TUAKAU.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 174, 16 May 1916, Page 3

TUAKAU.

ANNUAL MEETING UF RATEPAYERS BOAKD'S GOOD RECOKD OF WORK The annual meeting of ratepayers was held in the Public Hall last night in the presenca ot a r presectative gathering. The chairman of the Town Boa.'d, Mr Dynts Fulton, occupied the chair, acd all the other numbers of the Board were in attendance

When eubmitting the annual report the chairman said that it was not compulsory for tbe Board to call an annual meeting, but with a view of tbe ratepayers being given an opportunity to criticise the Hoard's actions, if necessary, and, further, to submit recommendations to the Board, the meeting bad been convened ANNUAL REPORT Proceeding, the chairman read tbe annual report, a a follows, viz: "Tbe first election of members was held in September, 1914. A certain amount of time was recessarily taken up in preliminary work. Members had to make thenselves acquainted with tfe resources and requirements of the district. The advent of tbe war, just prior to tbe formation of the Hoard, necessitated a cautious policy. Tbe expenditure on office equipment was restricted to bare necessaries and satisfactory arrangement was i/iade for suitable and inexpensive office accommodation in a cectrsl position. Owing to tfce low valuation the Board fou'd it nec ssiry to strike a general rate of ]£d in the £ on tbe capital value, which brousht in the sum cf £327 lis 2d. The special rates of one farthing each and the Hospital and Charitable aid rate of one-sixth of a Jcenny in the £ were also collected on bsbalt of tbe Franklin County Council. One of the special rates, the Whangarata special loar, would not be collected during the present year. As shown by the bslance sheet, the whole of tbe rates collected bad been spent io repairing aod maintaining existing roads and effecting improvemsnts in George and Liverpool streets. With a view to ensuring a good supply of metal at fhe least cost, the Board had srcured, on a two years lease with a right of purchase, a good q'arry, situated in an excellent position Several small contracts fcr spawls and metal had been carried cut and one for spawling 2000 yards was well in bard. Staitin? the year with a bank overdraft of £25 158 4d, t)~e overdraft on March 13th, 1916, stood at £54 12s 6d. A revaluation of tbe distiict bad teen made, which was very necessary before th? Board could formulate a general echeme of work. Tbe Board hope to lay such gch-nie before the ratepayers at an early date for their approval. It will embrace fpermenrnt formation cf main streets aid roads, kerbing and channelling and improved lighting. l'he work before the Board wps exteisive, aid tbe demands of tbe district were many. 'J he B:ard felt that it was their duty to .do the beet with the funds available, carrying out all work with due regard to efficiency as well as ecoromy, and with a view to tbe welfare of the district as a whole."

Feferring to the Whangarata special loan rate, mentioned in the report, the chairman said that the fartfairg rate had provided more than waa necessary to pay for the tirking fund and interest and suheequenty it was found tfcat even a rate of one-tightb of a penny in the £ brought in more then was required, consequently it would be unnecessary to collect that rate during the preeent \ear. Proceeding, he said that the Board, as a whole, had devoted a lot uf tim? to administering the effairs of the ratepayers but bad rot claimed one penny for tiavelling expenses or any ether expenses incurred. (Applause) FINANCE The clerk, Mr A H Tapper, submitted the balance sheet for the year ending March 31st last, which showed that the receipt?, including rates collected £490 15s 4d and hotel licenses £4O, had amounted to £684 3s 6d, as agaicst expenditure totalling £738 16?, including payments to County Council and Hospital rate £143 lis Id and debit balance brought forward March 31st, 1915, £25 15s 4d, leaving a debit talance of £54 2s 6d The chairman explained that the expenditure included an item of £7l 16s 7d, progress payment made to Mr lsherwood for Bpawls secured from the quarry and as these Bpawls were in hand their value more than wiped out tre debit balance set forth in the balance sheet. He also added that with respect to an outlay of £5 17s Id tor half-cost of footpath tor Mr V Kowe the Board would be prepared to similarly lay down footpaths on half-cost being detrayed by the owners. He further stated that legal fees and printing charges in regard to the institution of by-laws were such as would not occur again

