WHATAUPOKO ROAD DISTRICT.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 193, 8 September 1888, Page 2

WHATAUPOKO ROAD DISTRICT.

Ov Tuesday next the ratepayers of the Whstaupoko Road District will be called upon to decide whether the Board shall borrow from the Government £2300 for the purpose of metalling about four ruile? cf street in Hapara 3 and North Gisborne and meeting a bridge across the Bapara stream. Tha ratepayers decided in favor of the Board’s proposal, but by a technical error in the continuous newspaper advertisement the poll was taken a few days too soon, and the consequence is that the Colonial Treasurer requires all the proceedings to be gone over again. There can be no doubt as to the necessity for obtaining this money. If the Board can only obtain about £lOO a yea? from rates, all they can do is to keep the present primitive tracks passable, and settlement must be delayed as people will not build or improve their properties while neither roads nor streets are passable in the winter time. It must also be remembered that the moneys obtained from the Government on this principle are is not a loan. The principal has not to be repaid, The Board

pays five per cent, interest for twenty-six years and the debt is then extinguished. To pay this five per cent, will not increase our ordinary rates for at least seven years, and at the end of that t me if people are encouraged to build and reside upon the properties that will be made accessible by the expenditure nf 'he money, the increased value will provide sufficient rates for the cost of rep drs. So that in the ordinary course of events, and without any startling period of prosperity, the rates will not be increased at any time during the twenty-six years. The constitution of the Board is all that can be desired ; ■.hey have in every instance proved their carefulness of the funds entrusted to them, but even if they were not careful the strin gent provisions under which the Government advances the money would prevent any misappropriation. The ratepayers will be called upon to vote for a certain sum to be expended upon each street or work, and the Government Auditor will examine the accounts to see that the terms of the loan have been complied with. It must be remembered that a majority of the ratepayers mu st vote. Every absentee counts against it, and every one who will not exert himself to record his vote, will be injuring the welfare of the district as much as the man who votes against the proposal. The polling-booth has been chosen in a most convenient place—Mr Barry’s house, near Mr Dunlop’s, in Stout street, about 100 yards from the bridge—so that th se who have only their dinner hour, will be able to find time to record their votes, and by so doing advance not only their own interests, but benefit the district by having substantial works undertaken out of outside capital.