HIGHWAY BOARDS.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVII, Issue 4356, 1 August 1871, Page 3

HIGHWAY BOARDS.

ARARIMU NORTH. The annual mooting of the ratepayers of Ararimu North Highway District was held on 28th July, at the house of Mr. Huntley, when a rate of Id, per acre was struck, and the following gentlemen were elected trustees for the ensuing year:— M. C. Henley, J. Sinclair, A. Brown, J. Walsh, T. W. Deacon (chairman).— Many complaints were made by ratepayers respecting the state of the roada, which are really ia a fearful state. The newly.elected trustees, however, have the confidence of the settlers, and will no doubt lay out the money to the best advantage. — A rote of thanks was passed to Mr.W.Bonar, the outgoing chairman, who declined to be re-elected as trustee on account of press of business.

WAIPIPI. The annual meeting of the ratepayers of this district was held in the Commercial Hall, Waiuku, on Saturday, July 29. There was a numerous attendance of ratepayers, and Mr. E. Constable occupied the chair. The Chairman read the advertisement from the Daily Southern Cross convening the meeting, and called on the ratepayers present to elect two auditors. Messrs. A. Campbell andG. Bennett were elected, and the accounbs were audited and passed. — The Chairman then called upon the Secretary to read the report, which showed that the total receipts for the year were £250 Bs. 10d., and the total expenditure £237 2s. Id., leaving a balance in hands of Treasurer of £13 63. 9d. — The meeting then agreed that the rate should be Id. p»r acre, after which they proceeded to elect trustees. — The following gentlemen were elected : — Messrs. E. Conbtable, J. Wallace, E. Holmes, J. Craig, and S. Rogers. — Meisra. A. Campbell and G. Bennett were appointed auditors. — A vote of thinks to the late Trustees and the Chairman of the meeting terminated the proceedings. — At the meeting of the Trustees held shortly afterwards, Mr. E. Constable was appointed chairman, Mr, E. Holmes treasurer, and Mr. R. J. Moore secretary and colloctor.

KAEO. The annual meeting of the ratepayers of the Kaeo district was held at the Court-house on the 25th Jaly, and, after the usual formalities were gone through, Messrs, Gibbs ami A. B. Shepperd audited the accounts for the current year. — Mr. Goulton proposed that the rate for the ensuing year be reduced to per acre. Mr. Sheppard thought that would be too little, and moved a resolution that it should Be three farthings. This wa3 concurred in by Mr. George Shepperd. Mr. Gibbs proposed, as an amendment, that the rate should be the same as last year — namely, Id. per acre — which was seconded by Mr. A. B. Shepperd. On being put to the meeting the |d. rate was carried. — The meeting then proceeded to elect trustees j and the last year's trustees were all reelected, except Mr. Lane, who refused to allow himself to be put in nomination, and Mr. Cribba was unanimously elected in his place. Messrs. Begg and A. B. Shepperd were appointed auditors for the ensuing year, which closed the business of the meeting. — As the Provincial Government has recently given instructions to Mr. Pair bourn to survey a line of road through the Waiere to the Waimate, this gave rise to a good deal of desultory discussion on the subject. Messrs. Samuel and George Shepperd, with others, were of opinion that, when the Waiere load was cut, very few people would go on the old road. — Mr. Goulton said that it was quite necessary that Lusk's road should be opened, but he hoped that the Government would make arrangements to allow of a deviation at the Kaeo end, where the line runs a considerable distance half-way up the »ide of a steep hill. It ought to follow the course of a small stream, at the bottom of the hill, until it cuts into Mr. Henry Kemps line, which is quite on the level, and more direct — Mr. Lane had no doubt that, if this were done, it would effect a saving of quite £100 in the labour of cutting the road, but it would require an Act to do that. — Mr. Goulton suggested that they should put it into the hands of their member, Mr. McLeod, who might be able to do something ia the matter. A notch cut a long distance in the side of a clay hill might entail very heavy permanent expenses on the district in landslips. — Several others expressed their opinion to the same effect. — There was a very small attendance at the meeting ; by far the greater number of holders have not paid their rates, and were consequently not entitled to a voice in the meeting. — [Correspondent.]