On the proposition of Mr Northmore, seconded by Mr J Firret, the report and balance sheet were Edopted THE PKOI'OSEL) BRIDGE The chairman explained that while the Board had only expended a small'sum in endeavouring to imroad from the railway lire up the hill, they had rot lost sight of its deplorable condition. As a result of a decision arrived at the Board met the c nB'jlting engineer on the road with a view of expediting improvements, and although ttey fully realised the urgency ot providing better ap proacheß to the properties on the right hand side of the road t&ey neverthel ss were of the unanimous opinion that it would have teen utterly hepebss to have attemp'ed the tillicp up of the hollow, near the bridge, before the hill was graded, and a . the work was of such an exnature, really requiring a loan, tii3 Board reluctantly Lad to forego their wishes bocause the funds at their disposal would not allow for a substantial improvement being made. The engineer had, however, drawn up plans and specifications for a proposed loan for the scheme, but as tho Railway Department had not giyon tho Board a definite decision in respect to the

the ratepayers since in the event of the bridge being erected at the level crossing oo the Harrisville road, the plans and specifications would have to be altered. The Railway Depart ment had enquired whether the Board was prepared to form the approaches to a bridge in the event of the Department erecting it at the level crossing, but such would cost three times mire than the bridge itself. The Board were awaiting a reply from the Department, and it was hoped that a final decision would soon be arrived at.

In answer to a question submit'ed by Mr Deeble, the chairman said that the Board did not approve of the bridge site beyond the cattle yards, and suggested an alternative site, but the Department would not acquiesce. Finally, as the Department would not definitely decide on the level crossing site, the Board suggested that the bridge should be erected over the platform, but the Department had asked how much the Board was prepared to give towards the work. The position was that no definite site for the bridge had yet been fixed, but the Board had been requested to chose one of two sites. The Board chose the second ate (not at the level crossing) with a view of not having to form the approaches. Mr Deeble contended that the level crossing was the proper site for the bridge. It would safeguard the public from "the dangerous level crossing." The chairman said that the engineer reported against the level crossing site because of the cost the Board would be put to in making the approaches, but if the Department was prepared to erect the bridge and make the approaches bearing full cost the question would be satisfactorily settled. Mr Deeble suggested that the cost of the property for the cattle yards site would entail a heavier expenditure than making the approaches at the level crossing but the chairman expressed a contrary opinion as it would only be necessary to purchase a small piece of property. The chairman suggested that members of the Board should form a deputation to visit Wellington with a view of obtaining some definite information from the Minister of Bailways. At this stage Mr Deeble expressed his surprise that members paid their own expenses when on such errands. He did not approve of that course.

In reply to Mr Deeble, the chairman stated that he could not give them a definite statement as to the effect the loan would have on the rates until he had at his disposal the capital value of the district, which could not be ascertained until the objections connected therewith had been settled. He thought, however, that after the district had been revalued the general rate with the increased capital valve could be reduced from lid to id during the expenditure of a loan of from £BOOO to £IO,OOO, for which a id rate would be struck if it was found sufficient to cover a sinking fund and the interest on such loan.

Mr Northmore considered the suggestion was admirable. The meeting then concluded with the usual votes of thanks.

The charge against the Maori woman of shooting her brother-in-law should come on for hearing at the Magistrate's Court at Pukekohe on Friday next, but at present it is doubtful whether the wounded man will have sufficiently recovered to be able to give evidence. On the civil side, the adjourned action in which Miss Taylor is suing the Tuakau Town Board for negligence in allowing, she alleges, an unprotected heap of metal to remain on the road, whereby she was thrown from her horse, will also engage the Magistrate's attention. ANGLICAN CHURCH CONCERT With the worthy object of assisting the funds of the Tuakau Anglican Church a concert was given in the Public Hall on Wednesday of last week, the performers, with one exception, being visitors from Pukekohe. Despite the unfavourable weather the attendance was satisfactory, and it is anticipated that the profits of the gathering will amount to about £6. New scenery, for which the credit is due to Mesdames Prescott, Strahan, Paton, Harrison and Miss Foulkes, was used for the first time. Ihe performers Avere attired in Pierrot costume and a bright and sparkling programme was carried through, items being given as follows Choruses by the Troupe; vocal duets, Miss Aldridge and Mr Stevenson ; solos, Mis«es Aldridge aud Duncan, Messrs D. Hird, J. Brown, L. Wilson, Stevenson andF. Duncan ; vocal trio, Messrs Stevenson, Brown and Duncan; monologues, Miss McKay, Mr D. Hird and Miss Taylor; sketch. Miss McKay and Mr Hird, pianoforte solo, Miss Taylor; fancy dance, Miss P Watte, Mercer; recitation, Miss E. Perkins Miss Millicent Taylorplayed all the accompaniments. Before the concert proceedings came to a close the Rov. L. Foulbes thanked the performers for their services and the audience for venturing out iu boisterous weather. A dance followed, music being kindly supplied by Mist> Ueraghty and Mr L. Stevenson, und Mr A Turner proved a capable M.C.