GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2097, 11 September 1890, Page 1

GERALDINE ROAD BOARD.

< The following is the conclusion of our report of Monday’s meeting, of this Board held over from eur last i issue:— INTERVIEWS. i Mr Jessqp, a purchaser from the 1 Government, waited on the Board and ! asked that the end of a road leading to his property be deviated, so as to give him an outlet. At present the road terminated on the face of an impassable hill, and by turning off a little, on to Mr Eyery’s land, the road could be made ,on level ground., He suggested that Mr Every be given the old piece of surveyed road in place of the piece of land proposed to be taken from him. Later in the day Mr Every attended and, consented to the proposed arrangement. Mr Blachjler, another Government purchaser, 5 waited on the board and asked to hay,qj|;ho,road extended from Wreatball’s hut to his boundary road. He was willing to do without the road, > provided he were not rated.- — Ihe board said they were not in a position tprtell him just . then whether they could rate him or not, but promised to let him know as early as possible. Mr D. Shajy also attended to enquire as to the board’s intention re rating. He was given, the same answer as Mr Blackler. A BATING QUESTION. A long discussion took place as to whether the board had the power to rats'the holders of the land recently leased from the Q-overnment in the Waitohi at the old rate, as part of a run, or according to the rent paid. The clerk held that the board were bound to rate the land at six per cent, on the price paid for rent. Mr Kelland thought the board had the power to rate the land either on the old valuation or bn the rent paid, and he held, as the new tenants could not get possession until January, 1891, they should be rated on the old valuation, as a matter of fairness. Thb chairman said in view of the expenditure asked for by the new tenants to allow them to get upon their holdings, he was rather inclined, if the hoard had the power, to rate them on the price they were paying. It would scarcely be fair to other ratepayers to rate the new tenants at the lesser valuation and then spend a large sum of money in the district to give them roads to their holdings. After discussing the matter very fully and reading the clauses of the Act hearing upon the subject, it was decided to obtain a legal opinionThe opinion was to the effect that the rateable value was the amount which invested at six per cent, would produce annually the amount now paid for rent, as per Clauses 2 and 10 of the Eating Act, 1882. MISCELLANEOUS. The following resolution was passed “That the board pay the sum of £ls sterling to Mr William Payne in payment for portion of section 29,560, Orari Elat, for the purpose of a public road and gravel reserve, as agreed upon in Memorandum dated 20th August, 1890; the same to be surveyed at once.” It was resolved that a letter be sent to Mr J. Aitken cautioning him not to interfere with the board’s watertables when ploughing the roadside to keep down gorse. The meeting then terminated.