GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1232, 28 August 1884, Page 2

GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

A special meeting of the members of the Board was held at the office, Geraldine, on Tuesday last. / Present—Messrs W-. XL-.. Slack (Chairman), Flatman, Kellahd, De Renzy and R. H. Postleth waite. "' IN COMMITTEE. ; The Board on assembling went into Committee to consider matters relating to itself and the Geraldine Town Board, and adjourned at Ip'.m. DEPUTATION. ' Qn re assembling at 2 !p.m. a deputation ■ consisting of Messrs Pearpoint, Maslin and Dunlop (Town Board Commissioners) together with Mr C. E. Sherratt, Clerk to the latter Board, waited on the Geraldine Road: Board, for the purpose of receiving an answer from the latter as to the basis on which to go re adjustment of the funds so as to determine the amount to be paid over to the Town Board. The Chairman asked Mr Pearpoint what he had to say with regard to the xhatter at'issue. - Mr Pearpoint said that the deputation had waited on the Board in accordance with an understanding between it and the Road Board for the purpose of ascertaining if' they had agreed as to the basis to go upon whereby an adjustment

could be made. It was, therefore, for the Road Board to state as to which they were prepared to do. If both Boards were agreed as to the basis, they could easily agree as to the rateable value of property within the Town District. Mr De Renzy : Do you propose to take the rateable value of property at the time the last rate was struck ? Mr Pearpoint: Ob, no. The last rate was struck some three years ago. Several buildings have been erected since then. We propose to take the valuation of property at the time the Governor’s proclamation was issued whereby the Town Board was brought into existence. Mr Maslin remarked that it would be best for a suggestion to come from the Road Board. The Chairman asked if there were any Act whereby the Town Board could make their claim? Mr Pearpoint said the Town Board v went by the Town Boards’ Act. \ The Chairman : But that Act does not furnish us with any basis; that we can go upon. ■ Mr: Pearpoint: That is where the difficulty comes in. He had written to the different Town Boards and had ascertained that they had gone on the same basis which the Geraldine Town Board proposed to take, and which ho considered was the best solution to the difficulty,' Mr Maslin said that as other Boards had agreed to go on the rateable value of property.be considered it would but,fair that they should go on the same basis. ■ ■■■■• , ■ : Mr Pearpoint remarked he had produced a letter during the last meeting of the Board from the Chairman of the Temuka Road Board, stating that that was the basis on which a divisision of its funds was made. The Chairman said' that the present case was widely different from that of ihe Temuka Road Board. The funds of the latter had been mostly'raised by rates, whereas the funds of the Geraldine Road Board badt accrued from the 25 per ? of the purchase money derived from land* sold in the district. He considered that the Temuka Town Board was entitled to a portion of the funds of the Temuka Road Board, as they came out of the pockets of the ratepayers themselves. Mr R. H. Postlethwaite asked if' the deputation could not state what they wanted ? ■ ' ■ Mr Pearpoint.: We cama here to-day, acting under the clauses of the Boards Act to see if?we, could, sot agree as to what amount out of the funds of the Road Board are : justly due to the Town Board, by discussing- the matter over. The deputation ismot -in a position to state any sum that it may ( eonsider the Town Board is entitled tOi j Mr Flatman :.1 'can’t see anything in tbe Act on which we can go as to any arrangement". We can go on any basis we are likely to agree bn, but the basis ioffered by the Town Board is not a fair one."-ifThe Board, besides, has not mceived any part of the 25 per cent, on the town sections; 'There is no record of it, without it was the reserve en the Main Road sold under a special Act, but I am was not sure about that even. The Chairman : ,We had a special meeting this morning to consider the matter, and found it of great importance and very difficult to decide. We are placed hare by the ratepayers, and act as tfns-’ tees of public money. We all know that no individuals are more responsible than trustees. We feel the importance of our position, and have come to the conclusion that the Town Board is entitled to a' portipri of the value of the reserves and other property belonging to the Road Board, but we cannot see our way 'to grant any of the funds in the * hands «f the Road Board to the Town Board. We come to the conclusion that we are not justified in* parting with any of the money to the Town Board. If you demand it, or are not satisfied with this decision, then the Goveraor must be appealed to to appoint an arbitrator. The Board considers that Mr Pkobinson, the newly-appointed Resident Magistrate for Geraldine, being a stranger to the district, would be the beat to" appoint. It would thereby take a deal of responsibility off the members of the Board, and would be more satisfactory in every way. The ratepayers could not come and sav we have appropriated their funds in a manner we were not untitled tcx

