PROPOSED TOWN BOARD.

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 136, 10 June 1926, Page 4

PROPOSED TOWN BOARD.

BOUNDARY commission. Sitting in Putaruru. A commission consisting of Messrs. K. M. Graham (Commissioner for Crown Lands) and W. F. Wallis (local Government Valuer) sat in the .Oddfellows’ Hall, Putaruru, on Tuesday to hear any objections in connection with the proposed town area, as defined by a committee representing the ratepayers of the town. Amongst those present were Messrs J. R. O. Lochhead (chairman), W. Yandle, A. R. Vosper and G. G. Griffiths (secretary) of the local committee; C. F. Barton (clerk), M. E. Fitzgerald (engineer), of the Matamata County Council; and E. J. Darby (representative of the Putaruru riding). Messrs. G. P. Portas (Putaruru) and W. C. Hewitt (Auckland) represented two of the objectors to boundary line as outlined by the ratepayers’ committee. Mr. J. R. O. Lochhead extended a hearty welcome to the members of .the commission, and stated that the proposed boundary as outlined was the work of the committee appointed by ratepayers. The idea behind their work had been to secure a compact area which would benefit ratepayers as a whole, nevertheless it was realised that some hardship might possibly be inflicted no matter where the boundary line was drawn. The committee desired to work so far as possible harmoniously with all and of •course it was almost inevitable that some objection would be raised to the first boundary line. Since the commission had been appointed it had been decided to exclude Mr. Sayer’s property in order to reduce the area somewhat. This new line would also exclude the Domain and part of Mr. Wilson’s property, and he understood that this would eliminate two objections.

Mr. R. J. Wilson stated that his property was all farm land. He did not think there was the least likelihoodl of the town extending his way. The Government railway was along* his boundary, and he obtained access by a crossing. He owned 163 acres, and was dairying*. He had been one of the first settlers and had had a hard struggle. He had no objection to the new boundary line as now proposed by the committee, though he failed l to see what good the little bit included would do the town.

Mr. Graham (chairman of commission) : It is a matter of squaring* off the boundary.

Mr. Darby: I would like to suggest sir, that any expense that is caused through not following the boundary be no.t borne by the county, but be a charg*e on the occupier or the town board.

Mr. W. C. Hewitt, in appearing* for Mr. C. G. Alcorn, stated that his client was heartily in favour of the town board, and was not objecting to any area which had been sub-divided. There was a portion of the back, however, which would not be built on and which they thought should be cut off. It was not so suitable for sub-division as Mr. Wilson’s property. Mr. Wallis: Then you are only objecting to the inclusion of land not suitable for sub-division and not to •the town board ? Mr. Hewitt: Yes, that is so. Mr. Lochhead: I suggest that this is one of the points the commission should 1 inspect and form your own conclusions.

Mr. Hewitt: I suggest that because portion of a block has been cut up, }it should not be all roped in, and others who have not cup up be allowed .to g*et cut. Mr. Lochhead: That is what we have endeavoured to do. Mr. Graham: What is this water supply ? Mr. Lochhead: Just a private one. There is no town supply. Mr. Graham: Well, I suppose it is only a matter of time when there will be one and these sections should benefit. Mr. Fitzgerald, engineer to the Matamata County Council, suggested in reply to a remark by Mr. Hewitt, that a road boundary was most unsatisfactory. As a principle in takingroads as boundaries they should include all properties gaining access from the roads. Otherwise the line should be drawn down the'centre of the road and that was not advisable. Mr. Graham: Yes, complications are likely to arise in regard to sewerage for example. The next objector was Mr. R. A. Bent, who asked that a small portion of the back of his property be excluded. It was a very small portion, and was very steep and broken. It comprised he thought IS or 20 acres. In reply to the chairman, Mr. Bent stated the land was in grass and used for graz'no*. but was of little value. Mr. Hewitt: Land... always depreci-

ates in value when a commision is sitting. (Laughter). Mr. Bent: I’ll sell it to you, now,

