RATEPAYERS' ANNUAL MEETINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11643, 3 May 1901, Page 7

RATEPAYERS' ANNUAL MEETINGS.

EPSOM. THE annual meeting of ratepayers was held r on Thursday evening at Edgerley's work- - shop. The attendance was small, and Mr. 8. Hcsketh presided. The secretary sub- ' | mitted the financial statement for the year j ending March 31 last. The receipts amounted I to £860 2s Id, and the expenditure to £623 0s 4d, leaving a credit balance of £237 Is I 9d. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Several matters were discussed in connection with the roads, and it was resolved to bring them under the notice of tiio new Board at its first meeting. MOUNT ALBERT. Tho annual meeting of the ratepayers of the Mount Albert Road district was hold in the public school, Morningside, on Wednes- | day evening. Mr. John Bouskill, chairman of the Rood Board, presided. The meeting was well attended, all parts of the district being represented. The feeling of all present was most enthusiastic in tho direction of more progressive measures being adopted by tho Road Board towards the advancement of the district, notably in regard to tho questions of drainage and sanitation generally; an efficient water supply; the acquirement of a stone quarry, if necessary, and the purchase of a suitable stone crushing plant for the supply of road metal; the construction of a traffic bridge across tho gully | at Commercial Road, so as to connect the j Mount Albert and Archhill districts; tho ; inauguration of a Drainage Board, oomnrisj mg delegates from the City Council "and j each of the local bodies interested, to .direct ; and control the construction and maintenance of a covered sower foi the Archhill dully drain; the adoption of a more efficient method of repairing "the various roads in the j district, and the erection of an overhead | bridge at the Kingsland Road railway cross- | nig. The Chairman, in referring to his reI port upon tho past year's proceedings of the Board, dwelt particularly upon the fact that the time had now arrived when it was no longer possible to copo with tho many urgent and growing requirements of tho district in the matter of public works, and at tho same time keep tho roads in anything approaching decent repair, unless the ratepayers would consent to materially increase the funds in the only manner admissible, namely, the. levying of special rates to provide interest and sinking fund on loans for special works. He pointed out that the Board had done all in its power during the past year, with tho funds at its disposal, to advance the welfare of the district, and had taken the initiatory stops towards the adoption of a more progressive policy for the future. lie also referred to negotiations which were now about, completed for the purchase of a scoria pit, which, he contended, would effect a saving to the ratepayers of at least £30 per year. He trusted, therefore, that when tho new Board appealed to tho ratepayers for assistance in the manner indicated, they would respond heartily, and thereby prove conclusively that the proposals, pointing to the advancement of the district, which had Keen submitted to the meeting and approved by all present, wcro really the embodiment of the earnest conviction of the majority of the propertyowners throughout the whole district, and not merely expressions of individual opinions which, when put to a practical test, far too often mount little or nothing. The statement of accounts and balance-sheet for the year ended March 31, 1901. showed that out of a total revenue of £1119 6s 8d for the year, £122 4? 4d had W.o\\ expended on administration. £50 in charitable institutions, and £751. 19s on public works, leaving a credit balance to the general account of £195 3s 3d. The, statement of assets and liabilities showed a credit balance of £437 0? 6d. of which onlv £287 Os 2d would be available for general purposes, the remaining £200 0s <!d being a reserved fund in connection with the Mount Albert recreation ground. A very encouraging lot or. which had been received by the Board from the Auckland Electric Tramways Company, was read and thoroughly appreciated by the meeting, the effect of it. being that practical work in connection with the construction of the company's plant had now commenced, and that the. Board might reasonably hopo for a comparatively early service of cars along the first section of the line to be formed within the Mount Albert district, and a further extension of tho line through tho district in due course thereafter. A hearty vote of thanks to the retiring Board for their valuable services during the past year concluded the business, and the meeting terminated. MANGERE. The annual meeting was held in the Mangero Public Hall on May 1. Mr. D. Hastie, chairman of