Meeting of Parawai Ratepayers.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2574, 7 April 1877, Page 2

Meeting of Parawai Ratepayers.

A meeting of the ratepayers oi this district was held at the school-house last evening to consider the advisability'or not of striking a rate. There were about 70 ratepayers present, and' Mr D. Q-. MacDonnell took the chair;

The Chairman, after reading the advertisement calling the meeting, intimated that the Board had power to strike a rate, but they were desirous of letting the ratepayers hare a say in the matter, and the question would be left entirely in their hands. : - • '/'••• In answer to Mr Adiam as to whether the Board had power to make a second rate, the Chairman said' that.the -Board bad not struck' the first rate; the ratepayers had done that themselves. . ; Mr Cribb asked could they; by joining the County, avoid the rate, and .was answered. " , ■ -;■" V - The Chairman said it was quite optional in joining the County for the Boards to make a rate for other purposes than those carried but by the County. They would have to pay the rate made by the County. If they joined the Borough the power to levy a special rate would cease. In answer to some questions as to what they would do for the, making of their bye-roads if the> 'did iaot' strike the rate, the Chairman replied he saw no way for doing so except by striking the rate. Mr Carpenter thought they should first settle the question of whether they should join the Borough or the County. At present they were Jn a fog concerning the power giren by the Highways Act and the Bating Act. .He was in favor of only one rate, and he was not sure that the County could span its. proper proportion to Parawai. Mr Cribb's question was a simple one, and could be answered easily. The County had levied a rate which they had to-' pay, and if-they struck a:?rste there would be two; If/ they joined! the Borough a proportion of the revenue Mould be spent in their district./ He then briefly moved that the Board do not strike a rate.

Mr Dean said the Board was bound to strike a rate. • - . . . . -..{' .. r ,l

Mr' Carpenter said if that was correct he would more instead that * farthing rate be struck.

This being seconded by Mr CHbb-^ Mr Miller said that a farthing rate was no use, as they wbuld T'get in'fo :rdei>t collecting it. He would more, as an amendment, " that in event, of this district not being incorporated in the " Borough the Board strike j. J^-per tj*nfc rate." Mr StillweUjwkea was it necessary to strike »-rateT>efore they knew what was going to be done .with the petitions at Wellington. Would it not. be better to wait a few weeks. He inbred that the meeting stand adjourned till. this, day three weeks. " T Mr Dean then spoke, pointing out the short sighted policy of those living on the main road not granting irate struck, as it would not benefit them making the bye-roads. He thought it would be well to adjourn the meeting. Mr Miller stated that at'least two months would elapse before they knew whether they would join the County or the Borough. v

Mr Jennings asked if the second rate. was struck where would it be spent P He had lived there six years'and nothing? h|d been done to his footpath...... •--? The Chairman assured ";Mr Jennings that the Board would take his oase into consideration: . After some further discussion Mr Stillwell withdrew his amendment, and the motion and amendment were, pat to the meeting, 16 roted for the motion and 15 for the amendment. The motion was declared carried, and the meeting broke np without a rote of thanks'to the Chairman, who certainly deserved one, as his position was by no means a sinecure.