HERETAUNGA HIGHWAY DISTRICT.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3589, 12 January 1883, Page 3

HERETAUNGA HIGHWAY DISTRICT.

Pursuant to advertisement a meeting of ratepayers in the above district wsis held last night in the Hastings Town Hall to consider tho advisability or otherwise of abolishing Road Boards and allowing the County Council to do tho work of the Board. About thirty ratepayers were present, Captain Russell was voted to the chair. The Chairman read the advertisement convening the meeting, and called upon the ratepayers present to express an opinion on the matter. Mr Wellwood stated that he considered the abolition of Road Boards would be a step in the direction of returning to Provincialism, a step which he would be very sorry to see. His experience of Road Boards for many years was that they were a most useful body, aud far better able to meet local requirement than any central body could be. Mr Birch quite agreed with Mr Wellwood in continuing the Road Board system, and he would therefore move the following: —"That in the opinion of the ratepayers of tlds district it is inexpedient to abolish Road Boards." Iv seconding the motion Mr Fitzßoy said that many ratepayers were of opinion that by abolishing Road Boards a reduction in rates would take place, but this would be found to he wrong. If the Road Boards were abolished the County Council would be obliged to have a large staff of men employed, especially when there happened to be a flood. TluVwould entail extra expense, which could only be met by an increased rate, aud as a matter of convenience there was no comparison between Road Boards and County Councils. When a work was required iv a district the local chairman was always to be had, not so with the county chairman, whose duties would prevent him from being at'every one's call. Before putting the motion, the Chairman stated that he took another view of the matter, and that was, that by abolishing Road Boards a great amount of power aud responsibility would be thrown on the county chairman, whose tune would be altogether taken up by the duties pertaining to his entangled office. This would necessitate that he should be paid for his services, aud iv his (Captain Russell's) opinion that woidd be a retrograde movement, not to speak of the extra expense entailed, as it would open an office for one whose only wish might be the salary attached thereto. While matters remained as at present gentlemen would be found willing to take the office, and fulfil it faithfully for the honor it conferred. The motion was then put to the meeting, and carried without a dissentient voice. Mr Fitzßoy asked the chairman when the cemetery would be ready for occupation, and in reply Mr Wellwood stated that Mr Williams had undertaken to see that the matter was brought under the Cemeteries Act, when a meeting would be held to elect trustees, and then all would be ready for immediate use. Mr Moore asked whether the county had power to abolish the Road Boards against their own inclination ? — The Chairman stated that by the Act there did not appear to be any such power given to the comities. This being all the business, the meeting closed after a vote of thanks to the chairman.