AVON ROAD BOARD.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2340, 23 June 1868, Page 2

AVON ROAD BOARD.

Four members of the Avon Road Board having resigned their seats in consequence of some unpleasantness with the Provincial Executive, a meeting of the ra tepay ers was held attheßoard office, Papanui road, yesterday, at 12 o'clook, for the purpose of filling up the vacancies.

Mr Laine, chairman of the Board presided and there was a good attendance of rate> payers.

The Chairman explained the purport of the meeting, and said under the exceptional circumstances occasioning it, he considered that an explanation should be given to the ratepayers, whilst it waß also equally due to those members who bad thought it incumbent upon themselves to retire from the Board. The whole matter had resulted from an intimation in a letter from the Provincial Secretary to the effect that the Board could not be entrusted with any portion of the funds voted by the Provincial Council for District Road Boards. This letter was part of a correspondence which had taken place between the Board and the Executive, respecting a sura of money advanced some time ago by Mr R. H. Rhodes, for certain works in the Papanui Swamp. The money in question—£3oo—had been advanced on condition that it was devoted to a specific purpose, and had been accepted by the late Board only as an extra grant, or otherwise, the works being of no immediate benefit to the ratepayers, certainly would not have been carried out, When the late Road Board went out of office, the grant had not all been expended, a small balance of about £SO being left on hand. At the first meeting of the new Board, held on the 23rd of Jauuary, a letter was received from the Provincial Secretary, enquiring about the balance and what course it was intended to adopt in reference to it. In reply to this, he, as Chairman, bad nn interview with the Executive, to inquire whether the Board were really under any obligation to expend the balance—which the Board admitted was remaining—upon those particular works, as, unless such was the case, they intended to decline doing so. This, they considered, they would be justified in doing inasmuch as between £6OO and £7OO bad already ben spent on similiar works in the immediate vicinity, and the Board were not satisfied with the manner in which they had been treated in the apportionment of the votes for Road Boards, whilst the works were not required by the ratepayers. Nothing definite

resulted from the interview until next meeting of the Board, when a letter was received from th<i Government, stating that the expenditure of the balance upon the works specified in the agreement with Mr Khodes was imperative. In consequence of this, a resolution was passed to the effect that the bnlance should be expended as required, so soon as sufficient funds were available, and a copy of it transmitted to the Government. This being done, the Board naturally thought everything was settled, but on the 15th of February, another letter was received expressing the extreme surprise of the Government that the Board should have so far infringed upon the conditions made with Mr Khodes as to apply any portion of the money to other works than those specified. In answer to this, the Board pointed out that their predecessors had expended the money, and again explained their intentions as to

the balance remaining unspent. They also pointed out that their predecessors in appropriating funds at their disposal had not been prepared for the partial apportionment of the votes for Road Boards, pointing out that the Heatlicote and Riccarton districts where it was only necessary to levy sixpenny rates, had received £6OO and £4OO respectively, whilst they could only obtain £240. When this letter reached the Government, a change had occurred in the Ministry, and the new Executive, without any enquiry (whatever, came to a decision upon the case tit once. A reply was received by the Board on the 6th of March again referring to the £3OO, and stating that the apportionment of funds to the Board was no excuse for expending money granted for a specific purpose on other works, a proceeding which the Government considered as a distinct breach of trust. In answer to this, an acknowledgment of indebtedness for the balance unspent was forwarded, together with renewed assurances that it would be spent So_ loon as funds were available, pointing out at the same time, that as no agreement had been entered into with the Government by their predecessors, they could not see where the breach of trust had occurred. After this the correspondence stopped for a short time, but at a meeting held early in May it was decided that the intention of the Government respecting the amount due to the district from the last vote of the Provincial Council should be ascertained. This was done, and in reply a letter was received on the 20th of the same month stating that Bteps were being taken reapportion the vote referred to, but that it was very improbable that the Avon Road Board would receive any porlion of it, and referring them for the reason of such an exceptionable course to the letter dated 6th of March. The Board felt very much dissatisfied at such a course being pursued, and it was decided to ask for further explanations in the matter and also whether they were relieved from the care of the main roads or whether the Board as then constituted, were any obstruction between the government and the interests of the ratepayers. In answer to this the government replied on the 2nd of June, saying that their reasons for not entrusting the Board with funds had previously been explained, and that they were not released from charge of the main roads, although any representation as to repairs being required would receive the immediate attention of the Government. The Board merely acknowledged receipt of this, and then closed tlio correspondence. Mr Laine then explained more minutely the immediate matters incidental to the advancement of the money by Mr Rhodes, and pointed out that the money had been spent by the previous Board whilst every promise had been given to expend the balance as soon as funds were in hand. In face of this, and the continued refusal of the Govemmen to entrust funds to the Board, it was evident that it was an obstruction to the interests of the ratepayers. Taking this view of the case, four of the members had resigned, (hear, hear,) nnd he himself only held his seat until such time as the election was completed. (Applause.) Some unimportant questions were asked as to the precise locality in which the £3OO had been expended.

