ANNUAL MEETING OF RATEPAYERS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 290, 17 July 1875, Page 2

ANNUAL MEETING OF RATEPAYERS.

The annual meeting of ratepayers of the Poverty Bay Highway District was held m the Court House Gisborne, on Wednesday last. The hour was fixed for 11 o’clock but, owing to the Court room being required by the Besident Magistrate, the business did not commence until some time after 12, at which hour a few ratepayers only appeared. Mr. Hardy explained that the first duty was to elect a chairman to preside over the meeting. Captain Porter having been unanimously elected to the chair, Mr. Breingan said that he had a word to say to the representatives of the press, and suggested that they should report what was really done at the meeting, rather than what they considered should have been done. The chairman then read the advertisement convening the meeting, and called upon Mr. Hardy to make his statement which that gentleman proceeded to do as follows :— STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURE FOR THE TEAR ENDING 30tH JUNE, 1875.

Xvttvv ICvlvll ... ... u per Cullu on rental value. We hereby certify that we have examined the above Account of Receipt and Expenditure, and compared it with the books and vouchers, and that to the best of our belief it is a true and correct statement of all moneys received and expended by the Board therein named. W. H.Tuckbk ) * j., Thos. M. Bbyant J Audltors - A. F. Habdy, 410 Chairman. Mr. Hardy then explained relative to the vote in aid of the construction of Waekanae bridge. He had been accused of having promised the money and having broken his promise. Mr. Woon applied to him respecting the vote, to which he (Mr. Hardy) replied stating that the Board had no funds for that purpose. The Chairman of the bridge committee (Dr. Nesbitt) then wrote to him on the subject to whom he sent a similar reply. Mr. Breingan addressed the meeting in support of the statement of the chairman of the Board, and considered that Mr. Hardy’s conduct was deserving of the greatest praise. At this stage, Mr. Hardy, in answer to the chairman, said that the meeting had to elect two fence viewers under the provisions of the Fencing Act recently proclaimed as in force. The chairman laid the statement of account read to the meeting by Mr. Hardy on the table for public inspection. The meeting adjourned till 2 o’clock.

After the adjournment the chairman asked if there were any questions to be put to the retiring Board, whereupon

Mr. Hall asked what steps had been taken with regard to placing the site of the artesian well at Makaraka under public control. Mr. Hardy explained that no tnonev had yet been paid, but Mr, Higgins

guaranteed the use of the water to the public, and the matter would be put on a proper footing, before the grant was handed over.

Mr. Hall asked why the Board had refused to hand over the money granted by the previous Board towards the erection of the Waikanae bridge. Mr. Hardy said the Board did not feel justified in paying the money, as they were already in debt and had not the means at their disposal. He disclaimed having written a letter promising the money. He would further say that if anyone could produce the letter it had been stated that he had written promising the money, the Board would undertake to pay it at once.

The chairman read the resolutions made by the previous Board, dated 26th January 1874, in which it was stated that the vote was made an the condition that a bridge should under the supervision of the BUR, and that the subscriptions which the Board would supplement, were to be handed over to them. Mr. G. F. Harris asked if the incoming Board would take over the liability of the present Board relative to the vote in question. The chairman gave his opinion that as the Board who voted the money, » had not paid it during their term of • office, the vote had lapsed, and the « money would have to be re-voted before it could be paid. Mr. J. A. Wilson suggested that an expression of opinion should be given by the ratepayers as to the payment of the vote to the Waikanae bridge. Mr. Piesse moved, and Mr. Maynard seconded, that the Accounts and Statement, as read, be received as satisfactory—carried. The members of the retiring Board then formally withdrew. The chairman said Jit was now the duty of the meeting to decide on the rate for the ensuing year, when the following resolution was finally adopted on the motion of Mr. M. Hall, seconded by Mr. tt. Cooper. “ That the rate for the ensuing year be 5 percent on the annual rental value.” Mr. J. A. Wilson moved, seconded by Mr. McFarlane, “ That in the opinion of the ratepayers the balance due on the Waikanae bridge should be paid by the incoming Board.” Mr. Walsh moved, and Mr. Maynard seconded an amendment, “ That the money bo not paid by the new Board.” The resolution was carried on a show of hands. The meeting then proceeded to the election of candidates for seats on the Board ; the following is the result of the poll, the first five gentlemen constituting the new Board :—Hardy, 131, Tutchen, 99, Crawford, 96, King, 84, Breingan, 82, Blair 81, Caulton 80, Bousfield 4. Messrs Drummond, Bryant, and O’Meara, acted as scrutineers. <■ Mr. Tucker enquired as to the duties of the fence viewers, and if any . emolument attached to their office. * The chairman said he could discover nothing in the Act to satisfactorily answer the enquiry. Messrs. Meldrum, McKenzie and Walsh werenominatedasfenceviewers, the two former being elected on a show of hands. * Messrs. Piesse and Tucker were elected auditors, and a vote of thanks to the chairman ended the proceedings.

RECEIPTS. To Rates Collected ... “ Rates Received per Superintendent under Recovery of Rates Act „ Subscription in Aid by Ratepayers £ s. Nil. Nii: 687 4 d. 0 £ 687 4 d 0 „ Amount received from tile Colonial Government— 1. Rond Board Grants 475 0 0 2. On other Accounts “ Amount received from the Provincial Government— 1. From ordinary Appropriations 2. For Supervision of Public Re750 0 0 serves Nil. 3. In aid of Forest Planting Nil. 1225 0 0 Miscellaneous— (a) Under Dog Nuisance Act... 24 19 6 (b) Impounding Act 19 18 0 (c) Thistle Act ... 0 0 0 (d) Sundries 727 9 8 772 7 2 Total ... £2684 11 2 EXPENDITURE. £ a. d. £ ■ d Paid for forming Roads 812 14 0 „ Metalling and Channelling '. 490 15 2 „ Bridgesand Culverts 110 3 9 „ Other works 541 3 6 „ Supervision of Public Reserves 0 0 0 „ Commission for Collecting Rates ... 0 0 0 „ Salaries and Rent... „ Printing and Adver261 17 0 tising... 50 14 2 „ Legal Expenses ... 25 4 6 „ Planting Forest trees 0 0 0 2292 12 1 Miscellaneous — (a) Under Dog N uisance Act 16 6 (b) Under Impounding Act 0 0 (c) Under Thistle Act 0 0 (d) Under sundries 270 17 0 271 14 4 Total £2564 6 5 £ s. d. Amount of Rates payable for the year ... 808 5 0 Amount actually received 687 4 0 Total amount of Arrears of Rates for past years Rate per £ (upon value 44 12 8 to sell or let, as the case may be) of last Rate levied 5 per cent on rental