MOUNT EDEN ROAD DISTRICT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9082, 16 June 1888, Page 3

MOUNT EDEN ROAD DISTRICT.

MEETING OF RATEPAYERS. A well-attended meeting of the ratepayers in the Mount Eden Road District was held yesterday evening, in Waite's Hall, in order to consider the elections of the trustees. Mr. R. Udy, Chairman of the Road Board, presided. The Chairman said he had called the meeting in response to a requisition which had been presented to him. He asked those who had signed the requisition to address the meeting. Mr. Waits said that £10,000 would have to bo spent in the district during the year. The waterworks were being constructed, and it behoved the ratepayers to take care that this work was gone on with properly. (Applause.) The ratepayers should assist the trustees, and see that the work was carried out successfully and efficiently. Those gentlemen who were candidates for the position of trustees should state their views to the meeting. An advertisement asking the ratepayers not to appoint another contractor to the Board, was placed in the hands of Mr. Waite, who denied the authorship of the advertisement. The Chairman agreed with Mr. Waite

that this would bo the most important year in the history of the Mount Eden Highway Board, as large works of vital interest to the district were to be undertaken. Mr. Udy referred to the good work done by Mr. Bailey whilst connected with the Highway Board, and said that it would be difficult to till his place. He should not have been allowed to leave the district without some public recognition. It was then resolved to ask the candidates for the seats on the Road Board to address the meeting. Mr. AK.OH.IBAJ-.D read a circular which he had issued 1.0 the ratepayers, and which stated that if he were returned to a eeat at the Board he would attend to the neglected portions of the district. He would support

the waterworks proposals, though he would be opposed to the laying down of pipes in isolated parts of the district, where there were only two or three houses. He would assist those who were endeavouring to remove the boiling-down establishment, whilst he would stipul-.ite that the accounts be audited yearly by the Public Auditor. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Briduman said the members of the Board were unanimously in favour of having the boiling-down establishment removed. Mr. l>. Robertson agreed that a water supply was necessary, as the district would in the future bs one of the most populous of those surrounding the city. Though the taxes at the present time were too heavy, yet a lighting rate was necessary, and he would be in favour of lighting the principal streets of the district. Mr. Robertson referred to the boiling-down establishment, which he thought could be removed. (Applause. ) Mr. Hirst drew attention to dangerous portions of Mount Roskill Road. Mr. Bridoman said that it was unreasonable to suppose that the Board would do all the works necessary in the district. They had paid £225 during the year to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. If the ratepayers wished that all the works which could be undertaken should be proceeded with, they should increase the rates.

After a long , discussion of a conversational character, Mr. H. M. Shepherd said that he was coming forward in response to a requisition. If Sir Julius Vogel's proposal to lend money to local bodies at low rates of interest had been accepted by the Mount Eden Board there would now be no complaint of bad roads. Mr. Shepherd referred at some length to the duties of a representative. The position of the Fire Brigade shed, on the Mount Eden Road, was relerred to, and Mr. Archibald thought it should be in a more central part of the district. The Chairman said that the engineer had recommended the present site as one of the best available.

Mr. Waite moved a cordial vote of thanks to the three candidates who had addressed the meeting. He criticised the remarks of Mr. Archibald, and his qualilications as a Road Board representative. The motion was carried.

Mr. Shki'Ukkd moved, "That the best thanks of the ratepayers of this district be given to Mr. C. Bailey fpr the services he has rendered during the past." He had spent u great deal of time' in the interests of the district. Mr. Bohkutson aeconded the motion. Mr. Waive moved an amendment, " That the members of the Board draft an address to be signed by the ratepayers, and forwarded to Mr. Bailey, conveying their thanks for his valuable services." It was pointed uut that this could not be paid for out of the funds of the district, and it was eventually resolved to send an address to Mr, Bailey signed by the members of the Board, A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the meeting.