HIGHWAY BOARD MEETINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 4898, 28 July 1877, Page 1 (Supplement)

HIGHWAY BOARD MEETINGS.

ONK-TREE HILL. Tin* annual meeting of ratepayers of this district was held on Wednesday at Junction Hotel, Epsom. There was a pretty fair attendance. Mr. liilkie was called to the chair, lie o:.oned the proceedings and rend tin. bal.M'.re-shect, which showed : — Receipts : uee in bank 3l)th June, IS7G, £22 Oa i i ; rates collected, £234 Ss lOd ; from Provincial Government, £10; from General Government, £143 lis 2d: total, £410 5s Id. Expenditure: By payments, £190 17s Gd : leaving a credit balance of £213 7s 4d.—Mr. Mays pointed out that the balance-sheet was not in aecordaneo with the schedule of the Act, which required that it should be shown under distinct heads -'Ihe Chairman then read another balance-sheet, in accordance with the schedule, which showed the expenditure as follows : —New roads, survey and construction, £112 10s ; repairs and improvements to existing roads, £190 7s 10d ; Collector, £12 10s ; salaries and rent, £19 Gs 2d; printing, &c., £7 5s Gd; miscellaneous, 2s Id : total, £342 Is 7d. This only brought tho accounts up to the end of March.—Ageneral discussion ensued, and, on the motion of Mr. Hunter, the balance-sheet was adopted.— Mr. J. Mays read the provisions of the Rating Act, IS7G. He raised the question as to whether tho ratepayers had not stih the power to levy ratCß. Tho Highway Hoards Act, 1874, was still in force, aud the interpretation clause of that Act, amongst others, "persons" hitherto authorised to levy rates to do so under this Act. lie moved "That the rate for the ensuing nine mouths be Gd in the £I."—-This was agreed to. Messrs. Mays, Downey, Wall, Hayr, aud Brown were elected trustees for the current year, and Messrs. Marks aud Dilworth were appointed auditors. Messrs. George May and — Fergusson were reflected fenco-viewers.—Mr. Ferguson said there was one thing which they ought to take into consideration. That was, the Onehunga people were trying to take away Mount Smart from them. He understood that the matter was placed in Mr. O'Korke's hands to have the boundaries altered. A resolution was carried, instructing tile newly-elected Board to write to the Government requesting that the boundaries of the One-Tree Hill district be not altered as requested! by the Corporation of Onehunga. Several other matters affecting the roads in the district were also discussed, and a vote of thauks having been accorded to the late Board, aud a vote of thanks to tho chairman, the meeting terminated.—A meeting of the trustees was then held, and Mr. Brown was re-appointed chairman, and Mr. JJownoy treasurer. Mr. Clark was appointed collector,Jand it was agreed that cheques [should be signed by the collector aud treasurer. The chairman was instructed to issue a notice in accordance with the 40th section of the Rating Act, of the intention of the Board to levy a rate of Gd in the £. OTAIIUHU. The annual meeting of ratepayers of this district was held in the Public Hall on Wednesday evening at 7.30. There were about GO ratepayers present. On the motion of Mr. McAcuity, Mr. S. Luke was voted to the oliair. The advertisement calling the meeting having been read, Mr. Sturgess, the treasurer of the Board, read the following statement of accounts :—Receipts : Rates, £07 5s 7d ; money from Government, £56 14s Sd ; dog collars, £20 12s ; pound fees, £16 18s 9d : total, £161 lis. Expenditure : Paid late Board, £7 10a 2d ; forming roads, £21 ISa ; metalling and channelling, £59 lGs 2d ; bridges aud culverts, £10 103 ; other works, £3 33 ; rent, £1 10s ; printing and advertising, £G 0s 10d ; Dog Act, £2 Gs Sd ; Impounding Act, £S ; valuation roll, £6 ; secretary and collectors, £10 ; labour, £21 13s lOd; sundries, £2 10s I0d; balance, 5s Gd : total, £IGI lis Examined and found correct. Signed, Sajiujjl Luke, Jojin Hall, auditors.