HIGHWAY BOARD MEETINGS. TOWN OF ONEHUNGA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XI, Issue 3961, 23 July 1874, Page 2 (Supplement)

HIGHWAY BOARD MEETINGS. TOWN OF ONEHUNGA.

The annua! meeting of the ratepayers of this district w:\s held on Monday, in tlie Choral Hall, which was crowded. Mr. Gillman, the chairman of the outgoing Board, read the advertisement calling tlio meeting ; a report, and also the accounts were read and approved. The receipts from all sources, including £10-1 14s from the General and £35 from the Provincial Government, amounted to £'479 13s lid, which sum had been expended in various works all but £1 Is Sd balance in bank. The meeting then elected Mr. Hastie chairman, and fixed the rate as heretofore, namely—one halfpenny in the pound on the value. Twelve gentlemen were then duly proposed for trustees. With regard to a plurality of votes under the eleventh clause of the new Act a discussion arose, and the chairman ruled that only one vote could be received from each ratepayer, as, though this was not the first meeting of a newly-constituted district, it was the first meeting under this Act, and that was the wording of the clause. A poll was then taken by the clerk, assisted by Messrs. Hutchison and Hendry, as scrutineers, with the following result:—Armstrong, 62 ; Codlin, 60 ; Stevenson, 49 ; Hastie, 47 ; Gillman, 42 ; WaJler,

40; Hardington, 39; Mclntyre, 31 ; Earle, 25; Bilkie, 20; Tapp, 19; Isoakes, 13. The chairman therefore declrred the first five duly electcd. Mr. Hendry and Mr. C. Bates were then elccted auditors, and, with votes of thanks, a very well conducted meeting broke up.

WAINL'I. The hour appointed for the meeting of ratepayers drawing near, a fa : r sprinkling of ratepayers collcctci at Mr. Bnmton's, Orewa, for the purpose of receiving accounts from the late Board, aud also striking a rate and appointing trustees for the present year. —On adjourning to the barn, Mr. McCathie proposed, and Mr. Anderson seconded, "That Henry Lloyd, Esq., occupy the chair." —The chair being taken, Mr. McCouncll protested against the meeting being held, as it was illegal, oil aeount, he said, of the two weeks' clear notice not having been given. —Mr. Anderson seconded the protest.—The Chairman ordered the protest to be entered in the minute book, and the business to be proceeded with.—Mr. Yates propose 1, "That this meeting jiroceeil to business, seeing that unless it did so no meeting eoulil be held in July, and he moved that trustees be appointed subject to the approval of the Superintendent. Seconded by Mr. Hellyer, sen.—On being put to the meeting the show of hands was, ayes, IS; noes, lo ; majority, s.—Mr. MeC'oiniell here left the room, stating the whole thing was illegal and he would have nothing to do with it. He, however, rc-appeared supported by his friends, and took an action in the business.—The Chairman then called on the secretary to read a statement of the accounts, which shewed ail income of ifL'o ! -Is -Id, ami an expenditure of Is oil, leaving a ballance in bank of ,£ - J2 '2s Ud, which will be further increased (on a balance of a grant of 110 being paid to the Board,) to a sum of fli- -s llil. Mr. Hellyer, sen., proposed the adoption of the report. Mr. Vates seconded. Carried.—The Chairman then called oil the meeting to strike a rate and appoint trustees.—Mr. Mays proposed Id rate per acre on the value to sell of all property. Seconded by Mr. Hatlield.—Mr. Laniont proposed same rate as last year, '2d per acre, value to sell. Seconded by .Mr. Hellyer, jun. —Mr. Hatfield asked the chairman who values the land? —The Chairman: The Hoard 1 believe.—Mr. Anderson proposed that the value of land be .L'l per acre value to sell. Seconded by Mr. .1 email. —Proposed by Mr. Yates that the value oi" land be i' 2 per acre value to sell. Seconded by Mr. Scott.—Mr. MoConuc)), who had re-appeared, and began to take an