Several ratepayers alleged that it had all been spent on private works, which Mr Rhodes denied, although it formed an outfall for the drainage from his land.

Mr Tisch spoke at some length to the effect that the money had been expended solely for the benefit of private property, and yet that it was intended to be charged against the grant to the Board. This was proved by tha fact that if even the balance of £SO had been expended, the Government still only intended to grant the Board £240, whilst other and smaller districts, where only 6d rates had to he levied against a shilling one in the Avon district, had received £4OO and £6OO each. Mr Ti-ch was frequently applauded, and the meeting began to get somewhat excited and interruptive, but was controlled by the chairman.

Mr Rhodes entered into a lengthened explanation of the particulars respecting the loan of the money to the Board. The proposal had originated with himself to the Government, in order to find work for the unemployed, and the money was to be expended on specified works in the swamp. He assured the Board that he had, in personal interviews with members of the Government, been several times informed that the grant due to the Board was only withheld until the unexpended balance of the £3OO had been laid out on the works originally specified.

Mr Culler considered the Board were indebted tosome one else, other than members of the Government, for being so continually taunted about the .-MO. He then referred to the injustice shewn towards the Board in the apportionment of grunts as compared with other districts. Mr J. T. Peacock believed that the grants would be forthcoming as soon as the balance of the £3OO had been spent. Mr W. 11. Lane spoke at considerable length, deprecating the conduct of the Government in imputing a breach of trust to the Board, when their predecessors had actually spent the money j and whilst they themselves had frequently promised to lay the balance out as soon as funds were available. He also dilated upon the injustice of deducting the £3OO from the grant due to the Board, when the amount was to be confined to specified works, and when the late Board had clearly understood that it was not to interfere with such grant. The Government had refused to relieve the Board from charge of the main roads, but would see to repairs being effected if pointed out to them as ne-essary. He would not sit on the Board any longer to be insulted by such conduct. (Applause.) Mr Peacock considered the whole matter was a misunderstanding, and that the Board would have received their full apportionment of the Provincial Council grant had they spent the balance of the £3OO. Mr Rhodes' interviews with the members of the Government proved this. Several ratepayers here pointed out that the Board had received intimation of only £240 being allowed them for the year, whilst the works specified for the £3OO were Btill in progress, and before any unexpended balance existed. Mr Aikman considered the non-expendi-ture of the whole £3OO had merely been made an excuse for defrauding the Board of its share of the annual vote. (Applause.) Mr Cutler moved that, in the opinion of this meeting, it was not advisable to fill up the vacancies in the Board. A ratepayer pointed out that the district would then be in the hands of the Government, and the rates would very probably be absorbed in repairing the main road, The motion was withdrawn. Mr Joyce spoke in strong terms against the conduct of the Government, and urged that the ratepayers should take up a decided position against being unfairly dealt with. He moved a resolution, indignantly denying the right of the Government to interfere in the expenditure of funds by the Board. The Chairman pointed out that nothing of the kind had yet been done. After a short but spirited discussion the motion was withdrawn. After some further remarks, it was resolved to proceed with the election, when the following gentlemen were proposed, and received the number of votes appended to their names, -W. Norman, 13; - Joyce, 11; J. Abbott, 9; J. T. Peacock, 7. Messrs Rhodes and

Tisch were also proposed but declined to stand. The first three gentlemen were declared elected to fill the vacant seats of Messrs W.H. Lane, Langdown, and Tisch, and to remain in office until the end of the present year. Mr Peacock was afterwards elected to fill the vacancy camed by resignation of Mr Cutler, and will hold office until the end of 18G9. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings, which, although verging upon the noisy, were conducted in perfect good temper throughout. A meeting of the Board was afterwards held, when MrLaiue resigned his seat, and Mr Peacock was elected Chairman of the Board. It was also decided that a public meeting should be held on that day fortnight, at noon, to fill the vacancy caused by the retirement of Mr Laine.