—On the motion of the Chairman, the balance was adopted.— A discussion arose as to the amount of rate the incoming Board should levy. It was ultimately resolved that a rate of 6d iu the £1 would be sufficient, which would realise £4S 13s. The following gentlemen were then proposed as Trustees : —Messrs Bowden, Hall, Luke, T. Stringer, Gordon, Goodwill, aud Jones. A ballot was ordered to be taken, aud Messrs. XV. Day and F. Deßose were appointed scrutineers. The result of the ballot showed that Messrs. Bowden, Hall, Luke, Stringer, and Goodwill had received the highest number of votes. Messrs. Deßose and Gordon were unanimously elected auditors, and Messrs. S. Mitsou and John Vuglar, fence-viewers. A vote of thanks to the late Trustees and Chairman of the meeting brought the proceedings to an end.—[Own Correspondent.] PAKURANGA. The annual meeting of ratepayers of the above district was held on Saturday, July 21, in the school-room —Mr. Alfred Buckland in the chair. After the balance-sheet bad been read and adopted, Mr. George Leaning proposed that Mr. Charles Roberts be one of the trustees for tho coming year, and Mr. George Ivells proposed, and Mr. O'irlalloran seconded, that Messrs. Charles Roberts, Edwin Roberts, John May, William Campbell and J. S. Buckland be trustees for the coming year, which was carried. The fence-viewers elected were Messrs. Robert Andrews and Ambrose Trust; auditor?, Messrs. George Ivells and Alfred Buckland. The newlyelected trustees held a meeting immediately afterwards, when Mr. John May was elected chairman ; Charles Roberts, treasurer; Edwin Roberts, collector. It was decided to hold the first meeting on Saturday, August 4, at 7 o'clock, p.m., in the school-room, for the purpose of striking tho rate.

PAPAIiOA (PAKURAXGA). The annual meeting of the ratepayers in this district was held on the 16th instant. Fifteen ratepayers were present, and the chair was occupied by Sir. Barry. The secretary (Sir. 'I'. K. Gill) read the statement of receipts and expenditure for the past yya.s- ; —Receipts : Balance from last year, lis 1M ; proceeds of sale of two bridges, £1 4s ; rates collected, £15 5s Gd ; Government grant, £10 Is 3d : total, £27 Is lOjd. Expenditure : Bridges and culvert, £7 103 5Jd ; repairs and improvements, £11 3s Gd ; valuing district, £2; salaries and rent, £3 12s Gd ; printing and advertising, £1 18s_ ; stationery and stamps ; 13s Gd ; balance in hand, 3s lid; total, £27 is lOid. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. The trustees elected for the present year were, Messrs. R. N. Barry (chairman), HenryRobinson, George Browning, John Mclnliary, James Lindsay. Mr. T. R. Gill was appointed secretary and rate-collector. Slessrs. White and James Nicholas were elected auditors, and Slessrs. T. R. Gill and Henry Anderson fence-vietvers. WAITAKEREI EAST. The annual meeting of ratepayers was held at tho Oratua Hotel, Henderson's Mill, on Saturday, the 21st instant. Fifteen ratepayers being present. Sir. Francis Bethell was voted to the chair. The balance-sheet and report were read by the Chairmrai of the late Board, of which the following is an abstract, viz, : Balance in hand, 30th June, 1576, £-1 15s ; rates collected, £53 2s lid ; subsidy from Government, £22 16s Gd; total, £S0 14s sd. Expenditure: Forming roads, £33 Ss Gd ; repairing roads, £6 4s ; culverts and bridge?, £4 Is ; valuation of district, £7 10» ; collecting rates, £6 ss; ivl vovtiyiiiy» 5s Gil > sundries, > bcuanec ill hand, £1S 17s 3d-which was approved ami adopted, the accounts having been duly audited. .Strong remarks were made condemnatory of