MEETING OF THE KIRIKIRIROA RATEPAYERS.

Waikato Times, Volume V, Issue 286, 12 March 1874, Page 2

MEETING OF THE KIRIKIRIROA RATEPAYERS.

Pursuant to advertisement an adjourned meeting of the ratepayers of the .Kirikmroa Highway District was held at the Hamilton Hotel on the 10th inst. There were present about twenty »tepayera. Mr B.T. Setdon, chairman of the Kirikiriroa Highway Board, in opeiing the meeting, remarked that he was scarcely aware of the object for which the meeting was called, as the rtjuisibion signed by a number of ratepayers was so vague thfc it was only by putting tho most liberal construction upoj ib that tho Board decided to call a meeting, he would the-efore call upon those present to elect a chairman. Mr Gumming w» voted to the ch»ir nnd read the advertisement convening the meeting j he explained thiit it was called to see whatpould be done to get Mr Henry and others paid for wor&'thej* had done on the Tnupiri road. Mr Seddon said Vat Board did not recognise the claim, neither could the me-'tiug give them the power to pay, as there were no minut« in the book authorising the work to be done. Mr Henry rnada > statement as to the arrangement he had made with the ihaiiiman, of the late Board. He said he had attended tovral meetings of both, the. late and the I present Boards. Atthe first meeting all the members wera present except Mr Camming. At that meet mg the Board promised to pay. A a subsequent meeting he was informed by the Chairmun tht ho intended writing to the Superintendent to enqure Wjelher the Board were justified in paying. He heard uotling more of the matter for five weeks, and' then he atendjd another meeting of the Board, and wa« informed b then that he had no claim. He also wished to state that he considered it a very significant fact that in the interim MrPotter had become a member of the Board vice Mr Cumnng, who resigned, as from, tho first time he had met him atthe Board there bad been nothing but bushlawyer's quibblag. He had sinoe taken legal advice, and was recommened to sue tho Board, but as neither he nor any of the othni had money to waite in law, he hoped, therefore, that ue meetiug w ould give him & helping hand to get bis mono. Mr Teas oiigiired whether the Board had any. objection to pay Mr Heu-v ? Mr Seddon rplied to the effect ihat there had been a considerable amout of irregularity in the account keeping of the old Board, nd in consequence, their successors had no authority to pa Mr Henry, as the business is not recorded, audthe presents not cognizant of theactaof the late Board. He called upon Mr Potter, Secretary and Treasurer to the Board, to read rom the minute-book all records existing of the work perfomed by Mr Henry. Mr Potter aud< he could not see how this meeting could possibly be enebwed with power to authorize the Board to pay money which had not been passed at the last annual meeting, and wshodto know what the present meeting had been called for, a3 tht requisition was unintelligablo. The Chairmai explained that the meeting had been called to give the Board authority to pay the money dsmanded by Mr Henry and othen, nu not the slightest doubt existed in the minds of any of the settlers that the money had been ' earned, and he, for me, could not set the jmtico of making poor men suffer bocauo a clerical error had occurred in the minute-book of the kte Board. Mr Potter reiterated that the meeting had not got the ppwer, and read a fiw extracts from- the minute-book. The meeting at ,his time became very rowdy, and personalities in choice language were indulged in, more than one ratepayer being in favour of settling all differences m the ring. Order vu eventually restored, Mr Thomas proposed " That this meeting of ratepayers, recognizing the reluitance or inability of the Board to pay Mr Honrj and othuri tbe balance duo to them, hereby authorize the Board to pay Mr Henry and' others the sum, of £27 so soon as the cash is in hand." Mr Wood seconded. Mr Potter having left the room, the resolution, was put, and there was not a dinontient voice. A vote of thaubi to tho Chaioman closed tho proceedings.