RATEPAYERS’ MEETING.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 7, Issue 371, 26 November 1863, Page 3

RATEPAYERS’ MEETING.

A meeting of the Town ratepayers was held at Howe’s new Assembly Room on Thursday evening last, presided over by Mr. T. W. Gudgeon. The attendance was very small, consisting almost entirely of Victoria-avenue ratepayers. After a few preliminary remarks from the chairman, Mr. H. Lyon read the minutes of the Ratepayers’ Committee, and the letter from the Town Board offering to resign on the election of eight other Wardens to carry on town improvements being guaranteed. He also read extracts from our article of Thursday last, and urged “ that the reading of the Acts at the election meeting had not been sufficient. The ratepayers ought all to have been furnished with copies of the acts before being called on to elect a Board. He did not agree with the Chronicle's remarks as to the payment of a chairman to act as clerk of works, as the duty of inspecting works in progress had been scandalously neglected. He believed this was the fault in the pumice drain in St. Hill-street, where he was told the contractors had in some parts put in scarcely any pumice at all—(Mr. Byrne : They did not, as he himself could prove)—and in Wicksteedplace the work, instead of being constantly inspected, was only seen by the chairman once or twice a day. Instead of each length being'kept open till approved by the chairman, it wrs all covered in as fast as the bricks were laid ; there was never a yard of brickwork visible. The work ought to have been fenced off during construction. He knew one person from the country who had fallen into it at night. He had examined the mouths of the sewers a few days ago and found the late fresh had left three inches of mud in one and six inches in the other. The several Board acts were admitted to be * vague, difficult, and mutually contradictory,’ and he hoped no new Wardens would be guaranteed to do the present Board’s dirty work.” Mr. J. Pawson—thought the .present Wardens were tired of their office, and wanted to get some one else elected in

their places. Thq great question,however, was the Avenue sewer, which was already commenced in opposition to the known wishes of the ratepayers. Mr. Townsend—still thought it would be merely a burying of bricks. He wished to see improvements in the town ; no one more ; but this sewer would not last two years. He should like to know who planned such works.'* Mr. J. Pawson—believed the Board was responsible. In consequence of hearing that the Board’s surveyor had said a larger sewer would have been better, lie spoke to two of the Wardens, who told him they did not ask the opinion of their surveyor on such points, but planned the works themselves, and then called in the surveyor to make the drawings and specifications.

Mr. Townsend— was not very “ cute,” hut could see this was wrong. If the Boaid employed a surveyor, they ought to be guided by his advice in professional matters.

The Chairman —thought they were wandering from the point; the business of the meeting was, to consider the Board’s offer to resign. Mr. P. Me William proposed, and Mr. G. Howe seconded,—“ That the Town Board having, in opposition to the wishes of the Victoria-avenue ratepayers neglected or refused to cancel the contract* with respect to the Avenue-sewer, will, if they continue the work, do so on their own responsibility, as the ratepayers positively refuse to pay any money towards works their opinion, are useless and unnecessary, and are prepared to defend themselves in the Supreme Court against the arbitrary power exercised by those who were chosen by the ratepayers to protect their interests rather than defy their wishes ” Mi*. Alexander—had paid a Supreme Court till to-day, and would have nothing to do with any more if he could help it. Mr. H Lyon—was glad to see a proposition like his own of October Bth, to which Mr. Watt’s insulting amendment applied. The Town Board acts were like all the rest of the Provincial acts, a coach and six could be driven through any of them.

The resolution was then put to the vote and carried, one person only voting against it, and a large proportion not voting at all. Mr. Claridge proposed, and Mr. Reynolds seconded,- “ We, the undersigned, hereby promise to pay on demand to the Committee of Ratepayers the respective sums opposite our names, or such portions of same as may be required for the purpose of meeting any law expenses that may be incurred by any town Ratepayer who may have occasion to resist the payment of the rate levied for the purpose of constructing the Victoria-avenue drain, which is now being proceeded with against the wish of those most interested in the matter. Wanganui, Nov. 19, 1863.” Mr. Lyon—had been robbed by the Board. He said it advisedly, the Wardens had robbed him of £2. His rate was fairly £1 6s Bd, and the Board charged him £2. From the lawyer’s opinion, read oil October Bth, he believed the Board’s election was illegal, and that they could be upset ; and he would do his best to upset them. He found he had done wrong in paying his i*ate. He ought to have let the Board seize for it, and then brought an action against them for illegal distress. Ml*. Alexander—thought Mr. Lyon was wrong in his law. The sheriff was the person to seize, and the action would have therefore to be brought against him, and not against the Board. He thought the ratepayers would make a mess of it by going on their present tack. Mx. Townsend—lf the Avenue ratepayers agreed to pay nothing at all, no one need pay anything ; but if one man paid he would be the loser. Mr. J. Pawson—thought the proposal absurd. £1 each would not cover the expense of a trial at Wellington, though it might in our Court here-—[Several voices ; The Court here was no good ; it was made up of Wardens.] '1 he Avenue ratepayers had better sign a document pledging themselves not to pay the rates. The Board ought to have cancelled the contract when called on.

A desultory conversation of some length 'followed, as to the preferable course to pursue. Mr. G. Gower thought all ratepayei’s should decide one way or other, and that as a body they should oppose the Board through thick and thin. He would give AT himself. Mr. G. Howe—thought that, though nearly all present were Avenue ratepayers, the whole town should be asked to subscribe The Chairman said—The list could lie at Mr. I,yon’s ; he would contribute ; the property he occupied was assessed at £3B, which was £6 more than a year’s rene. Mr. B. Hood—thought the Committee should have it carried round to all the ratepayers. Mr. Townsend —thought, instead of voting, they ought to come forward and sign the list. The motion was put to the vote and carried, and, the list having been opened, 15 names were at once subscribed, representing an amount of £29. Mr. P. McWilliam proposed, and Mr. Gaitt seconded—“ That notice be given to the Town Board by all the ratepayers rated for the construction of Victoriaavenue sewer, that as they have refused to cancel the contract entered into for the construction of the said sewer according to the wishes of the ratepayers, they now refuse to pay any rates, and give them notice that the works will be carried on on their own responsibility. Mr. Field—thought the meeting ought to know that the contractor’s offer to cancel the contract.had been withdrawn

by him, in consequence of something said at the meeting on the 26th ult, before the result of that meeting was communicated to the Board. Mr. Dossett— had heard Mr. Henson say, a day or two ago in Rankin’s shop, that he had all along been willing to cancel the contract, and still was so. Mr. field—Jjmiy ratepayer might see by the Board's minutes that the offer had been withdrawn, as he said. Mv. Townsend —thought it . was all a shuffle between the contractor and the Board to carry on the work in opposition to the ratepayers. Mr. Gaitt—thought the Board ought to have stopped the work till the decision of the meeting of the 26th jilt was known, and then taken steps to cancel the contract. The Chairman —hardly felt justified in expressing an opinion, but, being so largely interested, would say he thought Henson probably found it would be most to his interest to carry on the contract, but that the Board ought not to have allowed him to withdraw his offer till the ratepayers’ decision was communicated to them. The- motion was put to the vote, and carried ; and after a vote of thanks to the Chairman the meeting separated.