POKENO

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 275, 15 May 1917, Page 1

POKENO

DREDGING THE MATJNGATAWHIRI SETTLERS PROVIDE FUNDS At a meeting of ratepayers held on Thursday last at Pokeno in connection with the dredging of the Maungatawhiri Creek the following were present, viz, Messrs W. Dean, W. H. Dean, T. Dean, J, McPherson, A. Guramer, C. Pope, J. J. Clark, J. Robinson, F. W. Pyne and S. P. Pendergrast. Mr Pyne was voted to the chair and explained that the dredging operations had had to be suspended owing to lack of funds. The Board, he stated, was previously empowered to borrow £SOO for the work but debentures to the value of only £220 had been taken up by the settlers; whereas expenses to date had amounted to £259 15s 3d, or nearly £4O in excess of the amount subscribed. It thus became necessary to raise more money. Settlers present at the meeting cordially approved of the Board's work and took up Debentures to the 'value of another £240. A resolution was also unanimously carried authorising the River Board to borrow an additional £IOOO which it was considered would be sufficient to complete the work. The following, were the settlers who took up the Debentures, viz., Messrs Charles Pope (2), £4O ; S. P. Prendergast (.1), £2O; Pyne (I), £2O; Clark (1), £2O; W. H. Dean (2). £4O; W. Dean (1), £2O; (Summer (1), £2O; McPherson (1), £2O ; J. T. Dean (1), £2O; Glass Bros. (1), £2O. Total £240. | TO THE EDITOR! Sir,—Kindly allow me to make public a little trouble that has befallen the Pokeno subdivision of the Waikato River Board and also the manner in which the ratepayers have met the trouble. Their action is, I think, truly British and an example that might be copied in other districts where work of necessity is hung up for lack of funds. Just before the war broke out the above subdivision authorised the Waikato River Board to borrow £SOO to dredge the Maungatawhi stream which was in a very bad state. As everybody knows money jumped up and it was found impossible to raise all the loan. , However, debentures to the value of £2OO were taken up, so the work of dredging was commenced and went on with very satisfactory results until funds rau out. Then of course things came to a stop so a meeting of ratepayers was called and the difficulty was explained to them. They put their heads together, talked the trouble over, decided to take up the debentures among themselves and (as one ratepayer remarked) to pay their rates all at c nee so as to get the work through aud have things " bonny by the time the kddies come home."—l am, etc., S. P. PENDERGRAST. Maungatawhiri, May 10th.