HIGHWAY BOARDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume VIII, Issue 2348, 4 August 1871, Page 3

HIGHWAY BOARDS.

SI AN GAP AI. The annual meeting of the ratepayers of the ablive district was held in tho Wesleyan Chapel, on July 29th, 1371. Mr. William Oriniston was elected chnirmau. Mr. Richard Knagg's was elected secretary pro tern. A resolution was passed " that any person who hail not paid his rates up to the 30th day of June last, should neither tote nor be elected a trustee." A deputation from Ruarangi attended (without previous notice), and handed in a letter, referring to contract work on Waipu Road (letter rend), and the coso was to be handed over to the new trustees of the two Boards, for settlement. Messrs. .Ebctiezer Carter and Samuel Green were then elected auditors for the present meeting. They examined the accounts and voucher?, found tliern correct, and certified tho same in due form. It was then resolved that the rato be levied by tho ac.-e (equally), lor the current yenr; also that the District Hoard now to bo elected be empowered to accept of statute labour, in lieu of rate*, according to clause 43. The two amounts of rates were then proposed and seconded, viz., ono penny and two penc, per a;re ; —I he amount of two pence was carried by a majority of three votes, 10 for that amount, and seven for one penny. It was next resolved that the trustees bo elected by ballot,, but as only the following live persons were proposed and seconded, viz., Messrs. X. I'. Hewlett, David Cole, Smiiucl Green, John Hall, and William Oriniston, they wero declared to bo duly elected as trustees for the current year. Resolved that Messrs. Richard ICnagg's, and William Frarer, he elected auditors for the current year. A vote of thanks to the chairman and secretary closed the businoss. Tho trustees have been successful in recovering a considerable portion of the arrears of previous rates. Three out ot the five trustees elected wero trustees last yoar. Now that the settlers havo a better prospect of getting the rates from absentees, they hare levied a higher rato ttian formerly, and it is to be hoped something will be dono in conjunction with Government aid, to open up the surrounding districts, wi.ilst a part of the settlers arc left here.—[Correspondent.]

KOMOKORIKI. The annual meeting of ratepayers was held on Monday last. Alter voting Mr. William Pettigrew into the chair, the accounts for last year were audited by Messrs. Lay bourn and James Pettigrew, and foun.l correct. Thero was somo JC-78 of income from all sources, which was expended (all but a balanco of £17 odd) on tho opening up of a new main road through tho district, upwards of seven miles iu length, and in tho construction of Tarious bridges, culverts, &c. The rate agreed upon for tho next year was one penny per aero; and the following gentlemen wero then elected as trustees, viz., Messrs. William Pettigrew, W. A. Waterman, James Peltigretv, G. W. Armstrong, and John Parker, tho meeting giving thein power to accept of statuto labour 111 payment of rates if necessary. A vote of thanks to tho out-going trustees was then passed, and as this ilnished tho business, so far as tho general ratepayers wero concerned, the trustees immediately held their first meeting. They elected Mr. William Pettigrew as their chairman, whereupon Mr. Waterman, who lias been chairman for the last two years, said (hat he must give in his resignation as a trustee, for he could not consent to hold a subordinate position among them, and for oilier reasons which he did not deem it, necessary to explain. Tho trustees (no doubt labouring under some obliquity of vision) could not clearly seo that the chairmanship ought to bo held in perpetuity ... any one individual ; 60 they accepted his resignation, and elected Mr. Alfred Woodcock in his stead. After appointing Mr. Thomas Chaplin as their secretary, and transacting some routine business. they fixed or Thursday, August 3rd, for their first meeting for real work. It may appear that one penny per acre is a very smalt rato, but it was evidontly tho opinion of the majority of tho ratepayers that it was better to havo a small rale efficiently collected than a large one only half paid. Last year tho rato was threepence per acre, but only about ono third of it was collecled; and there is now about £200 of arrears standing; a state of things which caused great dissatisfaction to tho ratepayers present, many of whom are struggling hard to get a living and pay their way, whilst a great many of tho defaulters are known to well able to pay their rales. The general opinion, clearly expressed to the new Board of Trustees, is that they should adopt stringent measures for collecting tho arrears, without delay, so far as possible.

KAUKAPAKAPA

The annual meoticg was held at Mr. Bor.ar's, on July ~9th. Mr. lionar being requested to preside, laid beforo the company an abstract of tho receipts and expenditure of the J3.)urd, from tho 3rd Oct., 1870, to the 30th June, 1871, and requestod the auditors, Messrs. Dawson and Henley, to examine thcs;:tne. These auditors were asked to remain in oliiee for the ensuin<? jfCar, which they consented to do. An aerea >e rate of lid was then struck, und Messrs Thos. Clinkard, W. Lee, Gr. Hurray, 11. C. Uenloy and A. Uoiiar, wuro duly oieotod trustees for the ensuing year. The ratepayers having re-

tired, tho trustees choso Mr. Bonar as their chairman, which brought tho business of the meeting to a conclusion.