NEWCASTLE HIGHWAY DISTRICT.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1269, 17 August 1880, Page 2

NEWCASTLE HIGHWAY DISTRICT.

Public Meeting of Ratepayers. A public meeting of the ratepayers of this district, for the purpose of eliciting an expression on the conduot of certain selfeleoted trustees, was held at the Delta Hotel, Ngaruawahia on Saturday afternoon. The meeting was called, in accordance with the terms of a requisition, by Mr C. Day, Chairman of the Board elected under the Local Elections Act. There were about 25 ratepayers present, and the chair was occupied by Mr T. Y. Fitz patrick. The Chairman having read the notice convening the meeting, called upon those present to move some resolution. Mr James Grix moved the following resolution: — "That the meeting desires to ) eoord its strong disapprobation at the action of certain self-eleoted individuals to the office of trustees for the Newcastle Highway district, and also for their attempt to coerce the late Board and other* wise endeavoring to hinder them from carrying out the main Ngaruawahid, Whatawhata, and Raglan-road, as laid off by Clarkes Government survey." The question for them to consider was: who constitutes the Board P One party said they did, and the other party said they were the Board. It was not likely that the ratepayers would consent to pay rates until they knew who to pay them to. The resolution was put forward to test the feeling of the meeting. Mr E. Fitzpatrick said he would like some explanation as to how the attempt had been made to coerce the late Board. Mr C. Day, as a member of the late Board, explained that they had had a lawyer's letter from Mr Byron to the effect that they would be interfering with vested rights by going on with the road. He also felt persuaded that it was through Mr Byron's instrumentality that the money had been kept back by the Government. He had said he would do his best to stop the money. Mr E. Fitzpatrick thought the Government would not withdraw the subsidy. Mr Day did not think so, but he thought the delay was owing to Mr Byron. Mr Hobbs seoonded the resolution. Mr E. Fitzpatrick moved as an amendment, u That; the ratepayers at the Ngaruawahia end of the Newcastle district disclaim all knowledge of, or any sympathy with the action taken by Mr Byron and his followers at the late annual meeting." Mr. Corboy said some of the ratepayers at that end of the district had taken part at the annual meeting ; Mr. Fitzpatrick himself hail formed one of the meeting at which the self-styled Board had been elected. Mr E. Fitzpatrick said he had merely been present at the meeting as an independent witness at the request oi Mr. Byron. Mr. Johns and others thought both the motion and the amendment should be carried as separate resolutions, but Mr. Fitzpatrick considered that one or the other was not necessary. The amendment was then put to the meeting and lost and the original motion was then put and carried by a large majority. Mr. McCutchen moved that this meeting desires to express its confidence in the newly elected Board at Whatawhata under the Local Election's Act and do further urge on them not to spend any money on the deviation road known as Bonfrey's swamp which benifits only a few interested individuals. This resolution, which was seconded byMr Day, provoked considerable discussion, Mr Grix and Mr E. Fitzpatrick, contending that^the Board as at present constituted did not fairly represent the district. Messrs. C Day and Dawson pointed out that the Whatawhata people had been prompted mainly by a desire to keep the Te Kohe lot out. Having done so some of them would be quite willing to resign in favor of representatives from other parts of the district. The first thing to be done was to establish the Board. Iv answer to Mr Fitzpatrick, Mr D<iy said the whole matter had been laid before the Government, and the Member for the district. After some discussion the resolution was put and carried unanimously. Mr Abbott moved, " That this meeting considers the action of Mr Henry Byron, J.P., in taking part in a row at the late election held at Whatawhata on the 31i>t ult., unwarrantable and beneath the dig-" nity of a J.P. (2). That his action in commanding a constable, iv the name of a J.P., to take possession of and carry away the books and recor Is of the Board before the annual meeting was over was most unjust and tyrannical, as well as an abuse of power in making use of his position as J.P. to deprive the ratepayers at the meeting of their rights. (3). That as his conduct on that occasion had the effect of inciting the ratepayers then present to commit a breach of the peace, that this meeting do low recommend the Board-to communicate the particulars of same to the Minister of Justice, praying for the sake of morality and order that Mr Byron may be deprived of his commission of the peace." This was seconded by Mr Trethaway. Mr Grix considered the resolution rather warm, and Mr Fitzpatrick hinted that perhaps Mr Byron might have been justified iv keeping possession of the books. - Mr Corboy and Mr Crawford condemned the action of Mr Byron, and Mr Day stated that though the books properly belonged to the old Board until the election of the new one had been settled, the members of the old Board could not obtain possession of them, Mr Byron having given them to the police. After further discussion the resolution was put and carried. On the motion of Mr Foxall, it resolved to forward the abeve resolutions to the member for the district. A petition was laid on the table for signature, praying the Government to forward the £1200 voted for the main road. A vote of thanks to the chair closed the meeting.

It is offensive to speak wit in a fool's company, as it would be ill manners to whisper in it ; he is displeased at both for the same reason, because he is ignorant of what is said. Peaise is like ambergris : a little whiff of it, and by snatches, is veiy agreeable ; but when a man holds a whole lump of it to your nose, it is a stink, and strikes you down. It is with narrow-souled people as with narrow-necked bottles : the less they have in them the more noise they make in pouring it out. There is great reasan for us to make a reserve of property against the " wintry day," because in old age we want those comforts chiefly which are only to be procured by money — a comfortable house, a warm fireside, delicate living, and a iittle share of authority.