MEETING OF RATEPAYERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12860, 8 May 1905, Page 6

MEETING OF RATEPAYERS.

OTAHUHU. The annual meeting of ratepayers of the Otahuhu road district was held in the Public Hall, Otahuhu, on Wednesday last, the chairman of the Board, Mr. H. J. Hall, presiding. Mr. K. West, clerk of the Board, read the report and balance - .-heot for lit* year ended March '61, which staled that the roads had been maintained in good order, that the health of the district had been good, and that the Board's finances were in a sound condition. The following is a summary of the balancesheet: — Receipts: Cash in hand March 31, 1904, £187 8s lid; road rates, £525 19s 4d ; hospital rate, £108 2s lOcl; Government subsidy, £155 7s 6d; licenses, £55; dog tax, £12 12s 6d; rent, £17 2s 6d: refund infectious diseases hospital, £7 9s 8d; .sundry receipts, £26 2.-: unpresented cheque, £25 13s 3d: Total, £921 18s 6d. Expenditure: Administration and allowances, £70 7s: office expenses and rent, £35 3s; advertising and printing, £S 2s 9d; contribution to hospital, £69 7s lid; public works, £483 13s Yd; contribution to infectious diseases hospital, £14 19s sd: street lighting, £26 Is 6d ; sundry expenses, £33 10s ?d; balance in bank. £168 12s Id; cash in hand, £12 Us 8d : Total, £921 18s 6d. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. The question of drainage and water supply was discussed. The* following resolution, proposed by Mr. S. Luke, and seconded by Mr. K. I/. Absolum, was carried:—"That the incoming Board be instructed to ascertain at what price the proposed si!* for water supply could be obtained, and that, steps bo taken to get an estimate of costs of a system of water supply, drainage, and improved street lighting for Otahuhu, the prosent limit to be from eastern boundary of the acre sections to the Station Road gully on the west. The Board to report to the ratepayers at a special meeting to be convened to consider this matter."' Votes of thanks to the chairman, the outgoing Board, and the clerk brought the meeting to a close. I'UKEKUItA. The annual meeting of ratepayers of the Pnkekura Road district was held in the Pukerimu schoolhouse on Thursday last, there being present : Mr. Robt. Fisher (chairman), all the members of the Hoard, and 1 several others. The treasurer (Mr. 11. Fitzgerald) read the annual statement of accounts' and the balance-sheet, the latter showing an excess of liabilities over assets of £280. In moving the adoption of the report, the chairman spoke of the difficulty the Board had experienced in getting labour to carry out works. Men could be obtained in the winter, but that wa.s not a suitable time to carry out the road works. During the past year the Board had endeavoured to keep the roads in good order, without favouring any particular portion of the district, and they had assisted the back-block settlers with roads, without being extravagant. The report was adopted. The. Board held a meeting subsequently, at which Mr, R. Fisher was reelected chairman, and Mr. 11. Fitzgerald clerk. Following up some remarks made by Mr. J no. Fisher at the ratepayers' meeting, regarding the unsatisfactory way in which ! the valuations of land were carried out, the chairman moved a resolution dealing with ! the subject. Mr. Jno. Fisher had said that I the revaluations had been increased at least I 25 per cent. Under the present scheme, it; took valuers two or throe years to go round I the country, and in consequence of this fact the ratepayers in the Pukekura Road Board district would have to pay the increased values before any other local body in the Waikato County. The motion was as fol- : lows: —"That the Board understands that it is the intention of the Valuation Department j to alter the existing rate roll up to recent I valuations. This we consider unjust to the I ratepayers, inasmuch as the increased valna- ; tion will also be the ratable value to be used ; by the Waipa County Council, and as no | other district within that county has been recently revalued, we consider that no al- ! teration in existing values should take place i until all the districts within the county have* been revalued." This was seconded, and carried. Mr. R. Reynolds gave notice of motion, "That, the rate for the ensuing year be id in the £." The Board will meet on May 26 to confirm the motion. Several accounts were passed for payment. It was resolved that the chairman and Mr. Morrison inspect Ranch's Road, and report on repairs necessary.—[Own Correspondent.]