the new. Act necessitating an annual valuation of the district being made, and restricting the limit to a rate that will be at least one-third less than that by the penny an acre. Copy of a letter to the Hon. Dr. Pollen by the late Board was read, showing that the new system was not adapted for tho districts north of Auckland, and unless enlarged powers of rating were given this Session, many Boards would be obliged to give up. It was proposed and curried unanimously that the largest rate allowed should be levied this year. Ihe following trustees were duly elected : Slessrs. John Symth, J. 11. \ ercoe, J. Stone, E. b'reemau, and 11. Probert, and Slessrs. Von Der Heyde and Thomas Seaman reelected auditors, and Slessrs. A. Snell and Roberts fence-viewers. The following resolution was unanimously agreed to, and a copy requested to be sent to the Colonial Secretary: "That we, the settlers of this district, feel alarmed at the contemplated deviation of the original surveyed Kaipara Hail way line by the New Zealand Government; though a barren district coastwise that can in no way recoup the country lor the cost of construction, or pay iL;. -working expenses ; whilst tho original hue by way of Waitakerei, would give

for the \wiking and development j of the kauri forest timber trade, aud o£ 1 incalculable benefit to the settled agriculturists, as the resources of the districts are quite as important as that of tlie Northern Wairoa, Kaipara district.A vote of thanks to the outgoiug iieard and one to the chair man, brought the business of the meetiug tc a closc, v.'hru. afterwards the trustees met and ci- <:t-.d Mr. John Smyth as chairman for the ensuing year.—[Uwn Correspondent. ] ALBERTLAND SOUTH. The annual meeting of of Albertland South was held on July 17 at tlie school-house, Port Albert. There was a good attendance, about thirty being present. .Mr. Robert Lester was voted to the chair. The chairman and treasurerof the retiring trustees .Mr. John Shepherd, read the geueral reyort and balance-sheet. The report described in detail the -works which had been accomplished under the direction of the Board during thy past year. It concluded as follows :—" We are of opinion that if the Road Board system is to be worked successfully in the future, especially if in connection with the county system, the time is not far distant when the area of this and oomc other neighbouring districts will have to be considerably augmented." Subjoined is the balance-sheet: — To rates collected, £83 16s 7d ; from Coloalil Government, £19 10s Gd; from Dog Nuisancc Act, £2 9s ; balance from last year, X.'JS 2d : total, £143 18s 3d. Paid for roads and clearing, £75 9a 5d ; bridges and culverts, £25 14s ; commission oncolleeting rates, £1 I Oil; clerical assistance, £1 10s; for district valuation, £4 15s; for roadj 'surveying, £2 los ; for printing, advertising, aud stationery, £3 ; for grass seed and carriage, tO 10s 4d; balance, £19 16s 9d: total, £143 ISs 3d.—On the motion of Mr. I'. J. Utting, seconded hy Mr. W. I'ettet, the report and balance-sheet were adopted. It was then resolved, " That the incoming trustees be requested to strike a rate of is hi the £ of annual value."—On the motiou of Messrs. Jas. Becroft and VYm. Pettet, it was resolved " That the voting for trustees. &e., be by ballot." The folio wing were proposal for the office for ensuing year, the result of the ballot showing:—J. \V. C. Smith, 17 ; 1). M. Gubb, 17; G. Dibble, ll5; \Y. Pettet, 14; 11. Curtis, 12; T. A. Gubb, 12 (withdrew in favour of 11. Curtis) ; J. Becroft, 11 ; li. Lester, 10; C. -Judd, 10.