KARANGAHAPE HIGHWAY DISTRICT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5633, 5 December 1879, Page 6

KARANGAHAPE HIGHWAY DISTRICT.

A srEclAi. meeting of the ratepayers of the Ivarangahape Highway District, was held in the Masonic Hall, Newton, yesterday evening, for the purpose of electing a trustee in the room of Mr. F. Cherry. .Mr. T. Barnes, chairman of the district board, presided, and opened the proceedings by reading the advertisement calling them together. Ho alsj read the clauses of the Act bearing on the election, and called on some ratepayer to nominate a duly qualified person to serve as trustee. A ratepayer asked him how it btcaine necessary to elect a trustee. Had Mr. Cherry resigned, or become disqualified ? —The Chairman said Mr. Cherry had absented himself from the meeting, and thus become disqualified.—Mr. Burns then proposed Mr. Marriott aB a trustee.—Messrs. Govett, Morrison, Staines, O'Beirne, John Rosser, Gribble, and Brophy, were also proposed, but declined to offer themselves, or accept office.—Mr. Warren then proposed Mr. C. Newson.—Mr. Staines proposed Mr. Cherry, as ho said, to afford him an opportunity to explain why he had not attended the meetings.—Mr. Garrett deprecated tho re-opening of this question at present, and several other ratepayers spoke in a similar manner, and the subject was dropped, Mr. Cherry declining to stand for election. This left only two candidates, Messrs. Marriott and Newson. Messrs. Garrett, Carlow, and Rowe were appointed scrutineers, aud a ballot was taken, with the following result: —JS'ewson, 34; Marriott, 23. There wero two informal votes. Mr. Newson wa» therefore declared duly elected.—Mr. Burns complained that he had not been consulted in calling the meeting, nor in respect to the prosecution of Dr. Purchas.—Mr. Newson returned thanks for his election, and trusted he would merit their confidence. — Mr. Warren explained the circumstanoßs which led to the calling of the special meeting of the board in reference to the prosecution of Dr. Purchas, and designated Mr. Bums' conduct and objection as childish.—Mr. Garratt moved, " That the action of the board in regard to Dr. Purohas's affair be approved." —Mr. Morrison pointed out that this was a special meeting for a special purpose, and no other business could be transacted.—Mr. Moulden fully and cordially approved of tho action of the trustees in endeavouring to abate a nuisance.—Mr. Staines supported Mr. Morrison's objection. The question should not be argued further at this meeting. The question was one for the annual meeting when the item of payment came up.— Mr. Cherry contended that the question was one of legality. If the special meeting was held, it was illegal unless Mr. Burns received notice. For himielf he did not claim it, for from the first he told them ho would not serve.—Mr. Warren denied that any slight to Mr. Burns was intended. After some further discussion, relative to tho board's notice prohibiting the depositing of rubbish in the gullies, the meeting termi> nated.