ONEWHERO.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 229, 24 November 1916, Page 3

ONEWHERO.

HAMILTON'S DEVIATION. ANOTHER POLL ARRANGED. At the meeting of the Raglan County Council last Wednesday Ihe old theme of Hamilton's Deviation was once more revived, when deBpite the result of the recent loan poll a deputation consisting of Messrs 8. H. Crawford, W. Keyes, L. Allan, G. Hunter and A. Keyes waited on the council and asked the council to review the whole question. Two letters, one from Mr Cameron intimating that he would not claim compensation in respect to land that would be taken in the event of the deviation passing through his property, and another from Mr Crawford on behalf of those interested offering a cheque for £2OO towards the project, conditionally if it wa9 put in hand, were submitted. Mr Crawford urged that the matter had been " thinned down " as a result of the offer of the cheque for £2OO, and, further, through Mr Cameron being prepared to give the land required for the deviation to pass through his farm, and the necessary fencing, which he (Mr Crawford) estimated was worth £IOO. They did not want another poll to be taken. Cr Moore had advocated " support to the majority," and there was a substantial majority at the poll, despite the fact that the proposal was defeated, the votes being 72 for and 59 against. Cr Moore had also expressed the opinion that the right place for the road was through Hamilton's Asked by the chairman if he would reply to the deputation, Cr Moore said "No," and suggested that the deputation'srequest should be heard, and after they had retired he thought the council should go into the matter in the same way as other deputations were treated. The chairman said that Cr Moore's remarks were uncalled for. Cr Moore: The council decided on a certain action, and as it was carried out they should hold to it. Or Seavill reminded Cr Moore that all deputations were allowed a personal interview. Cr Seavill asked if the council was bound by the result of the poll. The chairman : No. The majority voted for it, although it was lost. Continuing, he favoured something being done to meet the deputation's request as the majority were in sympathy therewith, and also as they had volunteered to give a cheque for £2OO and Mr Cameron was prepared to give land for a portion of the road and to do the fencing. The question was one of finance "* and his opinion was that it should be faced and the deviation put through. He suggested that if the matter had concerned another portion of the county it would be given affect to. Cr Moore claimed that 72 ratepayers did not constitute the majority in the area affected and that the £2OO offered would not by any means be the total expenditure. It . would mean taking the balance —an unknown quantity—from the rates, f. « and in consequence the roads would if suffer. y " Cr Cobourne preferred to remain neutral in regard to the discussion, ♦ although he would not have minded property of his being rated to per- * mit of the road being put through. • As it was purely a matter of finance Ct Seavill expressed an inclination to support Cr Moore in the matter. The chairman advised that in the event of the council deciding to accede to the request it would be incumbent on them to see that the necessary money was forthcoming. If a similar request came from his own riding he would like to see the council agree to it. Cr Otway suggested that the poll had finally decided the question and that every councillor was justified in considering his ratepayers. "If he is not satisfactory as their repre- ' sentative (he added) it is for them to turn him out." He further suggested that it was possible for some ratepayers to have three votes. Mr Crawford urged the necessity of striking a special rate to provide the balance of the money required in preference to the work being " hung up" for twelve months. He intimated that had Cr Moore not opposed the proposition 120 ratepayers would have supported the proposition. He further added that the proposal before the ratepayers at the poll was not clear. Cr Moore was prepared for another poll to be taken conditionally on the ratepayers being made thoroughly conversant with the actual amount that it would be necessary to raise. He assured the meeting that Mr Hamilton required £I4OO as compensation for his property, and, further, an additional liability would be incurred in fighting the case. Mr L. Allen pointed out that according to the engineer's estimate the amount submitted at the poll was now reduced from £9OO to £6OO. The chairman remarked that the £9OO included expenses, and that it was fully explained to the ratepayers at Onewhero that if the poll for £9OO was carried and only £6OO spent that they would be only rated on the latter amount. Mr Crawford remarked that he had seen a copy of a Departmental letter wherein it was stated that until the matter had been settled the metalling of the gully, on the Wairamarama road, would not be permitted.

Mr A. Keyes said that if another poll was taken it would be carried. Mr L. Allen suggested that Mr Hamilton would accept less than £I4OO for his property if it was taken into court. The chairman : If the ratepayers want another poll let them have it. and if it is " turned down " let it bo the end. Cr f tway suggested deferring the matter for 12 months. The chairman explained that it would be impossible to do so, as it, would moan holding up the gully roa<|.

Mr Crawfonl suggested that the gully, which could not be legally closed, could be used as a stock road in the event of a deviation being

Cr Moore: What about the creamery ?

Mr Crawford: There's not three chains difference in the two routes, and a better grade would be obtained. Mr Crawford considered that the money to be raised, between £SOO and £7OO, should be taken out of subsi y due on a loan of £4OOO floated 11 years ago.

The clerk said that Mr Hamilton's solicitors had intimated that they would accept nothing less than £I4OO as compensation. It was decided, Cr Moore dissenting, that the clerk should make application to the State Advances Office for a loan of £6OO, and that the question should be again submitted to a poll of ratepayers over the came area as previously. The deputation then withdrew. A peculiar pos tion arose at tlris stage. A letter arrived from the Under-Secretary of the Public Works Department arrived, and on being opened its contents wero disclosed as follows, viz.: " That as the proposal to form a special rating district in connection with the proposed deviation through section 128 was defeated at the poll of ratepayers there is now no objection to the portion of the existing road which would have been affected by the deviation being metalled out of the Government grant of £3OOO Cr Moore suggested that the council were now placed in a ridiculous position. Continuing, he asked, " Have we to abide with the decision to hold a poll ? " The chairman : Yes; and to proceed with the gully. Cr Moore : It just means £2O or i>3o frittered away. I'll submit that information to the ratepayers. He claimed that the result of the proposed poll would be no different to the poll previously taken. The discussion then closed.