Waikakahi Settlers Meeting.
Shall Waihao be a County.
A Stormy scene.
A mpeting of about thirty settlers was held in the Morv«n schoolhouse ou Thursday, Messrs J. F. Douglas and Ross, County Council members for Waihao riding, being present. The meeting was called to consider the advisability of making Waihao riding a separate county. Mr Corrigan was voted to the chair. He said there was a great deal of dissatisfaction at the way the riding was managed, and he would ask Mr Douglas, chairman of the Waimate County Council, to give them what information he could.
Mr Douglas said he was quite willing, but thought those who convened the meeting were going to bring something forward, and he could then make explanations. He had had exceedingly little notice—only since Monday night. On Tuesday he was busy, and it was late before he got into Waimate to procure his figures, because he did not intend to trust to his memory in this case. To get the information he should have got would have taken a week, for it would have to be worked out from the books. Thea on Wedoesday he was all ;day at the Council meeting, and whan free it was too late to do much. He returned home and worked up his notes, but had to return to Waimate and verify somp figures. Therefore he would tell them that his information was only approximate. He had not the remotest idea of what they were going to bring up, but he would lay the information he possessed before them. Firstly, all roads in the county were main or county roads. The Council, by virtue of Clause 88 of " Public Works Act, 1876," in July, 1877, declared all roads in the county to be county roads. Now. clause 145 of the Counties Act, 1883, says that the Council's funds shall be apportioned —
(1.) For payment of debts and liabilities as a whole which are not included in the special appropriations hereinafter mentioned (a) in general expenses of administering this Act. (2.) Payment of contributions to be made out of couuty funds (such ; as charitable aid, etc.).
(3.) la the cost of constructing and maintaining all main roads and county roads, and of bridges exceeding 30ft span on district roads. (4.) The remainder of such annual income shall tie apportioned among the ridings pro rata. The speaker assured them that there had been no " remainder" to distribute since he was elected and long before it.. The books were kept so as to 6how fairly how each riding stood. Teep Creek riding, owing to its central position, had more traffic over its roads, andif these were classed j as main and district; roads the maintenance of the former would be charged to the general account, and Deep Creek's position would be much better than it is. He pointed out last March the unsatisfactory way the funds were being administered, when each member grabbed for all he oould get, and j it was decided that certain roads be treated as main and certain as riding roads, and after ascertaining the expenditure on each the balance be apportioned pro rata. This was decided on, but before the neit meeting a petition was set up to divide the Pareora, and he thought it better to go on as they were till this matter was settled. However, certain roads, such as Pareora to Glenavy, hail baen. declared main roads, si:f&s charged to the general account. They had not, he considered, bsen treated fairly in regard to Government: grants, for the Council had only been as yet, promised £3OOO out of £12,000 applied for. Still, Lower Waihao had received about £845 of this. He thought he had proved that, although Deep Creek, had a large debtor balance, it was entitled to the expenditure as long as .the roads all remained county roads and it could be proved they were maintained in the interests of settlers generally. If they succeeded in their endeavour to cut adrift they would be breaking off at the very time thay should sit tight. They now had a chance of getting back what they had given to more populous ridings when the Waihao could not prove tliey required it for themselves. Besides, they would bave to take a portion of the overdraft, now standing at £3466. Again, in the 1900 Act there was a olause which entitled adjoining counties to charge for maintenance of roads ; for inter-county traffic. This was an iniquitous clause, but still it was law. Thus the Levels were claiming- £BOO. from Waimate for roads used in going into Timaru, and the eame thing would apply in the case of J in fact, it would be liable rbotlic tip Waimate and Waitaki. In regard to rates/ ih» speaker oaid they werf
