WEST TAUPO COUNTY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16434, 10 January 1917, Page 9

WEST TAUPO COUNTY.

SELF-GOVERNMENT SCHEME.

CONFERENCE OF SETTLERS. [BY, (TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT-] TE AWAMtJTU. Tuesday. A fcbA&r conference of settlers in the West Taupo County was held, under the direction of the Minister for Internal Affairs, at Te Awamutu on Saturday, to approve the boundaries of the fire suggested road districts that were tentatively drawn up at the conference with the Minister a few weeks ago. Mr. J. A. Young, M.P., presided and represented the Minister, and Mr. G. P. Newton, Asaistant-Undcr-secretary, represented the Department. The conference was largely attended by representative settlers; Mr. Newton, after placing marked, plans before the meeting, said he had been authorised by the Minister to state that, for the purposes of the special legislation of last year, every separate property would be counted as one in the compiling of the petitions, and that where there were two or more occupiers all could sign the petitions, but would only be counted as one. This disposed of the question raised as to the position of natives whose interest in blocks had been individualised by the Native Land Courts, and whose presence, it had been feared, would endanger the petitions. Generally the only persons entitled to sign wero those whose name* appeared on the rate-roll for the Waikato Hospital district, this being the only roll of owners and occupiers in existence. Mr. Russell had approached the Minister for Public Works, who, on the constitution of the Road Boards and the formulation of roading plans, would instruct an engineer of the Department to advise the boards as* to construction works. Tlia Minister had also obtained, on their behalf, provisional approval for each of five road boards to raise, by way of a loan, the sum of £2000, so as to enable works to fro undertaken immediately without the necessity of awaiting the collection of rates after the close of the present financial year. Mr. Newton pointed out that an annual recurring subsidy of 10s in the £ would be payable on collected rates up to £250, and 5s in the £ up <to £500. A total of not more than £500 would be payable in subsidy by the Government over any district, or a total of £2500 over the whole of the road districts in the county. Touching on the rating powers of the district, he pointed out thai the maximum amount of the general rate was fixed at lid in the £ on the capital value of ratable lands, though, of course, their security was the only limit to their borrowing powers and right to levy special rates for tho repayment of loans and recurrent interest charges. The ValuerGeneral had undertaken to have the valuation rolls completed within two weeks from the time the road districts were constituted, and the Minister had issued special instructions that'all Departmental matters bo dealt with without delay. Mr. Newton submitted the following figures in connection with the five districts as proposed : Roto-o-rangi, capital value £62,000; revonue from lid general rate, £400; Tautari-Parawera, £340,000. £2000 ; Kakepuku, £73,000, £500; Kawa-Wharepu-hunga, £470,000, £3000; Maihiihi-Rangla-tea. £109,000, £700. After discussion the conference approved the proposed boundaries of the Roto-o-rangi, Tautari-Parawera, and Kakepuku districts, and agreed to the constitution of a new district at Puahue. In regard to the Kawa-Wharepuhunga and the MaihiihiRangiatea areas the representatives of the latter desired the amalgamation of tho two districts, but this was opposed. The representatives of these two districts are to hold a further conference to adjust boundaries.