MEETING OF COUNTY RATEPAYERS AT TENUI.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2692, 5 September 1887, Page 2

MEETING OF COUNTY RATEPAYERS AT TENUI.

THE BLACK HILL KOAD,

In response to an invitation from the County Chairman (Mr T. Mackay) about 20 ratepayers met at the public hall, Tinui, on (Saturday last. Messrs R. S. Hawkins and R, Maunsell, the representatives of the riding, were present. • Mr Mackay, who was voted to the chair, said the object of the meeting. was to. discuss the question,of which • line ,i>f \ road should bo, adopted over the Black Hill, and what money, if any, should be' borrowed for road - construction. - - Tlie .'Eoad'Board had received... a' letter from Messrs Elder Bros; urging y,aet¥emeW of tho-Blnck Hill road, This letter was referred'to the Council, and it was- decided as there were no funds avaikblp, to bring tlie subject before the settlers interested. Messrs Elder and Co wished to Bell portions of their property, and naturally .wished tho road line settled' definitely, Mr Breinnor had recently surveyed a line with good grades, which would make a capital road for wheel ti'fiffio, with a saving in distance of 2 miles 6 chains, as comparod with the main line, from tho new Maiifjapakeha, Bridge to Tenui, -Tho real quostion to decide was which line was, taking all thing 3 into consideration, .the most advantageous. The cost of a dray road over the Black Bill would he—Formation Lllß2, bridge at Waikovoro L4OO, metalis, The estimate to complete metalling the present main line from Mangapekeha-. bridge. to Tenui, three mile's. (i(5 ohains was L 1969. It was some' people's opinion that .a bridle traok on Mr Bremner's line might be mado, and gradually, widened for wheel traffic, This would cost—formation,' Ll5O ; fencing, ' L 270 ; extra survey, L6O ■; total, L4BO, A sum of LBO had already been set aside by tho Road | Board to compensate Messrs Elder anil Co. tor fencing the track new in use. If this amount was taken into acotiunt it ■would reduce tho sum to L4OO,- creating an annual charge of L2O for twenty six years, Since coming to Tenui tint day lie had been informed that thero were further suggestions; to construct, a bridle track on Mr Bremner's lino from the foot of hill, Tenui side, to the first saddle, then follow along the old track to 'he Waikororo. He did not know if Mr Elder would be agreeable to aecapt LBO as compensation, if this alteration were made. The total amount of interest for borrowed money which tho ridinp had to pay was L 826, as follows Old debenture loan, LISOO—LIOS ; loan Roads and Bridges Construction Act, L 80; Manau Bridge, L1710s; loan Local Bodies Loan Act, ■LI23 10a. -It was for the ratepayers to consider whether or not they could bear any niore taxation. He hoped the meeting would arrive at a decision, although any resolution they passed would not finally deal with the snbjocfc, as-a poll of the ratepayers would have to bo takon before any motiey could be borrowed,

Mr R. Maunsell was not 'in favor of moro.borroffiiig, as lie did not think the Bottlers were in a position to. pay more taxes than they were doing, Accmn-' panied by Mr Elder.ho had that morning gone over tho' severallines of road on the Black Hill, and came to the conclusion that it would be sufficient if a horse track was formod from the foot of tho hill on the'Tenui side to tho first saddle, and'then follow along the; top of the ridge (whore information was nocessary) to outting hear the Deep Creek, and then by the present track to the Waikororo. This line could be gradually improved, and. in time mado fit' for wheel trafilo with a'liot worse grade than .1 in 10 If Variouß cuttings wore, made alon? the whole'length of Mr. Bremner's-line, it . would be very inconvenient todrivo stock alpiiu.. Ho would like an assurance from ;Mr Elder that, he would accept the LBO as oonip&iiaation,-aiid allow the deviation he (Mr Maimseil) advocated. ~ ' ''M; EMftr.eaid lje.ivoiijd .accent, t ho ISO end allow a deviation of tho l.nu as indiofttod by Mr Maunsell, • .

Mr Hawkins spoke stronsly in favor of completing the communication with-Tinui by a-good 'raetaUed road. It would be folly to leave a short length of some few miles unnietalled after so inuJi had been already done. He urged the desirability of fotmingind metalling the line as surve'yed. by the County .Enpineer, Tho •Having in distance, reduction in the rate of carriage and cost of maintenance were all in favor of the line, and would compensate the ratepayers for . tho annual charge of LIBO on the money borrowed, In his own district he had seen the benefit of a metalled voad, and ratepayers who had opposed the metalling of a small portion wore now anxious to havo it completed. He liopal the-settlers of Tinui would see their way to borrow tho money to get a good road.

Mr F. Mnunsell said the ratepayers within the present Cashpoint Road District could not alone bear the interest of L3OOO, and if the whole Riding was included the poll would not be carried. Settlors up the coast would vote against it- It must be remembered that the last loan was only carried by the money being allocated to several roads, A sum of L7OO had been expended between Tinui and the Mungapakek' Bridge, and it was the opinion of many that if any more metalling was undertaken that line should be completed. He felt sure ratepayers would not vote in favor of borrowing money for the lormation and metalling of a road over the Black Hill. '

Mr Mackay ontirely concurred with the remarks made' by Mr Hawkins, that it was to. the interest of .tho -distriot to complete the communication with Masterton. -He did not,. however,- wish to -bias or dictate to the ratepayers, as they, not he, would have to pay -the taxation! The settlers si ould louk at the question from a buainoaa point of view. Would it pay 1 would a metalled mad reduce tho amount they would have to pay for carriage, .lesson ' the cost of keeping theroads, and add value to their property ? He' considered these'advantages would ba gamed,'.and it was aniecessary for property to liavo good roads, as fencing and other improvements, Since ho came to the' distnet, the cost of getting a bale of wool to Wellington had boon reduced one half, and this was brought about by the improvements in communication, and the breakinp down of a monopoly, flo had always urged the necessity of completing the through road to Masterton. Mr Hawkins had mis?ed one point iu favor of the Black Hill route, and that was the exceedingly good aspoot of the line. Everyone deplored the looation of the Mungapakeha Road on the (unless side of the Valley.'/The,unmeialled portion of the liue, opposite the racecourse.was quite aa bad if riot'worse than any other portion. On the other hand Mr Bremner's. line had a good aapept, open to the sun and nor'-west wind nearly its whole lenpth, with .abundaiico of metal adjacent. .He certainly was in favor of the Black Bill.

