ST. AUBYN TOWN DISTRICT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 60, 20 June 1910, Page 3

ST. AUBYN TOWN DISTRICT

| FIRST MEETING OF BOARD. | f The first meeting of Commissioners of j the St. Aubyn Town Hoard was held on Monday last at the West End School Gymnasium. Present: Messrs G. E. Blanchard, F. Hodson, H. Putt, and W. J. Russell. The returning officer (Mr. M. Fleetwood) presided. Mr. .Percy Lealand .sent apologies for absence. Mr. Blanchard was elected chairman. Mr. Blanchard took the .chair and gave the following address:—Gentlemen,—l thank you for the honor you have done me by electing me as chairman. I congratulate the two old members who sat on the late Barrett Road Board for some years and have been returned with me. I was for a few years chairman, and 1 think the ratepayers were well satisfied with our administration. I regret most bitterly the party spirit that was introduced by some of the ratepayers. i might say that those gentlemen who. so bitterly opposed myself and the late members at this election were our strongest and best supporters at other elections. 'ln the recent endeavor to force us into the borough I felt I had a dlity to perform to the ratepayers, and I did it fearlessly, although I knew i would make a few bitter enemies where before I had staunch friends. I regret that because I could not see that any persons should attempt to prevent us giving a town board a fair trial, especially in view of our treatment while under county control, and I am pleased to say that the electors showed by their votes to myself and my late members that they approve of our action. In the ensuing twelve months, or so long as 1 I live in the district, my best efforts will be to do justice to all classes and parts of the district. Of course, we shall have an uphill fight, more especially owing to r the fact that the Taranaki County Council has systematically boycotted our district to punish us for trying to manage our own affairs. They have left us the South road in such a disgraceful state that I venture to say that no other county council in the Dominion would have had the conscience to .leave the road in the state the Taranaki County Council has done. We shall have to spend several hundred pounds on this road to put it in fairly good order, so that I regret that we shall, I think, have to strike a rate for the ensuing twelve months. This will, however, be a saving of one-eighth of a penny to the ratepayers as compared with last year. Wh\u speaking in rcferei'PH 'o> the South road, i might mention that 1 consmer the first duty of the Board (as funds will permit) will be to proceed with all despatch to place a good, substantial footpath as far as our boundary towards the breakwater, owing to the continuous heavy traffic and the consequent danger to pedestrians. This, however, is a matter that will come up for discussion during the year, and the members can then deride what steps shall be taken. With reference to Devon line, I should .like to metal or gravel this road into the first entrance past Mr. Shaw's property, if funds will permit, as there are several ratepayers who are anxious to build. I am most anxious that a friendly feeling and better understanding should be established between , the borough and ourselves. We are not two foreign powers, but simply English people living side by side, and why shouldn't we pull the same way? Of course, we do not see through the same glasses with reference to joining the borough, but if both parties will pull together we can and will make 'New Plymouth a bigger and better town. I again thank you for the honor you have conferred on me, and declare that the meeting is now open for business." 'A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Fleetwood for the able manner in which he had conducted his duties as returning officer. ■ Mr. J. E. Wilson was appointed soli-. citor to the Board. The chairman and Messrs Lealand and Russell, with the solicitor, were appointed a committee to adjust accounts with the-County Council. The first Tuesday in the month, at \3O p.m., was chosen as the data of ordinary meetings of the Board. Mr. Fleetwood was appointed clerk pro tem.