MEETING OF RATEPAYERS, ORMOND.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 440, 29 December 1876, Page 2

MEETING OF RATEPAYERS, ORMOND.

The meeting called by the Chairman of the Poverty Bay Highway District, at Ormond; on Thursday evening last, to consider ti e advisability of merging the Highway District into the County, was not very largely "attended, principally through an unavoidably insufficient publicity. The few who were present, however, manifested much interest in the proceedings. MrR. Breingan was voted to the chair, and addressed the meeting on the subject for which it was convened, and requested expressions of opinion on the points raised. Personally, be was of opinion that small Hoad Boards were preferable to large ones. Mr Ferris said that as chairman of the Poverty Bay Road Board, he thought it advisable for the settlers to consider the new form of local Government, and proceeded to explain the leading features of the Counties Act. He though it would be better to adopt the whole of the Act, on account of the powers and privileges it confers, and would strongly advise the country settlers to cut up the outlying districts into Highway Districts. Several questions were asked of Mr Ferris, through the chairman, who answered them at some length, quoting voluminously from the Counties Act. After some discussion Mr Ferris proposed, “ That in the opinion of this meeting it is considered desirable that a petition be prepared and presented to the County Council praying that the whole of the Act should be adopted in the district.” Seconded by Mr Maynard, and carried. Mr' Webb addressed the meeting on the question as being of great importance to the country settlers, and urged for their consideration whether it would not be better to delay present action with regard to petition in any shape, until the new form of Government was better understood; in the meantime let them consider whether the Highway District should merge in the county, or not, in the event of Gisborne becoming a municipality, and have another meeting. He thought the present meeting did not fairly represent the opinions of the district.

Tins was generally concurred in; and Mr Ferris promised to convene another meeting in about a month's time. Mr Barrie moved a vote of thanks to the chairman, and also to Mr Ferris for the trouble he has taken in explaining the matter before the meeting.