MATAKOHE. Saturday, July 22, was the day appointed for the annual meeting of the ratepayers of this district, and if we may judge by the numbers present on the occasion considerable interest was taken in levying a rate and electing a District Board for the present year. The chairman of the retiring Board, Mr. J. Davis, baring been requested to preside, opened the business of the day by presenting a full report of the proceedings of the Board from the date of its formation to the 30th June, which, judging from the manner in which it was received, must have baen very satisfactory. After the auditors had been chosen and the balance-sheet was signed as correct in due form, the accounts were preaented to the meeting and showed :—Receipts, £105 2s. 5d. ; expenditure, £94 10 a. 5d. ; leaving balance in hand, for works not quite completed, of £10 12s.— Mr. S. Cooksey then moved, "That the rate for the present year be an acreage rate throughout the district;" which was seconded by Mr. J. Hardie, and carried. — Mr. Kirk then moved, "That the rate levied be Id. per acre," which was seconded by Mr. S. Cooksey. To this an amendment was made by Mr.Gr.F. Eees, and seconded by Mr, A. Bintoul, that the rate be 2d. per acre. After which a second amendment was made by Mr. A. Fisher, jun., seconded by J. Smith, that the rate levied be 3d. per acre. The amendments on being put to the meeting were lost, and the original motion of a penny rate was carried by a majority. — It was then unanimously resolved that the election of trustees be by open Toting, in a manner similar to that which was adopted on a previous occasion. Several gentlemen, on being nominated, refased to stand, but ultimately five were reported by the tellers to have been duly elected to fulfil the arduous duties of a highway board. The election of four of these five gentlemen, namely, Messrs. Kirk, Pheasant, Rees, and Houldershaw, remains undisputed j but, in consequence of a mistake in reckoning the number of rotes, who will be the fifth member of the Board remains to be seen. It is certain we have been tossed upon the horns of a dilemma, and it will be rather iateresting to some of us to watch the process of wriggling off. After the election of a Board was looked upon as settled, Messrs. Thomson and A. WMtenouse, sen., -were I requested to become auditors for the present year, to which they consented. — Ihe question of accepting statute labour in lieu of a money rate was determined in the negative, with something nearly approaching contempt. Then came a vote of thanks to the retiring Board for their services during the past year, and a vote of thanks to the chairman, and the meeting was brought to a close.— [Correspondent.]

WAIUKU. The annual meeting of the ratepayers of the "Waiukn Highway District was held on Saturday, July 29, in the Agricultural Hall, vVaiuku. There was a good attendance of ratepayers. At the request of the meeting, Mr. H. Crispe took the chair. The advertisement calling the meeting was read, after which Messrs. D. H.'Lusk and HHamlin were appointed auditors to examine the accounts. As soon as they had passed the accounts, the chairman called upon the secretary to read the trustees' report, which ; showed that the sum of £236 135. lid. had been receivedfromratescollected;also,£26ll4s.9d. from the General Government contribution to Highway Boards, and £4 from private j contribution, making a total from all sources j of £502 Bs. Bd. The trustees had expended on the main road, £81 IS*. Brt.; byroads, £102 10s. 3d.; secretary* sal -try, commission, au<l other ohsxges, £ID ; legal onuses.

£67 Os. sd. The trustees recommended that the General Government be urged to make their payments earlier in tho season, so as to enable them to complete works during the dry weather of summer. The trustees could not agree with the the principle of the distribution of the General Government money, and failed to see the justice of giving rich districts near town such large turns when the requirements of straggling and struggling country districts are so urgent. The treasurer's balance-sheet was than read, showing a balance in hand of £67 Os. 54d.—Mr. J. Mellsop moved the adoption of the report ; seconded by C. T .Barriball. —After some discussion a rate of 2d. per acre was agreed to. — The following ratepayers were then proposed as trustees : — Messrs. Selby, Hedge, JE. Hamlin, Green, Crispe, H. Hill, W. Sandy, S. Barriball, C. Barriball, and W. Currie. After the votes had been duly recordsd by the secretary, under the supervision of Messrs. J. Mellsop and C. Hosking, the Chairman declared Messrs. Hamlin, Crispe, C. BarribaJl, Hill, and Hedge duly elected as trustees for the year 1871.— Messrs. A. Campbell and D. H. Lusk were appointed auditors. — A vote of thanks to the outgoing trustees and to the chairman of the meeting terminated the proceedings. — At the meeting of trustees, held at the termination of the public meeting, Mr. E. Hamlin was elected chairman, Mr. J. Hedge treasurer, and Mr. R. J. Moore secretary and collector.