PUBLIC MEETING TO ABOLISH THE ALEXANDRA TOWN BOARD.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2442, 6 March 1888, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING TO ABOLISH THE ALEXANDRA TOWN BOARD.

A ruiiMC meeting was held in the hall at Alexandra on Thursday, convened by Mr A. Grant, chuinniui of the Alexandra Town Board, for thu purpose of considering the legality of tho action of the board in charging fees on horses and cuttle running in the vicinity of tho township and other matters. Mr James Kiuden was called to the chair.

Mr Grant proposed, and Mr .T. Sage seconded the followingrosolution :—"'That in the opinion of thi.n liu'eting the tax imposed by the Town Board of Alexandra of 2s (id and 5s per head respectively upon cattle and horses belonging to settlers is unjust and illegal, and that the monios so received ought to be refunded. Mr Chappell proposed as an amendment, that tho tax be continued as at present. Amendment lost for want of a seconder, Resolution carried by 13 votes to 2. A resolution was also proposed by Mr Grant, "That the services of the ranger employed by the town board be at once dispensed with, it being iu the opinion of this meeting an unnecessary expense. Seconded by Mr Sago and carried. Proposed by Mr J. IX Hill, seconded by Mr Wilkinson, "That the town board be requested to abolish the pound, as unnecessary.

An amendment proposed by Mr Cliappell, "Tlnit the pound be not abolished," was carried by 7 votes to 3. Mr Sage proposed that a petition be drawn out and signed, requesting the Government to abolish Alexandra as a Town district, and that it be permitted to revert as originally to a Highway Board. Seconded by Mr Grant and carried. Messrs Grant, Harper and Finch were appointed to draw out the petition. A deputation was appointed and waited on the Town Board, and submitted to them the above resolutions for their approval. That body, however, is of opinion that nothing pan t)e done in the matter, only by throwing in our lot with tl)e Qounty Council, who would oolleot the rates and have the spending of them. They also declared that, as the ranger's services had been engaged for one year, they could not discharge him until the expiry of that term. A voto of thanks to the chair terminated the proceedings.

That the township needs some other form of local government is certain, or the present rulers will be perpetual, as, according to the Town Board Act, there are no others but those now filling tho position of members in the whole of the ratepayers qualified to be elected. Last year fur some reason the County Council discovered that all publicans' licensos Iμ town districts, should be £40 per annum, which l)ad the effect of closing one of our two hotels. Jii the present depressed state of thcscttlement the sum is enormous and if not vediiaed will it is feared be the means of Alexandra .-aid visitors being deprived of any liousc of accouiodation whatever wh'icli ivuuld bfi a groat loss to all residing iii the vicinity. The form of Government asaX present established is quite unsuitable to our moans.