ANNUAL MEETINGS OF RATEPAYERS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1887, 4 May 1889, Page 3

ANNUAL MEETINGS OF RATEPAYERS.

GERALDINE. The annual meeting of ratepayers in the Geraldine Eoad Board District was held in the board's office yesterday. Mr "W. Postlethwsite, chairman of W'board, occupied the chair, and read»the advertisement calling the meeting. The attendance of ratepayers was small. MINUTES. The minutes of last annual meeting were read and confirmed. EEPORT AND BALANCE-SHEET. The annual report and balance-sheet were read as follows : GBNTIBMBN, Your Board hare great pleasure in meeting the : ratepayers on this ocoasion, to render an account of the past year's proceedings, which have been financially, to a certain extent, a mccm, as the balance-sheet will show. At the same time, your Board feels it a duty to pomt out to ihe ratepayers the absolute necessity of keeping a tight hand on the purse-strings, so that a heavy burthen may not be thrown upon them when the fixed deposits come to an end. In dealing with finance, you will observe, when that part of the report is reached, that with all the economy which your B»ard has been allowed to exercise, tfys credit bahnce of last year has been drawn upon to the extent gf t £826 4s Id, and at this part of the report it ' is desirable you should take note of this fact, that, the amount of interest accruing .from fixeLdepoaits is no less a sum than £SOB 15*, equal to more than one farthing rate ; and in addition to this it must be borne in mind that last year your receipts showed a sum from subsidies of £353 13s Id, whereas this year's balance-sheet shows only a subsidy from the County Council of the enm of £3l 5s 6d. Then again last year you received for interest •n fixed deposits £631 17a sd, and this year only £SOB 15s, owing to the Board being compelled to encroach upon y«ur oapital to the extent of £826 4s Id, which would have almost represented one-halfpenny rafcn if the expenditure had had to be drawn entirely from rates. So that had your Board not in past years economised your funds,'you would have had to pay a rate of twopence instead of one halfpenny, as has been the caß» this past year. All these facts cannot be too forcibly impressed, not only upon the minds of the ratepayers, but also upon those who are candidates for the comingieleotion. In regard to the collection of rates the Board has through the eareful management of its officer been placed in a most satisfaotery position, as with the exception of three small ratepayers who have beon excused on the grounds of poverty, there are only two others, against one of which the Board has gained judgment of Court, and the other, tha greatest defaulter, the Board regrets to say, is that Governmsnt, who neglected to pay the rates on Grown lands during the financial year in order, we have a right to. assume, to BWell their much Taunted surplus of this year. And here it may not be araiss to point out that through an Act passed during last, session the amount of rate due from Crown lands was reduced to one-half, and next year it will be one-quarter, 10 that on all hands the ratepayers will have torast to their own efforts to raise sufficient fundsMo carry on the needful works, let ■lone works of luxury. Now during Ihe financial year all the receipts as set forth in the balance-sheet amount to £1779 13a 4J, Bud the expenditure to £2606 2s sd, leaving, as stated early on in the report, a deficit of £826 4s, leaving the bank deposit at £9584 5s Id. As it has beeu the custom in the report to Bhow the amount expended in each district, your board has decided to abide by the custom on this occasion, whieh is as follows $— Waitohi Downs and Kakahu, £l5B j Pleaßant and Gapes' Valleys, £lB4 j Woodbury and Upper Orari, £246 13s; Belfield and Kaogitata, £l9l 10s; Orari Tillage Settlements and Geraldine Flat, £205. These figures need no comments from joar board, as it can be easily seen that the expenditure has been fair and equitable in the yarious districts. Contracts: During the year there have been thirty-five contraotß let, ell of which have been carried out to the entire satisfaction of your board. As the country is now almost entirely opened up most of the centracte let have been for repairing, Bhingling, and diverting two or three roads, which have proved moat advantageous to the districts. In conclusion, your Board desires to place on record their appreciation of the valuable service rendered by their officer, Mr Bhiers, who has displayed the ■ame amount of energy and good judgment which has characterised his servicss in bygone years.—Yours, etc., Wm. Postiethwaite, „ Chairman.

