KAITI APPEAL CASE.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 256, 6 November 1901, Page 4

KAITI APPEAL CASE.

DISCUSSED AT KOAD BOARD j MEETING. At the meeting of the Haiti Itoad Board yesterday the acting-Chairman, Mr A. !'. Bridges,'referred to the ease of the Ttoad Board v. Tucker, decided in the Appeal j Court, and moved the following resolu- ( tiou : “ That a telegram be sent to the , Hon. the Colonial Treasurer respectfully 1 drawing his attention to the important decision given on Monday in the Appeal Court in the ease of Tucker v. the Haiti Road Board relating to special rates pledged as security to the Government for loans, and requesting that the advice of the Crown Solicitors be taken in the matter as to whether the Board should accept the position or that tire Crown should carry it to the Privy Council, a; the decision seriously affects ths securities of local bodies pledged to the Government throughout the- colony for payment of inj terest made by special orders under the Act." A copy of the telegram should also be sent to the Hon. J. Carroll. Mr Bull seconded the motion. He thought it necessary they should get some further advice on the matter. It was a very important thing to that Board, to every Board in the colony, and also to the Government.

The motion was carried unanimously, and the Chairman then moved: “That this Board views with regret the loss which the ratepayers have sustained in the action Tucker v. the Haiti Road Board, and that the Government be petitioned for relief through the member for the district, the Hon. J. Carroll.” Mr Bull said that perhaps they had | better wait until they got the result of the I case officially. : The Chairman said it would take about TIOO out of the rates to pay the costs. The costs would probably have to be defrayed out of the general account, and if they had not the money to pay it might mean the Board would have to go into liquidation. Mr Harris said, as the House was rising, it would be no use petitioning Parliament.

The Chairman said ho had proposed the motion to show the ratepayers what they thought of the matter, and to try and conserve the general funds as much as possible. They had already had one indignation meeting over it. The Board had opposed the severance of Titirangi from the start. They were never consulted in the matter. It was simply a matter of a few of the Haiti ratepayers who had originally been contributing to the old loan, feeling themselves aggrieved, they petitioned the County Council for severance. The Board attended at the County office and oppposed it, but the Chairman declined to hoar the deputation. Hie petition was acceded to, severance was granted, and a new road district was formed. Special rates were struck in the ordinary course over the whole of the original area, and the suit just decided was the outcome. The Board had taken every step, short of legal proceedings, to oppose the severance of Titirangi, but w thoub avail. When they approached the County Council the County Chairman s iid they were out of Court, and would not hear them. The motion was carried unanimously.