—The chairman declared the first five duly elected. Messrs. Jas. Becroft and J. S. Mawer were elected auditors for 1877-8, and Messrs. T. A. Gubb and Alfred Becroft, fence-viewers. —A curdial vote of thanks to the outgoing trustees was passed, when the meeting separated. — [Own Correspondent ] WAITAKSREI WEST. The annual meetiug of tin ratepayer.; of the '.Vaitakerei West highway district was held yesterday afternoon in the Shakespeare Hotei, Wyndham-street, Mr. David Russell, sen., presiding. The advertisement convening the meeting having been read, the secretary (Mr. Moginie) read the annual statement of receipts and expenditure, which was as follows : —Receipts : Balance from lastyear,£lssod; rates collected, £03 12s Id ; Government grant, £26 lis 9<l: total, £91 9s 3d. Expenditure : Formation of new roads, £30 9s 2d; repairing bridges, &c., £30 7s 6d ; commission for collecting rates, fee., £15 4s 7d; advertising and printing, £3 9s Cd ; cost of new valuation, £o 53 : total, £91 3s 9d. Balance in hand, 53 Gd. <Jn the motion of Mr. J. B. Simp-;on, seconded by Mr. J. Kelly, sen., the balancesheet was adopted. The election of trustees, auditors aud fence-viewers, was then proceeds I with. Mr. J. B. Simpson proposed the re-election of the retiring Board-—Messrs. A. Dilworth, J. S. Kelly, J. O'Xiell, Ji. Hunter, aud J. Russell. The proposition was seconded by Mr. J. Kelly, sen., and agreed to unanimously. Messrs. David ifussoll, sen., and J. B. Simpson were appointed auditors, and Mess.-s, David Russell, jun., and A. O'Niell, fence-viewers. This being all the business, a vote of thanks was accorded the chairman, and the meeting closed.—At a meeting of the trustees held subsequently, Mr. A. Dilworth was elected chairman, and Mr. Mogiuie re-ap-pointed secretary and treasurer. PANMURE. The annual meeting, of ratepayers of this district was held on Tuesday evening at the Paumure Hotel. There was a good attendance, and Mr. G. Buchanan was voted to the chair. The advertisement calling the meeting having been read,. the secretary, Mr. Ganley, read the statement of accounts for the past year, -flinch was as follows:— Receipts : Balance in hand, 7s 7d ; rates, £21 Is Gd ; subscriptions, £3 10s ; grant from Government, £24 9a JOd; voluntary labour, £2 Is 3d—total, £51 103 2d. Expenditure : Metalling, £17 3s lid; metallingand channelling, £15 ; culverts, £4 ; free labour . £2 Is 3d; commission, £1 5s ; salary and rent, £3 10s ; printing, &c., £1 14v; valuation list, £3 3s ; boohs, £1 9s ; stationery, 6s 9d ; balance, £1 17s 6d. The hilance-sheet was adopted. Mr. John Finnerty then proposed that the rate for the current year be Is in the £ on the annual value to let. Mr. John Donnelly seconded the proposition. No other motion being forthcoming, the proposition was put to the meeting and carried unanimously. Thi> election of trustees was then proceeded with. It was proposed and seconded that the members for the past year be re-eleeted in a body. The motion was in course of being put to the meeting, -when one of the members refused to offer himself for reelection. The following were then proposed aud seconded individually : — Messrs. T. Cleary, Jos. Dunn, James Jones, John Fmncrty, Jas. Loomb, and S. Bright; the first live being duly elected. Messrs. P. Corrigan and D. MoPherson, the retiring auditors, were unanimously re-elected : as likewise the fence-viewers, Messrs. G. Thomas and P. Ganley. A vote of thauks having been passed to the chairman, the meeting closed. The newly appointed trustees immediately held their first meeting, « hen they appointed Mr. Jas. Loomb chairman and treasurer, Mr. P. Ganley secretary and collector for their term of office.—[Communicated.] TIKI. At the annual meeting of the Tiki Highway Board, the report and balance-sheet as read ivero adopted, and a vote of thauks p.iSßed to the out-going trustees. Messrs. A. J. Cadman, Pearce, Thorley, aud J. liana R. H. Harrison were rs-elected.