the Board, presided. Mr. K. Hall, clerk, road the report and balancesheet, which were as follows:—''Works: During the past year £404 14s Id has been expended i*\,the maintenance of roads and bridges. ' ipite of this heavy outlay, and the reduc on of the rate from Jd to £d, the Board are glad to report that they have over £400 laying to their credit in the bank. The Board are of opinion that this money should be utilised in blue-metalling those portions of the roads that are furthest from the quarries. More would have been lone in this direction during the past year but for th; difficulty of obtaining men to break metal. They would suggest that the incoming Board should purchase a stonenreakcr and hire an engine to drive it. This, however, was a matter for the meeting to rliscuss. Mangere Bridge: The amount expended (£l3) on Mangere Bridge has been •mailer than usual. New by-laws have been made, and several persons have been convicted for driving ovei the bridge at other than a walking pace, a practice that was seriously damaging the structure. Library: It has been suggested that the public library be reopened, and that the Public Libraries Act should be adopted by the district. This matter is also referred to the nnual meeting. Noxious weeds: The Board vould be glad to have the opinion of the •atepayers on the desirability of having ;or»c and Bathurst burr added to the first ichedule of the. Noxious Weeds Bill, as iffecting the Mangere district." The bal-inec-sheet for the year ending March 31, 901, was as follows:—1. General account— tceoipt,: Balance in bank, April 1, 1900, 2312 16s sd: cash in hand, Is; general rates, 900-1901, £234 18s 3d; rates previous years, 265 10s 8d; Government subsidy, £169 Is id; rent of oyster beds, £46 10s; sundry -eceipts, Is 6d; refunds, £6 Is 9d: rent of oservos, £5 8s; dog registration, £17 2s 6d; lepasturing licenses, £187 15s; pound fees, 31 14s 6d: licenses for gate, £18 5s 6d: otal, £1065 6s 7d. Expenditure: Maintennce of roads and bridges, £404 14s Id; Maigere Bridge, £14 6s lOd; hosnital and iharitable aid, £97; cemetery trustees, £19 s 6d: tools, etc., £12 2s 2d: clerk and ireasurer, £40: pounrlkeeper, £10; rent of x>und, £1: office expenses, £6 8s s<l; bank iharsces, 10s: dog registration, £5 14s 2d; idvertising, £1 8s: election expenses, £1 14s id : depasturing expenses, £22 17s 9d ; office, 55; legal expenses, £7 7s: licensing exlenses, £2 8s lOd; balance in bank and in ' .and. £413 10s 7d: total, £1065 6s 7d. 2. Separate account"—Mangere Bridge accountßeceipts: Cash from Onehunga Boough, £11 Is 8d: transfer from general ac- I ount. £14 6s lOd: total, £25 8s 6rl. Ex- 1 lenditurc: Maintenance of bridge. £25 8s id. Statement of assets and liabilities, i uareh 31. Assets: Balance in bank, 2413 5s 7d: in hand, ss; rates outstanding, 2104 Os 9d: subsidy, say. £117 9s Id; Ileuses and rents. £6 Is; Onehunga Borough Council, £4 4s 9d : total, £645 6s 2d. _ Liabilities: Sundry accounts, say, £50. Statement of reserves and real property: Wafer, luarry and recreation reserves, £11&?. Statement of public debt: Nil. On the moion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr. [\irkbridc, tho report was adopted. In lie discur.=ion that followed on the desira)ilitv of procuring a stone-breaker, Messrs. V. F. Maesey, M.H.R., Westney, Kirk iride and Allan heartily supported the pro insal of blue-metalling the main roads. Mr. iVcstney suggested that the contractors lumlfl only use drays with broad <6in) tires. Considerable discussion ensued on the pro>osal to ask the Agricultural Department o include cor-" in the first schedule of tho Noxious Wends Act as applicable to the Jnngero district. The motion Was tlltl nately negatived. On the motion of Mr. Ulan." the incoming Board was recommended i, consider the advisability of adopting the 'üblic Libraries Act. Mr. Westney moved, ind Mr. R. Wallace seconded, a hearty vote if thanks to the late Board. Subsequently. i meeting of the nowlv-oleoled Board was ield, when Mr. M. M. Ivirkbride was elected ihainnan. The Board also agreed to moot m the 6th iust. and inspect the roads of the listrict.—[Own Correspondent.]

showing the effect that rating on unimproved values would have on the rating of the various properties of the district, a great decrease being shown on some of the larger properties, in one case from about £12 to about £4, ami in another case from about £6 to about £2. A vote of thanks to the chairman and the outgoing Board was moved by Mr. Wymer, seconded by Mr. Knight and carried. Several questions were put to tho Board and answered satisfactorily by the chairman, Mr. Wymer at the close expressing satisfaction at the impartial manner in which the chairman had dealt with the questions brought before the meeting. The election of the new Board takes place to-day.