In moving the adoption of the report the chairman regretted that the attendance was so small. He considered the ratepayers Bhould take more interest in the annual meetings. It would be more encouraging to those who acted as members of the board. Some of the ratepayers had slpsll grievances, and passed a lot of remarks outside the board room, but instead of coming forward at the annual meeting and stating them they hung back, and fired shots at the board behind their back. He took that opportunity, as a ratepayer, of pointing out to the candidates for seats on the board that their greatest difficulty would be to stem the expenditure which bo many in the district appeared so wishful to waste •upon frivolous works. Ho gave an instance of what he meant, quoting the case of a man who paid a rate of 16s 8d per year and who has three roads leading from his property wanting a fourth made by the board. He pointed out to them that when the few thousands the board now had were spent the rates would fall very heavily on the ratepayers if they wished the roads to be kept in the same efficient gtate as now. With regard to the board's overseer, he had heard a great deal said againßt him, but, speaking as a ratepayer, he considered that as an officer Mr Shiers could not be surpassed. He knew his duty, and they all knew in their private business that if they sent a man to do a job on their farms who knew his work he would do it, but if a man was incompetent the 'wark done was not worth the money pSI for it. He urged upon them the desirability of paying a fair thing ior eervice, and then tbey could expect to retain the services of one who was

wholly competent to fulfil his duties. (Applause.) Mr Tripp seconded the adoption of the report; the funds, he believed, had been carefully expended. He also wished to endorse every word that the chairman had said with regard to Mr Shiers. He considered the incoming board would do very wrong if they entertained for a moment the idea of dispensing with the services of Mr Shiers. (Applause.) Discussion of the report having been invited, Mr E. P. Wells brought up the question of removing certain gates which the board had declined to have removed. The chairman said that was a matter for the board to deal with, and referred him to the new board.

Mr Kelman thought they should retrench in the matter of the overseer's salary. He contended they were paying as much now as when there were a large number of roads and bridges made. He suggested that the clerk should work three days a week in the office, and three days with a pick, and shovel as at Temuka. He thought they could get a man for LIOO a year. The chairman said that in his own affairs Mr Kelman would find he could save far more by keeping a sharp eye upon everything than by going out and working himself. If the overseer were to go out to work the loss to the board would be far more than what was saved by his labour. Mr Tripp pointed out that the overseer and the board had the handling of a large sum of money, and they could not get a man who was honest, and respectable, and a man of judgment, such as Mr Shiers, for a trifle. The chairman quoted instances of where neighboring boards had rates outstanding for the past one, two and three years, sums of'money that would more than cover the salary of Mr Shiers, who had prepared the rate roll so efficiently that of a sum of L 965 only L 6 was outstanding, L 5 of which the board had got judgment for in the court.

Mr Matman pointed out that although the outside work was not quite so much, the clerical work had been increased 30 per cent or more. Formerly the overseer had a clerk, but the work was now all done by the one man. Now they got the work done and the rates collected for the same amount of money. (Hear, hear.) He was also certain a man could not use a pick and shovel and a pen too. Mr Slack was surprised Mr Kelman was not better acquainted with the management of the board. They were not paying the same amount to the overseer as years ago. The whole expenses altogether did not amount to the same.

Mr Shiers gave Mr Kelman one or two " eye openers" as to the amount of work h© had to do. He would convince Mr Kelman in a very short time that he knew nothing about the work of the board. Mr Barclay said it was a ratepayers question and he challenged Mr Kelman to produce a resolution dealing with the reduction of the overseer's salary. Mr Kalman declined, considering the small meeting. In a larger meeting he would fee glad to do bo. Mr Flatman said if he were elected a member of the board and were responsible to the ratepayers, he would like a good clerk to back him up, Some further discussion took place, and Mr McShane said that before ho was elected to the board he was of the same opinion as Mr Kelman, but since he.had been on the board, and had seen the work Mr Shiers had to do, he thought he was if anything underpaid. (Applause,) Mr Kelman Baid that in that case he would withdraw. (Applause.) The adoption of the report was then carried unanimously.

