KARAKA

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 298, 3 August 1917, Page 4

KARAKA

W ; LL TBE ROAD BOARD MFRGE ? COUNTY COUNCJL'S PROMISE Consideiing the inclement weather there was a large gathe;ing preeent at the meeting ; n the No 2 Schoolroom convened by the Karr ka Road Board on Saturday lest to consider the quest'.on of the Road Board merging with tie Frpn'trn County Council. Mr J. Batty (Chp'rman of the Karaka Road Boerd) presided and among others present were Cr J. Flanagan (Chairmpn of the FraD'clin County Council) Cr J. and the County Clerk M" A'pn P. Day) The Cna'xman explained the purpose for which the me3 f, ng was convened, and gave some detei'.s about mileage of roads, the poei'ion of the distiict with reference to the amount of receipts audi expen( v tvre in the Karaka poil'.on of 'he by the Covnty Counc"' 1 . duv'ng the time the Council h q d had control of f he main roads.

Cr Hem/ then gave an interesting account of what the Counc'l had done during bis term of office and intended doing in the Karpka portion of the iiding and he a'so mswered a number of questions that were pat to bin at tae close of b : s address, the ratepayers taking great interast in bis remarks and us' ig their privilege of questiorng to the fj'lest extent.

Mr A. P. Day, the Canty Clerk, next supplied the exact figures of receipts and expenditure of the County du'.ng the time the Council had been in existence. He stated that the Counc :| had a scheme of expenditure out'ined and authoiised for the coding season, wb'ch would amount to about £ 1500 and that wor'd go far to equp'ise receipts and expenditure between »he Kp -rka Road D'stiict and other poiions of the Mauku Rid ; ng, He also pointed out that under the new va'.uatiors recently made by the Valuation Department the County wou'dlose something ) ;, ie £IBOO amuf"y by the two Road Boards sti'l m existence remair ; ng utimerged. The County Chp :, mau next addressed the mee f 'ig, urging the ratepayers to merge. He assured the meeting that as far as the Council was concerned the ratepayers need have no fear of not getting justice done to the Karpka portion of the riding. After some further discussion, during which various questions were as'<ed and replied to relating to the merging and the advantages to ba accrued by so doing, it was moved by Mt Batty, seconded by Mr J. W. Lpne and carriei, "Tbit tb ; s mee'mg of the ratepayers of the Karaka Road district a-e : i favour of merging in the County Council provided the rates coHected in the d ; s< ict are expended in the Wa-ds : u wb'ch they are collected and that h future all rates coHected by the Frank'in County Council a r e s'm ;, rrly dealt with."

An amendment proposed by Mr J. W. Has'ip and seconded by Mr C. Wbitbuin, "That the Karaka Koad Board shall be merged provided a representative was apposed on the Council to represent the Karaka district" was lost, only the proposer and seconder voting ; n its favour. Subsequently the County Chairman spoke on the question of raising a large loan to form and metal the main roads in the Karaka and Waiau districts.

The county clork read the estimated cost of consii acting and metal'hg about 25 miles of roads in these districts and also produced a pl?n showing the special rating areas. He stated that it would require a special rate of about Id in the £ to meet tlie interest on the loan. After considerable discussion it was moved that the County Council should ascertain whether it would be possible to raise the necessary loan and K so the meeting world be in favour of proceeding with the ■cheme.

This resolution on be/ng put to the meeting was cai.ied uneuimously-

A vote of thanks to the County Chairman, Cr Heniy and the County Clerk was then cauled, after which a vote of thanks to -he Chairman brought to a close the most interesting and enthusiastic meet'ng of ratepayers ever held at Karaka.

At the maeting of the County Council yesterday Cr Henry reported as to the decision of the ratepayers and on his motion it was resolved that in the event of the Eoad Board merging " all rates collected by the . ounty Council in the Karaka Road District poition of the Mauku Riding (less the proportion of general expenses charged to that riding) should be expended upon the roads within the boundary of the Karaka Road District."