PUBLIC MEETING.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1089, 2 June 1882, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING.

A meeting of ratepayers was held in the Town Hall last evening to consider the proposal for taking over the .Library debt, and was somewhat thinly attended. His Woißhip the Mayor who occupied the chair explained that it had been convened to pay off the existing debt of £ 4OO on the Institute.. A poll would have to be taken on the proposal, and a certain number of votes were necessary to carry it, If the loan was sanctioned the liability of ratepayers would not be increased aa they already paid a maximum Library rate of ono penny in the pound. Mr Cnselberg moved that the proposal be adopted. They wero aware that private gentlemen had made themsolves responsible for the Library debt, and their proposal was to relieve them of thoir responsibility aiid totako over the control of the Institute, which \m virtually vested in the borough by the ratepayers when it was brought some years ago under the Libraries Act. The Town Lands Trust had voted £SO per annum to pay interest and sinking fund on the debt, the former would amount to £2B per annum leaving ffl for the latter so that the whole debt would be extinguished in a few years without assistance from the ratepayers.

. Mr James Brown seconded the resolution whioh he said merely removod the burthen from one shoulder to another, with the prospect of the debt being paid off,

Mr Wooilroofe denied that' the proposal would not .increase the rates, In consequence of. au excessive valuation the maximum rate of one penny was really a two penny rato. He disapprove'' of the debt which had been contracted on the institute, arid had not the slightest respect for the Committee which contracted it (a laugh). Mr Teackle in his prospectus estimated the building to cost £SOO instead of which it had cost £9OO. He thought ii would do the guarantors good if they had to put their hands in their pockets, He pointed'out that the Council might reduce or abolish the Library rate which benefitted only a portion of the ratepayers. He himßelf had to pay as much as one pound Beven shillings to the Library. Mr Caielberg said that when a poll' had Men taken on a former, occasion only eight votes were recorded, awinst the proposal, and as Mr.. Woodroofe contributed four out of the oight, it was evident that the pubhowere not opposed to it. It v/as quite right that Mr Woodroofe should be singularjn his opinions. Mr Woodroofe.said he waB 1 not singular in his opinions, -;' A great many peronshad spoken against.the Library in

ormer years. He had seen many things going on in oonneotion with the Institute that made him wonder that it was not burnt down, .He accused the promoters of the loan of misleading the ratepayers, and he censured the chairman for his ah-, sence on the previous evening, .;■' Mr Oaselberg offered (o move a resolution in the Borough. Council to place Mr Woodroofe on. the Library Committee with a view to its better management. Mr Woodroofe deolined; ha had formerly been on the Committeo, but could not agree with bringing spittoons into the building and proposals to introduce cards and dice, It was derogotary to have a plri.ce lit up for sucli objeoti, Mr Vile referred to an expression whioli Mr Woodroofo had made use of to the offect that ratepayers allowed themselves to be misled by crafty men in giving their, votes, This was, he declared, a Blur on the ratepayers. ' The chairman noticed a reference Mr Woodroofe had made to his absence on the previous evening, He had certainly forgotten the engagement, but there was no wilful neglect on his part, Had the accusation come from anyone else but Mr Woodroofe he should, have felt it. He was glad 'that Mr-Vile had noticed the remark about misleading the public, llio man who made such & charge was the very one who would mislead them, '.

A vote was then taken, ten voting for and two against it • . v ; , The meeting concluded by Mr Caaolberg moving a vote of thanks to the chairman and to Mr, Woodroofe. ,