PUKEKOHE EAST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8815, 2 March 1892, Page 6

PUKEKOHE EAST.

At the Band of Hope meeting held on Friday evening, the 12th inst, the attendance was good, with rather a short programme. Mr. Joshua Robinson (a veteran temperance man) gave an interesting address, in which he detailed some reminiscences of his experience us a teetotaller more than fifty years ago in the old country. At temperance meetings held in Manchester he was one of the first to take the pledgea step he had never since regretted. The monthly meeting of the Highway Board took place at the Harrisville schoolhouse on Saturday, the Kith inst. There were six members present, Mr. Morgan in the chair. Among other business transacted, it was decided that the dog tax be the same as "last year, namely, '2s (id for cattle and sheep dogs, and 5s for sporting dogs. Mr. Patrick Geraghty was reappointed dog tax collector, to be advertised in News in due course. The collector of highway rates reported that he had got in a considerable portion of the rates. Various accounts were passed for payment, and cheques drawn out. A meeting of the school committee was held on Friday evening, 19th inst. The principal business was the coming election of three members for the Board of Education. Mr. I Morgan, who presided, read the circulars | which had been forwarded by candidates. After briefly discussing their qualifications, the committee gave unamimous votes for Miss Edgar and Messrs. Luke and Crisp, as parties most likely to advance the educational interests throughout the Auckland district. Some very welcome rain fell on Friday and Saturday. As y consequence threshing and chaffing operations were stopped for a time. A rather singular by-law has been lately passed and publicly notified, by a neighbouring highway board, to the effect that all hawkers and pedlars with vehicles will henceforth have to pay an annual license fee of £1, and packmen 10s. While a town board or municipal corporation may have power to pass such a law and levy such a fee, it is not very clear that a highway board lias such jurisdiction. However, if one board can thus legislate, so can another. And as some of these hawkers or commercial travellers ply a regular business through probablj a dozen or more highway districts, and if all the boards are seized with a taxing epidemic the hawkers will have to look for fresh field and pastures new where they may follov their useful avocations without fear of bavin; to pay license fees to the tune of nrobably £1 to £12 per year. As a limited number o hawkers and pedlars are generally a boon to the country settlers scattered throughout th various districts, it is very unlikely tha ratepayers generally would be favourable ti a license fee, even could a highway boari levy such a tax. But the possibility is tha a hitch may arise, and the board in questioi find themselves powerless to enforce theii by-law.—lo vn Correspondent.]