TE AWAMUTU.

Waikato Times, Volume XII, Issue 954, 3 August 1878, Page 2

TE AWAMUTU.

Thursday. The annual meeting of ratepayers was held in tlie Public Hall, Te Awainutu, on Saturday, the 27th inat. Mr Andrew Kay occupied the chair. The advertisement convening the meeting having been read. Mr Sloane, as Chairman of the retiring Board, presented the" audited balance sheet, prepared to 81st March, shewing the .Receipts to have been:— Balance in hand, 30th June, 1«V7,. £299 -Is 8d; Government subsidies, £ll7 10s (id; license fees, £54 9s lid ; rates, including arrears, £305 7s lid; total, £1077 2s. Expenditure: bridges and culverts, £llo' 14s Sd; road repairs and new formations, £O9O 18s (3d; salaries and collectors commission, £<sl 19s; stationery, postage and stamps, £2 9s 7d; printing and advertising, £ll 2s Od ; total, £873 4s 3d, leaving balance in hand, 31st March last, of £203 17s 9d Mr. Sloane said the accounts were examined by the Auditors, Messrs Bockett and Maudeno, and found correct, but notwithstanding, the Auditors in their, report, which he would read, alluded, amongst other things, to the large expenditure of the Board sinew 31st March, but he, Mr. Sloaue, could refer to the administration of his predecessor in office as a precedent in the matter. They had, he continued, at this moment, about £2OO in the bank. Mr J. Cunningham: Are any existing contracts against that sum ? Mr Sloane: Yes, but the liabilities attached to them are only a mere trifle. Mr J. H. Maudeno: Is our share ot the £40,000 grant included in that amount. Mr Sloaue : Yes, he thought it was. At this stage, Mr Kay read the meeting a letter from the Hamilton Borough Couucil, complaining of the unfair distribution of the grant in question. Mr Sloaue continued: The Auditors also recommend that, in future, a supplereturn should aqcompauy the balance sheet of the financial year; shewing the receipts and disbursments of the Board from that period to termination of their office.

After some discussion, on the subject Mr Mandeno said he would like to ask what hud bceu the actual receipts from all Kources since March 31. Mr Sloane: £123 lis.

On the motion of Mr Mandeno, seconded by Captain Bockett, the furnishing' annually of the supplementary statement, referred to in their report, was agreed to. A discussion then took place as to tho propriety of trustees striking a rate for the ensuing year, and making the same payable to themselves during their term of offi ;o—thus leaving it possible for them to expend a portion of it should they exceed receipts of current year. It was proposed by Mr J. Henderson t eeonded by Mr Kusabs, " That the trusteed to be now elected strike no rai;e

for the ensuing year."—This was carrie tt unanimously. It was moved by Mr A. Henderson, and seconded by Mr Kusabs, " That the read to the meetinjf, be^^p^^Oarried, motion of Mr A. Bruce, soooided by Mr Qhurch, a vote of thanks was accorded to trustees. ' Mr,J. Ross proposed,? akd Mr Kusabs secojhded, " Thatphe oldHrdstoes remain in office another year." /■ ■? ' ! Messrs R. Bell and J. ; T. Potts declined. The motion, therefore,-, lap'sed. On the motion'-- of Mr Henderson, seconded by Mr Churches, the following ratepayers wore proposed as trustees for the current year, vis?. , Messrs "W* Sloaue, A. Ramsay, Maekiuder, A. Bruce, and McCabe. Mr Maudeno proposed Mr—. Rutherford.—Mr Sibley seconded.-.... As two residents were proposed for the Te Awauiutu portion of the district, a show of hands was called for to decide between Messrs Rutherford and Sloaue, which resulted in favor of the latter geutlemau. The motion of Mr. Henderson was therefore carried, and the fore« gohig trustees declared duly elected. The auditors nominated are Messrs J. B. Maudeno and JJ. Bockett; fenceviewers, Messrs H. Monorieif and W. CorrigaiiJ '■': '■'] /. '/

A good deal of conversation took place regarding the publicrpark for Te Awauiutu, and as to wheu it would be gazetted, as'.well as to the immediate, necessity for the .appointment of ~itjjj trustees, which resulted in the matter being left, by desire' of the meeting, ;|u the hands of the Chairman of the new Highway 3oard. ■-■•.-, The nexG subj >ct dealt with was the opening and closing certain public roads near the properties of Mesara McC'abe, Potts, and G>rrigaa, on the Ohaupo Road, and also near that of the property of Mr R. Bell at Te Rabu. The necessity of bringing the railway into Te A wamutu was brought before the meeting, and was looked upon as a matter of the first importance ; all were um unanimous upon this point. The meeting wished the Chairman of the new Board to bring the subject again before the Government, and to urge the extension of the line into the township. The want of a public pound for the district at Te A wamutu- was next considered, and it was resolved that the Highway Board take such steps as they may deem necessary for its establishment. The meeting throughouc was well attended, and considerable interest waa manifested by all present in its proceedings. A. vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the meeting. At the first meeting of the newlyelected trustees, Mr W. Sloane was re-elected -Chairman. Own Cobbesfon* DENT.