PROPOSED CARTERTON BOROUGH.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1095, 9 June 1882, Page 2

PROPOSED CARTERTON BOROUGH.

A poßtio meeting-fas held at.;theiTiibho Hall, Carterton, on Thursday;evening as convened by advertisement, to consider the advisability of forming.the Carterton district into a Borough* The'meeting was opened soon after 7.30 p.m., Mr R, R, Armstrong being voted to the chair, and about 200 settlers being present. ■-• • The chairman stated the object fqr Which the meeting had been convened,; and asked for a fair and impartial hearing for each speaker, reminding those' present that only those who were. landholders within the proposed boundaries were titled to vote on the question.: { . •; Mr~R. Fairbrothor,senr., said he believed this was the third, time., this question had been brought before the Carterton settlers. He could riot'claim to have been the first to bring it before the public but nevertheless he felt a deep interest in the matter. The subjeot was simply'this ; Whether the affairs of the town -could' be. better carried ou by a Borough! than by the present Board. He thought there were many points in favor of the Borough. Many outside had said that in agitating for a Borough (bey were Becking to create billets, but he could not see this. His idea was that Carterton had not at pre ; sent as good a show in. the Valley as,its neighbors north.and south of'it, and he would like to see it so. He referred to the last petition got.up which had been signed-by certain persons, and subsequently a counter-petition had also been signed by them, he thought under, false representations Some had said if the Borough were formed they were liable to be more heavily taxed, but he believed this was incorrect, and that their taxation would be lessened. They would have an increased revenue, and it would not oome out of the people's pockets. They would get the extra license, to be included in the Borough boundaries and the rates receivable from 'the additional land. Usually for years past he had worked with his friend Mr Booth, the chairman of the Highway Board, but he could not do so on the: present, occasion, as he could nol'serve two masters. They would take a slice out of the Highway District, but he did not think anyone would object, and he only advocated what he believed would be for the benefit of all. The Daily had tried tolowerthem oneitherside in referring to the numbers they had. (A voice in the orowd: No I; no I we. have the numbers, but we're voters, not Boroughites.) He spoke to represent those who had oonvencd the meeting, and he believed if the Borough wree formed their rates would not be increased, and in a short time they would be able to make Carterton a town such as it was not at present. They would be able to improve the main street, and make effibient bylaws. He would be willing to answer any questions anyone might put to him which lay within his powor.

Mr Campbell supported the previous speaker, thinking that their position was unsatisfactory. They had not sufficient funds for what ihey required, and Carterton had been generally ignored.. Greytown had wanted to rate them for the river, while to a great extent it was their own' fault that it had done the damage it had. Would they not be better as a Borough ? If formed, they had no right to pay a greater rate, and he did not think they would .have to do so< The Provincial Counoil had never helped them, and he thought it was quite time they helped themselves. If they had tlw Borough they would be able to fill up that obnoxious ditch by the road; Their rates would bo sufficient to maintain the main road, and they would be free from the impost of a county rate, whioh might be carried up m far as the Forty-Mile Bush. What was the Forly-Mileßmh tn him, or to any of them? Had the Provincial Counoil helped': them ? The Government had not objected to put Highway; Boards aside, and why should they? He hoped Mr Fairbrother would lay the proposed boundaries of the Borough before them. It was not to their loss to form a Borough, so it must be to their advantage. ' '

Mr Fairbrother stated that he was willing to point out the proposed boundaries later on, but he should like tn hear more on tho subjeot, from other speakers first. ,' ■■ ; '■; .■ 1 i '

Mr Moore contended that the proposed Borough boundaries should be'submitted to the meeting in the first place, Mr Fairbrother then handed;to the Chairman a plan of the proposed'boundaries, which were as follows: commencing at the junction of the main and Dalefield roads, thence running westerly half a mile, ther-ce northerly to Brooklyn road, thence along that road to tho Mungataieri Biver, anß following the river to the corner of the section opposite White's line, thence running along that section and White's line to a point half a mile easterly of the main road, and thence westerly along the road to the starting point. He thought these were simple boundaries and as good as they could have, as they did not want to have much agricultural land within the boundaries of the township. If they could get the boundaries of the town extended without forming a Borough, he should be glad to leave the matter alone, but they had tried to do so, and could not. He would move-" That the Borough of Carterton be formed within the boundaries specified."

Mr Ray: Why not take it to Francis' line!

Mr Fairbrother: You can take it to Masterton if you like. You and Mr Elliotts, if he had been here, are just the people I should expect to oppose it, on account of your licenses. The motion was seconded by Mr Campbell. Mr Moore moved, that the question be adjourned for consideration for twolve months. The promoters of the Borough had pointed out what they deemed advantages", but they failed to point out the disadvantages they would, incur; if a Borough were formed. One thing, the County now had to look after the main road, but if a Borough were formed it would have to do it.

Mr Fairbrother: You are mistaken, the Government have sent the Boards notices that considering the main roads colonial property they intend to provide for, their maintenance,

