THE TARADALE TOWN BOARD ON ITS TRIAL.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7823, 16 August 1887, Page 3

THE TARADALE TOWN BOARD ON ITS TRIAL.

(FROM 01711 OW'X C'ORHIiSI'ONDEXT.) Tim uliove Board was arraigned before a public meeting on Saturday evening, at tke Oddfellows' Jla.ll, to show cause why the Hoard should not lie dissolved, and the members thereof relegated to private life. The complainants in the case were Messrs Lord, Kyan, Cordon, Harrison, .lell'ares, and B. Monteilh, who conducted theiv own ease, while Mr Drunnnond appeared on behalf of the Town Hoard, Mr Drumniond was requested to preside, but as he appeared for the defendants, he declinrrl the honor. It was then decided that Mr Kymcr should hear the case, and he accordingly then took the chair. The Chairman opened the proceedings with a few preliminary remarks, in the course of which he stated he was one of those that was not satisfied with the Town Board. (This remark was received with some anxiety by the defendants, who considered it not becoming the position of one who is expected to hold in even balance the scales of justice). He went on to say that he did not know of a single improvement the Town Hoard had made. He thought that body might have made a few footpaths and have piovided a few lights. Uncalled on Mr Lord to open the case for the prosecution. Mr Lord slated that he was one of thoge who signed the requisition for the meeting, fie was not satislied with the working of the Town Board, and was anxious that the matter should be discussed, as to whether the town district should still exist, or whether it was advisable to fall back on the J toad Hoaid. He accused the Hoard of carrying out works in an unimpoitant road named Cuppy's-road which did not require it, anil it remained to be seen whether the Hoard would prove of any benefit to the district in the future. Mr Gordon was then called. He stated that he was not one of those who signed the petition for the formation of the town district, as he thought at the time that the matter was a little premature. He thought the district should have been joined to part ot I'apakura, and he was under tli« impression that the Taipo creek wanted cleaning out. He knew it was in a disgraceful state. Mr Jell'ares then stated his ease, remarking that he had litUe to say. but he would like an explanation of the Hoard's balance-sheet as recently published, as some of the expenditure seemed excessive. He would Jike to know if the Hoard paid anything for the work done in Waverley-road. He thought that all the improvements required in the district could have been carried out without the Town Hoard, He was not satisfied with its working. Mr Ryan staled that he signed the requisition, but was not aware that he would be called upon to address the meeting. During the six years he had been in Taradale he had never seen the Taipo creek so high as it was a short time ago. The creek was a great nuisance, and if the Town Hoard did not take it in hand, who was to do soy Since signing the requisition he had heard that if the town district was dissolved the member for the district in the County Council wonld use his inlluence with Unit body to prevent the construction of a tramway to Taradale. The Chaiiman remarked that whether there was a tramway or not he wonld undertake that there would he no diliiculty in respect to travelling accommodation. He considered the question of drainage was a very important matter, and could be carried out much better by the Council than by the Town Hoard. In fact, the Town Board had so far done nothing, but always stated that they were prepared to make footpaths, channelling, &c, provided half the expense was borne by the owners of property adjacent. Mr Harrison was the next called, but he failed to put in an appearance. Mr K. Monteith also failed to answer to his nmno. This concluded the ease for the prosecution, and Mr Drunnnond rose to reply to the charges. He remarked that he felt somewhat disappointed, as he expected something of a serious nature would have been brought against the Hoard. It seemed that he had little to reply to, as he failed to see that any ease had been made out. He could see no reasons that had been put forward to show why the Town Hoard should be dissolved. He considered the Hoard would prove a great benefit to the district, as the revenue was doubled by the formation of the town district compared with the Road Board, which he thought was a great advantage. With regard to Cuppy's-road he begged to differ with Mr Lord. He (Mr Drumniond.) considered J,hat road one of the most important thoroughfares in the district. A large amount of trallic passed over that road, and it was at present in a bad state. The culverts were rotten, and the Hoard would be liable for dainase should an accident occur. The work that was at present being carried out was authorised by the Koad Hoard prior to the formation of the town district, but was not carried oat by thai body on aceountof lliotnwn district being gazetted ; but the funds that would have been expended on it were included in the amount paid to the Town lioaid, who would have earned nut the work long ago if they had hail suflieiciu fund* at their disposal. The money received from the ttoad hoard anil the dog-tax were all the funds the Hoard had to work with. As to doing nothing in the township, it was intended to carry out a system of improvements as soon as possible, but the Hoard did not intend to commence by patching. It was their intention to carry out the work thoroughly, and to have the levels properly lixed. If the Board did not adhere to (heir determination the members were not lit to remain in ollice. The Hoard was now taking the necessary steps to obtain a loan for that purpose. It was the opinion of the Hoard that about £(500 would be reqnired to carry out what wa« necessary. In reply to Mr Cordon, Mr Thummond said he. did not think that amalgamation with Papakura was worth taking into consideration. In reply to Mr .leiVarcs, Mr Dnimmond said he found that that gentleman had confused tin; balance-sheet with the estimated loeeipts and expenditure for this year, hi regard to Waverley '- road thp Hoard had paid half the cost of formation and UK'talliny, amounting to £10 (Is, and referred the Hireling t« Hie clerk of the Hoard for any information required. As all the expenditure of tins Hoard would bear inspection, he was anxious to give every informalinp asked for. In reply to Mr I'yan Mr Drumniond said be know the Taipo creek was in a bad sfate, but the Hoard had not been able to deal with it. The creek had been proclaimed a county drain sonic years ago, and the County Council had now handed it over lo the lioaid in a most abominabje go)idition, and £-IU or JLTiO would be required to clean out the creek in the town distripl. The, worst part of the creek was outside of the town district and was the nutlet, and the Council had not cleaned (hat poflion, si) it mjgl4 bo .judged by that what that body wnnlil ha>e ilruc \t the to* n di.-,|iie|. did nfit exist. Mr Cordon said the oreek had not been cleaned nut for years, and was a great nuisance. The Chairman remarked that he thought the question of drainage a serious matter. As to the Taipo drain, it had linen cleaned several times during the past four years. Mr Cattauach stated that n portion had I been cleaned within Die time named by

