MANUREWA.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 186, 27 June 1916, Page 3

MANUREWA.

FIXING THE RATE AT MANUREWA TO TIIE EDITOR. Sir, —Your very full reports of our Manurewa Town Board meetings must be interesting reading for ratepayers who cannot attend meetings. Whilst the striking of the rate claimed special attention in your last report, I should like to emphasise several points as they struck the writer. Prior to striking a rate it is usual to estimate your expenditure and from the discussion at the meeting it was shown that office expenses would be £7O, election expenses £4O, printing by-laws £3O. Then lighting £25, and sundry expenses say £35, this would account for £2OO. There was a unanimous opinion amongst the members that our roads were in a bad state, and that any patching done should be thorough. It was pointed out that a 1 d (one J penny) rate would approximately yield £SOO, a l]d rate £6OO, and a lid rate, £7OO. Whilst such matters «s the above were being discussed we had the Chairman not only talking about doing things well, but advocating progress ; this he backed later to the extent of seconding a motion for a ljd rate. Now, when it conies to actual voting, what do we find'/ Ist: The Chairman talked progress so that members had good reason to assume (from his remarks) that he was a supporter of a I.UI rate. 2nd: He, the Chairman, seconded a motion for a and then defeated it on his own casting vote. 3rd : So that whilst the Chairman advocated progress, i.e. ' lAd rattt, and seconded 1 id, he actually voted for a Id rate. To give the Chairman a chance to back up hia remarks, later motions were moved of and l£d, but these had no support from this " progressive " Chairman. Is it any wonder, then, that I was led to remark "He talks one way, and votes another T

Now to sum up this little business. We, as a Board meet fortnightly to spend in twelve months, £3OO on roads that are now in an admittedly bad condition. When we iind the Manurewa Road Board spending, as they did over £SOO on one road, i e., Russell road, during the last three years, I contend that our roads would have been bettor in the keeping of the Manurewa Road Board. We are going to pay our extra rate just for the privilege of having an election and paying office expenses. To follow the conclusion further, any increased attention given to the District by members of the Board, any office expenses, representing energy and money, are both to be wasted, largely for the want of a necessary rate (capital) to work our district. Yours, etc., ENOS S. PEGLER. MANUREWA KOAD BOAKD. MONTHLY MEETING. The usual monthly meeting of the above authority was held on Monday of last week. There were present: Messrs G. F. Druce, chairman, A. Muir, P. Hoy, W. Brown, and C. Coxhead, together with the clerk, Mr A. G. Mabee. RUAD DEVIATION. The plan of the proposed deviation on Coxhead road was submitted to the Board for approval, and was duly gigned by the chairman THE HATES. Mr Muir gave notice of motion that he would propose at toe following meeting of the Board that the rate tor the ensuing year be as follows, viz., a General Kate of three-eighths cf penny in the £ and a Special Kate of one-eighth of a penny in the £ on the' capital value of all rateable property in the Weymouth Loan Special Kating Area. Another of the Ked Cross afternoon teas, which have the merit of not only being enjoyable social functions but at the same time assist in providing funds for a patrio tic purpoee, is to be held in the Manurewa Hall on Thursday next from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. A most attractive musical programme has been arranged for the occasion, as songs will be rendered by Mibs Jessie Bartk-tt (Auckland's leading contralto), Mr E. Drake (Auckland's soldier tenor) and Mr Torn Seaton (the favourite baritone). By kind permission of the Opera Houbc management, the star artists Alaßce and Lorraine will appear in their clever vaudeville entertainment, with orchestra. Hesitations will be given by Mr T. J. Corirt. It is hoped that a large gathering will be present in support oi a deserving cause, a donation of one shilling per head being the sum only asked for from these who will be in attendance. Quartermaster-Sergeant Oldham, who detailed his experiences of the landing at Gallipoli to a Manurewa audience and who ;s well-known in Auckland and Ngaruawahia, has just cabled to Mr Enoa Pegler from France that he is well. The ten trucks of metal thai arrived to tbe order of the town Board last week have been spread on the roads, and a further four trucks 10 arrive to-night have been ordered. The opera, " Trial Bv -lury,'' vhich is to Le staged in the near luturc in Manurewa by the local Musical Society, to assist I'atriotic Funds, promises to be a great success. Very promising rehearsals have been held and good progress made. A very stirring address on the life of the late Earl Kitchener was delivered to a representative congregation at St. I.tike's hint Sunday evening by tin; liev. Wood, lie paid special tribute to the late War Secretary's capacity as an

organiser, and also referred to tbe great sacrifice the heroes of tbe North Sea Battle had made and the equal great sacrifice their dependants had made. With a view of explaining the order of morning services held in the Anglican Churches to children the Kev. Wood gave notice last Sunday that special morning services for children would be held at St. Luke's once every month, tbe titßt to take place next Sunday, when Captain Clayton wnukJ officiate. He also mentioned that the evening service would be held at seven p.m. as usual.