A COMPLAINT FROM TARADALE.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7196, 23 June 1885, Page 3

A COMPLAINT FROM TARADALE.

Sir, — As there is a strong feeling in Taradale about the conduct of the Meanee Road Board will jou give me a little space to ventilate our grievances 1 The ratepayers know very little of the proceedings of the Board and its expenditure, for they have not had an opportunity of inspecting a balancesheet for two years past. It should be submitted at the annual meeting of ratepayers, but the last meeting was called for a certain day at noon, and was only advertised once in an evening paper, and consequently no one attended. The meeting should be properly advertised, and should beheld in the evening, to give the ratepayers an opportunity of being present, instead of at noon. I am aware- that the Road Board Act provides that the annual meetings shall be held at noon ; but the Amendment Act of last year provides that it may be adjourned to any future time, and that meeting. should. have been adjourned, as very few ratepayers can give the tjmeto attend in the middle of the day. I believe Mr Macdonald tried to get this done, but the chairman and his friends would not agree to the proposal — for what' reason is best known to themselves. I don't wish to impute any improper expenditure, but if it is true that the Board is from £300 to £400 in debt the ratepayers are entitled to some explanation. A A public meeting is also wanted to take some steps about the -constitution of the Board. I hear that i; ye^*ii^aye>\doubto'""j»i' to the MegaUty of the lelebtldn -of three niejnberi

L of the Board — those for the Papakui i ward. The chairman has, I believe, ii ■ yoked the aid of Mr Sutton to get tfc elections made legal, but I don't thin that even Mr Sutton will endeavor t ride over olause 91 of the Amendmeti Act, whioh requires another eleotion t be held. Another reason why I an others want a meeting of ratepayers j that we want three wards — Taradale Meanee, and Papakura — so giving th Board nine members instead of six as a present ; and then if the Papakuri people can do with a rate of one-eight] of a penny let them do it. It is alsi said that the valuation roll is illegal, am some questions might be asked on tha score. Some new blood is wanted 01 the Board, and blood that will look aftei the interests of the small settler Just one instance of how valua tions are managed at present. The Napier Park Company's property was valued at £53 per aore, The company kicked ; valuation thereupon reduced to £15 an aore. Mission property, held by small settlers, valued^at £30 to £200 per acre. Owners kicked, but being email men the kicking was not effectual in getting a reduction. The small settlers are told that the Aot gives no power to the Board to reduce valua- . tions. But how about the Park Company's property ? Was that reduction illegal ? We want a little light on that and other subjects. No doubt the members of the Board are all virtuous and good ; but the ratepayers this way would be much obliged if the chairman would call a public meeting in the evening, so as to have that virtue and goodness demonstrated to the admiring world at Taradale. — I am, &c, E TarADai/E,