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Timaru Herald, Volume IV, Issue 97, 23 March 1866, Page 3

TO TIIE EDITOR OF THE TIMARU HERALD. Sir — By an advertisement m your paper of this day I have undertaken to call a public meeting 1 of Ratepayers, and I think that some explanation is necessary. The reason I have called the meeting 1 is this. The Geraldine Itoad Board called a public meeting- of Ratepayers on the sth of March at two o'clock, which was duly held, but as I find no mention of the pro-ceeding-s of that meeting 1 , I will give a brief outline of them. TJib Chairman of the Board presided, and m his openingspeech politely told the meeting- that it was only as an act of courtesy that the Board had invited the Ratepayers to attend; that the Board was \ompelled to rate them, and had called thcln together to tell them the reason. Wl/ r I topfc'an exception to that statement, imd^tfKed the chairman if the meeting 1 wasTOwiderstand that the Board had already passed a rate, to which he answered "no," was that J then contended that the Board had adopted the usual and only constitutional course under the circumstances, and I therefore moved that the meeting- be adjourned for one month, which motion was seconded by Mr. Wilson, and I have to thank that gentleman for the manly way m which he supported me on that occasion. I contended that it being- harvest time, the Ratepayers could not attend without great inconvenience, and therefore the smallness of the meeting- — there being- only twelve ratepayers present, six for and six against the motion, including 1 the three members of the Board, who all voted against it. I also maintained that Dr. Rayner, as Chairman of the meeting 1 , had no right according- to the Road Board Ordinance, to g-ivc an original vote, and I therefore still maintain that the motion was carried. I could see that the Board was determined at all hazards to rate us. I have the greatest respect for the Board as a corporate bod}', and I think on the whole it would be impossible to get a better one. but they are only mortal, and therefore liable to err, and I think they did so on that occasion. In conclusion, I hope to see the Ratepayers muster m strength on the occasion of the meeting-, and show the Board that they ai'e not politically dead. floping- you will excuse me, Mr. Editor, for trespassing so much on your valuable space, I am, &c, Joseph Megsox. Arov.hcnua, March 19, 1SGG.