PARNELL HIGHWAY BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume VIII, Issue 2234, 24 March 1871, Page 2

PARNELL HIGHWAY BOARD.

A NUiiEROUSLr attended meeting of ratepayers, convened by requisition, was held laat evening in the l'arnell Public Hall, for the purpose of considering the proposal made by the trustees to extend r.he bridge at the foot of the Manukau sind main roads in Mechanics' Bay. Local feeling; had been a good dea! agitated, on the subject, many ratepayers being in favor of a large expenditure on the by-roads in preference to the main road. A little excitement was apparent at the commencement of the proceedings, owing to an attempt by llr. Robert Shaw to move Mr. Dargaville into the chair. The Chairman of. the Board (Mr. Smart), however, stood upon his right to preside, which was admitted by the meeting. The proposal of the majority of the Board to expend some £300 upon the bridge and roid was made. A sum of £1200 will be available during the year. Mr. Bright was about to address the meeting, but the Chairman ruled that the proper order was that some gentleman who signed the requisition should submit a resolution.

Mr. Vox dkb Hetde proposed the following resolution : —" That it is the opinion of this meeting that the unmade and dilapidated streets of Parnell ought to be a first charge on the funds of the Buord, and that any expenditure on the main road, except for repairs, until the other streets are formed and repaired, is a misappropriation of the funds of the Board." For his own part, the street to his house was nearly made the whole way, but he was quite willing to confer the same benefit upon the other ratepayers as he had himself, fle mostly walked by the main road into town. It was a well-made road. He thought that Mr. Crowther, with his splendid cattle and civil drivers, and so on, would be induced to wait another twelvemonths. He did not think the hardship on the cattle was very great. He thought that the back streets ought to be the first. (Hear.) Mr. Forcsie seconded the resolution. Mr. Blott wished to give the meeting a fair statement. The balance in hand was about £400. The total amount of rates was £330 in ionnd numbers. Of thie amount £125 had been paid. The commission for collecting, and the uncollected rates, were £50 and £25. Deducting these from £330, there was £255. In April thev would have a subsidy of £198, and £19S in. July. This wonld make a total of about £951. Reports had been circulated that the Board had funds enough to do both works—that is, to repair both main road and back roads. Mr. Baber's estimates had proved to be rather under than over the contract prices, so that his figures could not be objected to. He (Mr. Blott) had always done his best to improve the approaches to Parnell; but he believed he would have the experience of sU who kept horses in saying that the tvear and tear of the back streets was greater than all the pull up the hill. The estimate for the work proposed would amount to £410. Could they, in such a state of thiugs as he had described, say that they could carry out both works ? He did not see, to adopt the language of the resolution, why the funds ehould be " misappropriated," until the streets in which the ratepayers had the more immediate interest should be made. Supposing they made the main road, it would no doubt benefit Mr. Crowther, but would anybody in the meeting benefit by having a three-penny ride for a less sum ? Was there any justice in asking the ratepayers to give up the prospect of their roads. The sum that would be required for the bridge, the main road, and a few adjoining streets, would be £SSO. What was left for the back streets ? (Hear.)

Mr. Daroaviler said he was pretty much in the position of Mr. Von der Heyde. He understood, however, that, the Board was about to expend £500 on the main road, and only £300 on the side road. Last year thej all knew what occurred. At the same tune, he confessed his views had been modified since he had learned the real facts of the case. The bridge at the foot of the hill was in c very disgraceful state. Unless something was done it was not improbable that an accident would occur there. The City Board was to give £80 towards the ranking of the bridge. He regretted that he had been misled. (Cheers.) He asked for the facts, and if these were the facts, he thought a good many had been brought there on a fool's errand. It should be remembered that the inhabitants of byroads themselves used the main roads, while those on the main roads did not use the byroads. Mr. Blott had not treated them ingeuuously. Ho confessed that his of the matter had appeared to him in a different light when he learned the real facts.

Mr. Dyeu, M.P.C., reminded the meeting that the trustees had the whole and sole control of the funds of the ratepayers, and that they were not bound by any single meeting of ratepayer?, and from this followed that they might hr.ve one meeting of ratepayers of one s-ide and another of the other. He thought the best way would be to leave the whole matLer in the hands of the trustees. With them was the responsibility. (Hear.) Mr. Hesketh said the trustees were not bound to call the meeting. As he understood it, Messrs. Blott and Leßoy were on one side, and Messrs. Smart, Kisslinj, and Pike on the other. The fact was that the ratepayers were nailed together to settle the dispute between the trustees. Those trustees who would not take the responsibility of the work to be done had better resign. (Clivers and laughter.) He -would ask whether the contract had beers sigued. The Chairman: The contract ha 3 been signed. Mr. Hesketu : Then the meeting is at an end. The Chaimtan : I will explain all that has been done before the meeting separates. Mr. LeKoy would not have the meeting understand that he wa- of the same opinion as Mr. Blott. For himself he believed that the condition of the bridge required to be improved. It was not correct that there were two of the Board on one side and three ou the other. Hβ was as one with the other trustees in a great many matters. Mr. Pixe said Mr. Dargaville had put the question correctly. They had got £800 from Government to meet subscriptions. It was proposed to expend £500 on the back streets. One member had set himself up against the whole public opinion of Parneli, and he iras merely a weekly tenant. (Cheers and hisses.) The CnAiEiiAif explained why he called the meeting. He felt obliged to respect the requisition of ratepayers. But he almost felt as if he was calling them together on the first of April. They placed the trustees in a. position to control their funds, and if they did not trust them, let them elect others. The contract had been taken and signed by Archard and Brown. He believed that improvement would be a permanent one, and, t moreover, that the back streets would also be made. He hoped the meeting would be satisfied with this assurance. I Mr. Von dee Heyde asked to be permitted to withdraw the resolution. Since he bad heard the real facts of the case hie view of the whole case had been altered. He believed those who had been brought there bad been misled. The resolution was withdrawn, and after a vote of thanks passed to the Chairman, the meeting separated.