cheap. •i, ; Mr. Hewitt: Oh, but I have some to sell, too. (Renewed laughter). Mr. Graham: Would it be possible to g*et a grade line along the road reserve ? Mr. Bent: Oh, yes. Mr. Fitzgerald: On which side of the boundary line is the road ? Mr. Bent: On the outside of the boundary. On behalf of Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Portas submitted that his client’s area was purely farm land, and unsuitable for cutting up purposes, with the exception of the road frontages. In view of this he asked that only the road frontage be included and the rest of the farm cut out. To the chairman, Mr. Fitzherbert stated that he owned 99 acres and that his house was in the centre. Mr. Graham: It is similar land to Hudson’s property, from whom there is no objection. Mr. Fitzherbert: Perhaps he didn’t know. (Laughter). Mr. Lochhead: Oh, yes, he has discussed it, all right. Continuing, Mr. Fitzherbert stated that he milked 30 cows during the season and 14 in winter. He got his water from the river and from .tanks for the house. Mr. Wallis: Do you object to the town board ? Hesitatingly, the objector stated he thought it would be better for him to be in the county as the town was not ready for a town board. Mr. Fitzgerald : If the area is amended you would have no objections. In other words, the principle of the town board is all right so long as you are not included. Mr. Fitzherbert : I don’t quite follow you. Mr. Lochhead : In this case we took a natural boundary in the Oraka stream. To exclude a portion would leave the rest high and dry. The lower portion of this farm has already been sold to another party, who is not objecting. Mr. Fitzgerald : No one is trying to push Mr. Fitzherbert in, but the trouble is to find a better boundary than the river. Mir. Graham : You consider you would gain no benefit from the town board ? Mr. Fitzherbert : None at all. Mr. Wallis : But there are many benefits to be gained from a town board, surely ? Mr. Fitzherbert : There may be. This concluded the evidence of the objectors and in summing up Mr. Lochhead mentioned that since the petition had been sent in the census had revealed that the population was now 677 and that the amendments agreed to by the committee would reduce the total area by 287 acres. The movement to form a town board had been on foot for some time, and at the public meeting at which the committee was appointed the voting had been 55 votes for and only two dissentients. It was the -almostiinanimous desire of ratepayers that a town board be formed. Sanitation was an immediate necessity and the Health Department was pressing for something to be done. Sundry public works were also urgently required. Mr. Graham : What are the nature of the improvements required ? Mr. Fitzgerald : Particularly footpaths. Mr. Graham : Yes, I noticed that my s ei*f. ( Lau g*ht er.) Mr. Lochhead : Had you toured round in the dark you might have been still further impressed, sir. (Laughter.) Continuing, Mr. Lochhead stated that a water supply was also necessary. Mr. Hewitt : Had I known, sir, that all these things were to be gone for I might have objected as a ratepayer. (Laugh ter). Mr. Lochhead : Of course they won’t all come at once, and in any case you will have to elect a beard. Mr. Hewitt : Yes, yes, I know. Mr. Alcorn sakl that in his opinion the time had definitely come when something had to be done. The sympathy of the whole community was 1 behind .the committee in their work, j While it had been mentioned that j there were two dissentients it had to be remembered that they were not to j be counted as being* against the town I board as the alternative had been a special rating area. Mr. Lochhead : 1 would like to explain, sir, that the two dissentients referred to are now members of the proposed town board committee. They are Mr..Yandle and myself. (Laughter.) Speaking from the county point of view, Mr. Fitzgerald said Putaruru j was like a child which had grown up and wanted to earn its own living. It j was sinrnlv a matter*of a thicklypopulated area becoming big enough to manage its, own affairs. There I was no rift in the lute, and the county and .the committee had 1 worked in peri I ( Continue* in Next Column.)

feet harmony in regard to the proposed scheme. All had endeavoured to look at it from a public point of view. Mr. E. J. Darby, riding* representative, supported Mr. Fitzgerald. The town had grown like Topsy without a plan. The valuations were out of date and the town had doubled its population during the past few years and seemed likely to double again during* the next few years. Everything had been done in perfect harmony and without a doubt a board was needed to bring* things into order. Mr. Graham, in closing the sitting, thanked Mr. Lochhead for his cordial welcome on behalf of the town, lie had .to confess that the town improved With acquaintance. On going round the boundaries hie had been agreeably surprised, and he thought they had an excellent site for a town. There would be no trouble with drainage or water supply, and he thought the tov\m would be a stopping* place for tourists and likely to make a name for itself. The climate was good, and altogether hie had formed a very favourable impression during his stay. As .they had heard all the evidence he proposed to* close, the sitting. Before going, Mr. Wallis ar.drf himself wou’d again inspect several i points.