Mr Booth : They ate talking of doing 80. Mr Moore:. Let them go to Grey town or Masterton, and what were they the better for having a Borough than they were before. If the County Council levied a rate of 3d they could reduce their's to 9d. He thought they were not in a position for a Borough, The Looal. Board'were doing good work'. They .had two publican's -licenses - arid a. wholesale, license, whioh meant about £IOO a year. He thought creating a Borough merely meant giving Carterton a hollow name, for whioh they would have to pay dearly,. Mr White wished to move as an amend-, merit to ■ Mr Moore's motion, That the matter be considered five years hence, ■■'. Mr W. Booth seconded Mr Moore's resolution, and mmllihgifthey pleased, to add Mr White's amendment to it as ;an addendum. ;He did not know how ( this matter had come'up- again, but he was'as strongly oppose'd.to the proposition as he had been in the"pa'ati Mr Fairbrother had gtyen.them an outline of the proposed boundaries of the Borough, and onaraoteM ised them as very simple, and he thought they would be equally aimple if they. adopted that gentleman's motion, As Mr Moore had said they could derive no ad-

vantages but a mere empty name, .If they wanted any farther powers to im« prove their property, to make by-laws with regard to building*, 'Witer. supply, , : proteetion from fl#otf.for the;; general \ health and effi«i'9n#of tHelbwnshiritM had it in ;tߥ: : ?owfr> District,..which prorided a Mtisf' iocaWelf;g6>: verflment/indM on. If they formed. theto6elv#iifitoii - Borough under'the" Municipal Corporations A0t,1876," they would'beMonAo; spend in a twelve-month total income of the District. (No !,!■) Well, some gentleman said not buFhe would refer them to the balance sheets of the Greytown and Masterton Boroughs, and ask them if they wereprepared to see their rates fritered away in keeping up a staff of unnecessary officers and in useless expenses. Whatif, ashadbeen asserted, the ;Daily had sneered at them:' Papers were not always correct,:"and'Carterton : had proved itself the biggest polling place jn the Valley; ; One gentleman Said they 'could not levy'rtKbre- than la in the .8 if they formed but when their lands were brought wilhih'tbat Borough were they not supposed to-be increased in value? He would;give;them, n$ 'an ex-conversationhehad-hadwith a working man a few, days' since,; ' jßefore the Masterton Borough,was formed, he was rated 2s, now he had to pay; 17a 6d on his little property, He had still to wade through the mud to his honje','while those on the main road had nice, gravelled paths. It was but a waste ef ehergy and money forming a Borough;beret- Another gentleman had said they would hurt nobody but those in the Highway District, and they wou|d not mind it. '/Would they not! That district comprised most ,of them, The plan was very simple. It began at one end of the populated district, it embraced the head centre' of the population, it took the very eye put'of the district, and what were those living on the Bectiouß beyond to do ? They had no road, and what were they ib do to get out with their produce? The.outsjde labor was the making of the township; the stores and tradesmen were to. a very large extent dependant on the outside settlers, and it would be a suicidal policy, to cut them off, as would be the case if a Borough were formed, All the powers they now had he thought were adequate,for, their requirements for years' to Sonie contended wo should thus place ourselves outside the County, bnt he thought for the present it was to their advantage to' remain within it. Wait until a raje. was levied, and then see what it meant. 1 When the danger threatened, itwas quite/time ' to consider what we should do. s There were plenty outside who would like to see us form a Borough, and make the charge against us of having fallen into.the same mistake as themielves, ! What '-ifr'they : were fold they were small, and had little revenue, so long as they had prosperity and soundness what need they care. They could held up thtir heads and look the others in the as equal, and need trouble themselves little- with any reflections cast upon them. • There was little danger of any of their rates going"'to'.th« •Forty-Mils'Bush.' Another question, that 'interested them was the, main .road;;' At present the County .maintained jif-they had the Borqugh they would have'to look after it.' For years past it had: been; his effort in the Highway Board to,ge£ toll-gate revenue expended on'it to keep ut in thorough repair. During the last'three or four years over had: been, ex-/ pended on it, not a penny of which wouldr they have got if the Borough had been** formed when before propnaedj-and if it were now formed/it would take- three -timeß^ the revenue of the Djitriot to : maintain it. If we were told our. revenue were only £l6O, if it sufficed.for could we not say to the others who" we.se drawing i! 1000 are you any hotter off? If the Burough were formed where would the extra income be derived from ? The Highway District which would be p&ralised andstopped from doing, the.useful work which they had for so many .years earned on to the promotion-of the advancement and prosperity of the district. References had been made to officers, At present they had none, but if they had a, Borough thoy-' most'have an Engineer,. Masterton had tried to dp without one, but had had to sucoumb to the Then they must have a town clerk, there were meetings, notices in the Gazetteer and they would be always bleeding in this way. Itwas like. a. man building a big house. He found,extra furniture required, his old carpets did not fit the room, extra expenditure! on him until he. wished hihiself back in the cottage that had met all his requirements, and so itwouldbewith them ifthey formed a borough. Increased expenditure would come, and (hey would have to find the money. For years Carterton had been, recognised as one of] the soundest and safest places in the district If'they formedaßorongh they, would have to provide for a Mayor and Councillors (A. voice: Who's to find the horse!). Why,, if you had to find them you would soon, find that you couldn't provide a horse at, all, Practically they had all they wanted. They had all the power they required for improving the town, mid ha thought they had better let the County Council keep the main road. They were gradually, getting and by opening up the road connecting themselves with the back seotions) they would find themselves' ten times richer than by fixing themselves as a Borough under the Municipals Councils Aot, when hundreds of pounds : wonld be wasted that might be spent in improving the back country. He should be sorry to see this made a vital question, but he had too much trust in the good sense of his fellow-settlers to believe the original motion would be carried, Mr Fairbrother had referred to the former petition and counter-petition 'being jsigned by parties under false representations, It was. true—they had signed the original petition so they had come to those opposed to the: Borough and been put right, and finding; Becond thoughts best had signed the counter-petition. Mr Kiddie said perhaps so me of those in favor of the Bbroiigh would,.give them an idea of. any advantages they wontffl gain if it were formed, For himst)i|H could not see it, but thought it a great disadvantage." Instead of the bush opened he thought they would get neither back nor front improved,

The chairman then put the amendment to the meeting against whioh not a single, hand was held, up, ; arid on the original motion being.put.itshared the same fate —in the opposite 1 direction,

A vote of thanks to the chairman brought the meeting to a oloie about9,3o< P' m - ■■■■''■.i.l.tJl