REGULATION OF LOCAL ELECTIONS ACT, 1876.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5397, 5 March 1879, Page 3

REGULATION OF LOCAL ELECTIONS ACT, 1876.

A MEETIN'G of ratepayers was hold last evening iu the Newmarket Hall, for tha purpose of considering the desirability of recommending the District Highway Board to bring this Act into operation. The Act provides that the ratepayers, having considered the subject, may recommend to the " local body" (the Board of Trustees) to bring the Act into effect. The local body 1 ' may, with the consent of twothirds of the Board, adopt the Act. It was stated that the result of its adoption of twothirds of the Board, would be that elections would be conductcd by ballot, and proxies would bo consequently excluded. Mr. F. Clayton, chairman of the Highway Board, occupied the chair. He said the subject was well deserving the consideration of the ratepayers, but whether its adoption would be so beneficial was not so certain. The Act was in operation in Ponsonby, and, from what he had heard, it had not found any extraordinary measure of favour from those most competent to judge. However that might be, the ratepayers should also consider the expense that would be a result of adopting the Act. He would read a list of the present expenses of the local body as follows (1) Secretary, £25 a-year; (2) assessment roll, £3 ; (3) surveyor, £20 ; (4) gas, £20(5) rent of hall, | £5 ; (G) advertising, £5. These charges ' amounted to £80 a-year, while the whole amount of rates did not exceed £190 to £200 a-year. There was another matter which should occupy the attention of the meeting. This was the desirability of building a post and talegraph office, so as to have these offices combined. The convenience of such an arrangement was obvious. The next thing he would bring under the notice of the ratepayers, after they had docided these matters, was the unfortunate accident at the Kaitangata mine. Every man who had the heart to feel for the misfortunes of others, must have a real and active sympathy with the sufferers. He drew attention to the fact that subscription lists were on the table; and would afterwards be in his office. He hoped that Newmarket would subscribe liberally.— Mr. Jakins explained the effect of bringing the Local Elections Act into operation. It would do away with proxies, the use of which had so often swamped the opinion of the ratepayers. As to the question of expense, he was told by the chairman of Ponsonby that £5 would cover the whole of the expense caused in that district by the introduction of the Act. It could not in Newmarket be more than £2, or £3 at the outside. He begged to move, "That this meeting approves the bringing into operation the Local Elections (Regulations) Act in the Newmarket Highway District. — Mr. Bishop seconded the motion. As .to the question of expense, it might be more than balanced by taking off the £20 for the surveyor. Whoever was responsible for the drain in New-rnarket-street should be told that it was a disgrace. "Whoever had the control of that work ought to have been held responsible for it. — The motion was put and carried unanimously. PO9T-OFKICE AND TELEGRAPH STATION.—Mr. Cole said that there was a great necessity of having the post-ofiice, with money-order office, branch savings bank, and telegraph station combined. It would be desirable also to have a postal delivery, but it might be said the population was scarcely numerous enough. All these things were greatly wanted in Newmarket. He moved, "That this meeting urge on the Government the necessity of having a postoffice telegraph station, money-order office, and 'savings bank combined, also the desirability of a postal delivery for Newmarket." Mr. Jenkins seconded the motion.—Mr. J. Wrigiey said the meeting had much better ask for a new railway station at once. People had no place to go for shelter from rain, unless tbey went into the ladies' waiting-room. There was a telegraph station in the place already. The important thing to ask for was a postal delivery. He begged to more an amendment, tbi» meeting recommend the Govern-

ment to erect a new railway station, adequate to the requirements of the place, and, connected therewith, a post-office; and that there shall be a l.etter-delivery within a mile of the postoffice." — Mr. Tait said there was a great deal of common-sense in Mr. Wrigley's statement. He begged to second the amendment.— Mr. Bishop again referred to the drain in New-market-street, upon which Mr. Wrigley said ho was attacked.—Mr. Bishop said he had no desire to attack Mr. Wxiglcy, but whoever the surveyor was, that work was disgraceful.—Mr. Wrigley said he had not given a certificate for the work, and Mr. Bishop knew it, —Mr. Jenkins : I beg to move the previous question.— The Chairman regretted there should be any difference of opinion on the subject of the combined post-office, money-order office, &c.—Mr. Wrigley (to Mr. Jenkins): If you move the previous question, you will shelve the whole tiling.— Mr. Jenkins: If the previous question is carried, no doubt it will do away with Mr. Wrigley's amendment.—Mr. Wrigley : You do away with the whole thing,—Mr. Jenkin3 explained that if the previous question is carried, then the original motion would be put, and, if carried, the amendment would be shelved. —The previous question wa3 put and carried.—The Chairman was about to put the original motion.— Mr. Wrigley : Do you refuse to put my amendment V—The Chairman : I do.—Mr. "Wrigley : Then you have made " a mull 1 ' of it.—The original motion by Mr. McColl was put and carried. Dhain* Question. —The drain question came up again, and Sir. Wrigley said he had been attacked by a "sneak." There was a good deal of commotion, and those concerned in the argument spoke in very absolute terms of the kind of respect they bore each other. —After a while the subject dropped, but only for a time. Kaitangata Colliery Accident. — The Chairman said he had received from the Auckland committee subscription lists. He hoped tho people of Newmarket would shew that their sympathy was valuable to'the sufferers. Ah Offensive Drain.—Mr. Bishop asked the chairman who was responsible for the drain in Newmarket-street.—Mr. Wrigley : What have you to say to it ? lam attacked. [Cries of "Order!"] —Mr. McColl said tho proper place and time to discuss this mattor was at the annual meeting. He thought it should not be brought up at the present meeting.—Mr. Wrigley : There is no motion before tho chair. — Mr. Bishop : Then I will very soon make one. I move, "That it be an instruction to the trustees that in works of magnitude the entire control shall not be surrendered to the engineer."—Mr. Montgomery : I second that.—Mr. Wrigley : I move that tho motion be amended by expunging the word " not." No professional mm would do any work for you. You might get a painter or a draper with a yard measure, but no professional man would do work for you if he had not entire control.— Mr. Jenkins wished to explain about the drain. The first contract was for £SG, including pipes. The surveyor allowed the contractors to draw what money was due to them until they would not do any moro work,—Mr. Wrigley : Lie No. 1. Mr. Jenkins knows very well that the Board paid £50 without any certificate.—Mr. Jenkins : That was for the pipes, not for the work.—Mr. Wrigley : The contract included the pipes.— Mr. Jenkins : Well, the drain would not run ; it was found the pipes were not fairly laid. The whole thing had to be taken up again.— Mr. Wrigley denied the statement made by Mr. Jenkins. —After much heated discussion tho Chairman said that Mr. Wrigley was wrong and Mr. Jenkins was right.—After a good deal of interrujition, the meeting was adjourned.