EETIEING- CHUEMAN. Mr Tripp said that, on behalf of the whole district, he thought a heartyvote of thanks was due to Mr Postlethwaite for the able manner in which the affairs of the Eoad Board had been conducted for many years past. He was sorry he was not coming forward again for election. He had written out a petition asking him to allow himself to be nominated, but Mr Postlethwaite had positively decided not to stand. He thought the district and the ratepayers had lost a great friend, whom it would be impossible to replace. He moved a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Postlethwaite. Mr Flatman spoke in a similar strain. He had sat on the board with their late chairman, and he thought no one in the district had done or could do more for it, He was always willing to ride from one end of the district to another in order to satisfy himself as to the merits of any particular case. He had been an excellent chairman to the board, and they had been backed up with a good clerk. If things were altered, the incoming members might find they had a more anxious time of it than those going out. Mr Slack endorsed tho remarks of tho previous speakera. He felt no man in the district could fill the position of chairman as well as Mr Postlethwaite had dotif. He had treated everyone without fear, favor, or affection., and if he had by any uieaua offended anyone inside the board-room he had always been willing to shake hands outside.. No uiau iu the district could have devoted moce time and attention to the board'a work than Mr Postlethwaite. (.Applause.) Mr Poathwaite thajoked those present for their kind remarks and for tho vote of thanks. He felt leaving the board, he

had mud.' it it kind of hobby, and lie thought tlio umn who made a hobby of n thirls always brougiit it to the best advantage? If it h*d not been for thti excellent support be bad received from bis col•enguep, tbose present would not praise him f.s tlioy hud done that day, ilia reason for leaving; was that hs thought a little cliangw of blood sometimes did good tomich bodies. Ho ngaio urg«d upon the ratepayers aud the incoming members to bn very ctreful of how they expended the snnll aum the bouid bad to its credit, warning them thai when that was gone the pressure of the rates would be found to be very heavy. He should always wfttcb the proceedings ef the board with interest, and at the annual meetings would have the privilege of attonding the meetings and criticising their actions aa some of the ratepayers were doing that day. (Applause and laugbter.) He again begged to thank thorn for their vote of thanks, and iu conclusion moved a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Shiers for the services he bad rendered tb(!m during the year, Mr Kelman seconded the vote, which was carried unanimously, and the meeting terminated. MOUNT PEEL. The annual meeting of ratepayers in the Mount Peel Eoad Board District took place in the Road Board office on Thursday last. There were present—The Hon. J. B. A. A eland (chairman of board), and Messrs G-. J. Dennistoun, A. Hawdon, and E. Thew, members of the board, and a few ratepayers. Mr Acland occupied the chair. MINUTES. The minutes of the previous annual meeting were read and confirmed. KEPOET AND BALANCE-SHEET. The chairman read the annual report as follows : " G-entlemen,—This being the third year since the last general election of the board, you have now again had the opportunity afforded you of putting an entirely new sot of members to manage such matters in the district as come within the powers of the board. At the last triennial meeting there was laid before you a short summary of what had been done since the foundation of the district in 1870, and the amount of money received and how spent, and what there was to show for it. We had then a balance of £9286 7s 4d, this has now been reduced to the sum of £6938 3s 6d, showing that the time is drawing nearer at which we shall have to depend entirely upon the rates for maintenance of the roads in the district. Still, though I may be told that property-tax returns will not bear out what I am going to say, I believe that there is a steady increase in the permanent value of the general property in the district. There i* now some depression in its tone, but I believe it is only temporary, and even now on the turn; but more land is being occupied and broken up, improved, and brought into cultivation, and that means permanent increase in production and value. The board has, yon know, after much consideration, decided upon the maintenance of the roads in one part of the district by contract. It has been left to a very good man, and aH far as we can judge it is likely to answer. The expenditure during the past year has been £1297 9s 4d. Last year it was £1517 4s Id, and the balance of funds were reduced fro n £7484 9s 3d to the sum of £6938 9s 4d, as stated above. The balance-sheet showed that < the board had commenced the year with a bredit balance of £7484 9s 3d. The receipts had been £751 3s 7d, making a total of £8285 12s lOd. The expenditure during the year had amounted to £1297 9s 4d, leaving the board a credit balance at present of £6938 9s 4d, Owing to the accounts not having been audited by the Grovernment auditor, it was found necessary to hold over the adoption of the report and balance-sheet till a later date. A good deal of dissatisfaction was expressed by the ratepayers at the Government not having the accounts properly audited by the annual meeting. The same thing had occurred last year, although, perhaps, there was a little more excuse for it then. It was pointed out that Mr OUivier always had the accounts audited in time for the annual meeting. Finally Mr McKay (Peel Forest) proposed, Mr E. Lorgelly seconded, and it was carried unanimously—- " That this meeting disapproves # of the Bystem now in force of not having the books audited in time for the general meeting of ratepayers, whereas formerly the balance-sheet was always produced, audited, at the May meeting."