Mr Pearpoint: Then, do I understand you, Mr Chairman, that the Board declines to take the rateable value as a basia to adjust the claim of the Town Board t If that is the case then the Town Haprd will endeavor to get that which they feel they are justly entitled to, and your Boaid will have to pay all the expenses co/K uected with the same. The Chairman Yes, but the Board will, allow the rateable value on the property of the Board. Mr Maslin did not see how the Chairman could reconcile his two statements. If the Road Board were justified In granting a portion of its funds, or value of property accruing from those funds, then the Board most surely recognise the principle that the funds themselves could be equally so dealt with. The Town Board is a portion of the district, now separated from the Road Board, and its members and the ratepayers residing within its jurisdiction say that they have a right to a portion of the Road Board funds. He thought if the Road considered the matter carefully they would see that the claim of the Town Board was a fair and just one. It would be better feu both sides to come to some amicable arrangement, as it would be better than going to arbitration. Mr Flatman remarked that there was not a line in the Act to show them what to do or not to do. If they did accede to the wishes'of Town Board and any of the ratepayers outside were to ask him why the Bosrd had done so he could not saywhy, and at the annual meeting of the ratepayers the members of the Bofcrd might be severely called over the coals. The Board was willing to pay over what was just and fair, but on reading over the Act they could not see what was just or fair. Mr Pearpoint ; The Town Board will apply to the Governor asking him to appoint an arbitrator. Mr Maslin: Would the Chairman be willing to cftfhmit to writing "what part of the Road Hoard estate the Board it is willing to divide with the Town Board 1 Mr -Pearpoint: The Town Board is perfectly willing to give their proposition in writang.; .

Mr Keiland said, Supposing that Woodbury, Pleasant Yalley or Hilton became Town Boards, what would the position of the Road Board then be in regard to other parts of the district ? Mr Maslin remarked it would be the ■atneas at the preeent time. The Board would have to divide the funds in a similar manner as they were asked to do now. Mr Keiland : There is a general feeling outside that the 25 per cent, of the land fund was to he used for the opening up of, the district. Mr Dunlop: What was spent by the Bibad Board in Geraldine last year 1 The Chairman said that a larger amount had baen spent in the township than was justly due, viz., something like £SOOO. Mr Maslin ; Then all I can say is that it is a disgrace to all connected with , the ■pending of the money. The main road bad not even a proper water-table, and the side streets were a disgrace to the Board that had supervision over them. Mr B, H. Postlethwaite: As the deputation do not agree with us I do not see that we can do anything more, and it is useless prolonging the discussion any longer. The Chairman; We refuse to give the_ Town Board any sum of money out of biir funds and are anxious to have the matter settled by arbitration. Mr Pearpoint asked that such decision might be given in writing. Mr Maslin again pressed his question on the Chairman. Ho said, let the Road Board make the Town Board an offer in writing, as they might not be able to retain it in their memories. There would be a meeting of the Town Board that •vening when the matter would bo discussed, and they might agree to what the 'Board offered. . Mr Flatman said it was no use having quibbles over the matter. If the affair were left to arbitration and the Road Board had to hand over £4OOO, he would be one to give it with better grace than £2OOO without arbitration.^ Mr Pearpoint said that if an arbitra tor were appointed, in the event of his agreeing as to the basis being on the rateable value of the property within the Town Board district, as the Town Board bad made an offer to the Road Board, would the latter bear the expenses of the arbitration I Mr Postlethwaite: Mr Pearpoint says the Town Board has made a fair offer. We don’t consider it a fair offer. We don’t intend to make an offer. Mr Dunlop : It is only right you should give us something tangible to go upon, and have it put in writing, for then we will-know the basis you intend going o n. Instead of that you will hot give us a direct and decided answer, as gentlemen should do, either in writing or verbally. Mr Flatmanlt is the Board’s intention tlon also to apply for an arbitrator to be appointed. This decision is not because we wish to slight the Town Board,* but because it will take a deal of responsibility off our shoulders. Mr Pearnoint: I again maintain that you should put your answer to us in writing so that we can send it to the Goversor, as a reason why we desire an arbitrator to be appointed. Mr R, H. Postlethwaite suggested that the Board should pass a resolution to the effect that it agreed to arbitration, and have the same entered pn the minutes. Mr Pearpoint would agree if the offer from the Town Board were also entered on the minutes. The members of the Board agreed to this proposal. The Clerk read a portion of the previous meeting of the Board, wherein the offer of the Town Board was entered. Mr Flatman remarked that the Governor should be informed as to what had been done by the Board in conjunction with the Town Board.

The deputation then withdrew. Proposed by- Mr B. H. Postlethwaite, seconded 1 by Mr Flatman. and carried—- “ That the Board do not feel justified in coining to any arrangement with the Town Board, owing to the very vague wording of the Act, but consider the business will be better left in the hands of an arbitrator.” Proposed by Mr Flatman, seconded by Mr Deßenzy, and carried —“ That the Governor be requested to appoint an arbitrator to arrange matters between the Geraldine Town Board and Road Board, and suggest that the said arbitrator should be some person who is a stranger and disinterested in the district.” The meeting then terminated.