MEETING OF THIS ARCH HILL RATEPAYERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7904, 24 March 1887, Page 6

MEETING OF THIS ARCH HILL RATEPAYERS.

PROPOSAL TO JOIN THE NEWTON * BOROUGH. A meeting of ratepayers of the Arch Hill Highway District, convened by the chairman of the District Board on requisition, was held last evening in the Newton West Schoolroom. Thero was a large attendance, and Mr. Geo. Taylor, chairman of the Distriot Board, presided. The Chairman read the advertisement oonvening the meeting, the objeot of which was to take into consideration the advisability of joining the Newton Borough, He also reud the requisition on whioh the meet* ing was convened, and said that, so far as ho personally was concerned, he knew nothing of the objeot of the meeting, and would call on some of those who signed the requisition to state it; and he should first call on Mr. Jenkins, whose name appeared first on the list of requisioniats. Mr. Jenkins said, that although his name appeared first, it could not be expected that he should give all the information required. His reason for having this meeting called was to benefit the district. Those districts which had joined the city had more work done, even if they had more to pay. They all saw the state of the main road, which was stopped at the other end as Archhill was not able to pay its proportion, and no permanent work could be done in the district until that road was made. This was his reason for calling the meeting, and he believed also that they would have fairer work done by having people outside themselves to look after it. The management for the last four years they were all tired of, and they wanted improvement in some way. He hoped the question would be discussed without any personalities, and if they decided not to join the Borough then they could go on as they wero. Ho would move that five men bo appointed, with tho Board, to bring this matter about, and wait on the ratepayers. Mr. Davidson asked whether this movement originated with tho Archhill Board or the Newton Boroagh Council. The Chairman replied that it had not originated with either. The meeting was called on tho requisition of ten ratepayers of the district. Mr. Ratcliffe said the meeting was called for the purpose of disoussing the question as to the advisability of joining the NewtonBorough or not. He was not tied to the sug gestion to joining tho Newton Borough, but they wanted a change for the better. Archhill was a very small district, and was not able to go in for extensive works, such as a bridge across tho gully, or the making and maintenance of the main road, and the Borough of Newton would not do it for them. Bo moved, for the sake of having something before the meeting, "That they join the Borough of Newton." If they did that they would be able to get the water supply, which would bring down tho rates of insurance, and they would have a fire brigade to prevent their houses from being burned down. Mr. Jknkins seconded the resolution. A good deal of desultory discussion took place, and an amendment by Mr. Edgar, " That they remain as they were until they got more information," was ruled out of order, being merely a negative to the motion. After several ratepayers had spoken, Mr. Ratcliffe's motion was put. Only eight voted for it, and 10 against, and the motion was therefore lost. Mr. Thompson then moved, " That the meeting suggest to tho District Board that they consider the question of their power to raise a loan for works in the district, and for a wator supply, and then lay the matter before the ratepayers." The Chairman considered this was going beyond the purpose for which the meeting was convened, and the motion was withdrawn. Mr. Jenkins then moved "That a committee be appointed to collect information relative to joining the oity, or the borough of Newton, and lay such information before the annual meeting of ratepayersthe committee to consist of Messrs. Tayler, Ratcliffe, Thompson, Bayldou, and the mover." The motion, after a briof discussion, was put to the meeting ; 17 votes for the motion, and 18 against it, and the motion was therefore lost, A vote of thanks to the Chairman brought the meeting to a close.