collected in August as a rule, and were for a period of Jrora the Ist April past to 31st March next. The total rate able value of the'county under improved values was £2.281,145, and of Waihao riding £777.266, or roughly : speaking, oho-third. The total rates of the county for this year "was £B3IB, which, with the Government subsidy of 5s in the £ (£&)79), reached £10,897. From this had to be deducted £IO7B for charitable aid and £SOO for birds' eggs and eggs, engineer £350 and clerk £250, which left a balance of £8219 available for public works and expenses. He had seen a statement prepared by his father when a member of the Council, showing that at one time Waihao lost £35,000 and Hakataramea £40,000 out of the land fund, but he did not see the slightest possibility of recovering any of this. Up till a short time ago the Waihao wa3 held in large estates—Waikakahi, Ebphant Hill, Clarfcesfield, Station Peak, Waihaorunga and Waihao Downs—and these as a whole did not require one-tenth of the roads lequired now. But this was all changed and roads were required everywhere, and settlers asked for them, and if tenders were not culled for next day they considered they had a This was quite unreasonable, for if they reflected they would see that there was an enormous number of roads required in oil parts of the county, and each had to receive due consideration. They pushed on the works as fast as possible and it must also be remembered that for a considerable time they were totally unable to get contractors m the county or out of it, and for this ths Council should not bo blamed. When Waihao settlers looked round and saw thi enormous amount of work done in the short time they had been here they ought to be satisfied. For. the. year . ending 31st March, 1899, the total expense of the county was £3,758, of which Waihao secured £3603 ; to 31st March, 1900, Waihao's share out of £9970 expended was £3041, and from Ist April, 1901, to 30th November, 1901, it had secured £2193 out of £4051, or more than all the rest of the county, and the expenditure was still going on. The total expenditure of the county on public works for 1895 was £4226 ; *et 1896, £3394; 1897, £3722; 1898, £4636; 1899. £3656; 1900, £4259; 1901, £6932; and for the half-year ending 30th November, £4051. In 1895 there were 1303 rateable and 128 water rate properties, or a total of 1431; in 1901 there were 1934 and 312 or a total of 2246, equal to 1390 extra properties counting water and other rates. He did not think there was the slightest chance of their obtaining a separate county, for the Government policy was ro diminish rather than increase the number of local governing bodies. ■Secondly, the whole riding was not unanimous. Thirdly, they would sever the Hakataramea riding from ' the county, and he was sure there would be objections from the rest of the county to their plan. Their only hope was to try and got Waitaki County to take them over, and, this would also meet with opposition. What he thought they should ask for was a readjustment of representation. The Counties Act, 1836, provided that some day in March, before going out of offica, it should hold a meeting to consider whether the adjustment of representation for the various ridings was satisfactory, considering the number of ratepayers and the rateable value, and if not, shall alter it to a more equal proportion. The rateable value of the couuty was £2,231,141, and nine members were elected, and Waihao, with a rateable value of £777,286, was entitled to thtee members. There were 1330 ratepayers in the county, or 14$ per mainbor. and thu3 Waihao was entitled to 2£ members. He strongly urged that they should petition for readjustment, and that each portion should be given representation of its own district as apart from the more distant parts of the riding. The Council was striving to work down the debtor balance without raising the rates, and this was gradually being accomplished. The funds stood at. present as follows: Oounty fund on December 17th. 1901, excluding land fund, Timaru Harbour Board account, and contractors' deposits, stood at credit L 403. They owed a land fund of L 4269 and contractors' deposits L 75, cr a total of L 4344. Out of this came L 474 due from the Harbour Board, which left it at L 3869, less L 403 credit, or a total deficit of L 3466. The financial position of the various ridings was:^-
£ s. d. Upper Pareora, credit ..-. 1590 7 1 Lower Pareora, debtor... 1610 16 3 Otaio, credit ... ... 1252 16 4 Makikihi, debtor ... 606 15 9 Deep Creek, debtor ... 5287 811 Waihao, credit ... ... 1477 15 2
Hakataramea, credit ... ■ 498 1 11 The rateable unimproved value of the ridings was:—Upper Pareora (35 ratepayers), £258,857 ; Lower Pareora (175), £208,598-, Otaio (104), £315.107 ; Makikihi (131), £235,451; Deep Creek (475), £287,381; Waihao <350), £777,266; Hakataramea (60), £194,185, The area of the county miles, Waihao covering 448 and having 350 ratepayers. In Waihao riding during 18 month* a sum of L 3802 was expended in contracts and day labour. He thought he had put the position very clearly before them. Mr Campbell asked if Waihao helped to pay interest on any overdraft, and on being told it had said he thought it a shame. Several questions already dealt with were then asked and the answers repeated. Mr Douglas was quite of that opinion, as was the whole Council, and a committee meeting had / been called for January 7 to reconsider the whole position, because they recognised that the great increase of settlement meant a great inorease of rates paid in. If they could appropriate funds to» the riding 3 which raised them, the various members could simply ask for' their own share and have it spent as required. However, Waihao was getting a good time; out of its LI4OO there was L6OO spent last meeting, and the other would not stand the demands more than another month.