active part in the business, still adhering to his statement as regards the illegality of the meeting, proposed, "That the value to sell be ten shillings per acre seconded by Mr. King.—The various millions were then put to the meeting with the following result : — Two pound valuation, 13 ; one pound valuation, 5; ten shillings valuation, ]].—The £2 valuation being carried at Id in the pound, the meeting here proceeded to elect trustees. —Mr. McComiell here called on the secretary to call out the names of defaulting ratepayers, which, being done, the meeting proceeded to elect trustees, but I may here add the list read was a long one and a disgrace to those whose duty it was to collect it; and it is to be hoped the Board will take more pains to see that the rates are better collected for the sake of the district.—Mr. Laniont proposed Messrs. Hellyer, Scott, Lambert, and Lloyd; seconded by Mr. Scott, jun.—Mr. Jernal l proposed Mr. Anderson ; seconded by Mr. Laniont.-—Mr. HeHyer proposed Mr. McCathie; seconded by Mr. King.—Mr. Yates proposed those who had paid rates should vote.—Mr. McComiell proposed that defaulters should not be allowed to vote.—Mr. Scott proposed Mr. Yates as scrutineer ; seconded by Mr. McComwll.—Mr. Yates and Mr. MoCathie, jun., were ultimately appointed appointed scrutineers. The voting then tookplaee, with the following result: —1 lovil, •">•'! ; Hellyer, sen., ;>o ; McCathie, Hi ; Scott (R.), 32; Anderson, 31; Lambert, 30: Laniont, 13. The first live were returned. The auditors appointed weie the same as last year, i believe. The newly-elected Board retired to hold their meeting. 1 cannot conclude this report without expressing regret at the great shew of party spirit exercised in the matter. 11 is clearly evident the settlers at Yv aiuui and Waiwera wouhl get oil much better if separated.—Mr. MoConucll, who laid the protest, expressed himself highly satisfied on seeing his own friend returned, thus bearing out my statement of party feeling existing. The meeting over, Mr. \ates called on the settlers to assist ill keeping up the roads, cither by giving labour or money, exclusive of paying the rate.—Messrs. Smyth, Hellyer, Scott, Ardnell, \ates, and others said they would be quite willing to do so, provided such labour or money be expended in the district from which it came.

rOKENO. Mr. Weston was unanimously voted to the cli;iir. After some discussion, the meeting agi eed to proceed with business, subject to the doubt ol having been advertised for fourteen days; if not, the Superintendent to nominate trustees. The late Chairman read the statement of accounts for the past year, which is given below. It was agreed that the report read be adopted. It was carried unanimously that the rate be levied on the value to sell, at the rate of 011 c penny in the pound. The following trustees were elected: Messrs. K. Hobbs, AVeston, 11. Wright, J. Gordon, Lyons. Auditors: Messrs 1. J. Clark and E. G. Hobbs. The following is a statement of accounts: Rates coilected, £41 Ss lOd ; subscriptions in aid, £20 ; amount from Colonial Government, £105 l.'li ; Provincial Government, £2 10s ; amount from former Hoard, £27 Ss Sd : total receipts, £197 0s Ud. Expenditure : Forming roads, £107 15a ; bridges and culverts, £3-1 Us 2d ; other works, £22 12s Gd; commission collector of rates, £(> 10s; printing and advertising, £2 -Is Od ; sundries, 12s 4d ; to credit of new Board, £23 ; total, £197 0s Cd.

lIUNUA. The annual meeting of the ratepayers of the Hunua Highway .District was held in the large room of the Globe Hotel, on Monday last. About forty ratepayers wo e present, — Mr. E. L. Trafl'ord in the chair. After the minutes of the last annual meeting had been read and confirmed, the Secretary, Mr. J. B. Hay, proceeded to read the accounts of the Board for the past year, and the certificate of the auditors thereon : —Receipts : Balance last year, £S1 19s 2d ; rates, £144 Jss 7.U1; General Government grant, £85 10s ; private contributions, £4 10s : total, £317 0s 9id. Expenditure : On works, £107 9s s~d ; salaries, &c., £27 lslid ; balance, £92 9s 10M: total, £317 0s 9Ad. The accounts being satisfactory were passed, and the rate for the current year was struck at one penny in the £ on the value to sell, the meeting being of opinion that a smaller rate would not be sufficient, and propositions for a farthing and a lia'fpenny rate meeting with no support. Six candidates having been proposed as trustees a poll was taken with the following result:—Cossey, 49 ; Marte ll !, 47 ; Morrison, 4G 5 Hay, 45 ; Trafford, 42 ; and Ballard, 16. The first five were consequently elected trustees for the current year, and Messrs. -Reuben White and A. McClymont were elected auditors. After some conversation about the steps to be taken in reference to the promise made by the Provincial Secretary about the Kirikiri road, and about the alteration of the law in reference to proxies which bad rendered those present at that meeting invalid, the usual votes of thanks to the chairman and outgoing trustees were passed, and the meeting separated.

