HIGHWAY BOARD MEETINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4259, 8 July 1875, Page 5

HIGHWAY BOARD MEETINGS.

PARNELL. The annual meeting of ratepayers was held last evening, for the purpose of receiving the report of the trustees and electing a new Board for the ensuing year,—Mr. William Copeland in the chair. There was some discussion in favour of Mr. \V. H. Kissling having been elected to preside. Mr. Brett read the report of the trustees, from which it appeared that the receipts for the past year amounted to (under the following heads): —Rates collected, ±'tiS5 13s 3d ; subscriptions in aid by ratepayers, £13; Road Board grant, £120 ; Dog Nuisance Act, £28 15s Cd; sundries, £60 ss; received from Harbour Board, £26 5s ; from Domain Board, £30 : total, £919 13s 9d. Expenditure : For forming roads, metalling and channelling, £052 10s Sd ; bridges and culverts, £67 6s 8d ; commission for collecting, £4S 12s ; salaries and rent, £61 ; legal expenses, £4 16s ; printing and advertising, £0 16s ; miscellaneous (Dog Nuisance Act), £2 10s ; sundries, £19 16s sd: total, £803 7s 9d. Amount of rates payable, £690 8s lOd ; amount actually received, £074 7b Id; arrears, £16 Is 9d. The following is au abstract of the accounts :—District Board in account with the I'arnell Highway District for the year ending 30th of June, 1875 :— Cash in Bank cf New Zealand on Ist July, 1874, £2 14s 5d ; receipts for year ending 30th June, 1575, £919 13s 9d. Total receipts, £922 8s 2d. Total expenditure during the year 1875, £803 7s 9il. Balance in bank on 30th June, 1575, £59 0s sd. The report was adopted.

Mr. Brett moved, seconded by Mr. B. Ireland, "That a rate be struck for the ensuing year of Id in the pound."

Mr. Watts wished to know where the culverts and bridges were ? Mr. Brett said the most important one was in Mechanics' Bay. That was done in connection with the City Board, and there was great difficulty in getting them to do it. There were several smaller culverts, bridges, and works in the side streets.

Mr. Haynks proposed the following for the new Board Colonel Nation, Messrs. B. Ireland, 11. Brett, Captain Mackenzie, and Mr. T. Winks.

To this proposal there was considerable opposition, and the following gentlemen were nominated : —Messrs. Dyer, C'hurton, Mitford, I'robcrt, and Allender. A show of hands was taken, with the following result :—Nation, 55 ; Dyer, 55; McKeuzie, 53 ; Ireland, 4(J ; Mitford, -15 ; Brett, 38 ; Winks, 3G; Cliurton, 21 ; I'robert, 7 ; Allender, 3.

Messrs. Brett, Winks, and Cliurton de manded a poll.

After some discussion, Messrs. Waters and Wood were appointed scrutineers.

The scrutiny resulted as follows :—Captain McKcnzie, 250; Barton Ireland, ill); Colonel Nation, 235; 11. Brett, 11)5; T. Winks, 173.

The Chairman was about to declare the election, when

Mr. Allk.nhkr took objection to the proxies. He said they were illegal. They had been signed in blank, and the names of the candidates tilled in afterwards. Colonel Nation had signed several of them during tho progress of the meeting. Colonel Nation might explain.

The Chairman said the objection was general. If it were a specitie objection to a particular proxy or proxies, he might feel called upon to give a decision.

Mr. (I. M. Rkeli said there was no power in that meeting to make Colonel Nation explain his conduct as a Magistrate. Colonel Nation did not recognise the authority of the meeting to make him account for what he did as a Magistrate.

[Here a scene of considerable confusion arose. It was alleged that the whole election was invalid ; that proxies had been grossly abused. Mr. \V. H. Kissling referred to two proxies more particularly—namely, those of the Kev. Robert Burrows and Bishop Cowie. There were loud cries to adjourn the meeting, and to impound the proxies. Mr. \V. 11. Kissliug went to the table and took up a particular proxy, in which the name of Captain Anderson had been erased, aud another name substituted for it.]

Mr. G. M. Reed said tlio chairman h;ul no right to give any of the proxies into Mr. Kissling'a possession. Ho demanded liis proxy back, and said if they remained in that meeting till morning they must take the election over again. Sovcr.il persona went to the chairman's table for the purpose of demanding their proxies. Mr. Waters reminded the chairman that, teclinically, the proxies were in possession of tho scrutineers, who hail reported upon them after having seen that they were in due form. The chairman could not give them up to auy one.

