MEETING OF RATEPAYERS AT RANGIRIRI.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3081, 14 April 1892, Page 2

MEETING OF RATEPAYERS AT RANGIRIRI.

A meeting of ratepayers of the Rangiriri Riding was held in the schoolroom on April 9th, Mr Milne prusid.-;d. The Chairmau said that this was a meeting to consider the question of forming a road board, and he wished those who had anything to say, tod.i only, he hopi'.d thej' woull stick t r i the point and not briiis in any porsnnal matter, so, —Mr A. R i-siisked if the meeting wished to hear t.'ie r.i|»i. s which he had ival at the last meeting, and Uie approval of thn meeting being sigii:ii--d ho proceeded to rjad it. This report e-itioised the mmagement of the County Oo.irmil and contandrtd that laigo sums of in-muy amounting to over £500 had ul liti> b>.'n uselessly expanded in the Waimngi and Matahura districts for want of « jir.(i>iT sy-tem of management. It- was f nith'Vc if i t.'.nJcd that the ratepayers could not BxpMct any change for the better so lung as the buMiipss was managed by the County Council; that Council being composed of only Otis man to represent this large riding and nix other men who had no interest in its business.—Mr F. J. .Johnson raad a lengthy swt'imeiit strongly comlmiining the proposal. He ridiculed the idea of a Road Hoard being able tn manage the riding lietfcur than tho C uincil, and pointed out that the different parts of the riding had such conflicting interests that they would not be found to work together and the result Wiiuld bo Rtidlo-s commotion ; that tho stumpers and agitators, after all their reports could not prove how the Wairangi district could get on without the other portions of the riding, showing that that they were inexperienced, narrow-minded and unprincipled mun.—Mr Ross rose to a point of order, and was supported by others.— The chairman then askad Mr Johnson to stick to the point, and talk some common sense. (Hear, hear, and general uproar.) Mv Johnson continuing said, that in anything he brought before the Council, in 99 cases out of a 100, ho was always supported by the Council as a body and treated with the greatest respect. Through this agitation carried on by these stumpers the whole rjding was hunt in ji state of turmoil, and the outcome of this will be that a special rate will linva to be struck to meet the views of these cantankerous men (interruption, the chairman again asking Mr Johnson to talk common sense or sit down.) Mi Johnson said that he would not be put down by any man, and he had enough to keep reading for two hours yet. This aeemed to considerably astonish the meeting and a number of those present commenced to leave tho room in disgust, Mr Johnson then read some newspaper reports showing that various Road Boards in the Auckland province were applying to have their districts merged in the counties shewing that if this Road Board was formed it would be a great calamity. The Wairangi district during the fast year had more money expended in it than the total amount of the rates of the riding shewing that these unprincipled stumper.* if they succeeded in this agitation would be killing the goose that laid tho golden egg (groans and hisses the chairman again having to ask Mr Johnson to be a man and talk common sense).. Mr Johnson said he would now give the history of this agitation from the very beginning (cries from the door of " heard enough, Johnson.") He had promised to make a road to Dr. Tromearne's and this road not suiting the views of some of the stumpf rs he was pressed to force through a deviation which would most likely have cost the riding a large sum of money, aud through him not falling in with these views' this agitation was started to get a Road Board nt all hazards, and who ho asked were those who were carrying on this agitation, One was only the representative of a gentleman in Australia, and was not a ratepayer at all in the proper sense of the word. Being only about two yeai'3 in the colony and being utterly ignorant of local matters what are *hB opinions of a man like him to go by (cries of " shame, shame," and general uproar during which the Chairman vacated the chair, but was prevailed npon to resume it, ag»in impressing upon Mr Johnson the necessity of avoiding personal matters and talking a little sen»e). The other agitator was a guilless youth of about three and tvvonty who posed as an oracle on county matters before an intelligent and experienced audience (great laughter aud general uproar). What business had men like these in calling a meeting of ratepayers. One could kuow nothing of these matters as he was only a new comer, and the other was only a boy when most of these matters happened which he pretended to criticise. These unprincipled men, (great uproar lasting several minutes, hisses, groans and cries of "shame shame," during which Mr Johnson's remarks were inaudible). It was at this stii»o proposed that a vote should be taken as 11 whether Mr Johnson should be heard any further, but the cries of "sit down, sit down" continuing, the chairman took it upon himself to order Mr Johnson to take his seat, remarking that ho appeared to be able to talk nothing but rot (loud applause). Mr Johnson took his seat remarking that he had never before boon placed in such an undignified position. (A voice: " Il.'s all your own fault Johnson.") After' various persons had spoken it was moved and seconded that a committee be formed consisting of three from Rangiviri, ami three fi'om Wairangi, with power to add their number, so that the whole of the riding would be represented. On this vote being taken Mr Johnson objected t) one of the voters whereupon the individual referred to held up his hand higher remarking: "I'm a ratepayer, etc., etc.' . The motion wa3 carried and the committee formed. A vote of thanks to tho chairman for the manner in which he had performed his arduous duties terminated the liveliest meeting ever held in the Rangiriri Riding.