WAIROA. MEETING OF RATEPAYERS OF HIGHWAY DISTRICT. (FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) April 15.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3356, 18 April 1868, Page 3

WAIROA. MEETING OF RATEPAYERS OF HIGHWAY DISTRICT. (FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) April 15.

Yesterday the first meeting of the ratepayers of the district, in accordance with the regulations of the new Educa ion Act, took place at the Presbyterian Church. The result of that meeting was by no meani such as to make the framers of that Act look with complacency on the measure to which they have given birth, 'I here was not a man present who did not acknowledge the importance of promoting the general diffusion of education, and that was, probably, the only consideration "which obtained »cy supporters to the rate. One gentleman strongly opposed the rate on the ground that the community was already sufficiently taxed, or sufficiently overtaxed, without any voluntary imposition of farther taxes by the act and dend of the settlers themselves. Another gentleman, who is blessed with a tolerably numerous growth of olive-branches, declared that as long as he was able himself to pay for his children's education he would accept of no extraneous aid whatever towards securing that desirable object. The feeling seemed to be general that, whereas there was no apparent connection between the number of acres a man possessed and the number of children which graced his table, the extent of a man's land was no very accurate measure of the extent to which he ought to be taxed for educational purposes. Amanwitht*ohundred acres of land might reasonably be supposed to make more use of the district highways than he who had only one hundred, but it did not necessarily follow that he of the two hundred acres would make more use of the district school than the owner of the one hundred. There was, therefore, no very evident propriety in raising money in a similar manner for such dissimilar purposes, and an opinion Was subsequently expressed that a household rate would be more advisable, as well as more fair, than an acreage rate for educational purposes. After due discussion, the chairman (Mr. John Bain) put to the meeting the question of rate or no rate, and the imposition of the rate was negatived by a majority of 14 to 9. Before the assembled settlers took their departure, a proposition was laid before the meeting that three settlers should be appointed a committee to draw up a petition to the General Assembly for the abrogation of provincial institutions, and the consigning the management of the province to the General Government. The ground for_ this proposition was the great expense of provincial government, and the little attention paid by it to the wants of the country district*. We certainly have to thank the blundering of the Provincial Government aqd Council that we are unable to put on a rate this year for repairing the roads, and that several alterations inroads have nob yet been legalised which might have been legalised without expense, and at very little trouWe. , , A committee was also appointed for the purpose of takiDg steps to procure a bi-weekly mail at least, instead of the weekly one with which we are threatened.

la the electoral district of Westland North seven polling places are gazetted, ' and the names of five electors only appear _ on the olectnral roll, three of whom reside io- Weatp»rt, one at Cobden, sancf, one at. ftelsoti Creek, ,- Candidates for- election "therefore need not waste much time itt.panvajsyig fervotesr.—