Karioi.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1566, 18 July 1882, Page 2

K arioi.

Tjie annual meeting of ratepayers in the Karioi Highway District, was held in the Mata schoolroom on the Sth inst. There was a large attendance. Mr H. Duncan was called to the chair. After having read the advertisement convening the meeting he asked Mr W. Duncan, the chairman of the outgoing board, to read the aunual balance-sheet and repoit. The receipts of the board during the past year had been LlB7 4s 4d and the expenditure LI 86 12s 3d, leaving a balance in hand of lls> lid. From the yearly report it was seen ihat the liabilities of the board have considerably decreased since the retiring trustees took office, and their successoi'H would therefore take office under far more favourable circumstances than they did. Several important deviations of roads had been legalised during the y ear, by which means great expenses had been incurred in advertising and survey. With the grant of £100 which had been made by the Government for the benefit of the Raglan- Waipa road, some extensive improvements had been made. The work on the several contracts let by the board during the year had been done well and cheaply, — Mr W. Johnstone of Ruapuke, made objection to some of the actions of the board, and after having criticised their doings at some length moved, " That this meeting stand adjourned till this day fortnight, when the consideration of the annual report will be resumed. That, in the meantime, a committe* of three be appointed to prepare a draft of regulations to settle the course of procedure to be followed in the closing of roads in this district, the said draft to be submitted to the adjourned meeting for approval. And, further, that this committee make full enquiry into all tho proceedings connected with the recent closing of the beach road, and to report to the same meeting, and that to enable them to do so, they have access to, and the use of all necessary documents. The committee to consist of."— Mr McCracken seconded the motion. Mr W. Duncan, in moving an amendment to Mr Johnstone's motion, expressed his surprise at the action taken by the mover, as also at the ignorance which had been manifested by him in regard to a general law which was already in existence, for the guidance of local governing bodies in the closing of roads. He tli en read the clauses of the Public Works Act, 1880, which related thereto. After having further replied to what Mr Johnstone had said in his address, he moved as an amendment " That this meeting do not adjourn, but proceed with the business for which it had been called." — Mr R. Billington seconded. — On being put to the meeting, the amendment was declared carried by a large majority. — The annual balance-sheet and report was then adopted. — The following persons were elected to serve as trustees ior the ensuing year, viz., Messrs Thompson, W. Duncan, Philips, Liddell, and H. Duncan. Auditors, Messrs Johnstone and Burns. Pence-viewers, Messrs Logan Billington. A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the meeting. —(Own Correspondent.)