EOAB DITEBBIOW. A discussion took place on the question of having the road, given to the board some years ago by Mr Acland as a deviation, surveyed. Mr Tripp had wished to have this road surveyed, and legally transferred to the board, as he contended that at present the board were liable for damages through any accident happening on the old road. Owing to the refusal of the board to have the survey and transfer of the road made, Mr Tripp had declined to allow himself to be again nominated for the board. In reply to a question as to whether the board had any title to the road now used, the chairman said that he had conveyed it to them verbally some nine years ago, but beyond that was the fact that the road had been used by the public ever since, and if any person allowed a portion of his land to be used as a road for over . seven years he could not then stop the | public from so using it, but it became

a public road. As to an accident happening upon the old road it was stated this was hardly possible as the old road had been so overgrown that it could not very easily bo found. The cost of the survey, it was said, would probably be between L3O and L4O as there was not a peg left near the place for a surveyor to work from, and he would probably have to come down into the township to get a bench mark and work from there. Mr Tripp had said the work could be done for about £4, but this was considered impossible. It would cost that much to get a surveyor to the spot and back again. Mr Lorgelly said ho would be inclined to support Mr Tripp in his contention as there was no title for the road, but he would support the board on the score of economy, as the survey was not needed. The chairman again pointed out that the title to the road consisted in the public having travelled over it for over seven years. Mr McKay thought there was no necessity for the survey being made now, there was plenty of time to do it when the necessity arose. Mr Hawdon asked if a person were to obstruct the road would the board have any remedy. The chairman said certainly, any ratepayer could go and pull down such obstruction. After some little further discussion it was proposed by Mr Pithie and seconded by Mr Newman—" That this meeting is opinion that the survey of the road should be left as it is, unless it can be done for such a sum as named by Mr Tripp, namely, M." Carried unanimously. CEMETERY BOARD. Mr Lorgelly then brought up the question of obtaining a cemetery for the Peel Forest district; there was one at Woodbury and another at Geraldine, but both were too far away. He wished to know if the board would be willing to give an acre or two of ground in one of their reserves for the purpose. The chairman said Mr Lorgelly had come to the wrong place to discuss the question. The board had not power to give away any part of their reserves for such a purpose, even supposing the ratepayers desiredit. There would have tobeapublic meeting called, and a cemetery board formed if the ratepayers desired to have a cemetery. Mr Lorgelly then asked if the board would be willing to give up an acre or two from iheir reserves for a cemetery should the Government be approached and request the board so to do. He was told that if such an application came from the Government to the board it would not be in bad hands. Mr Lorgelly then took the feeling of the ratepayers present as to the desirabiliry of having a cemetery in the district, with the result of a unanimous vote in favor of the sAine, A vote of thanks to the board for the way in which they had conducted the business for the past year and to the chairman terminated the meeting, and those present adjourned until the balance-sheet was audited. Meeting op New Board. At a meeting of the new board held afterwards the Hon. J. B. A, Acland, and Messrs G. J. Dennistoun, K. Thew, and A. Hawdon were present. Mr Acland was re-elected chairman, and thanked the members for their renewal of confidence. MINOTES. The minutes of the last board meeting were read and confirmed. RETIRING MEMBERS. ' Lots were drawn as to who should retire at the end of the year, and Messrs Thew and Acland were selected. EXPRESSION OP REGRET, Mr Dennistoun moved, Mr Acland seconded, and it was carried unanimously—" That this board regrets that Mr Tripp has severed his connection with the board after so many years useful service to the district, and that a copy of this resolution be sent to Mr Tripp." Each member present expressed his regret at Mr Tripp severing his connection with the board. fiOKBESPONDENCE. A letter from Mr Tripp, in which he referred at length to the necessity for having the road, spoken of above, surveyed, was held over till next meeting. The clerk was instructed to carry out Borne Bmall repairs and the meeting terminated.