Mr Callaghan thought it very satisfactory that they would soon have a share of other ridings' surplus. la reply to Mr Hanley's. question as to how much had been spent on roads since the new settlers came Mr Douglas said he could not answer offband. Jle asked wae there one road on which work was aaked that had not been done. r Mr Hanley further questioned why a Bpecial rate was not struck on ridings with a debtor balance and the debt wiped off. **»«.!•' Mr Douglas said they could do this, but they would lose the Government subsidy of 6s in the £ on such money.Mr Hay asked whether, in the event of fe-elassificatioa of roads «w district
i and main, Waihao would have to pay i a portion of the present debt. Mr Douglas said a certain sum , would be apptopriated from the I g moral fund every year to wipe off ■ this, and thus would not affect the i riding that was in credit. The Chairman (Mr Corrigau) said they had heard Mr DougTas, and everyone instrumental in convening the meeting should be pleased, for none of them had known so much of the oounty business as they did now. They were told Waiho aalways had a credit-balance, but they were being run into debt by their neighbours, and the more they stuck to them the ■ deeper they would be in. He did not see the last balance-sheet published, but two years ago they had a credit of LI6OO. Mr Walker maintained that the Waihao riding had no right to this, as there should be nothing like keeping saparate accounts ; it' Bhould be put into the consolidated fund. It was a disgrace for the councillors who sat and allowed Waihao to be saddled with interest, and also made liable for the principal. It was like borrowing money for Deep Creek. Mr Douglas had said trey wanted an alteration, but how. wore they to got it? He was not half as disheartened about getting a separate ecu ity as Mr- Douglas was. He said they could and would get it. Waihao riding had a valuation, of L 900,000 on the annual value and at, lll&th* of 8 penny in the poaud„ihis brought L 2579. This year on unimproved values they were valued at L7OO 000 and they paid L 2853, an increase of L 250. Why were : the rates raised? They could not say that it was the fault of the new rating. (Mr Douglas: We did not raise the rates ; it was the result of increased valuation of the land.) To form thern selves into a county they required L 500.000 of a valuation with over 150 ratepayers. They had L 900.000 and 351 ratepayers, surely sufficient. As a separate county ihey would have L 4375. Had so much money been spent on the district ? No, Wuiliao dad j been a mileh cow for the rest of the i distrbt for all time (\pplause), but if the old settb-rs were satUh.d lie would try to be. Mr Douglas himself even was badly treated and the speaker was surprised to see him submit to it. Sonle four years ago a road through private ( property hud been taken over mm Willowbridge without being iirst formed and metalled. They hud no right to do so. (Mr Douglas : Id was quite within the Council's rights. It was ruuiiini; the district into debt, and yet, as one man in Waimate put it to him, " Why don't you jog aloug in the old way and earn an Honest crust." He wasn't going to do any jogging. The county was too largo and could be worked bet er in a smaller block. It was too muoh fir the en'.dn er, although he was a good man and one > whom he had known for fourteen years. They in Waihao did not wa-.t a lot of buildings like those gr*at unnecessary ones in Waimate, and they conid put up •all tiiey wanted for L2OO. They did noi want nn engineer either, they could pay a man a Utile mote than was paid the ganger or reporter to the overseer at present and that would suit them. If wanted an engineer for a pb they would employ him simply while >t lasted and then discharge h'tn. He would like to have the job of keeping Waihao riding in better repair than at preseut for the money raised. They simply Wanted a majority to separate (Mr Douglas: i hree fifths of the Be* thrs) and he had never known an application to be refused, iu P.hiatUi the member for the -district had brought- d>>»u a petition and a Bill was pn sed without opposition. If the eetrlers deeded to grin and bea-their pre-tent i- justices they deserved to be £2001) more in lobt in two yi-ars. He give Mr DougUa fci'e.lir, tor more than to sit and let a mi of luen gull him in such an outlandish fashion. Tu.iy were not fairly i r«ated iu any way by che Council. The Council made lots of byelaws and did not Btick to them. They passed a bye-law some time ago ai>ut impounding stock. In one caae a widow woman bad kept a cow tethered on a ; reserve and t-vo children had boen sent to mind it. The children neglected it, and the cow was impounded, tu« ranger demmding and receiving fees. She was afterwards summoned and had to pay a solicitor's fee a« well. Hj wai in a position to prove th*t tne enairtnan of the Waimate County Council (Mr Douglas) was at that time running 3000 or 4000 sheep on the loads witii three shepherds " (Mr Douglas : " It's a lie.") Was it right for Mr .Douglas to give instructions for this poor woman's cow to be impounded and have all these sheep on the roada ? Mr Douglas : *' Tnere were not 200 d." Mr Corrigan " If you come outside and call me a liar I'll Boon settle you." Mr Douglas ; " 1 did not call you a liar, I said your statement Was a lie, which is a very d ; ftarent matter." Mr Corrigan : "-I thought, vou were a gentleman, I find you are not.'*
Mr Corrigau here left the oiiair, saying he would sic no luuger in the chair with sue i a man as Mr Douglas present. The position was thea piiosoa round, the air being pretty w»rm. Mr Hay refused the honour on the grounds that he had "not muscle f r it." Ultimately Mr Corrigan allowed him saif to bi persuaded to occupy tu« Mr Ross then asked, "If it ia a fair question, is Mr G-trrigan a ratepayer?" Mr Gorrigau : "Well, this shows the mean, petty dodges sonin people descend to. No, I'll answer it ; I'm not a ratepayer, but my wife is." Mr Ross: "It doesn't matter what your wite is. *¥ou are the person we aire si-eaki .g of." Mr Douglasi "Of coarse no motion pasaed oarries weight." Mr Hanley: "A man i% responoible for the uebts of hi» wife."
