LOWER ASHBURTON ROAD BOARD ELECTION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3524, 28 July 1879, Page 3

LOWER ASHBURTON ROAD BOARD ELECTION.

The election of five members to Ferve on this Board took place at the Willoughby , Bchool on Friday last. Mr James Wilkie acted as Returning Officer. There were eight candidates, and a show of hands being taken, apoil was demanded, with the following result :— John Grigg 164 Joscnh Clark 164 Tho.. Taylor 123 E.G.Wright 89 Andrew Dawson 85 John Carter 68 Arthur Frisby 63 E. H. Dobson 40 Messrs Grigg, Clark, Taylor, Wright, and Dawson were accordingly declared eleoted.

Mr Grigg, after returning thanks for the position in which the electors had placed him, said he believed Government grants might almost be contidered a thing of the past, and that their rovenue for tho future would bo considerably smaller than it had been formerly. As a member of the Board he should endeavour to expend tho' public funds with a view to economy, and for tho benefit of the district generally.

Mr Joseph Clark said he felt proud of the honour dono him by the result of the poll. As tho ratepayers were aWare their share of the £100,000 from the General Government was due, and ho would übo his exertions to get it as soon as possible. Mr T. Taylor said his endeavours wh 'le he had been a member of tbe old Board were in the direction of drainago. He considered that in tho part of the district whore ho lived drainage was of more importance than roads. He had always urged this while a member, and he Bhould continue to do so.

Mr E. G. Wright remarked that tho result >f the election showed that thoso in want of drainage had worked pretty unanimously. During his tenure of office in the old Board he had striven to act with impartiality, but No. 3 Ward, in consequence of its unfortunate position in regard to drainage, had required a large expenditure, and had consequently obtained a larger proportion of tho Board's funds than it was entitled to. He had no objection to necessary oxpendituro in tho district, but ho thought that if extensivo drainage works were required in No. 3 Word, they should be met in the way as at Rangiora and in tho Avon district, by a special rate. He approved of each Ward having the expenditure pro rata, or according to the rates it contributed.

In reply to questions, Mr Wright said ho considered that properties on the Great South road were taxed in excess of their value, his own among the rest. (Laughter.) Mr Dawson briefly returned thanks, and expressed himself in favour of the Ward system. The proceedings terminated by a vote of thanks being passed to the Beturning Officer.