TE AWAMUTU-KIHIKIHI ROAD LOAN.

Waikato Argus, Volume III, Issue 207, 9 November 1897, Page 4

TE AWAMUTU-KIHIKIHI ROAD LOAN.

The meeting called by the Waipa County Council of the whole of the ratepayers in the Rangiaohia Riding for the purpose of discussing the proposed loan of £'.'ooo for gravelling and otherwise generally repairing the different road in the Riding, was held in the To.vn Hall, on Saturday last, at 12.30 p.m. The attendance was very fair, there being about forty ratepayers present. Mr John 11. Maudeno was voted to the chair, and in the course of his opening remarks, briefly explained the object of the meeting, and then called upon the Chairman of the Waipa County Council (Mr W. Maudeno) to give a more de linitc explanation. The County Chairman, on rising, stated tli it the proposition originated with Mr Teasdale, and asked that gentle man to give his views on the matter. Mr Teasdale then gave a lengthy outline of the object of the loan which was to borrow the money with the view of repairing and gravelling not only the To Awamntu-Kihikihi Road, but the whole of the roads is the riding which wvxo. in urgent need of repairs, lie considered it was a good idea to bo row ; there would be no need for a special rate to he struck to pay interest on the loan, as some people ' thought. The interest could be paid out of the general account, as is now being done on a loan raised in ISS7. He would propose expending the money as follows : —Seven miles of gravelling on the Ohaupo Road, £420 ; grad'ng and drains, £SO ; Cambridge Swamp Road, £SOO ; Te AwamutuKihikihi Road, £IOOO (£3OO for metal, C4SO for gravelling, and £'22o for drain-). In a conversation with Mr Yiokerman, the Government Engineer, he was informed that the work could be done for 8s per yard. The money would be raised uuder " The Government Loans to Local Bodies Act.lSOO," and should the money be spent judiciously the roads would be a credit to the Riding, instead of being in their present state. The County Chairman said that the Act distinctly provides that a special rate be struck to pay the interest, and reail the Clause in the Act to that effect.

Mr Teasdale, however, held Miat the interest could be paid out of the general account.

The Chairman (County) said it was unpleasant having to contradict. The Act provides that a special rate be struck, and Mr Teasdale held that it is not necessary ; the ratepayers must therefore please themselves which they were to te guided by. Mr Maudeno explained how the County Council were paying the interest on the loan raised in ISN7, out of the general account. The loan was origininally raised by another body before the county was in existence.

Mr Dinneen stated that the Kihikihi Town Board wcie paying interest out of their general account, and had never to pay a special rate. After some further discussion in which Messrs Burke, Maudeno, Bridgman, Fisher, Andrew, O'Counor and Kay, took part. Mr Teas.lale proposed, "That in the opiuiou of this meetiuj!, £2GOO bo borrowed under the " Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, ISBG, and that the Waipa County Council take the necessary steps in the matter. After some delay, Mr O'Connor seconded the motion.

Mr Burke proposed that the meeting be adjourne 1 for one month, which was seconded by Mr McKinder, and carried, only four voting for Mr Tea.-dale's motion.

A number of those present were in favour of the loan, if there was not another rate levied, Mr Maudeno stated that some time back he asked Mr Armstrong, the late Cnunt/ Engineer, to give an estimate ot the cost of tiie work on the Te Awa-mutu-Kihikihi Road alone, and which Mr Armstrong estimated would cose £.'looo.

Mr Roger Kay said the scoria that Mr Teasdale was talking about would not last forty-eight hours on the roads.

A vote of thanks to the chairman closed what seemed a very undecided meeting ; many left before it was over in order to attend the sale.