MEETING OF RATEPAYERS AT OXFORD.

Press, Volume XLV, Issue 7172, 6 October 1888, Page 6

MEETING OF RATEPAYERS AT OXFORD.

A public meeting of, ratepayers of the Oxford Road Diatrict was held in the West Oxford Town Hall to consider the claim of Flhlay v. the Board. About seventy ratepayers were present. Mr James Parlaae, Chairman of the Board, took the chair, and gave a history of the drain. He said that in 1873 the Provincial Council granted £100 to construct the main drain, on condition that the district paid £ for £. The district did not pay anything towards the construction of the drain in 1873, but the owners of land on both sides paid the amount required by the Council, and the Board superintended and carried out the work. By pressure from the owners of land the Board in 1880 cleared and widened the drain, and it was asserted had taken and turned the whole of the waters of the Kiver Cust down the drain. As they were aware Finlay had brought and gained an action against the Board, aud had received damages of £200. He now was prosecuting a second action against the Board for £100. which he alleged had accrued since January. The Board had offered to have the whole cases settled by arbitration before the action was taken and considered the amount anked unreasonable, and had offered since the action was taken £2.> in settlement of the claim. He had received a telegram saying chat Fiulay would accept £50 and costs. There was no statement as to the amount of costs, but they might be sure they would be ample, and might be put down at the same amount or £50. The Board wished for an expression of opinion from the ratepayers, and although he did not wish to influence the meeting in any way, ha thought the meeting had a right to know the opinion of, the Board on the matter, and ha would tell them that it was that the -Board considered the demand exorbitant, as the land could never have been occupied if the. drain had not been made. Mr Pritcbard proposed—"That as Mr Finlay had refused to accept the £25 offered by the Board without prejudice, and has not' agreed to settle the matter by arbitration, the Board resist the action to the utmost." Mr Ingram moved as en amendment — " That the matter should be left entirely in the hands of the Board." He was sure the ratepayers had every confidence in the members of the Board, and that they knew what was best to be done in the matter. Mr A. Bennett seconded the amendment. Mr Dobson said he should second the resolution, as he considered the demand was unreasonable. On the amendment being put to the meeting, ten voted for, and lit teen against. The resolution was then put and carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to the chair was carried by acclamation.