HIKUKANQA. The annual meeting of the ratepayers of Hikuranga was held at the house of Mr. D. McLeod, on Wednesday, July 8. The following gentlemen were elected trustees : — Messrs. Richard Carter, Richard Sissons, D. McLeod, Wm. Carter, Moses BelL Messrs. Peter Sinclair and M. Mclnnes were elected auditors. A rate of Id in the pound on the value to sell was struck. The trustees elected Mr. Richard Sissons chairman.

RUATANGATA. The annual meeting of the above district was held in the Wesleyan Church on the Cth July, at 11 o'clock in the forenoon, to levy a rate for the ensuing year and to elect trustees and auditors. The greatest harmony prevailed. A rate of Id in the pound on the value to sell was carried, Mifch only one dissenting voice, Robinson Crusoe proposing one half-penny, which was not seconded. Messrs. Jenkins, Yates, A\orsnop, J. 15. Powlesland, and Hodge were unanimously elected trustees for the ensuing year, and Messrs. Lilley and Whitelaw auditors. At the close of the meeting tnc elccted trustees held a meeting and eleetcd VY. Hodge chairman of the Board.

MAUKU. 1 lie annual meeting of ratepayers for the Mauku Highway district was held on Saturday, July ISth, in the Volunteer Ha 1 !, Patumahoe, there were about eighty ratepayers present,—-Mr. G. H. Maunder in the chair. The Chairman then called on the outgoing trustees to read their report, when the chairman, Mr. H. Crispe, read the following : —"Gentlemen, your retiring trustees have much pleasure in laying before you this, the second, report of the .Mauku Highway Hoard, and in doing so beg to call your attention to several points. It-will be seen by the treasurer's account that the total amount of rates collected for the year is C2'2(i l!!s ] J,d, and that there has been received from the General Government the sum of £50 13s. Your trustees regret that this grant was so small, but it is attributable to the small amount of rates last year, and they confidently trust that the ensuing Government grant may be considerably augmented, as the moneys collected this year have much exceeded the prewous cue. There is st! 1 ' a large amount of arrears owing—amounting tu£'.i'J 13s lid, but a considerable portion of this is from allotments on the Waiau block, where owners arc absentees and not to be found. The treasurer's account Mill inform you fu'ly of all the works performed dur : *ig the past year. One item—that fur the erection of a bridge, may seem large, but the work w 111 be found of ,;o substantial a character that it wl' 1 long stand a credit to the district, and prove of great benelit to a large number of settlers. Some considerable earthworks have also been done in different pints, a". ha\l»g in view the railway station at l'ukekohc AVest, which must at no distant period be our means of transit to Auckland. Your trustees have used their best cll'orts to improve the line of road in that direction, and they have every reason to hope and believe that their successors in olliee u 111 be aided by the Provincial Government to bring the work they have begun to a satisfactory termination. Your trustees have also commci.ced a new ''lie of road to Waiuku. In concluding, as the present mode of rating is an evasion of the Act, and might lead to litigation, your trustess recommend that the rate for the ensuing year be sti aek in strict accordance with the Act on the actual value to sell." The report beiug unanimously adopted, the Chairman called on the treasurer (Mr. T. Maunder) to read the linaneial statement, who read the following balance-sheet: —Receipts : By General Government grant, £50 13s; rates collected, £22(510s 1 Ad; sundry receipts, .I'lO 13s; balance from late treasurer, .£lB2 5s ">d : total, | .£-170 10s OAd. Expenditure : Payments of the late Board, £27 19s Id; bush fel'iug, £-10 2s 2d; earthworks, £13S 3s Id; bridges, | culverts, Sc., £70 Us lid; road clearing, £(>5 fis Id; draining, £52 ,1s 3d; sundry payments, £5 3s (ill; advertising, £3 His (3d; legal expenses, £S 3s Sd; commission on | rates, £(! Ills O.UI ; collector's salary, .£(>; stationery, £3 (is 3d ; Board requisites, £2 i 0s lid ; bank charges, 7s ; balance in hand, I £-10 12s (id : total, £-170 10s (j.Ul.—Mr. C. Hosking moved the adoption of the balance- ! sheet, which was seconded by Mr. G. G. | "Walters.—Mr. Joseph Crispe then moved, j " That the thanks of this meeting be given to the outgoing trustees," which was seconded I l.y Mr. Kerr and carried. —Mr. C. Hosking I moved, and Mr. G. FT. Maunder seconded,

