recognized the irresponsibility of the retiring Board and that the meeting was bound to receive the reports as verified by their auditors, the only redress the ratepayers had was in their hands in the matter of re-elec-tion, j Moved by Mr. Webb, and seconded by Mr. M’Fablane—

“ That all correspondence between the Board and the General and Provincial Governments, on the subject of the formation of the Glarlstone.road and other trunk lities in this district, be now laid before the meeting. Capt. Poster explained that by section 2-of the Public Works Act all roads are proclaimed by the Government, but their formation may be delegated and may have been. Mr. Webb read proclamation reserving specifically the roads alluded to and not revoked in any way. Mr. Caulton said that the Gazette containing the new Act was a fortnight here, and should have been made publie. Tue Secretary explained that the Act, wearing the appearance of an ordinary Gazette, did not attract his attention, or more prompt action would have been taken in regard to it. Mr. Poynter wished that the business of the meeting should be so far proceeded with as that the rate be fixed, and candidates nominated for election at adjourned meeting and moved a resolution to that effect, seconded by Major Westrup. Amendment moved by Mr. Webb, and seconded by Mr. M’Fablane—was carried all but unanimously, only three hands being held up for the original resolution.