Mr Ootrigttu : " IJear in mind the/* of councilloia you've got." Mr from 1100 bheyp to 4000 is goirjg too far."
Mr Gorrigan : " You called me a liar." Mr Douglas : *' I did nothing of one sort. 1 would have explained had you allowed me an appjrtamty," Mr Corrigan: "Do you deny haViug 4000 sheep on the roads. If so, I'll briug yom face to face in four minutes with the man who c*n pr«ve it." Mr Douglas: "I do deny it." Mr Corrigan: "Then Mr Ward of Waihaorung* told me, and he is sitting beside you." Mr Ward said he waß coming from Timaru and Mr Corrig*n a9ked if he had ever seen Mr Douglas' Bheep on the ro*d and he siid he had. He meutionad ne particulars. Mr Corrigan i " I heard from 'several people that Mr DougLa had 4000 sheep on the roads, and if he hadn't called me & liar I would nob have mentioned Mr Ward's name. Mr Douglas thought I'd have and it Was someone at Kedcliff or Glenavy so that he could have challenged me to bring them, but it didn't work." Mr Douglasl " I knew that Mr Warn had spoken to you { he told me the same, night." Mr Corrigan i " The crime is just as bad for 1100 as for 4000." To Mr Douglas t " Fes, you could herd sheep op the roid as you liked, and the wido* nad her cow pounded. That was because she is a poor widow and you are Mr Doßgtas." ' Mr Douglas \ "Nothing of the kind, I am quite as Amenable to the law "as anyone, aad have paid poundage fees before to-day.". Mr' Corrigan ? " The - ranger knows better tiuu pound your stock, btcauao 1 w -. ' V
you are master and man, and his jd> would "ot very muoh to him if he did." Mr Douglas: "J[ would not put mvs«lf in any ranger's power by asking him not to pound my stock." To get on with the business, which wa* fast being lo t Blunt of, Mr Hay moved thit they follow the lines laid down by Mr DottgU? and try to get more representation and that the' district be divided so as to get the money spent where most needed. Mr Campbell secon led thK Mr Callaghah moved an amendment that they form a separate county. Any expenses incurred at present could be voted on by *ll and Waihao had no chance. A lot of money spent on their roads had been simply wasted, some formed rdads haviog only three feet of space available for traffic. If they had the looking after of their own roads it would be properly done. Mr Corrigan said they would now hear what Mr Boss had to say, and Mr Ross replied that be would like to know what they wished to hear about first Mr Doug'ae asked how the meeting had beeu called. Mr Corrigan replied, by circulars, and a local appeared in the , Waimate Advurtishk. Mi- DuugUs s iid a lor-al was not »f advertisement, ani many did not reo iv> a circular. The amendment was put and carded by 13 to 8, several not voting. Mr Doughs *airl the proposal t< separate would not likely b- carried whe: i. came to the rest of the ratepayers. Mr Itosi proposed a vote of taanks t Mr Douglas, and this was carried with acc-aiti.itii>ri. A vote of tha ks 'o the chair end*d th-i nvetinn. In returning thanks* M* Corrigan hored his relations with Mi DougUs would not b) any different than befnre because of their little nff*. Mr Ha/ a*ked if, in the event of sepvation, Waitiao would g.-t. a ah ire in rhat 'white elephant" the Council ChumbwH. Mr Dou las said everything'would be duly apportioned'. The g.itheriiij,' th*n left the'■choolhoUHf, but variou.i tune or leas e.xorted g oups the matter outside for nearly an hou--.
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Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 144, 21 December 1901, Page 3
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3,651Waikakahi Settlers Meeting. Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 144, 21 December 1901, Page 3
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