Mr Hawkins moved, That this meeting is of opinion, after full consideration, tiiat it is desirable at onoo to form and metal the road over the Black Hill as survejed. by Mr Bremner, That the reßqlt will be to save cost of carriage, and in annual repairs more than the annual payment in respect to the loan required, and that the completion of the metalled road will greatly add to the convenience of settlers, and advance the progress of the whole district." Mr James Langdon seconded tho resolution, ■ Mr K.Maunsell moved at an amend-

nient, " That a'Committee be appointed } to draw up suggestions, to be submitted to the Road Board, as being a- final settlement of the Black Hill Road question." After some discussion, tlio amendment, not finding-a seconder, was withdrawn. Mr Hawkins' motion was then put and carried, Mr Maunsell voting against it. Mr Hawkins said he was sorry to see Messrs ..MaUiiM .throw cold water on the question, ancf hoped they would yet work hard to get the mettalled road completed to Masterta-'---- •

. Mr'P. Maunsell said he had.no wish to throw cold water on the proposal, but t her,e.were difficulties, and the district was- hwily taxed. -: Personally, fie should be glad to see the road completed, if a suitable rating area could be defined. Mi* R. Maunsell said ho would oppose furthor borrowing. ■ Mr Mackay had never , known a proposal brought forward in Tinuij: to obtain money, but there were gloomy forebodings that it could not be procured. It waß the same when Parliament had boen asked some years ago to grant L3OOO, when the Roads and Bridges Act was mooted, and also when the last loan Imdbeon suggested; Yet in spite of all, money was obtained, and ho felt sure it would bo bo on that occasion.

In reply to a question Mr Elder said ho was agreeable to'allow two months for the ratepayers to make up their minds in, and take a poll if nooeasary. He did uot wish to Btand in the way of tho progress of the 'district.

. Mr Hawkins moved, that this meeting pledges itself to canvass, tho district at once to concur in the Loan necessary to give effect to the previous lesolution. •This was seconded by Mr Sutherland and carried.'

Is waßresolved that a-Committee consisting of Messrs Eicol, Jaa. Langdon, W. Langdon, R. Langdon, J, Sutherland. (!. It. Miller. T. Stilborn,, W. W. Smith. D, Speedy, R. Collins, P. Maunsell, J. A. Perry, VV. Beetham, and tho County Chairman, with a potoer to add to'their bo appointed to dofino tho rating area liable for tho interest on money to be borrowed to form and metal the road surveyed by Mr Bremuer. over tho Black Hill, and to take all necessary stops to carry out the resolutions passed at tho meeting. "

Mr Mackay aaid before tho meoting separated he should like to' make a few reinatkßonthe subject of tho General County rate, On the back of tho rate notes wa- printed a statement showing details of tho expeuditure of the rato which which amounted to ' £1194 2s lid. Letters had boen published in tbo local press, and a leading article in the Evening Post, making it appear that all tho County Counoil did was to levy this rato, expend it ia salaries, travelling ex peiises and charitable aid and were doing nothing the roads. Ho was surprised at the editor of the Post, for if any persou studied the notice they would see that there was a separate rato for road purposes. For instance, in this riding there was a separate rate for voad purpoaoa of 9-lCtha of Id in the L, yielding IJOIo, •. The statement on the notice was merely to show what ltoms were charged against the general rate. During' tho last fiuancial year the nountry must have expended something like LBOOO on roads and the working expenses woro nob ■ ex : cassivo. The domand for charitable aid was anewand unjust infliction, but-it had to be homo, as the Government ■had.linked thorn with tho city of Wellington, and it was most unfair that they should bo taxed to keep tho pour of that city. Last year somo ahty-four childron wore'committed the Industrial school, only two of which hailed from'the Wnirarapa, tho balance from Wellington; Ho trusted whoever was returned, to Par-: lhirient at this election would endeavor to get thorn separated fr,om-Weiliogtdb Mr R. Langdon wished an oxplaua'tioii of the itoiu £IOO for bank interest. • I .' .. Mr Mackay said .this was caused by the County having-an"ovordraft.' If: rates were paid up promptly this item would be saved; tho notice drow attention ';to that. ' .-. - ' ■

MvR, Langdon thought the Council should proceed against defaulters,-: as it was Unfair to those, who paid promptly, Mi' R, Maunsell thought tho question of the maintenance of the mam roads by the Road Boards should be discussed by the meeting. -. -

Mr Hawkiti3 dissented, aB the subject required great consideration, and no notice had been given of it. _ Mr Mackay said it would be a fit subject for discussion whon the: eloction of County members took place in November. The question was a large and important one, and if that meeting passed a resolution on it he did not think a moribund Council would deal with it. He did not wish to burke discussion, but was not prepared wi;h the necessary data and figures on the subject. A.vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated tho proceedings.