ROADS LOAN PROPOSAL.

Northern Advocate, 7 August 1919, Page 2

ROADS LOAN PROPOSAL.

FOR tUKUR'ANGI RIDING

UNANIMOUS APPROVAL,

RIPONUI DISSENTIENTS ABSENT,

A 'meeting convened by Mr J. R. MeI.nines to furtiher consider loan proposals, was held in the Tanekaha School on Tuesday afternoon, when some thirty ratepayers were in attendance. The chair was occupied by Mr Elliott. ■ Mr Mclnnes explained that the i meeting was convened by him bei cause a meeting of Riponui settlers 'had asked for a divergence from the t I original scheme of fcvprk as suggested * jby him and supported by both Tanejkaha and Hukerenui. He did not feel justified in proceeding with the scheme without unanimity of opinion of the ratepayers. A motion approving of Mr Mclnnes' fiction in calling this meeting was carried unanimously, all present regret- * ling tthe absence of the few Riponni -settlers who made this action necessary. A letter from Mr W. -A. Kerr to the meeting voiced t ! he opinion of the meeting held at Riponui on the 18th ultimo., and stated that if their alteration im the .scheme were not adopted, and. Mr iMclnnes "forced" his scheme upon the ratepayers, they of Riponui would take any and every action the law permitted to upset proceedings and squash the loan. Mr Mclnnes here stated thiait he was but a representative of the ratepayers and would force nothing upon them, but placed the matter with his suggestions in their hands to do as they Iwjould with. As outlined, the proposal is to borrow £7000, to wipe off the existing Hikurangi-Jordan loan, and with the resultant £6000 to obtain a further £6000 as subsidy from the Government, which would give a total of ■ £ 12i,000 which he proposed spending as follows (in metal) :— * Long's Corner to W. Forsyth's.— £960. Long's Corner to Craddo'ck's Swamp.—£2Bßo. Craddock's Swamp to Biponui.— - £2880. Otakairangi.—£96o, Craddock's to Hukerenui and back to Wadotu.—£24oo. -~v Formation at £30 $>er mile on necessary work.—£l92o. < Making a grant total of £12,000. He explained that the proposal imus to cut the work into 6 sections, the .amounts allotted to each to be spent, on each section, and to endeavour to - have a continuity of metal from Hikurangi to Ramarama Corner one way, to "W. Forsyth's by the other, and to Craddock's Swamp and Hukerenui aaid Waiotu similarly. Here it was stated that at Riponui there were but a few of the ratepayers present the voting being 4 against the scheme and 3 for it, while at this meeting 8 ratepayers of Riponui were present, who were ntotat the Riponui * meeting—not having been notified of its taking place—and all were against the suggested divergence. After a deal of desultory argument ■'• and consideration by many of those f present Mr A. Coutts proposed: "That this meeting of ratepayers support and adopt the scheme as outlined by ifr (Mclnnes." This iwas seconded and carried unanimously. There -was not a dissenting voice from a gathering of 30 odd of the residents of Otakairangi, Jordan and Riponui. A committee to act with Mr Mo Innes in defining the rating- area was elected in the persons of Messrs Ellis; f Elliott, Bwyer and Coutts.

A vote of thanks to Mr Mclnnes for his action and trouble was carried ■„ unanimously, as was aJso one to the dhair, when the meeting terminated. •- '■