RATEPAYERS’ MEETING.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 190, 25 July 1874, Page 2

RATEPAYERS’ MEETING.

A Meeting of the Ratepayers of the Poverty Bay Highway District was held, pursuant to announcement, in the Court House, Gisborne, on Wednesday last. Owing to the severity of the weather, it was almost impossible for any from the suburbs or even the more distant parts of the township to attend. Those who did attend shewed forcibly the interest that is now awakened in the community as to the administration of the Highways Act in the district. Mr. Meldrum was called to the Chair, and said that the meeting was convened for the purpose of receiving propositions as to the subjects to be brought forward at the Adjourned Meeting of Tuesday next, so that a programme might be arranged, and the ordei of business understood, which would assist in preventing unpleasant delay and inconvenience thereat —if thought desirable, candidates might also be named. Mr. Webb was inclined (having ascertained that others were so) to propose an adjournment of the meeting, seeing that the extreme inclemency of the weather had caused a comparative paucity of attendance; he knew of many others who would have attended, and by whom, perhaps, such an adjournment would be calculated on under the circumstances. Conclusions come Io this evening might thus leave room for some slight variance, or indecision, to prevent which was one of the chief objects of the meeting ; however, the matter now rested -with themselves. Mr. Tucker proposed that the meeting should proceed to business, so that he and others might, know by its tone and action, what the prospects for Tuesday’s meeting might be, and howfar they would be influenced by the determination come to. He thought there were sufficient numbers present to proceed with business. The Chairman having called upon any who were desirous of addressing the meeting, to do so. Mr. Webb said that the object of the promoters of the meeting was to discuss and arrange in a systematic form, any questions it might be thought desirable to bring before the Adjourned Annual Meeting of Ratepayers, and also to prevent a repetition of the obstruction observed on the Annual Meeting, with which he had no sympathy; although he felt bound to say that a. good deal of asperity was caused by the rebuff given to the meeting by the Chairman of the Board, who had denied that Annual Meetings were the proper places in which to put categorical questions. He would submit to the meeting, in the shape of resolutions requests for information, as to transactions of the present Board, not sufficient ly understood by the Ratepayers ; and which information, given in a clear and explicit manner, he thought necessary to the satisfactory withdrawal of the Board ; and the knowledge by the Ratepayers that its successors would take up their position with a dear and unbarrassed field, and free from certain legacies of matters, for the demerits of which it might easily be imagined they would not like to be responsible. He would also submit resolutions, framed with a view of more easily eliciting, from the current transactions of the Board, the necessary means of keeping the Ratepayers of the district posted up in the progress of its affairs. He said he found it here necessary to disclaim emphatically any personal feeling or private consideration in undertaking the present duty. He was sorry to feel that he might possibly be unable -in fol lowing up the discharge of it.—to avoid jeopardizing some friendly' relations ; but the state iuto which the Board had fallen, called, in his opinion, for the risk. He saddled the responsibility of the present state of the Road Board matters on the Chairman of the retiring Board principally Mr. Tucker : Not very complimentary to the other members. Mr. Webb : I do not mean it to be complimentary. In commenting on the leading article of the Poverty Ray Herald of Monday last he said that almost the reverse of its most prominent statements and deductions would be correct. The inconclusiveness of the last meeting should not rest on the inconsiderate action of an individual Ratepayer, but on Mr. Poynter who so readily took occasion to treat the whole meeting as he deemed the person, alluded to, deserved, for the manner of his questions. He, Mr. Webb, did not identify himself in any way whatever with the objectionable conduct of some persons ; nor did he know of anyone in the meeting who did. Mr. Webb then read over drafts of the resolutions he intended to propose for adoption at the Adjourned Meeting. Mr. Tuckeb would dissent from some of the remarks of the last speaker. He considered the action of the Board at the last meeting was in a great measure justified by the intemperate and obnoxious course of those present. Mr. Poynter gave what should be accepted as a satisfactory reply' to Mr. Breingan’s query' when he said that the Makauri-road was still aaiyWfee, and being under appeal to a higher court; and could not, therefore, be definitely' settled by the present Board. Mr. Webb : Are you not aware that the appeal has been virtually, if not actually, abandoned? Mr. Tucker said he was not so aware, Mr. Webb may be better informed than he was, he would certainly not undertake the championship of the Board. Again, if the road was made, it would certainly not be an injury to any Ratepayer, but would possibly be of service in lessening the price of timber and firewood to many. He rather sided with the Herald in its view of the treatment of the Board at lastmeeting. If any questions were asked, they' should be asked respectfully as it was only in courtesy that the Board were bound to reply at all to them. Mr. Webb: The sooner that somewhat erroneous impression is removed, the better for the future amicable relations of Road Board and Ratepayers. The public have a political and a constitutional right to an explanation of the treatment of trusts reposed in public men. be they British House of Commons, New Zealand General Assembly, Provincial Council, or Road Board, and it would be impolitic and unwise to deny it to them. Mr. Tucker continued: Well, Mr. Webb mixed up in his speech, much personal and superfluous matter; for instance what did it matter to him, or to the Ratepayers, who got a contract for printing, or that the one paper offered to print gratuitously what the other had contracted for possession of. W as it not the self-interest of a newspaper to ascertain the transactions of the Board, and publish them ; or was it

udt in the power of each individual Ratepayer to ascertain them for himself ? If the present Board had acted wrongly the only course the Ratepayers had was not to-re-elect them, if such inuendos as “peculation” were expressed in relation to the present Board, no one having any self-respect would become a member of a Board. Mr. Webb said that he was the onlyperson who used the word “ peculation,” and then only in utter condemnation of any' suggestion of the kind in connection with the members of the present Board. He explained, by reference to copies of Road Board documents laid before the Annual Meeting, the inaccuracies needing explanation; but such an in si nuation (as far as he could hear, made only’ by the Board and their friends) was drawing a herring across the scent. The Chairman recollected that rt was not conveyed to the last meeting that the outgoing Road Board were not honorable men. Mr. Lambert felt sure that at the coming meeting civil questions would meet with civil answers. The Ratepayers were somewhat to blame; perhaps the Board was also to blame ; but conciliatory manners in what arc now held as faults on either side, being resolved into misapprehensions. Mr. Webb entirely disclaimed all identity' with any party or person resolved on factious opposition, or having resolved on a systematic discourtesy to the Board ; and said the resolutions he had then submitted were a sufficient proof of the fact. The resolutions were again read to the meeting, and movers and seconders found for most of them. Consequent on the resolution relative to advertizing and printing, the remainder of the meeting was enlivened by a spirited discussion, principally between Mr. Dufaur and Mr. Webb relative to the rights of the Press in demanding admission to the Road Board Meetings for the purpose of reporting. Shortly before 11 o’clock a cordial vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the meeting.