The Chairman said his only object was to shew fair play between all parties. He thought Colonel Nation ought to answer the question. Mr. \V. H. Kissi.inc moved, "That the election just taken place be declared invalid, that the question (as to the proxies) be tested in the Supreme Court; that the chairman be authorised to consult Mr. \\ hitaker on the question, and the expenses be a iirst charge on the rates. (Cries: The election is not declared. )

Mr. Dyer said the ratepayers of Parnell were mere dummies. He had not dreaiut of being a candidate until he was nominated. Ho was elected by that meeting of ratepayers, hut ho hail been thrown out by the proxies, therefore he said the ratepayers were dummies. He moved as an amendment, " That this meeting do adjourn to this day week, so that the validity of the proxies be tested.

Mr. Kissling said lie would accept Mr. Dyer's amendment, and withdraw his own motion.

There was again some confusion as to whether the chairman should accept these resolutions before declaring the election. Mr. Watehs said the proxies had been llanded to the scrutineers who were appointed by the meeting, and therefore represented the meeting for that particular purpose. The scrutineers had reported as the elected oilieers of that meeting. In his opinion, tile only course open was to declare the election and then if there was any objection to any of the voters by proxy, or if any injustice were done, it was open to the party or parties injured to take legal proceedings. Mr. G. M. Kekl) confessed he was somewhat suspicious when a lawyer advised them to go to law. But if the election were

declared invalid in consequence of what had been alleged, he would insist upon the votes being taken over again.

The Chairman thought the course suggested by Mr. Waters the right one, and declared Messrs. Mckenzie, Ireland, Nation, Brett, and Winks duly elected trustees.— The announcement was received with cheers and some hissing. Messrs. Mitford and Dyer were appointed auditors for the year. ' This concluded the ordinary business. LIGHTING. Mr. Bahton Ireland moved the following resolution: —"That the Board be empowered to contract with a company or person for lighting any public roail in the district which they may think requires it." He said the funds for this purpose would come from extraneous sources, and the lamps and Limpposts would not cost the ratepayers a sixpence. The company would be prepared to give every facility, and for the light, each lamp would cost only £0 10s a-year. It was proposed to put up and light seven lamps : one at the Barrel Hotel; one at Sehvyn Terrace; one at the Catholic Chapel; one at St. George's Bay Itoad end ; and one at St. Stephen s. The district had really hitherto been benighted literally for the want of light, and was far boluiul the otUer suburban districts in this respect. The motion was agreed to without discussion. This concluded the business MOUNT ALBERT. The annual meeting of the ratepayers of the Mount Albert Highway District was held in the School-room, Morningside, at G o'clock last evening. About thirty ratepayers were present.—Mr. A. K. Taylor was voted to the chair.—The minutes of the last annual meeting were read and continued.—The secretary then submitted to the meeting the following financial statement:—Expenditure: To forming roads, £50 ijs; mttalling and channelling, £256 9s 5d ; bridges and culverts, £j.'l2 17s; commissioners, £3 ,'is fid; salary and rent, .CIS 10s ; legal expenses, £2 7s ; printing and advertising, £5 12s ; miscellaneous, £11 17s 3d: total, £922 Os 2d. Leaving a balance in hand, £47 Gs 9d. Receipts: Balance in hand, Ist July, 1574, £123 2s 7d ; general rates, £163 9s lOd subscriptions by ratepayers, £14 7s ; contributions from Provincial Government, £559 17s 4d ; General Government grant, £51 16s2d ; Dog Nuisance Act, £S Ss ; Impounding Act, £29 5s 2d ; sundries, £14 .'ss : total, £909 Gs lid. Kates payable for the year, £165 19s lOd ; amount received to date, £163 9s lOd ; balance uncollected, £2 10s.—Mr. McEhvaiu moved, " That the rate be one penuy in the pound on the value to sell." —This motion was seconded by Mr. Gladding, and carried.—The next business was the election of trustees. '1 he following gentlemen wero then nominated, and declared elected as trustees : —Messrs. A. K. Taylor, Gladding, Allen, and Martin. Messrs. French and Newliold were appointed trustees, and Messrs. Mcßride and Dawson fence-viewers. A vote of thanks to the chairman brought the meeting to a close.