"That the rate be on the value to so l ', and that the ingoing trustees be the valuators." Carried.—Mr. Thompson then moved, " That the rate he a )Ul in the pound."—Seconded by Mr. T. Maunder. —Mr. G. Walker proposed, "That the rate be a Id in the pound." .Seconded by Mr. Costello. On the amendment being put it was lost and the original motion of a half-penny rate carried.—The next business was the election of live trustees. Messrs. H. Chrispe, G. 11. Maunder, J. Finlay, 1). Fullerton, J. Clark, 11. W. Hill, and \V. Thompson were proposed and seseeonded. Messrs. .T. Chilman and G. G. Walters were appointed scrutineers. The result of the voting was as fo'lows: J. Clark, 59 ; G. H. Maunder, 57 ; H. Crispe, f>o; J. Finlay, 43; H. W. Hill, 40; D. Fullerton, 30 ; W. Thompson, 33. The first live gentlemen were declared duly elected. Major I). IT. Luslc and G. G. Walters were appointed amlitois for the ensuing year. After a vote of thanks to the chairman the meeting separated.

The annual meeting of the Paparata HighTray 1 V'strict took place on Saturday, July 18th, in the Bombay school. There was a goodly muster of ratepayers present, Mr. f)avid Elder, who conducted the business of the meeting in a most satisfactory manner, was in the chair.—'The Chairman of the outgoing committee read the balance-sheet, which was as follows :—Receipts, £74 10s Id. Expenditure, £73 lf>° 3d: in hand, £1 0s lOd: total, £74 16s Id. Vl:e several items having been read over, tro report was unanimously adopted.—Several projiositions were made on t'le levying of a rate, but it was ultimately carried, "That the land within the district be valued for rating purposes at CI pelacre, and that the vote be 2d in the pound on the value to scl I .—lt was then decidcd by the meeting to have the Impounding Act brought into force, to put a stop to thedamage done by cattle in the district destroying fences, ctc.—The election of trustees was then proceeded with, with the following results, viz.—Members, A. Sturgeon, McKenzie, W. Buttimore, H. Evans, J. Kobinson. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings.

HAMILTON EAST. The annual meeting of ratepayers in the Hamilton East Township Highway District was held in the lioyal Hotel, oil Tuesday, 14tli iust., at 3 p.m. Mr. William Coleman was unanimously voted to the chair.—The auditors, Messrs. Harris and Gardiner, reported the accounts correct, and after some discussion with regard to a promissory note which the treasurer, Mr. McDonald, had accepted, the accounts as audited were passed.—Mr. Isaac Coates proposed that the rate be Id in the pound on the value to sell, which was seconded by Mr. McDonald.— Mr. Teas proposed, as an amendment, "That the rate be jd in the pound," which was seconded by Mr. John Wood.—The amendment was lost and the original motion carried almost unanimously.—Messrs. Coates and Potter were then appointed scrutineers, and the following nominated for election as trustees :—Messrs. Camming, Coates, Potter, Pearson, Tippin, Gardiner, Teas, and McDonald. The first five were declared duly elected, they having polled the highest, 35 votes. —Messrs. Scddon and Gardiner were appointed auditors.