the chairman, but not past Mr Jellaves' place. Mr llnrton said he had been averse to the formation of the town district, but was under the impression that the Board bail carried out their duties very well. He thought a few of the ratepayers did not like to see the Board carrying out work outside of the township, but if any of those gentlemen lived near Ciuppy'sroad they would see that the liotivrf were not spending money uselessly. Mr KyanVonld like to know how long it would be before the Board could commence improvements in the township '. Mr Diunimond thought the question of the loan would be. definitely settled by the beginning of October, and if so the works would be commenced as soon as

possible. Mr Ryan asked whether in case of not being able to obtain the necessary votes of the ratepayers to sanction a loan, was it intended to carry on the Town Hoard ? Mr Diuniiiiond : "We expect to get the necessary votes, and do not think there is any doubt of it. I sympathise with the hotelkeepers in having to pay an ndditional sum of £15 as license fee, as I consider the amount too much. I think something might be done in thfi matter by getting an amendment of I lie lown Districts Act so that the amount should be Hid same as in the county. A ratepayer asked why something was not done during the sitting of the Native Land Court to ""make the roads passable. The weather at the time being wet the place was very dirty. — Mr Druinmoml leplied that be put on n. man to scrape oil' the mud, but the chairman of the Council considered that il was useless, and stated that Mr Kymer, as a member of the Council, could carry out what was necessary to make the roads passable. Mr Kymer stated that the chairman of the Council refused to authorise him to carry out the work. Mr Diuniiuond should have obtained an authority in writing. He (Mr I'ynier) cleaned in front of his property at his own expense. Mr Hradlev said it had been perfectly amusing during the evening to hear the chairman saying what the Council would have done. 'He would like to know what the Council had done in the township ? There was a drain in their midst, tne stench of which was warranted to "kill at a thousand yards,"' which the Council

had never attended to. Tlie roads in the township had never received any metal since the reiiouned "political" metal was was put on. The Chairman said that some time ago the Council offered, to put in a drain in front of Air Hiadley's if that gentleman would forward to fie Council half the estimated cost, lint he declined to do so. Mr Bradley said he had never been asked to forward the amount. Mr Drumniond thought the best way to judge of what the Council would do for the township was by its action in the past. The Chairman remarked that he never knew an application to the Council refused.

Mr Kynn said that although he had signed the requisition to call the present meeting he felt very pleased with the explanations given. He would like to know if the Hoard could not form the footpilths?

Mr Prnnitnnnd replied that it was not advisable to do so before the permanent levels were lixed, or the work might have to be done over again. The Chairman asked if any gentlemen wished to put a resolution, so that the feeling of the meeting might be expressed ? Mr Dryden proposed, "That this meeting accords a vote of confidence to the Taradale Town Hoard, and wishes the members to continue in otlice." Mr Conway seconded the resolution, which was put to the meeting and carried, only one gentleman voting against it. A verdict of "Not guilty" was therefore recorded. Mr Drummond thanked the meeting on behalf of the Town TSnard for the confidence reposed in the Hoard, remarking that the members would do their best for the advancement of the district, and each portion of the district could rely on getting its fair share of expenditure. He looked at the district a? a whole, and would not be in favor of showing any partiality to any particular portion. The Chairman said that before leaving he would like to make ons remark, lie was glad to say that the business of the evening had been conducted in a most satisfactory manner, and he wished to thank the meeting for the attentive and orderly manner in which the subjects had been discussed. He declared the meeting closed. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings.