WAIPAWA.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9975, 27 April 1895, Page 4

WAIPAWA.

(FKOM OUB OWN COREKSPONDKNT. April 26, 1595. Messrs A, Garry, Bennett, M'Gieevy Kathbone, and Sorlmgeour have been reelected members of the Waipawa Koad Board without opposition, A special meetlDg of the Waipawa Town Board was held this forenoon to consider the letter of Commissioner M'Greevy, dated 18th April, 1895, referring to the purchase of a aite for an office for the hoard, and bis request for a re-conveyance to him of section No. 30, Abbotsford (Waipawa.) Present— Mesßra M'Greevy (chairman), Bennett, Kathbone, Abrahams, and Serlmgeour. As soon as the notice convening the meeting had been read, tbe chairman retired, and Mr W. H. J. Bennett was appointed chairman of the meeting. Mr Abrahams, speaking to the terms of Mr M'Greevy'a letter, thought) they Bhould obtain a legal opinion before doing so. —Mr Scrimgeonr took a similar view.— Mr Rathbone, remarking on the purchase by the former Board, referred to the necessity for obtaining a aite for Town's offioes, the difficulty of obtaining ono from anyone else, and that there was no other to be got at a lower price. It had been Baid that they could have got) a site on the Po Ice Court section bnt he doubted very much whether one could be got tbera on any terms, but if they did the Government wonld only allow them to be there on sufferance. — Mr Abrahams corroborated the preceding remarks, agreeing that the course was necessary, but the resolt had proved most unfortunate, and a source of loss to both the Board and Mr M'Greevy.— Mr Rathbone suggested that Mr Loughnan, their solicitor, be Bent for and consulted, —Mr Bennett agreed, the Board did not want to lay the foundation of another complication. — Mr Loaghnan attended, and the Board discussed the whole matter with him, with the following result -.— Mr Kathbone moved, and Mr Abrahams seconded, "Than the Board recognises that the contract for the purchase of section '30, Abbotsford' is illegal, and in contravention of the Local Bodies Contractors Act, 1885 ; that Buch contract be rescinded ; that the purchase money tendered by Mr M'Greevy be acaepted, and the Board execute such reconveyance as their solicitor shall approve " This was waa carried. Then Mr Scrimgeonr moved, and Mr Bathbone seconded, "That the Board wishes to record its opinion that the said contract) was a contract) in every way advantageous to the inhabitants of the district ; that the price paid was the market value of tbe land and no more ; and that the contract was entered into bona fide, and in ignorance of the law." This was aleo carried, and the farther proceedings wore only conversational. It was understood tbat the chairman wonld take over the accounts and books of the clerk, treasurer, collector of rates, &c, as previously arranged, It is only fair to point out that the present Board is not in any way identical with the old Board that purchased the land. Mr M'Greevy ulone was on the previous Board. Farther developments may be looked for shortly. Mr Michael Moroney's condition con tinues to improve.